Ormi Boci

2025 Yale & Slavery Teachers Institute Cohort Member

I am a 4th Grade teacher at CREC- Academy of International Studies Elementary in South Windsor, CT. We are an international magnet school that encourages students to be global thinkers and become change makers in their communities. In 4th grade, we have a unit of study on the American Revolution that focuses on the multiple perspectives leading up to, during, and after the American Revolution. While slavery does come up, it often feels oversimplified. I want students to leave the unit with a deeper understanding of the origins of slavery in the American Colonies, its role in Colonial America, and the arguments around slavery after the war. This will be a challenge, but one all students can accomplish if provided with the appropriate grade level content and opportunities to research and discuss what they learned. My goal is to make the unit meaningful and engaging for all students. By the end of the unit, students will be tasked with sharing their opinions on the American Revolution and the role slavery played in it. By making intentional changes to the curriculum, students will be informed and inspired to share their opinions.