Do we want our students to be included in a burning house?

Hey Advocates!
 

What a week it has been. I had the honor of keynoting and workshopping for the MSCCA Conference in Ocean City, MD. It was a great time: here’s what folks said about my keynote. Here is the feedback from my workshop on Asset-Based Pedagogy. Or you can watch the video highlights here.

I’d love to work with you and your team via keynotes/workshops. I have back-to-school speeches to jumpstart/motivate your crew for the new school year. I speak to students as well. Let’s chat!

On Wednesday, I emailed you asking for your help as I prepare for the summer. I get asked a lot about how to get into consulting and even strategies for those already in the consulting space. Unfortunately, I have limited time to help everyone that aspires to be a keynote speaker/consultant. I want to help, but I need you to help me first. If you haven’t already, I would appreciate it if you would take 1-2 minutes to complete this survey. 

Summer Happenings: FREE Webinars and one FREE course in the Works!

• “We Don’t Need No Superheroes, We Need to Belong: 3 strategies for creating a sense of belonging at your school”
• “From Lesson Plans to Business Plans: Unlocking Your Potential and Building Your Brand” 
• Free Course: “Gradeless and Lovin’ It: The Fun and Free-Spirited Classroom Approach You Need to Try”

Details will be coming soon…

Alright, I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I’m working on my second book about creating a sense of belonging for “the invisibles.” You might have seen my Instagram post on what an inclusive environment is. Notice I said environment and not just the classroom. Here are my thoughts this week. 

An inclusive school community listens to student voice and choice. Students must feel a sense of belonging, comfort, and identity-affirming treatment daily. I articulate these specifically because we need to be mindful of the environment we are including our students in.

To quote the late James Baldwin from one of my favorite books, The Fire Next Time, “Do I really want to be integrated into a burning house?” Let that sink in. Do we want our students to be included in a burning house? Absolutely not!

In a school community that holds intentional practices for inclusivity, all staff is well-versed and well-trained on what inclusive practices look like from student to student. From the bus driver, custodian, teacher, or administrator, there is a collective understanding that students must see themselves beyond the pictures on the walls.

Finally, I had the best intentions to get my weekly podcast out this past Monday, but sometimes, life happens. I appreciate your patience, and I will be back next Monday with a new episode. 

BTW, episode 300 is a few weeks away. I’m doing a solo episode on what I’ve learned from five years of podcasting.

Have a great weekend,

-Sheldon

Book Dr. Eakins

Check out what the LEC has to offer!

P.S. Would you take a moment to write a review of my book on Amazon?