How can we create writing spaces and places where students can express themselves and make something beautiful? This is the essential question that #TDSB Beginning Teachers and their Mentors have begun to explore in a professional learning series led by the incredible @triciaebarvia.bsky.social

The Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy is BACK! Join @sonjacherrypaul.bsky.social and I on July 9 and 10 for an ONLINE gathering focused on our most urgent challenges as educators right now. Register at TheIREL.org. ⬇️ #IREL25

Saw this article estonianworld.com/culture/what...

Dispatch From The Ruins: (School The Eleventh Incitement) from Ross Gay’s Inciting Joy is all about making “beautiful shit together” in spite of and under oppressive educational systems. The entire essay is utterly delightful and inspiring.

ISO of quotes, essays, articles that speak to the importance of making art / creating / imagination during dark times. Let me know what you have and I'll share as well. (also, still getting my footing around here and not sure with # s to use? #edusky #DisruptTexts #ELA ?)

Okay, I have never seen Wicked the musical nor read Wicked the book. I grew up with Wizard of Oz though. But other than that, I walked into seeing Wicked the movie today mostly not knowing much (well, except for ‘Defying Gravity’). I have feeling/thoughts and trying to sort through them.

If you’re at #PoCC, come through!!!

December is really confusing for non-Christian kids in public schools. Holiday shows and decorations and constant Christmas music playing. I don't know if teachers really consider all of this from their perspective.

#Getfree by @triciaebarvia.bsky.social is today’s #bookaday. What a thoughtful and well-written exploration of antibias literacy instruction. I’ll come back to this one again and again.

I stand by this, even given the stellar history of Black protest. Black folks are always going to stand up for civil rights and human rights! But NO, you are NOT going to see the vast majority of us outside if there's a military coup... are you serious?! We vote the way we do SO WE DON'T HAVE TO.

Agree w/ @heymrsbond.bsky.social I’m also very uncomfortable w/AI’s record of oppressive algorithms, racist impacts & other ethical issues. Not interested in feeding the machine. There may already be a lot of AI in our lives… but still. When given the choice, I’ll err on the side of more humanity.

In addition to puzzles, I’m putting current energies and love into feeding the family, especially with my oldest home for the weekend. This morning: French toast with ube whipped cream 💜💛❤️💙

I have arrived at the point in puzzle solving where every piece looks the same 🤦🏽‍♀️

To cope with the world, I’m taking up puzzles. #simplethings

Good book mail awaiting me this evening. Edited by @mayaschenwar.bsky.social & Kim Wilson, from @haymarketbooks.org.

Help us send 2,000 books to readers who are incarcerated this winter through our Books Not Bars program

“Looking at the reasons patriarchy has maintained its power over men and their lives, I urge us to reclaim feminism for men… Men cannot change if there are no blueprints for change. Men cannot love if they are not taught the art of loving.” - bell hooks #DisruptTexts #Reading

An Open Letter to our Publishers has been sent to over 90 Publishing CEOs this morning in response to the concerns of our members. 1/4

Theres an uncomfortable subject that exit polls, election post mortems & even the most progressive pundits NEVER talk about. All the political hot takes on why Trump won are based on 1 unspoken premise: It’s time to talk about the mono-racial coalition thegrio.com/2024/11/22/w...

When you go to the lobby to do work and then you run into all your favorite people #NCTE24 @sonjacherrypaul.bsky.social @heymrsbond.bsky.social @lyricalswordz.bsky.social @jessycamathews.bsky.social

Putting final touches on our “Literacy is Love Work” session tomorrow! 🔥 Come see us at 3:30, room 258B #DisruptTexts #NCTE24

On a more uplifting note, please attend some of these amazing #AsianAmAF sessions at #NCTE24

1. Trust yourself. 2. Find others trust. 3. Grieve. 4. Release what you cannot change. 5. Find your path: > Protect people > Disrupt and disobey > Defend civic institutions > Build alternatives ➡️ wagingnonviolence.org/2024/11/10-t...

It can be scary AF in a scene like this to be the upstander; one might, realistically, worry that the violent mob might turn on you next. But for God’s sake. Rehearse what you might do, how you might intervene. Get upstander training. If hate happens & you’re not the victim: Do the right thing.

Checked into my #NCTE24 hotel, turned around, and first folx I see are @jessycamathews.bsky.social and @joelrgarza.bsky.social This is a good sign 💛

As I head to #NCTE24, feeling a lot of what we at my school call “double dip” feelings. Excited to see so many good folx who are truly doing the work, but also angered and disheartened seeing the ways that White Supremacy continues to persists in all spaces. 1/

It feels truly ridiculous to post this with the state of the world right now, but something I’ve come to really appreciate and need more is being in community. If you’re headed to #NCTE24, here’s where I’ll be —

Holy cow! Thank you @triciaebarvia.bsky.social and #GetFree for introducing me to this #Unforgettable poem by Acevedo, Matam, and Yamazawa! youtu.be/Xvah3E1fP20?...

Over 100 #TDSB educators participated in a webinar led by the incredible @triciaebarvia.bsky.social. Tricia taught us strategies we can use to help students to develop an anti-bias mindset to become stronger readers, writers, and thinkers. Resources are available on the TDSB English/Literacy site

Trans people should be remembered while we're alive & well. Trans people should be celebrated while we're alive & well. Trans people should be supported while we're alive & well. Trans people should be alive & well.

Studying this BEAUTIFUL text by @triciaebarvia.bsky.social. Excuse the baby hand; he’s my study buddy 🤣😭

Every person on earth — every baby, every middle-aged man, every elderly woman — deserves peace. There is no purpose to our lives if not to liberate one another.

Okay, this looks pretty good!!! youtu.be/9T76-c0p0S4?...

This book is full of actionable actions.

"What Should Anti-Bias Literacy Instruction Look Like in the Classroom?" with @triciaebarvia.bsky.social is NEW @educationweek post www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

All I have to say about that article is that I cannot believe we are still talking about To Kill a Mockingbird.

Saw the description of a new book on the “education wars.” Haven’t read the book, but the word “obsession” here is… a choice. It’s been bothering me since I read it. Obsession implies that there’s irrational abt being genuinely concerned about race and gender affect schooling. Feels… dismissive.

Having just posted about upcoming conferences and book stuff, I also want to say how truly ridiculous it feels to post about anything other than the chaos of this world right now. Buy a friend just shared this with me and it feels like something at least. 5calls.org

And the rest of my #NCTE23 schedule!

If you’re at #NCTE23, come say hi at my book signing! Plus I love got some goodies for ya!!! 🥰 Sat, 11/18, Corwin Booth

On my first road trip with my parents in forever/probably since I was a kid! This time, though, it’s my hubby driving, one kid in the front, parents in the back seat, and me and the youngest in the third row. Off to see our oldest for parents wknd in college! #HailToPiitt

Join us on Nov 4! The National Museum of the American Indian and Teaching for Change are offering a Teach In, online! Details here: www.teachingforchange.org/native-knowl... And please share the information with others in your networks. Thanks!

Another draft from my notebook, written a while ago & almost forgotten. A short poem about my second (or was it my third?) love Shout out to Austin's Les Amis Cafe. If you know, you know ☕🚬 middleagedmiddlechild.com/2023/11/01/s...

For teachers, Halloween on a Tuesday might be the cruelest day. Kids are bananas on Mon and Wed, and Thu and Fri feel like a whole other week. My kids’ district had in-service on Halloween and the day after. Whoever made that decision was a genius.

Yay!

Happy to be back with The Big Questions Institute! Join me on 11/20 for this free webinar as I share some of my favorite perspective-taking strategies for deepening and expanding student understanding. #LetsGetFree #DisruptTexts www.bqi.community/c/events/fre...

Reminder that the new COVID shot isn’t just a booster, it’s a new vaccine more effective against more variants. Important to get it and remind friends & family.

The Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy is coming to Boston! In partnership with the Center for Educating Critically at BU, we're excited to offer two signature 3-day sessions in 2024! Space will be limited! For early registration alerts and the first chance to sign-up ▶️ bit.ly/irel24-boston