A thread of gratitude to some important people from my life this week...
Shouts to @TheJLV for matching energies and always being there to help me laugh at myself. Open invite to folks to come see us and match energies with us at the #TOCA summit at CU Boulder next month.
A big hug to Kristen Gilligan at @TatteredCover for supporting #ProjectLITMontbello in ways both large and small. Excited about the big exciting things coming up for 2019.
Thank you @KielyBrendan for supporting us this week. We can't wait to meet you and talk #TraditionBook on October 9th! This timing is wild...
So much love to Mr. Zach Serrano @reimaginerace@ASK4_ and @Mr_OsoDope for all the ways you support me every single day. "Telllll...themmmm... it'll be alright, be alriiiiight..." 20 years, fam. We old.😂
I think that's all that needs to be said here. You already know.
Shout out to @ethelibrarian for being my tech support and putting up with my random requests and general hectic lifestyle, checking books out to kids when I'm getting bombarded, and accepting eggs as payment. Couldn't do lots of things without you. ❤📚😘
Hugs to @MisterMinor and @nenagerman for being my socio-emotional lifelines this week. Sometimes you just need somebody to tell you, "You're doing great, sweetie", and make great book recs and remind you of the historical legacy.
There are so many more amazing educators, authors, school and district personnel, and most importantly, students without whom this work would not be possible...Just know that I'm so thankful for your love, your talents, your persistence in pursuit of a better world.
Also...I know you already know this, but I love you right back. Now, let's get this weekend started, shall we? After this week I'm about to weekend so hard. 😁😂 There will be sleeping, and #TheEdCollabGathering and cleaning the artisanal chicken coop, and more sleeping....
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So I'm going to post some links.... All purchases go to supporting initiatives I am a part of/helping to lead. Recently had somebody reach out asking for my Venmo to compensate me for all they learn from me on Twitter. I appreciate that. Here are additional ways...[THREAD]
#Educolor is my heart home. It is where familia, intense dreaming, and powerful activism centered around educational equity starts and ends for me.
My first #librarian PD day was like this... [a thread]
So, we're meeting at the School of the Arts, but they don't have a library anymore, so instead of meeting in the library, we're meeting in the cafeteria. It was beautiful, but I am directionally challenged, so I got lost...as always...and was like...
We're going to hear some statistics and get hyped, but also sad, but also hyped: 250,000 in ebook check-outs, but schools can opt-out of having library services. There is grant money available, but as people retire, they're not being replaced.
Soooo one of the first pieces of news I heard this morning was about white nationalist rallies in DC, Charlottesville, and perhaps across the country.
It is shameful and beyond embarrassing (I have International friends all over the world) to think about how these are the same people who say the pledge of allegiance to, "One nation, under God, indivisible..."
It is difficult for me to understand the folks who throw their hands up, ignore, "don't know what to do..." because every move counts. Every conversation with your racist family member.
Good morning to all educators committed to reconsidering "behavior issues" and rebranding them as opportunities to invite someone in to conversation and connection. These are the moments for us to line up actions with all the things we say we believe.
As folks are designing behavior policies, codes of conduct, and expectations this time of year, it is especially important to remember the end goal and desired tone or flavor you want a classroom or school to have.
Focus too much on outcomes you do NOT want, and that's exactly what you're going to get. Children want to be happy. They are wired to love.
Today DPS came through and invested in all these teacher leaders in the form of providing time, stipends (gasp), instructional and research support, technology (Swivl cams are a little scary to me) and a Skype call from @Ready4rigor herself.
We are part of a cohort of Culturally Responsive Teaching Fellows tasked with conducting research and spreading best practices for CRT throughout the district.
People say a lot about DPS, but what I can say is I've never worked in a district that hired women of color as part of a Culture and Equity Leadership team and payed them full time salaries to research, develop, and roll out best practices in CRT on a continual basis.