Mission Statement:
To promote an equitable and humane multicultural society through quality education for all. Established in 1979, The Origins Program is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and the sole provider of the Developmental Designs approach, PreK – High School.
We advocate for equality, justice, and equity in all our initiatives.
Land Acknowledgement:
We at The Origins Program acknowledge that our office is built within the traditional homelands of the Dakota people. It is important to acknowledge the peoples on whose land we live, learn, and work as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with our tribal nations.
We also acknowledge that words are not enough. We ensure that our non-profit organization provides support, resources, and programs for our Native community members.
About the Art and Artist on the Page
Ta-coumba T. Aiken
“I create my art to heal the hearts & souls of people and their communities by evoking a positive spirit.”
Title: TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE
Year: 2021
“I created this art piece to address our similarities and differences. How we are linked together by known and unknown sources, both spiritual and social.
I guess it’s a recognition of the beauty of interconnectedness and the motion, continuous motion of our lives intermingling throughout time. I’ve always asked the question. How are we not related if we breathe the same air?”
Books and Resources to Support Your Students Growth and Learning
| Book Name | Author | Area of Growth and Learning |
| All Are Welcome | By Alexandra Penfold And Suzanne Kaufman | Safe and Welcome, Inclusion, Community |
| Amazing Grace | By Mary Hoffman | Goal Setting |
| Ambitious Ninja | By Mary Nhin | Goal Setting |
| Beautiful Opps | By Barney Saltzberg | Transformation from Blunder to Wonder. |
| Do Unto Otters | By Laurie Keller | Classroom Rules |
| Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus | By Mo Willems | Classroom Community, Emotions |
| Don’t Touch My Hair | By Sharee Miller | Respect, Self-Control |
| Dreams Do Come True, All They Need Is You | By Mike Dooley | Goal Setting |
| Each Kindness | By Jacqueline Woodson | Relationship, Community Building |
| Fletcher’s Big Show | By Julia Rawlinson | Acceptance, Loving Who You Are, Friendship |
| Grandpa Goes on a Diet | By Kathryn Sanoden Pearson | Health, Goal Setting |
| Hair Love | By Matthew A. Cherry and Vashti Harrison | Self Love, Fathers and Daughters |
| How Fletcher Was Hatched | By Wende And Harry Devlin | Identity, Courage |
| I Can Do Hard Things | By Gabi Garcia | Goal Setting |
| I Talk Like A River | By Jordan Scott | Celebrating Individuality |
| Interrupting Chicken | By David Ezra Stein | Self Control, Blurting |
| It’s Okay To Be Different | By Todd Par | Classroom Community, Emotions |
| It’s Okay To Make Mistakes | By Todd Par | Classroom Community, Emotions |
| Julian Is A Mermaid | By Jessica Love | Celebrating Individuality |
| My Name is Saajin Singh | By Kuljinder Kaur Brar | Cultural Identity |
| Pink Is For Boys Too | By Rob Pearlman | Empowerment |
| Red: A Crayon’s Story | By Micheal Hall | Identity, Courage |
| Ruby’s Wish | By Shirin Yim Bridges | Goal Setting |
| Salt In His Shoes | By Deloris Jordan | Goal Setting |
| Squirrel’s New Year Resolution | By Pat Miller | Goal Setting |
| The Curious Garden | By Peter Brown | Goal Setting |
| The Day You Begin | By Jacqueline Woodson And Rafael López | Celebrating Individuality |
| The Dot | By Peter H Reynolds | Getting Started, Courage |
| The Family Book | By Todd Par | Classroom Community, Emotions |
| The Feelings Book | By Todd Par | Classroom Community, Emotions |
| The Gender Wheel | By Maya Christina Gonzalez | Identity |
| The Girl And The Bicycle | By Mark Pett | Goal Setting |
| The Magical Yet | By Angela Diterlizzi | Goal Setting |
| The Name Jar | By Yangsook Choi | Celebrating Individuality, Friendship |
| The Peace Book | By Todd Par | Classroom Community, Emotions |
| The Princess Knight | By Cornelia Funke | Empowerment, Resilience |
| We are Water Protectors | By Carole Lindstrom | Children’s Social Themes |
| We Miss you George Floyd | By Shannon Gibney | Children’s Social Themes |
| What If Everybody Did That? | By Ellen Javernick | Reflection, Expectations |
| What Should Danny Do? | By Adir Levy, Ganit Levy | Decision Making, Right From Wrong |
| Whistle For Willie | By Ezra Jack Keats | Goal Setting |
| World Of Wonder | By Valarie Kaur | Empathy |
| 44 Children’s Books About Mental Health | Various | Mental Health |
