October 2023: Is There Really No Place Like Home?

Create connected & compassionate learning communities that inspire honest discussions among students.

Brought to you by the Student Press Initiative​

ENTER TO WIN

​ABOUT THIS BOOK
At Long Island City High School (LICHS), educators nurture students' personal growth in conjunction with their academic achievements, with a special emphasis on the advisory classroom. Every day, students dedicate 45 minutes to thoughtful dialogues centering around the issues that resonate most deeply with them — themes like the paramount need for a secure space where meaningful conversations and connections can flourish. Guided by the unwavering dedication of both teachers and students, the advisory class has evolved into a cocoon of support, where adolescents feel at ease in sharing some of their most personal life experiences, such as their tales of home.

In their compilation Is There Really No Place Like Home?, LICHS students penned their individual interpretations of what constitutes home. Accompanying each set of memoirs are meticulously crafted lesson plans authored by students themselves, detailing the methods through which they foster a sense of camaraderie and belonging at LICHS. These students have ingeniously conceived activities that they believe could greatly enrich other educational institutions' attempts to cultivate comparable bonds among their own educators and learners.

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ENCOURAGE EMPATHY & UNDERSTANDING
A publication like this one — centered on amplifying the voices and perspectives of students — is an incredible resource for teachers who strive to create inclusive classroom environments. Not only does this special book include students’ stories, but also applicable lesson plans, thoughtfully crafted by the students themselves, that can serve as a blueprint for creating supportive environments in your own school communities. 

We invite you to use this book as a source of insight into how you can inspire open and honest discussions about personal experiences, encourage empathy and understanding among students, and ultimately create a more connected and compassionate community of learners. Is There Really No Place Like Home? will resonate with any reader who prioritizes their students' holistic development and well-being. Our students’ stories and perspectives are visionary, and this text is just the beginning.