It's the 8th Annual
#cyberPD Summer Event!
Join in our #cyberPD Google+ Community to participate! We want YOU to join in the conversations!
This July we are reading and learning together around the new title
from Sara Ahmed
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My Thoughts and Reflections for Week 3: Chapter 5 & 6
"You have to be able to see the humanity in others before you can activate your empathy by self-identifying and making connections."
(Ahmed, p.103)
Takeaways:
- Sara shares two more lessons that will provide a great depth on reflection and conversation, both geared towards upper grades.
- Our Universe of Obligation: Naming people and groups that we feel responsibility for, those that you will be an upstander for, and how this circle may include others in certain situations.
- My circle was pretty tight, but I also know that it would expand and grow to include others in various situations. But I have to consider, as Sara suggests: "Are you actively living a life where [you] are proximate to people and experiences outside [your] own identity circle?" (p.112)
- Intent versus impact: Thinking about what we say and how we say it (intent) and also considering how others receive it (impact)
- Funny. I have these two words written down on a sticky note in my classroom. Someone shared a tweet about intent vs. impact in regards to teaching. We may have the best of intentions, but we need to also consider the impact on the choices we make. More to consider ...
- I love the focus Sara puts on active listening: "The most important things to consider here are your partner's thoughts and opinions. Remember in difficult conversations, we want to listen to understand, not just listen to respond. You and your partner may not agree. The best thing that can happen is that you learn a new way of looking at something that you didn't consider before" (p.122)
- Sara's last chapter, Facing Crisis Together, has me reading and rereading, highlighting and agreeing, wondering and contemplating. This is heavy, hard, heart work. But it needs to be done: We are all change agents needing to cautiously consider:
- Understand that everyone's identity is at stake
- Get proximate to the human story
- Be an authentic listener
- Get out of your echo chamber
- Measure the inclusiveness of your community
- Commit to a learning stance
- Shine a spotlight on the upstanders
- Be proactive with your privilege
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Thank you, Sara, for leading us through this work!
"There is no magic formula for making the world a better place. It happens in the moments we break our silent complicity, embrace discomfort, and have
candid conversations about what stands in the way. As educators,
you and I are tasked with giving kids opportunities to show compassion,
to be upstanders, and to realize the impact they have in society.
It's an awe-inspiring responsibility, but it's something that you and I
--people who believe in kids--are uniquely qualified to undertake."
candid conversations about what stands in the way. As educators,
you and I are tasked with giving kids opportunities to show compassion,
to be upstanders, and to realize the impact they have in society.
It's an awe-inspiring responsibility, but it's something that you and I
--people who believe in kids--are uniquely qualified to undertake."
(Ahmed, p.103)
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As always, thank you for taking the time to read and sharing your voice!
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Join us for a #cyberPD Twitter chat!
Join in the #cyberPD conversations this month!
- Grab your copy of Being the Change and start reading!
- Make #cyberPD work for you and your schedule this summer! It's a no-stress, no worries, join when you can kind of book study!
- Reflect and write: a blog post or share your thoughts in the Google Community.
- Participate in the conversations. This is where the magic of #cyberPD happens!
- Visit the Google+ Community and participant blogs.
- Comment on at least 3 participants reflections during the week.
- Continue to share on Twitter as well using the #cyberPD hashtag!
Additional Resources:
Questions, comments, or concerns about #cyberPD?
Contact Cathy Mere or Michelle Nero. ______________________________________________________________
Read. Reflect. Share. Respond to others. Then repeat.
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I was thinking a lot about the facing crisis together part of the book. It really is those crisis situations that bring about the best conversations, I think. I wish I could go back in time to September 12, 2001 and start having those important conversations with my grade 5 class. Instead, I was talking about anything but what was happening only a few hours away from us. I tend to avoid talking about tragedies, and I probably will still have to take into consideration the age of my students before I talk about everything that happens. But there is power in addressing it instead of ignoring it, even when the kids are little.
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