Now more than ever, America is struggling with its own identity. Ain’t I An American? kindles the conversation around identity among young people in a way that challenges and exposes the assumptions we make about each other.

Having more than one way to define yourself is both something to celebrate and a source of tension. Society often celebrates fitting in, not standing out. Readers of Ain't I An American? will be challenged by strong emotions, deep questions, and truthful experiences as its student authors work through critical questions surrounding their identity.

USING THIS PUBLICATION IN THE CLASSROOM

Ain’t I An American? is a powerful text that can provoke inquiry and critical thinking as students investigate what it means to be an "American". The narratives and illustrations included in this publication call the reader to new ways of seeing difference and celebrating diversity. 

We invite you to use this text to help cultivate community at the start of a new school year. Curate a gallery of photo essays, collages, or drawings to represent your students' experiences. Present research findings alongside these images as statistics, create mini documentaries, and conduct interviews that will inform and persuade others to think differently about identity in America. Students speak to these issues in ways politicians can’t, and we encourage you to provide a platform for their voice! By prompting students to document and envision America as a place where they belong, we can celebrate the multiple identities of all people in our nation.

​You’ve just arrived, clutching your bags to your chest, zigzagging around pedestrians, staring wide-eyed at the chaos around you — how can everything be so big? — and you wonder how you’ll ever find your way around this place. 

Welcome to 6th grade. And New York City. Whether you’re a tourist entering the big city or a kid entering the big leagues of secondary school you know this feeling: it’s called lost. Fortunately, the students at NEST+m have successfully navigated both uncharted territories, and they’re here to help. 

Come explore New York through eyes a little closer to the ground. Experience the wonder of touring a real submarine (p. 43), discover a subway station in disguise (p. 14), view the offices of Spider-Man’s Daily Bugle (p. 35) and spend a night at the museum with Teddy Roosevelt (p.40). But be warned: with so much to see (and read!), you might be up past your bedtime. 

USING THIS PUBLICATION IN THE CLASSROOM

We invite you to use this text to spark inquiry in your classroom, and to imagine the potential for projects that position your students as experts. Use this publication as an example of how students can be engaged and empowered when given a purpose for their writing, especially when they're speaking to topics in which they have first-hand experience. As you consider the pedagogical implications for writing articles like those included in The City That Stays Up Way Past Its Bedtime, you might even learn a thing or two about NYC!
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Becoming a leader can be a challenging process. In Inside Out, student writers at the Morris Academy for Collaborative Studies offer thoughtful and compassionate reflections on their experiences as peer leaders. Through personal narratives, these young authors reflect on how to achieve success in a negative environment, how to navigate the journey to adulthood, and more.

Perhaps most importantly, they invite us to critically reflect on our perceptions, understandings, and assumptions about what it means to be both a teenager and a leader.

USING THIS PUBLICATION IN THE CLASSROOM

How do we inspire students to become leaders? First, we ought to help them believe they can become one. Inside Out is a powerful example of what budding leaders can achieve with perseverance and a desire to help others. We invite you to use this text to inspire your students to reflect not only on the meaning of leadership, but also on how they can become more active members of their school community.