I never got the chance to break down my high school experience in a way that was analytical and “academic. Entonces, even though this letter is addressed to y’all, this is an opportunity for me to articulate thoughts I had lingering en mi mente with concepts that I’ve learned aquí.
I wish someone had told me–verified for me, validated for me–that everything would be okay. Just the vote of confidence, a light of hope, would have been enough for me to see the path ahead.
"To be able to mentor students effectively, we first need self-care in the wake of this global health crisis. Self-care, under these circumstances, is nothing short of an act of defiance in the face of exploitation."
When I started teaching I liked to think that I was participating in the education of a new generation which would reinforce the foundations of democracy; today I feel more like a job trainer.
I cannot be silent any longer. The real work now lays ahead of us, it’s questioning the beliefs we have accepted, often without the realization that they are a part of us.
In times of uncertainty and fear, what I find most helpful is love and care as I struggle. Why would learning, since it’s its own process of working through uncertainty, be any different?
I focused on whether or not they felt welcomed into the community and whether or not they felt heard. I looked beyond the College Board’s pre-determined learning outcomes to students’ level of engagement, play, and curiosity.
Consent is necessary to respecting students, and to valuing and empowering them. We cannot fully expect students to authentically participate in their education — and the education of their peers — when they are being forced to do so.
We must find strength in numbers, because one classroom, one teacher, one program will never be enough. Our community needs our commitment in every class.
Abandoning old policies to support student success brings a sense of freedom and fulfillment that is far superior to adhering to outdated notions of rigor.
