Blog Post #10: Woke Read Aloud and RI Schools Trangenderism Guidance.

I’ve been hearing a lot about kids' books that focus on feelings, identity, and being yourself. In the woke read aloud, the book "It feels Good to Be Me" is read and discussed in detail. It’s meant to help kids feel good about who they are, no matter what they look like or how they feel inside. Some people call these kinds of books “woke,” because they talk about topics like gender, race, and acceptance.

"It Feels Good to Be Me" is about kids being proud of themselves. It says it’s okay to be different and that everyone should feel happy being who they are. Teachers sometimes read books like this out loud to help kids understand each other better.

Rhode Island schools have rules to protect transgender and gender non-conforming students. The state says schools have to:

• Call students by the name and pronouns they choose

• Let students use the bathroom and locker room that match their gender

• Keep a student’s gender identity private if the student wants that

• Let students dress how they feel comfortable

• Allow students to join sports and activities as the gender they identify with

These rules are meant to make sure every student feels safe and respected at school. Some schools, like in Westerly, didn’t follow all the state’s guidelines. They thought some of the rules went too far, especially when it comes to bathrooms or what parents should be told. So, not every district in RI is doing the same thing.

Books like It Feels Good to Be Me and these school rules are about making kids feel accepted. The goal is to help students feel good about themselves and treat others with respect. Some people support it, others have concerns—but the conversation is happening in more schools now.