Published 10/22/07

The students' shoes told stirring stories. A third grade writing/history/art project in a Kansas City Public School I visited last week is one of the most creative, well implemented I've seen in a long time.

Third grade teacher Ms. Dedmon asked her students to use a shoe that they, or someone in their family used, to help others "walk a mile in my shoe...(to show)different aspects of who they are, the community they live in, their family traditions, etc." The project's goals help youngsters develop research, writing and art skills along with a greater understanding of how history is written. That's a rather academic, boring description. I just wish that I could show you the shoes!

Each youngster was asked to decorate a shoe AND to write a one page essay explaining the shoe's significance, and why they attached various objects to the shoe.

Here are a few examples of the shoes students used, and the stories they shared:

* A youngster I call "Zia" used one of her grandmother's shoes to explain how Zia had been adopted from Bosnia. The shoe included a picture of the entire family, including several other brothers and sisters who also were adopted. Zia's grandmother is no longer alive. Zia brought her grandmothers' shoes with her to the United States, as a reminder of the woman she loved.

* "Roger" used one of his father's shoes to explain that his parents are divorced, and that he divides his time each year, living with first one, and then the other parent. His story includes some of the things he enjoys doing with each parent, along with a third grader's view of divorce.

* "Sam" used a high top athletic shoe to describe his love for sports and his family. The project includes a picture of Sam in his football uniform, playing for a team his father coaches. The project also includes a ladder leaning against the shoe, because Sam sees education as a ladder that will help him "climb up" in life.

* "Sharon's" bright white tennis shoe, with many colorful beads and pictures attached, tells of her Filipino-African American heritage.

This is a classic example of how talented teachers bring together different areas like art, writing and history. Including the shoes allows students to be creative, and to make the project much more compelling, as well as more fun.

University Academy, the Kansas City public school open to all kinds of students, where this project took place, will soon be posting pictures of the shoe project, along with the packet of materials Ms. Dedmon developed to explain the project. (see www.universityacademy.org)

Her packet opened up quite a world for me. I had no idea, for example, that there are shoe museums with websites, located in Canada, Germany and the Oakland California airport. Dedmon asked posted links to web histories of Nike and Adidas shoes. And her packet includes a link to the section of ESPN's website entitled "Great Moments in Shoe History."

She also includes a list of children's books with a shoe theme, books like "Shoe Magic," "the Crazy Shoe Shuffle," "Blueberry Shoe," and "Two Shoes, Blue Shoes, New Shoes."

You see a project like this, and you want to smile. What a tribute to the many talented, creative teachers working with our youngsters. Dedmon's shoe project helped many students open up, and share important parts of their souls.