The Dream Flag Project
The Dream Flag Project- “Connects students to their dreams and in turn their dreams to the world.” First Philadelphia Paradigm schools, Tacony Academy Charter and First Philadelphia Charter, participate in an annual spring ritual, The Dream Flag Project. From February through March all of the students study the poetry of Langston Hughes along with other various styles of poetry from limericks to sonnets. Using what they have learned about poetry the students begin to share and crystallize their dreams with classmates and teachers. Poetry allows the students to express their hopes. The language and structure of poetry frees the imagination, and the students write with confidence and joy. Once the poems are in final form they are then printed on a plain white cloth flag. Flags typically represent what is important to a country, an organization or a people. Creating a personal flag represents what’s important to the students- their dreams. To further personalize the flag, the students decorate their flags with symbols that define them. In mid-April, poetry month, the schools gather to share their dreams and flags. This opportunity helps the students to respect the thoughts and feelings of others.