Good point-- community is part of developing a healthy culture of error in the classroom, which leads to risk taking and greater chance to learn. #ElonEd

A2: Classroom communities must include and be responsive to students' communities to be genuine and lead to any benefits. Empathy is a part of this, because it leads to recognizing commonality in experiences that are not directly shared. #ElonEd

A3: Certainly in classes where T's defined space for students to check in with each other. It lets me get to know them as people, share struggles, and learn who I can count on for solidarity. It leads to liking, and friendship. Allowing humor, and greater leaps in talking #ElonEd

A3: In middle school, I had been with the same group of 7 classmates all the way through. We knew each other well, and as we grew up, we liked and supported each other. Our teachers worked to facilitate those relationships. This is possible in larger school environments. #ElonEd

A3 (again): thinking about assessments, I recognize that classes where peers assessed each others work through rubrics led to greater respect and knowing of classmates. I learned my peers' strengths and interests, and learned FROM their work. #ElonEd

A4: Privileging white middle class norms certainly can challenge community building. It destroys trust, and enforces the educational survival complex described by Bettina Love. Even the expectation that these norms will be privileged hurts. Visible recentering is needed. #ElonEd

A5: Creating and supporting groups where students can find community and solidarity over shared identity, such as Gender and Sexuality Alliances. Spaces which tell students loudly, you are safe and loved at this school. Where students and teachers can learn. #ElonEd

Absolutely!! I'm friends with my peers in Adolescent Literacies-- even out of class, I feel comfortable around them.

A6: Bettina Love's "We Want To Do More Than Survive": both perspective on the high school experiences of myself and my friends, and on my experiences in placements more recently. Abolitionist teaching is a major part of building and sustaining healthy communities. #ElonEd

A6 (2): I also love UDL as a practice for community building. Valuing and supporting the strengths of ALL students-- seeking to recognize assets-- is critical for a healthy community. No community can exist when certain ways of thinking or being are seen as deficient. #ElonEd

I’m increasingly frustrated when I see ungrading or a critique of grades associated with a lack of structure. One big problem of traditional grades is that they structure much of education. Removing grades, though, doesn’t remove structure, just one kind of problematic structure.

I am so deeply grateful for your continuous support and love Kourtney Ringelberg

Much love as ever to Kourtney Ringelberg !

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I want to hear from you! If you are a queer and/or trans pre-service teacher or recently graduated first year teacher please take my survey! If you know someone else, send it along! My goal is to help teacher ed programs support their q/t PSTs. Your story matters.

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