Category Archive: social justice

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A Few Reflections and Shares From NCTE 2019

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For the last few days, I have had the privilege of attending the National Council of Teachers of English Convention in Baltimore, Maryland. While there were many colleagues and friends who shared the experience, I know many others couldn’t attend. I’m sure there are others who will share in the upcoming weeks, but for now, in somewhat of a post-convention haze, I’m scrolling through my notes and pulling out some of my favorite quotes and ideas from my experiences.

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Everyone Gets What They Need: Reaching Your Writers

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How a story about babies and bandages helped kids and families differentiate between equity and equality….and what it looks like for everyone go get what they need during writing workshop.

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From Skin Study to Writing Workshop

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After finishing each swirl of her curly hair, Camila circled her paintbrush around and around, forming eyes. For many children, the self-portrait stops here, at the outline.  I kneeled next to the young… Continue reading →

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On Becoming an Anti-Racist Teacher of Young Writers

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A move to a school in my Brooklyn neighborhood has me questioning my role as a white teacher of young, Black writers — and what my former role was as a white teacher of white students.

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Join Us: A Letter

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Two Writing Teachers is growing. We hope you’ll join us as we learn, share, and write.

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Respecting Student Creativity: Teaching Writing With A Social Justice Lens

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Whether students choose to express themselves in the form of writing prose, poetry or creating a video, the choice belongs to the writer.

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Thinking About Implicit Bias: Teaching Writing With a Social Justice Lens

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As we think about our implicit biases, maybe the most important thing is that we increase our awareness and act from a place of humility and reflection– with a willingness to take a look at parts of our belief systems and behaviors that are uncomfortable, at best. When we know better, we do better. And isn’t that the goal?

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Overview: Teaching Writing With a Social Justice Lens

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Throughout our posts this week, you may read the refrain, “When we know better, we do better.” We are on the continuum of growing our own understandings and practices around the importance of social justice, cultural awareness, empathy, and inclusion. We hope you join the conversation. Please comment. Please share your own experiences and resources. Please begin conversations within your own environments and practices.

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Highlights from We Got This

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I’ve attended 14 TCRWP summer institutes since I began my teaching career. I’ve learned countless things about becoming a better teacher of writers. Through the years, I’ve also learned which afternoon choice sessions… Continue reading →

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Continuing to think about our mentor texts

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While we have to ask ourselves questions about where books fit into our curriculum and how books support mindsets, now, more than ever, we should be asking how the books we use promote social justice and cultural awareness. These questions do not apply only to the books we offer students to read, but also the books we use to teach students to write. 

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Black History Month & Beyond – My #NF10for10 + 10 Book Giveaways

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Today is the annual Nonfiction Picture Book 10 for 10, hosted by Cathy Mere from Reflect and Refine, Mandy Robek of Enjoy and Embrace Learning, and Julie Balen of Write at the Edge.… Continue reading →

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The Truth Matters!

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My students published their research-based essays on the Holocaust this morning, which was not a small feat! I was so incredibly proud of their diligence and desire to produce a quality piece of… Continue reading →

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More from NCTE

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Ruth and I joined up this morning for two workshops: “Where has all the Real Choice Gone? Revisiting an Essential Element in Writing Instruction” and also for “Where Social Justice and School Meet.”… Continue reading →