School is back in session! Over the last three weeks, I've been working with teachers all around the country as they prepare for students to walk into their classrooms. I love being hands-on with professional development for two big reasons:
1. I am deeply passionate about the work we do at Thinking Nation - we seek a paradigm shift in history education and I love sharing the why's and how's of that message with as many educators as possible.
2. I learn so much when I pull a chair up to a teacher (or 10) and just listen. What is happening in the classrooms? With administrators? With the bell schedule? Other demands?
These moments remind me of the context of our work and how to best position Thinking Nation as a tool that teachers can get the most from.
My around-the-country journey started with Learn 8 Middle School (LEARN Charter School Network) in Chicago, IL. We planned for those first few days of student engagement.
I then worked with the Ethnic Studies teachers at Alliance College-Ready Public Schools in Los Angeles, CA. We explored the question of "how do we prioritize the meaningful stories and historical thinking skills of this course with only so much time in the schedule?"
A couple days later I was with the high school teachers at Bright Star Schools (also in L.A.) where we collaborated across World History and Ethnic Studies courses to build better vertical alignment.
Then, I hopped on a plane and headed east, where I worked with Loudoun County Public Schools and was fortunate to provide a menu of P.D. for such passionate educators. Danyael Graham continues to be an outstanding collaborator (and if you'll be at the National Social Studies Leaders Association conference in December, you'll see us co-presenting!).
From the suburbs, I drove into the city and got to meet with our partners at the Washington School for Girls. WOW, guys! Your new campus is amazing. Congratulations! (Selfishly, sharing meals with Donna Paoletti Phillips, PhD and Sarah Jencks while in the city was rejuvenating!)
Finally, my PD tour ended in the Big Apple, where I got to work with all the middle school social studies teachers at KIPP NYC, where I even ran into Julia Greenwald, M.Ed. who I first worked with when she was at WETA. Those teachers have quite the profound leader in Misha Jemison. If you're ever feeling good about your own intelligence, I suggest you hang out with Misha for a quick humbling session!
Students around the country are entering some incredible classrooms. I am so honored that Thinking Nation can support them in this critical work of empowering students with the skills and dispositions essential to contribute to a flourishing democracy.