On March 27 and 28, the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) welcomed Connie Morrison, author of I Got the Rhythm, into classrooms across the district to engage with our youngest learners in an interactive and joyful presentation about her path to becoming a children’s book author.
Morrison’s visit is part of the ICSD Early Childhood Program’s commitment to amplifying diverse voices in children’s literature, underlining the importance of representation in storytelling.
During her two-day visit, Morrison engaged with twelve preschool classrooms, reading her stories and encouraging children to create their own. She also met with school and community leaders, including a visit to Cornell's Hip Hop collection where she donated one of her books. Connie took time to lunch with high school students, motivating them to express themselves through art and writing.
"The excitement and preparation leading up to Connie’s visit was so special for our young students,” Deborah Jordan, Educator of Inclusion in Early Childhood said. “And her reading of the joyful stories, which have been in their classroom libraries all year, was just magical!"
Morrison’s personal connection to hip-hop culture and its healing power resonated deeply with ICSD students. "Hip-hop provides access to healing," she explained. "It can be used as a tool to boost self-expression, reflection, and coping skills. It helped me as a child, and I believe it is a great coping tool for kids to create a personal narrative and challenge their thoughts."
The author's visit left a lasting impact on the ICSD community and Morrison herself. "My visit to Ithaca, New York, was truly a life-changing experience for me," Morrison said. "I enjoyed sharing and receiving inspiration and empowerment from the staff and students."
Children’s Reading Connection generously donated signed copies of Morrison’s book, I Got the Rhythm, which were distributed to every child in the ICSD Early Childhood Program and aspiring Ithaca High School artists and writers.
The Ithaca City School District Early Childhood/Pre-Kindergarten program provides comprehensive educational programs designed to meet the needs of our diverse community of learners. The program works in partnership with families to create a warm, caring, and child-centered environment. The play-based curriculum fosters creativity and imagination while laying a foundation for developing skills, nurturing talents, building confidence, and creating a sense of belonging for each child.
The ICSD is now accepting applications for pre-K! Apply by June 15, 2024. If spaces remain, applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis.