Facing History & Ourselves’ Post

This I know for sure: When school communities work together to create space for both teachers and kids to show up as their whole selves, there is a greater probability that justice will emerge. To do that work in a bounded system like school, there’s a little cognitive architecture involved! To start finding common ground within a school community, I’ve provided some language and examples through the concept of thought sanctuary, featured in Chapter 3: A Framework for Social Justice Work in Schools and Gentle Notes on Learning in "Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools." I invite you to read more about thought sanctuaries in my new blog post, here. https://lnkd.in/e5JixB7V

Discover how to build and sustain community this school year with our latest blog post by Sara Marshall! 📚 Explore strategies to foster a supportive environment for educators and students alike. Read more on Teaching Together: https://bit.ly/3xORxtE #TeachLeadChange #ElevateEducators #TeachIndyNow #TeacherBlog #TeachingStrategies #TeachingTogether

Recruiting and retaining diverse educators is a critical strategy to serve communities of color. As part of a larger #TeachersWeNeed campaign, EdTrust-West has published evidence-based and community-sourced recommendations that can make a big impact in communities near you. If you represent Local Education Agencies, work as school administrators, state representatives, are an educator, or are just curious to learn about what current research says about educator diversity, make sure you take a look at the audience-specific briefs and the original California Educator Diversity Roadmap! #TeacherShortage #EducatorDiversity #CommunityInformedSolutions #LessTalkMoreWalk

Cultivating Changemakers through Restorative Justice 🌱 This article and interview by Education Week gives insights to the benefits of Restorative Justice practices, including restorative circle, as a teaching tool to support students with resolving conflict. Not only is it a life skill students (and adults) need to have, it also supports outcomes for students academically and socially. In serving the whole child as educators, creating and maintaining spaces for resolving conflicts are essential in building up Changemakers and supporting the being and becoming of our students. Cultivating Changemakers, LLC will continue to support the work restorative circle and other forms of circle have in community building, as research shows its direct, positive impact to learning. #CultivatingChangemakers #RestorativeJustice #RestorativeCircle #ConflictResolution

Such an important concept. Consistent constructive implementation is one key to success

Thinking about community, and the space I want to facilitate and co-create (in my Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy Social Studies methods class), I was reminded of the following, a very resonant quote from Maxine Greene. Kind of a full-circle moment for me, as one of the first schools where I taught in the NYC Department of Education was inspired by Greene's pedagogical philosophies, in collaboration with Lincoln Center Education. What response do you have to Greene's words?: “In thinking of community, we need to emphasize the process words: making, creating, weaving, saying, and the like. Community cannot be produced simply through rational formulation nor through edict. Like freedom, it has to be achieved by persons offered the space in which to discover what they recognize together … it ought to be a space infused by the kind of imaginative awareness that enables those involved to imagine alternative possibilities for their own becoming and their group’s becoming. Community is not a question of which social contracts are the most reasonable for individuals to enter. It is a question of what might contribute to the pursuit of shared goods: what ways of being together, of attaining mutuality, of reaching toward some common world.” - Maxine Greene, Imagination, Community, and The School, p.39 

Imagine a world where every child, regardless of ability, has access to quality education. Unfortunately, when schools fail to adhere to IDEA, this vision is compromised. Let's explore the real-life consequences of schools not meeting IDEA standards and how we can work together to advocate for all children. What are your thoughts on this critical issue? Let us know in the comments!

Release Announcement: Our three "California Educator Diversity Road Map" policy briefs are now available! These documents offer targeted recommendations for state policymakers, LEAs, and educators, aiming to foster educator diversity. This series is part of EdTrust-West’s #TeachersWeNeed campaign, which seeks to drive urgency and uplift tangible solutions to address California’s #educatorsofcolor and teacher shortage. Download the briefs today: bit.ly/3U0HidU

Schools and districts that prioritize learning and implementing school-family partnership best practices can see a massive reduction in chronic absenteeism, as well as a host of other positive outcomes. For instance, several districts in California cut their absenteeism rates in half by implementing relationship-centered home visits. Other districts have made significant strides by utilizing TalkingPoints and other two-way communication apps. How is your school or district proactively setting a strong foundation for next school year? Please reach out if I can support your next steps, and pick up a copy of On The Same Team: Bringing Educators and Underrepresented Families Together! #familyengagement #schools #teachers #students #families Solution Tree NAFSCE (National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement) TalkingPoints National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Connecticut Family School Partnerships Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) Edutopia - George Lucas Educational Foundation

Is this the future of education? Would you consider enrolling your child in a SLANT-based school? Advocates of no-excuses policies in schools argue that progressive, child-centered approaches that spread in the 1970s caused a behavioral crisis, reduced learning, and hindered social mobility. The policy is called “Slant” (Sit up, Lean forward, Ask and answer questions, Nod your head, and Track the speaker). The argument in favor of SLANT? Wealthy children can afford to waste time at school because “their parents take them to museums and art galleries,” In contrast, for children from poorer backgrounds, “the only way you’re going to know about some Roman history is if you’re in your school learning.” Should we instead advocate for a balanced approach that offers all children, regardless of their economic status, access to an environment that fosters discipline alongside creativity and freedom? #FutureOfEducation #SLANTSchool #NoExcusesPolicy #DisciplineInSchools #CreativityInEducation #EducationalReform #HolisticDevelopment