When it comes to addressing news stories and tragic events in the classroom, Matthew R. Kay reminds us to take the time to build engaging and powerful units rather than monologuing to students. “Today, checking in and answering questions might be just enough.” bit.ly/ILA_TacklingTo…

If you can’t join us on Tuesday for Matthew R. Kay’s webinar “‘What Will We Say to Them Tomorrow?’: Tackling Tough Conversations in the Classroom,” don’t worry! The recording will be available on demand just like our other free events. literacyworldwide.org/freeevents

This makes me think of you, Abigail Crane! 💙#CreatingPassionateReaders in Blue Valley Schools

Educator Matthew R. Kay’s Not Light, But Fire provides practical, sustained strategies for talking about tough topics with students. He lead our free webinar to help teachers navigate conversations about current and emerging events. bit.ly/ILA_WhatWillWe…

What can I do in 100 days? What might we do in 100 days?

I showed my pronouns in my Zoom handle today (1st day of 2nd semester), mentioned my husband, and two students came out as nonbinary in their Zoom names by adding pronouns (I didn’t ask for pronouns), and a trans student was able to use their name rather than legal name. 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈

So grateful for these windows and mirrors for our students!!!

"The harm done by long-term exposure to injustice ... calls for more than a simple understanding of kindness. It demands that kindness be interwoven with substantial notions of true justice." learningforjustice.org/magazine/fall-…

"We cannot reach—or teach—our students without knowing them. When a student is celebrated for exactly who they are, they know they have permission to not just be somebody—but to be the very best version of themselves." #Pride learningforjustice.org/magazine/in-de…

With so many names to learn, here are some tips for how to be inclusive and pronounce kids' names correctly. Gail Cornwall kqed.org/mindshift/5218…

"Hey Instructional Coach, what do you do?" Here's my short answer to that question in EL Magazine ascd.org/el/articles/th…

Celebrate Freedom Week is in full swing Oxford Middle School! Blue Valley Schools #ConstitutionDay 🙌🏻🥳💙

Why ratify the U.S. Constitution? Oxford Middle School 8th graders can tell you why! Celebrate Freedom Week continues Blue Valley Schools. #ConstitutionDay

And…thanks to @OMS_Library for being a part of the celebrations! We 💙 LibraryAnne. 🥰

I ❤️ the enthusiasm Blue Valley West ! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 #ConstitutionDay

Celebrate Freedom Week continues Oxford Middle School. SRO Doherty helped 7th graders understand their guaranteed rights. Blue Valley Schools Overland Park Police #ConstitutionDay2021

This…was…the…BEST!

This…💙

.@plankford3 and I are ready to welcome new Blue Valley Schools Social Studies teachers tomorrow! Excited to learn with and from them as we prep for the 2022-23 school year. 🙌🏻💙 Welcome!

So excited (and grateful!) to collaborate and partner with @plankford3 this year. It’s going to be the best year yet! Can’t wait to welcome all Blue Valley Schools Social Studies teachers back on Aug. 15. Let’s get 2022-23 started!