whole child

7 Steps to Help You Implement Trauma-Informed Practices at Your School
The only way to implement something well is through trial and error. In 2017, I proposed to my principal that teachers should adapt to trauma-informed…

We Must Be Disciples for Our Students in 2021
This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, educators nationwide, and the world over, have had to adapt how they provide services to children and families.…

An Election Alone Fixes Nothing. So, What’s Next?
The people of the United States have voted to replace Donald Trump with Joe Biden. It is the first step in repairing the massive rifts…

4 Tips to Prioritize Students’ Dignity During Remote Learning
Have you ever revisited your philosophy of teaching? I don’t mean the progressive policies you ardently advocate for at faculty meetings or on Facebook; I…

Faced With a Global Pandemic, My Students Have Grown in New Ways
As school wrapped up this last year, several of my students joined my online “office hours” not seeking out help with the content, but instead…

Any Plan for Safely Reopening Schools Must Address the Whole Child
The challenge of safely educating children in high poverty school districts during the pandemic is glaring. A recent analysis of Philadelphia showed many students essentially…

Q&A: Zakiya Sankara-Jabar on Why Now Is the Perfect Time for #SeekingChildJustice
“I want to protect my children from the system that destroyed my parents.” That’s Zakiya Sankara-Jabar, National Director of Activism at brightbeam, my new colleague…

Seeking Justice for Black and Brown Children? Focus on the Social Determinants of Health
The fight for educational equity has never been just about schools. The real North Star for this work is providing opportunities for each child to…

I Know What Can Happen When a Teacher Never Gives Up on a Student
This Teacher Appreciation Week, I am reminiscing about Ms. Holmes, my fifth grade teacher. I never could understand why this woman made so many sacrifices…

Who’s on Board for a Child-Saving School Support Movement?
Black Friday has passed, and Cyber Monday has limped away from us. I can’t judge the bargain hunting mass consumerism, because I’ve been in the…