TL;DR: This article is an interview with Dennis Mathew—an author, innovator, and speech-language pathologist in Oklahoma. We can’t ignore racism and things that are not right in the world, but we can bring the light. Dennis makes sure healing is infused into all of his works and that they can easily be used in the classroom setting. Self-discovery is a … Read More
Kindness Doesn’t Equal Justice
TL;DR: Being kind is key to creating a better world, but it isn’t the same thing as justice. Kindness that is rooted in justice isn’t always comfortable, but it’s necessary to create change that matters and affects marginalized students and communities. Kindness is a human way that we connect to each other, in both words and actions. Being kind to … Read More
What Are Book Deserts?
TL;DR: A book desert is defined as a “geographic area with limited access to age-appropriate books, print materials and reading culture.” Reading requires time and access to materials. Students have a right to quality, diverse, and robust selections of books. Consider representation in reading materials. Readers who can see themselves in books are more likely to pick up more books. What is … Read More
Four (MORE!) Action Items for Pride in Your Classroom
TL;DR: This post is a follow-up to the post: Three Action Items for Pride Month in Your Classroom (and Beyond!) Four additional action items for Pride in your classroom include following representative leadership, amplifying others’ voices, making concrete commitments, and celebrating joy. The response to this month’s post, “Three Action Items for Pride Month in Your Classroom (and Beyond!)” has … Read More
Three Qualities to Possess as an Educator
TL;DR: Focus on equity over equality: Treat students equitably and give them what they need to be successful by considering inclusion. Maslow before Bloom’s Taxonomy: Know your students and attend to their needs first. Find your own teaching philosophy. Be yourself. Qualities to Possess #1: See your classroom with EQUITY as a focus. Equity vs. Equality—there is no DEBATE! You … Read More