September 11 in Second Grade: "The day heroes were made"

​By Amanda Compton

With September 11 comes a variety of emotions. And for those who witnessed the shocking events unfold 18 years ago, it is difficult to put into words what happened and why as well as the irreversible impact this attack had on America -- especially when speaking to a classroom full of inquisitive second graders.

"Every year on September 11 I struggle with what to do with my students," said Second Grade Teacher Miss Corbin Shelton. "I was in second grade when these attacks took place, so I know what a difficult balance it is to accurately depict the emotions of that day."

Shelton said she could tell some of her students had had wonderful conversations with their parents and came to class ready to talk about historical events, while others had no idea. After fielding a slew of questions, she undoubtedly knew this was something that needed to be covered in class.

"We had a safe and honest discussion about a few heroes of 9/11," said Shelton. "We then put a name with heroic actions and second graders became the illustrators of a beautiful book - The Day Heroes Were Made."
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Second graders are also reading the book September 12, which is a beautiful message of reassuring hope in the midst of evil and tragedy.  

"It felt like a hard balance because I didn't want to invoke fear or scare them, I didn't want to depress them, but I certainly did not want to downplay the tragedies of that day in our history," noted Shelton. "So I decided I wanted to be the one who reminded them of the heroes and the hope that September 11 brought." 

Twin Oaks Christian School, a ministry of Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church