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It’s Pride Month!
In honor of Pride month, Free Spirit would like to offer ways educators and parents can support LGBTQ kids and teens during the summer and to provide helpful tips for starting new initiatives in the next school year. We are excited to introduce our new release Jamie Is Jamie by Afsaneh Moradian, a book that challenges gender stereotypes and shows readers how important it is for kids to have the freedom to play their way. We also have a sneak peek from our upcoming title LGBTQ: The Survival Guide for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens by Kelly Huegel Madrone, available September 2018. 

Read on for common questions and answers about gay-straight alliances, tips for making the most of playtime with young children, advice for teens on combatting bigotry and homophobia from etiquette and social relationships guru Alex J. Packer, and much more!

New Release Spotlight
Jamie Is Jamie challenges gender stereotypes, shows readers that playing is fundamental to learning, and reinforces the idea that all children need the freedom to play unencumbered. A special section for teachers, parents, and caregivers provides tips on how to make children’s playtime learning time.

Tips & Tools from the Free Spirit Blog
Kelly Huegel Madrone, author of the forthcoming book LGBTQ, offers insight into gender-based harassment and discrimination to help educators, parents, and others who interact with kids and teens begin the conversations necessary to elicit change. Read now.
Afsaneh Moradian, author of Jamie Is Jamie, provides tips for parents to help nonbinary and transgender kids feel loved, accepted, respected, and supported. Read now.
Grants
Educational grants available for your school or community:

New Earth Foundation (NEF) was established to serve important humanitarian and planetary needs. NEF is focused on providing support to numerous nonprofit organizations involved in innovative projects in many fields, including environmental initiatives, social sustainability, education, and economic improvement.

Eligibility: 501 (c)(3) organizations.
Prize: Awards range from $15,000 to $500,000.
Deadline: Letters of Inquiry are due February 1 and July 1 annually.

Resist funds one-year General Support Grants to small organizations to support initiatives that promote social change, particularly on issues related to social, economic, and environmental justice. Accessibility Grants are also broadly available to help people with disabilities participate in an activity or event. Multiyear Grants are limited to current grantees who have been funded at least twice in the previous five years. Rapid Response Grants are provided to groups, including first-time applicants, for unexpected events of a political nature that require an immediate response.

Eligibility: Eligible organizations must have qualified nonprofit status, be a federally recognized American Indian tribal government or agency, or be sponsored by a qualified group; have an annual operating budget of less than $150,000; and be based in the United States.
Prize: $1,000 for Rapid Response Grants and up to $4,000 for General Support, Accessibility, and Multiyear Grants.
Deadline: 2018 grant applications are due September 8.
Recent Review
“This book will be a great addition to your toolkit. I cannot overstate how well-organized this book is and the potential it has to make SEL lessons practical and productive for busy teachers.” —Rita Platt, MiddleWeb

What’s your favorite Free Spirit title?
Visit freespirit.com, select the product that has helped you the most in your work with kids, and leave us a review!
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Upcoming Events and Conferences 

June 10–13: National Association for the Education of Young Children Professional Learning Institute, Austin, TX

June 20: Free Webinar presented by Michelle Salcedo: " 5 Things You Can Do Today to Lessen Challenging Behaviors Tomorrow"

July 17: Free Webinar presented by Susan Daniels: " Developing a Visual Learning and Teaching Toolbox"

July 23–25: Military Child Education Coalition, Washington, DC
Spring Sale
Order by June 30, 2018, and get 30% off sitewide* plus free shipping! Use code SPRING30 at checkout. Shop now.

* Excludes already discounted sets and clearance items.
“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.”
—Mark Van Doren, American author and teacher