This week started with an email. I have removed the identifying information but it reminded me why I became a teacher. I became a teacher to show students that just because you learn differently doesn't mean you cannot learn. Just because you see the world differently doesn't make your point of view less important. It's been a long 12 weeks in quarantine. I miss my students every day.
It's me. I wanted to email you because of what an impact you had
on my life. I am set to graduate at the end of the winter quarter of
2021 with my high school diploma and my Associates in Integrated Studies
at [a local] Community College.
I started full time Running Start in order to fast track my goal of
becoming a special education teacher. It's because of you and people
like you, [para pro we worked with] that I felt confident enough to survive
high school and even start college. What you do
with students really does help them. Because of the confidence
I was able to gain from supportive people like you, I was able to skip
an entire grade of math through a placement test, and I am now taking
college statistics.
Anyway, thank you so much for your support. I hope you are doing great
and surviving the quarantine.
The class I had with this student is one of my favorites. Almost all of class was just as much into musical theater as I am- this student included, and we used to sing show tunes in class. Over several weeks we did all of Hamilton- our groups personal favorite at the time- each taking on a different character during classes and singing our respective parts. Those students allowed me to be my quirky self, as much as I allowed them to have a safe space. This email was a very good and very needed reminder, that just because my classes sometimes look or sound different than my colleagues doesn't mean they aren't important spaces for our students.
My entire social media and all news outlets are flooded with grief, sadness, anger, pain, hatred and suffering. Those feelings are valid, and real, but the cacophony that they are created on my news feed is causing me to drown. So this week I'm focusing more than ever on the positives, on the good things I witness happening in my own community and around the country. Letting myself sit in the negativity only breeds it within me, and limits my ability to do anything.
The only way systems change is if the people within them are calling for it. The only way unions stop the never-ending cycle of keeping bad cops is if their membership stops allowing it. The only way police will change is if their brothers and sisters in blue start demanding change too. This has to be the new normal, police engaging in protests and marches when they see their uniform being abused. We need to see them standing up to the broken system. We need to see them working to change it.
Monday: Small joys of life- running into a co-worker at the grocery store and sharing a brief moment about our love of Beer and need for our TAVOUR boxes to show up.
There is a statement that I saw on Facebook from another educator that really resonated with me, forced me to really look at myself and check my responses. I live by the rule in my classroom that ALL Behavior is Communication. So thank you to Tessa Horn for putting this into language I use daily:
Here’s
my take on the riots in Minneapolis. As a teacher, when a student
wrecks a classroom, throws things, breaks things, slams things, and
completely melts down. That’s called trauma. We’re supposed to respond
by standing with that child, love that child, and working to heal. What
is happening in Minneapolis and has happened in other places, to me, is
an act of trauma. A kind trauma that no white person in America can
fathom. A kind of trauma that’s source is deep, evil, and generational.
It stems from slavery, oppression, torture, and a long standing hate.
George Floyd’s murder is a clear martyr of this reality. The reaction is
trauma. Why wouldn’t we respond by standing with black people, loving
black people, and working hand and hand with our black communities in
order to heal.
Black Lives Matter.
Black Trauma Matters.
Black Lives Matter.
Black Trauma Matters.
Tuesday: I watched as my friends, family and loved ones elevated Black voices. I watched as companies took a back seat today, and put people over profits. I listened to black voices.
People I am learning from right now:
Tiffany Jewell I am hopeful that in the future I can attend a training for her curriculum. She's a Montessori teacher, and as someone who has worked in Montessori settings I value that mindset in learning.
Co-founder of Campaign Zero an organization building research backed policy changes targeting the way police serve their communities.
As an educator seeking to do better when I return to school- she has amazing resources and a curated collection of books that are diverse and inclusive
Wednesday: Self Care is Resistance.
Thursday
How do we talk to people? How do we check in with people. Keeley Shaw art
created a beautiful image that I will share here that is helping me to have deeper conversations with people this week.
I would also be totally lying if I didn't share that my happiness for today came from my TAVOUR box showing up. If you haven't heard of Tavour, it's a company that works with over 650 different Breweries from 47 states to curate quick sales of small qualities of beer that normally isn't distributed in your part of the country. I have found many small crafting communities that I love and have/ will continue to visit through Tavour. If you live locally you can fill up your crate and pick it up in Tukwila, WA or you can have it shipped to you (no limit on bottles) for about $16. If you are interested and use my Tavour link You'll get $10 to spend an so will I.
Friday: Today I had honest conversations with people I care about. We didn't agree on everything but we were able to share our opinions openly and honestly. Today I stood on a sidewalk with a sign. It's not a lot, I know there is so much work to do, but I am working on doing my work, even if it's a outside my comfort zone. Today I stood in solidarity with my colleagues and said our students deserve better.
Yes I have the privilege of being able to turn off the tv, turn off my social media and tune out of the reality that is racism. It is so overwhelming, this week has made me understand more than ever why mental health impacts our BIPOC communities at an alarming rate. I can tune it out and I can turn it off, I don't have to talk about it. The global majority cannot, this is their lived reality. I will never understand what it's like to have to live this with ever fiber of your being every day. But I will do my best to stand with you.
Signing off for now- C
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