Coaching and Learning
This Women’s History Month I will be participating in a 5-part series dedicated to different topics concerning women and gender, women’s history and women’s present.
Last Thursday was a joy, so I’m inviting you to our next session! I hope to see you there!
I have stated this previously: Black History is the history of the world, it is a global history.
And I have previously recommended a variety of books, and recommended a variety of platforms, but all my recommendations have been focused on classroom use and teacher-centered professional development. The history–while trying to be as inclusive and global as possible–has remained academic in nature. And it has remained, generally, about the past.
Now, my 7th and 8th grade history teacher taught me that history is the past, present, and future. If we want to know about tomorrow, we can look at our present. If we want to know about today, we can look at our past.
Time, and history, is interwoven. Bound to one another.
This lesson, and their teaching overall, ignited a passion for history; indeed, one of my majors in my undergraduate studies was history–and this passion is alive and well.
I see that history is more than numbers or facts, that history is hardly stagnant or irrelevant. History is stories and emotions, mind-blowing and saucy–yes, I said saucy.
But I am guilty of not bringing in every aspect of entertainment and joy to my history lessons. And I realized recently: I have never discussed what to do outside the classroom.
So this month — this Black History Month — I ask:
How are you, personally, committed to Black History Month?
Remember: Black History is the past, present, and future.
Remember: Black History is fun too! It doesn’t have to be facts, dry, or focused on rote learning. It can just be learning for learning’s sake. It can simply mean diversifying the content that makes you smile and laugh.
So, what beyond the classroom, do you do to celebrate Black History?
Again–remember: Black History is the past, present, and future; and, Black History is fun!
Need inspiration? Examples? No worries–I got you covered.
Author: Beverly Jenkins — saucy! (romance novels)
Instagram: @redactedhistory_ — mind-blowing (short stories/reels)
Podcast: Black History Year — stories and emotions (short & long episodes full of emotion)
I don’t know where you are on your DEI journey. I don’t know the limits, or limitless nature, of instruction and learning as it pertains to Black History Month–and any other group, or month long celebration.
But what I do know is:
And with all of that — I ask again: How are you, personally, committed to Black History Month? What do you do outside the classroom to make sure you know and celebrate every story and emotion of Black History–past, present, and future.
It may be too soon for some, but hiring season for the start of next school year (August 2022/September 2022) is here.
My advice for this month: think about next year, now.
Whether you decide to stay at your school, your school network/charter/district, or the profession altogether is a conversation and critical conversation at that.
I think staying at a school is arguably easiest. The routine, community, expectations are known. Moving classrooms or grade levels can be done in a day, maybe two. It is arguably the safest route–safest in the sense of the known, the continuity of it all.
The hardest, without a doubt, is leaving the profession altogether–and this is a relatively recent choice, conversation, and common-enough occurrence of late to be a much more serious option for a lot more people.
Wherever you land on the spectrum of what to do, or what you’re considering, it’s time to think about next year . . . now.
Talk to colleagues, look at your contract papers/letters of intent, discuss it with family and/or friends, do what’s best for you and make a plan for next year . . .
As we head into the final two weeks of November, I am reminded, and will remind others, to take some time and double-check plans . . . this month, and every month: Have I included Indigneous voices? This month in particular: How will I ensure my instruction, my holiday recognition, is inclusive, well-rounded, whole?
Take a moment. Reflect. Add to your instruction.
My first year of teaching, at the end of April, I was told by a veteran teacher: beware of May. She didn’t explain why or what, she just said enjoy the rest of April because May isn’t easy.
Every year I have taught, I think of her and her warning. And while every year I do make it through May, it’s definitely rough.
This year I finished a professional development series. As the instructor, I had presentations, portfolios, and paperwork making me anxious the first two weeks of May, and then consuming all my time the last two weeks of May. On top of that, I presented my final education webinar, and I finished three large editing projects.
May is a month of celebrations, and deadlines. Culminating projects, and closing paperwork. It’s a big month in the world of education. So, I apologize for falling behind here, but I did make it to the other side so that’s something to celebrate, right? 😁
C is for Camacho 