Who Am I?

As an introductory lesson to join a fourth-grade classroom, I designed a meaningful experience that would allow me to build relationships with students while celebrating who they are as individuals. We began by reading I Am Me: A Book About Authenticity by Susan Verde—a powerful and accessible text that sparked conversation around self-acceptance, identity, and what it truly means to be yourself.

Together, we explored guiding questions such as: What makes me unique? What do I represent? How do I stay true to myself? These conversations created a safe and reflective space where students were encouraged to think deeply about their values, personalities, and the qualities that make them shine.

To honor their individuality, I invited students to design a journal page that represented their authentic selves. With full creative freedom, they used words, drawings, collage, and color to express who they are. Each page was as unique as the student who created it.

We compiled the pages into a class book—a beautiful, collective snapshot of our community, built on a foundation of self-awareness, creativity, and mutual respect. This project not only helped me form strong connections with each learner, but also helped foster a sense of belonging and celebration within the classroom from day one.