TL;DR: Names should be celebrated and said correctly by teachers as a means of retaining student dignity and identity. Students don’t need nicknames; they need our effort and allyship. My parents named me Caitlin, which was also the most popular feminine given name of my birth year. My mom always made sure to point out that she spelled it the … Read More
Toxic Positivity at School
TL;DR: Toxic positivity does more harm than good. Having a purely positive mindset is a privilege, and does not reflect everyone’s realities. It is important to be realistic about the situations and emotions that are present. Telling students to see the glass as half full will not wash away their anxieties. Welcome to Teach Beyond! A few weeks ago, I … Read More