Brazilian Educator, Paulo Freire, was known for saying, “students become the teacher and the teacher becomes the student”; however, that can only happen if we are authentic in our efforts. In this episode, I chat with Julia Torres, a librarian, consultant, and writer from Colorado, about ways that our efforts must line up with our beliefs about this very thing. Creating spaces in which student voices are elevated, requires us to be intentional in our planning, teaching, and follow-up. This episode will be one that you will need to pause, rewind, and replay because of all of the gems that Julia shares.

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“I can’t teach you, if I don’t know you.” -Author Unknown

One thing that we as educators have learned is the power of human connection. Oh, how we long to hug and be with our students. Unfortunately, we are reminded daily that we are still in a pandemic AND 6 feet apart with masks on is our new temporary normal! I had the chance to chat with LaMar, a middle school English teacher and college professor,  who shared ways that he has and continues to build community while creating an environment of joy with his students, regardless of the environment. If you want to learn more about LaMar, follow him on Twitter at @teachLTL.

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Marian Wright Edelman said, “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your world and community better than you found it.” With the untraditional start to a new school year, educators around the country are on a roller coaster of emotions. With anxieties around which school opening model districts will land on, missing their students, the inequities that exist in education, it’s challenging not to want to curl up in your bed and wake up when the chaos passes over. So how do we cope? How do we remind ourselves of the silver linings that show up from time to time? Listen to this episode as I give you quick tips that will help to bring you back to your WHY. We all need a little reminder from time to time.

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Who would have thought that we would still be talking about this pandemic and its effects on education? When we think about all of the events that have surfaced over the past few months, we can’t help but reflect on how this will inform our teaching in the future. Concerns around virtual, blended, or a traditional start, continue to be a topic of discussion. All of these adult decisions are happening, yet we never invited our students to the planning table. How are they handling this? In what ways will it affect their motivation to learn? In this episode, I had a great conversation with my son, Keith! As a high school senior, he shared with me his experience with his teachers and his strategy for staying motivated to work independently.  At the end of the day, we must be reminded that it is not about an impact rather it is about reshaping education.

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How do we ensure that we are connecting with our students in a variety of ways? It doesn’t just happen and we must be intentional in our efforts to build and strengthen relationships with each and every child…even in a virtual space. There are many lessons to be learned in a virtual learning space, yet one that continuously rises to the top of the list is the question of equity. In this episode, I had a great discussion with TaTanisha Copeland aka Counselor Lady. In her students’ community internet is scarce, family involvement is limited, and the priorities are not always academics. She shared her experiences of balancing self-care while being creative with connecting with her students. Connecting with all learners, making sure they are all seen and all heard is essential.

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An abrupt pause to traditional education and the green light on virtual learning. Sounds familiar? In this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with the coauthors of “Read the World: Rethinking Literacy for Empathy and Action in a Digital Age” by Kristin Ziemke and Katie Muhtaris. Teachers are faced with the challenge of engaging and connecting with their students in unchartered territory. The good news is that teaching is not a silo. Kristin and Katie share some great tips and strategies that will help to make the student experience a more meaningful one through the digital world.

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