Summer 2020, Vol. 7
ISB’s First Common Read
In August 2019, Head Librarian Maria Falgoust and MYP Coordinator & Middle School English Language and Literature Teacher Katie Rogers teamed up to introduce the idea of a “Common Read” to the entire Middle School student body, as well as ISB’s Faculty and Staff. Over the summer, all chose to read either We are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World by Malala Yousafzai and Liz Welch or Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. The “Common Read” provided a wonderful opportunity for students and faculty to connect through a shared experience of reading.
“The book, We Are Displaced, resonated with me on a very personal level, as I come from Chile and grew up during Pinochet’s regime, and my two older siblings went into exile because their political affiliations made living in our country dangerous. One thing stood out to me from reading this book is the fact that children and women are more vulnerable, yet education is a powerful tool for self-growth and empowerment. Discussing the book with my colleagues was great. Many of us had similar opinions about the stories, and I loved discussing the book with them.”
Before school was in session, the faculty and staff took a break from their busy classroom preparations and gathered one afternoon to discuss their summer reading. The staff broke into groups across all different language tracks and departments and engaged in powerful conversations with one another about the reading.
The following week, students came ready on the first day of school with a one-page response to their reading. The entire Middle School gathered together and posted colorful, creative, and thoughtful responses around the gym. Students and teachers spent time doing a “gallery walk,” exploring their classmates’ interpretations.
CAROLINA BERMUDEZ, SPANISH VISUAL ARTS TEACHER