The Weekend Voice

Three reasons why you should be doing student-led professional development at your school.

Hey Advocates,

This week, I want to discuss the value of student-led professional development. Consider traditional thoughts about adult/student learning dynamics. Typically, students are viewed as the receivers of learning, and adults provide the teaching. However, we need to remove the idea that students are exclusively the learners and adults are solely the teachers.

Amplifying your student's voices is a game-changing way to improve teaching and learning. Student-led professional development influences teacher practices (Holdsworth, 2014). It's essential to incorporate what students say and go through to make lessons relevant to their needs.

Who are we serving, and who should ultimately benefit from our professional development?

The outcome from PD must be tools to serve your students and their families better. Who better to learn from? We talk about co-teaching and learning from our students from a classroom level. But we don't always talk about the importance and value of l...

Breaking the Cycle: How Educators Can Address Complacency and Foster Inclusion

Hey Advocates,

Pull up a chair, and let's chat about something I haven't discussed in a bit: taking a stance in leadership to create a sense of belonging in our students. I know it's a mouthful, but it's a critical part for school leaders. You are the Chief DEIB of your school. Your actions, or lack thereof, can significantly impact your students' sense of belonging and success.

Let me ask you this: Have you ever thought about the fact that not taking a stance is actually taking a stance? When we're in a position of power and choose not to make a change or lead change for social justice and equity, we're essentially saying, "Eh, everything's fine as it is." "We don't have an equity problem here." The reality is there's always room for growth.

One key aspect of taking a stance is creating an inclusive educational environment. Th

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What we believe shapes how we treat students at school

Hey Advocates!

Last night, I talked about the power of Social Learning Theory in shaping how we treat students at school. Social Learning Theory, as proposed by psychologist Albert Bandura, tells us that we learn by watching others and mimicking their behavior. And guess what? This theory dramatically impacts how educators and students interact in the classroom.

Think about it: as educators, we're not just there to teach math or science. We're also role models for the kids. Our attitudes, beliefs, and actions can influence how students see themselves and their peers. When we treat everyone respectfully and believe in their abilities, we create an environment where positive social learning can thrive. Consider the students who often are quiet or have identities different from most of their peers. How we treat them may impact how their peers treat them as well.

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Embracing Diversity: How Teachers Can Support Students with Different Beliefs and Values

Hey there, fellow educators and students! Today, we're diving into the crucial topic of valuing and respecting everyone's beliefs and values. We all come from diverse backgrounds, and ensuring everyone feels included and supported in the classroom is essential.

First, let's talk about recognizing and accommodating different beliefs and values. Imagine being super excited about watching a movie with your classmates but then finding out you can't because of your family's beliefs – that can feel pretty tough, right?

Here's the deal – teachers, it's essential to be aware of students' backgrounds and religious practices. Not everyone celebrates the same holidays, eats the same foods, or partakes in the same traditions. Understanding and respecting these differences can create a vibe of inclusivity and belonging in our classrooms.

Now, let's chat about how to accommodate different beliefs and values. Say a class activity clashes with a student's religious holiday. No problem! Offering alt...

The Influential Aspects of Attachment Theory on Acceptance and Sense of Belonging

Hey Advocates,

First of all, Happy New Year to you and your family. I hope you are doing well. The Leading Equity Center has a lot of things coming down the pipeline, stay tuned to learn about all that we have going on. Let's get to this week's topic.

Ever heard of the Attachment Theory? If not, buckle up because we're diving into why it matters for you and your students. Attachment theory is all about the bonds kids form with the people who care for them. This could be parents, caregivers, and educators.

So, why should you care about attachment theory? Well, let's break it down. Imagine your students as puzzle pieces, and the school as the big puzzle. Each piece has to fit just right to complete the picture, right? The same goes for students. When they feel safe, accepted, and supported, they can slide into the school puzzle sea

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Constructing Positive Affirmations: Tools for Mitigating Bias and Fostering Belonging

Hey Advocates,

Creating a welcoming and affirming environment for all students is crucial for their success in the classroom. Affirming students means acknowledging and validating their identities, experiences, and needs. As educators, it's important to understand that every student brings with them a unique set of experiences and perspectives. By practicing affirmative techniques, we can actively promote a positive and inclusive learning environment.

One way to affirm students in the classroom is by creating a collective classroom affirmation statement. This can involve having students participate in an activity where they share their vision of a perfect classroom. The input from students can be used to craft an affirmation statement that reflects their values and aspirations. This collective affirmation can be prominently di

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Harnessing Anger and Joy: A Path to Designing Equitable Futures in Education

Hey Advocates,

As an educator, I know how challenging it can be to manage situations when students express anger. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to respond; here's a different perspective that encourages us to see anger as a signal for change.

This week, I learned from Dr. Lesley-Ann Noel that student anger can catalyze positive action. Instead of viewing anger as a disruption, we can learn to see it as a signal that something needs to change. Understanding and responding to student anger can provide valuable insight into the areas where improvement is required, both in the classroom and beyond.

We must create spaces for students to express their anger and feel heard. By opening up communication channels and providing opportunities for students to share their feelings, we can gain a deeper understanding of the is...

Engaging the Brain: Unlocking the Power of Teaching Through Neuroscience

Hey Advocates,

I hope this message finds you well and ready for the Winter Break. Spring is right around the corner, and my calendar is starting to fill up for speaking engagements. If you are looking to partner up for keynotes and workshops, check out what the Leading Equity Center has to offer. Or book a free 30-minute consultation with me.

This Week, we are talking about Unlocking the Power of Teaching Through Neuroscience.

In education, understanding the brain and its functions is crucial to creating effective teaching strategies and engaging students in learning. By leveraging cognitive science and neuroscience; educators can revolutionize how they approach teaching and achieve higher student engagement and learning levels.

The Brain's Capacity for Learning

The brain has a limited capacity for processing and learning new i...

Test anxiety is a real challenge for many students and can hinder their performance.

Hey Advocates,

I hope this message finds you doing well. As many of our schools are in testing mode for finals, this week's theme is about Test Anxiety.

The Impact of Test Anxiety

Test anxiety is a common experience for many students and can have a significant impact on their academic performance. It can manifest in various ways, such as fear of negative evaluation, negative prior experiences, lack of preparation, pressure to perform, and negative self-talk. Students may feel overwhelmed and stressed when faced with exams, decreasing their ability to focus and perform at their best.

Fear of Negative Evaluation

One of the primary factors contributing to test anxiety is the fear of negative evaluation. Students may worry about being judged based on their performance, leading to feelings of pressure and apprehension. This fear can ...

Let's talk about exclusionary practices in schools

Hey Advocates,

I hope this message finds you well. I'm getting back from Ohio this week. A huge shoutout to Dwight Carter and the rest of the Eastland Fairfield staff for hosting me.

Next week, I'm headed to Arlington Heights, IL, for some continued work on strategies for utilizing difficult text. I'm looking forward to this workshop as we answer the question "how do I teach curriculum with challenging text?" This session provides practical strategies, scenarios, and talking points from real classroom situations.

Reach out to the Leading Equity Center if you are in need of support and let's get you setup with a free 30-minute consultation.

One thing that we often neglect is the failure to shift our focus away from ourselves. I've experienced this firsthand. I used to be accustomed to the traditional teaching model where the teach

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20 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Activities To Do With Your Team

Leading change is a collaborative effort and thoughtful leaders must begin with the end in mind. However, leading change involves strategic planning sessions that increase awareness of the blind spots within our professional practices. This playbook features 20 activities you can use to lead change initiatives with the goal of ensuring equity within your organization.

I NEED THIS!

Three reasons why you should be doing student-led professional development at your school.

Breaking the Cycle: How Educators Can Address Complacency and Foster Inclusion

What we believe shapes how we treat students at school

Embracing Diversity: How Teachers Can Support Students with Different Beliefs and Values

The Influential Aspects of Attachment Theory on Acceptance and Sense of Belonging

Constructing Positive Affirmations: Tools for Mitigating Bias and Fostering Belonging

Harnessing Anger and Joy: A Path to Designing Equitable Futures in Education

Engaging the Brain: Unlocking the Power of Teaching Through Neuroscience

Test anxiety is a real challenge for many students and can hinder their performance.

Let's talk about exclusionary practices in schools

20 Diversity Equity and Inclusion Activities To Do With Your Team

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