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Women’s History Month Call to Action for iLEAD Antelope Valley 5th-6th Graders
By Michael Niehoff
Education Content Coordinator, iLEAD Schools
Today is International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It has also come to represent an international call to action to accelerate gender parity and women’s equality.
At iLEAD Antelope Valley, Dr. Shayna Markwongark’s 5th and 6th graders are heeding that call to action. According to Markwongark, learners are currently embarking on a women’s history project. They have to first identify a key woman in history, learn her story and then connect that story to their own lives and community. Their driving question is “How can we use the activism of women throughout history to influence or change our community today?”
“This is all about research and then activism,” Markwongark said. “Its purpose is to connect this information to their world and their futures.”
The project has two key components once teams of learners have identified their famous woman, done the research and learned the key aspects of her story. First, Markwongark said, students will work in teams to produce a three-to-five-minute podcast that tells both the women’s story and then showcases how it can connect to the learners’ school lives and communities.
The second major public product, according to Markwongark, will be a series of written proposals that the teams prepare for iLEAD Antelope Valley Director Dawn Roberson. This proposal will represent the students’ recommendations to iLEAD about continuing to empower women and raise awareness within the iLEAD community.
This correlation of history and activism is at the heart of this project, according to Markwongark. She said learning the history and even connecting it to the learners’ lives is important, but what’s more important is how this information is used going forward.
“This is about inspiration first, then action second,” Markwongark said. “It’s great to be inspired and full of hope, but what matters is how we individually contribute to improving the world.”
For Markwongark, the goal is to empower learners to learn the stories of others and then take action. “I’m going to continually ask them what they can do going forward — this year, this summer, next year and beyond,” she said.
School Director Dawn Roberson is excited about the facilitation and learning associated with a project aligned with global goals of empowering women to advocate for their rights as human beings. Roberson appreciates the depth of this project, which allows learners to see the complex world in which they live from a more empowered position.
“Even in a nation like ours, we see the need to continue to advocate for equal pay, equal rights and equal opportunities for women and for all,” Roberson said. “These 5th and 6th graders will have a better understanding of their role supporting all the women in their lives and advocacy on behalf of others.”
Although this project is just getting underway, Markwongark has high expectations for learner outcomes. In addition to the historical knowledge and content, there is a social-emotional component, along with some very important skills that Markwongark anticipates learners will experience. One of her goals is that after reflecting on the obstacles, challenges and successes of women in history, learners will have epiphanies about what they can do with their lives.
“My learners already have great qualities, but I am going to see a lot more empowered young men and women,” Markwongark said. “It doesn’t have to be global. It can be in their own communities and even their own families. It might be even just working with their brother or sister to be more sensitive, aware or inspired.”
High-quality project-based learning make way for learners to have a voice and agency, according to Markwongark.
“Hopefully, they become the disseminators of this information about what equality looks like,” she said. “Who knows? Maybe some of these learners will come up with ideas that iLEAD decides to implement. That’s the power of PBL.”
For more details and background on this project, see The Project Design Guide and the Project Information Flipbook.
Exploring iLEAD Antelope Valley Culture: Habit 5 of the 7 Habits
Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of articles on the pillars of iLEAD Antelope Valley’s educational philosophy and approach.
They say communication is key, but if we lack understanding in our relationships and interactions, how can we ever hope to truly, clearly communicate?
This week, we’re examining Habit #5: Seek First to Understand, Then Be Understood.
Many of us often seek first to be understood; we want to get our point across. But in doing so, it’s easy to ignore the other person completely, pretend that we’re listening, selectively hear certain parts of the conversation or attentively focus on only the words being said, but miss the meaning entirely. And so, what happens is that we filter everything through our life experiences and decide what someone means before they’ve even finished.
But is that the most effective communication?
Our listening tends to fall into four categories:
- Ignoring: We’re not listening at all.
- Pretending: We may say “uh-huh, right,” but we’re not really tuned in.
- Selective listening: We hear part of what the person says, but the rest of the time we’re distracted.
- Attentive listening: We’re actively listening, paying attention but not taking our listening to the ultimate level — empathetic listening.
Dr. Stephen Covey defined empathetic listening as listening with the intent to truly understand. To really understand, we need to get inside another person’s frame of reference, and see the world from their point of view. Our listening also needs to be driven by an authentic desire to understand the other person and to build trust with them.
As part of the iLEAD Antelope Valley educational model, we encourage learners to incorporate the following practices into their communication:
- I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings.
- I try to see things from their viewpoints.
- I listen to others without interrupting.
- I am confident in voicing my ideas.
- I look people in the eyes when talking.
When we listen with the intent to understand others, instead of simply with the intent to reply, we begin true communication and relationship-building. Seeking to understand takes kindness; seeking to be understood takes courage. Effectiveness in our communication thrives in a balance of the two.
Join us next week as we explore Habit #6: Synergize.
For more information on the 7 Habits and other leadership resources, click here to visit the FranklinCovey website.
Host an iLEAD Antelope Valley Zoom Fun Day!
Our next Zoom Fun Craft Day is coming March 24 at 4 PM! The link will be sent via ParentSquare.
Parents and caregivers, would you like to host a Zoom fun day?
If you’d like to join the fun of hosting, we are looking for volunteers to host cooking demonstrations, craft activities, dance parties, hangouts, trivia nights, movie nights, drawing tutorials, or talent shows.
For more information or to sign up, please email holly.vasconez@ileadav.org.
Connect with us!
Facebook at iLEAD Antelope Valley
For the latest information on events and activities, follow the iLEAD AV iSupport team at at @isupportileadav or email isupport@ileadavisupport.org.
iLEAD Antelope Valley Is Now Enrolling in Select Grades!
We have very limited enrollment available for immediate start. Complete our interest form today!
Do you know someone who would love iLEAD AV! Help us spread the word by sharing this article with a friend!
iLEAD Antelope Valley Zoom Fun Day Was a Blast!
A big thank-you to Ms. Shannon for hosting craft day last Wednesday and for the learners who participated. We had a blast celebrating Black History Month by making a rocket ship craft inspired by Mae Jemison, the first African American woman astronaut!
Parents and caregivers, would you like to host a Zoom fun day?
If you’d like to join the fun of hosting, we are looking for volunteers to host cooking demonstrations, craft activities, dance parties, hangouts, trivia nights, movie nights, drawing tutorials, or talent shows.
For more information or to sign up, please email holly.vasconez@ileadav.org.
Connect with us!
Facebook at iLEAD Antelope Valley
For the latest information on events and activities, follow the iLEAD AV iSupport team at at @isupportileadav or email isupport@ileadavisupport.org.
iLEAD Antelope Valley Is Now Enrolling in Select Grades!
We have very limited enrollment available for immediate start. Complete our interest form today!
Do you know someone who would love iLEAD AV! Help us spread the word by sharing this article with a friend!
Exploring iLEAD Antelope Valley Culture: Habit 4 of the 7 Habits
“In the long run, if it isn’t a win for both of us, we both lose. That’s why win-win is the only real alternative in interdependent realities.”
— Dr. Stephen Covey
This week, we’re examining Habit #4: Think Win-Win. Someone with a win-win mind-set sees life as a cooperative arena, instead of a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions, and means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying.
Why is this habit so vital to us at iLEAD Antelope Valley? Because none of us lives in a vacuum. Every day, we interact with other people who have their own sets of passions, motivations, and priorities. So how do we successfully navigate the world as an individual among many other individuals?
Dr. Stephen Covey held that a person or organization approaching conflicts with a win-win attitude possesses three vital character traits:
- Integrity: sticking with your true feelings, values, and commitments
- Maturity: expressing your ideas and feelings with courage and consideration for the ideas and feelings of others
- Abundance Mentality: believing there is plenty for everyone
Developing a win-win approach is also beneficial to our growth and maturity. As we seek to have win-win interactions and relationships, we develop our humility, better recognize the humanity of those around us, develop long-term perspectives, and also learn to become more assertive.
There are four steps that can help the win-win process be truly beneficial for all involved:
- See the problem from others’ perspectives to understand their needs and concerns
- Identify the key issues and concerns involved
- Determine what results could make for a fully acceptable situation
- Identify options for how to achieve those results.
Developing a win-win mind-set is an important step toward being a more collaborative individual, which is at the heart of what the iLEAD Antelope Valley learning model is all about. Win-win is certainly a balancing act, but when we strike that balance everyone benefits.
Join us next week as we explore Habit #5: Seek First to Understand, Then Be Understood.
For more information on the 7 Habits and other leadership resources, click here to visit the FranklinCovey website.
Exploring iLEAD Antelope Valley Culture: Habit 3 of the 7 Habits
This week, we look at Habit #3: Put First Things First. This habit, which all of our learners at iLEAD Antelope Valley are learning to put into practice, is all about identifying and organizing one’s priorities. In essence, someone who puts first things first is saying, “I spend time on things that are most important. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow a plan. I’m disciplined and organized.”
Dr. Stephen Covey said that “first things” are basically all those things that you value most in your life. So, you should manage your schedule according to your priorities to get all essential things done on time.
Skills that can be learned by putting first things first include:
- Time management
- Cultivating a strong work ethic, flexibility, and adaptability
- Interpersonal skills
- Self-management
- Being accountable and responsible for actions and results
- Cultivating analytical skills
An effective way to implement Habit #3, according to Covey, is breaking down activities into four quadrants of urgency and importance:
- Quadrant 1: Urgent and important
- Quadrant 2: Not urgent and important
- Quadrant 3: Urgent and not important
- Quadrant 4: Not urgent and not important
Covey suggests you become more aware of your internal drive, values, and goals. This makes it easier to say “yes” to the actions that are based on these factors. This way, values and goals are less often overruled by (non-important) urgent matters. Remember that whenever you say “yes” to one thing, you will no longer have time for something else. Time is the most valuable and least replaceable of all resources. Things that appear urgent will most likely trigger a “yes” if you are asked to help out. It’s useful to understand that saying “no” is also a legitimate option.
By identifying what’s most important to you, and where your passions lie, you can more easily learn to put first things first.
Join us next week as we explore Habit #4: Think Win-Win.
For more information on the 7 Habits and other leadership resources, click here to visit the FranklinCovey website.
iLEAD Antelope Valley Is Now Enrolling in Select Grades!
We have very limited enrollment available for immediate start. Complete our interest form today!
Do you know someone who would love iLEAD AV! Help us spread the word by sharing this article with a friend!
