Many years ago, I had a parent tell me that one of her concerns for her child was that her tremendous academic growth would mean that she would face a lot of difficulty on the marriage market. At the time, I really struggled with this concern – I thought the parent was thoughtful and reasonable… Continue reading #11: are there identities or experiences that make us uncomfortable?
what moves do we need to make to embody a both/and mindset?
#9 was the first in a second unit within my learning love series. The original formulation called this second act, “centring the margins,” inspired by a concept from bell hooks. In this unit, I invite you to slow down enough to see every single student and teacher we work with clearly. Seeing every person, child… Continue reading what moves do we need to make to embody a both/and mindset?
what can we do about our blindspots so that we can see and know all our students?
Every school fails some of its students. Competitive independent schools often fail children with learning differences. Large classrooms often fail quieter students or those with social anxiety. Co-ed classrooms often fail girls with low self-esteem. Single-sex schools often fail nonbinary or trans kids. In an ideal world, every student would have access to the school… Continue reading what can we do about our blindspots so that we can see and know all our students?
what is our personal action plan?
This is my eighth piece exploring what it means to lead with love. See the other pieces at the links below: #1: learning love: a beginning #2: what does it mean to be love? #3: how do we lead with love through our mistakes? #4: what is wrong with urgency? What is beautiful about patience? #5: how do we model patience?… Continue reading what is our personal action plan?
understanding feasibility
Often, I have students who are very excited about the prospect of conducting primary research with a topic that is far from actually doable in the year they have in my classroom. In comes a lesson about feasibility. That exploring the power of research helps students arrive at topics that are personal, relevant, and urgent… Continue reading understanding feasibility
why teachers should write
In November 2015, I made the commitment to Teach for India. At the time, it was a hard and fraught decision, until mom called me and told me that I was either the daughter she raised me to be, or not. I signed my contract and never looked back. One of the many things that… Continue reading why teachers should write
what makes it challenging to think clearly about urgency and patience?
This is my seventh piece exploring what it means to lead with love. See the other pieces at the links below: #1: learning love: a beginning #2: what does it mean to be love? #3: how do we lead with love through our mistakes? #4: what is wrong with urgency? What is beautiful about patience?… Continue reading what makes it challenging to think clearly about urgency and patience?
when do we need urgency?
This is my sixth piece exploring what it means to lead with love. See the other pieces at the links below: #1: learning love: a beginning #2: what does it mean to be love? #3: how do we lead with love through our mistake? #4: what is wrong with urgency? what is beautiful about patience? #5: how do we model patience?… Continue reading when do we need urgency?
how do we model patience?
This is my fifth piece exploring what it means to lead with love. See the other pieces at the links below: #1: learning love: a beginning #2: what does it mean to be love? #3: how do we lead with love through our mistake? #4: what is wrong with urgency? what is beautiful about patience? As we work to build… Continue reading how do we model patience?
what can research do?
Nancie Atwell’s Naming the World is a poetry anthology for middle school teachers that begins with a chunk titled, “What Poetry Can Do.” Atwell writes, “by the end of this introductory chunk, I hope every student is sold on the potential of poetry to give voice to something in the experience of his or her… Continue reading what can research do?
