GenParenting

Parenting resources for all who love and care for children

What Can Educators with Families Do to Fight Institutional Racism and Civil Rights Injustices?

What Can Educators with Families Do to Fight Institutional Black Racism and Civil Rights Injustices?

As an educator for over 30 years, I am committed to supporting the healthy development and academic successes of students and their families. As a white-women raised in Oakland in the 1960s, I am a social justice advocate and educator. I initially volunteered for nonprofit agencies who helped immigrant families access social services. As a parent education teacher, I created parenting classes that taught parents how to partner with schools.  And then I worked at United Way and taught nonprofits how to partner with schools to leverage significant educational resources. As a doctoral student, I partnered with culturally diverse community partners to create community-empowered schools. Some of these schools became part of a VISTA project and later best practices were featured at a National Title I Conference and at a National Association of Bilingual Education Conference. We continue to write our program strategies in www.GenParenting.com blogs and through teacher and parent education publications.

Racially Sensitive Community Building

Community building is my passion. I am not effective without the guidance of my sisterhood of culturally diverse educators and colleagues that represent many different cultural and economic backgrounds. I am continually reminded that as a person of privilege, I may accidently misspeak or be racially insensitive due to my white entitlement blindness. Most folks trust my sincerity, forgive my misdeeds, and encourage me to continue the journey of social action change. [Read more…]

An Educator’s Reflection on George Floyd’s Tragic Death

An Educator’s Reflection on George Floyd’s Tragic Death

I am the Executive Director of Youth Policy Institute Charter Schools in the Los Angeles area. Last week, I sent the following message about George Floyd’s tragic death to my schools’ staff members.

As the mother of a 21-year-old son, I am stunned, angered, and not surprised, once again by the inhumane treatment of African-Americans. The images of today’s events, along with memories of stories repeated and passed down from one generation to another in my family are so clearly seared in my mind. The events leading up to George Floyd’s death and after have been extremely challenging for me to process as an adult. I am certain that it has been the same for many of our staff and children who have been living through the violence. [Read more…]

Learn About Marine Biology and Science Through Zonk Picture Books

Learn About Marine Biology and Science Through Zonk Picture Books

David Hoobler is an artist and author of three Zonk picture books that highlight Zonk, the tortoise, and his many adventures in the ocean when encountering various sea creatures and eco systems. David has used his personal marine biology research and experiences when observing the Sonoran Desert, Baja, and the gulf of California. David also links these books into educational marine biology and science presentations at school and in the community. [Read more…]

Writing in Community

Writing in Community

Social distancing does not mean being stuck at home in isolation! In fact, we have plenty of ways to reach out and connect with others. Some have used this time to contact family and friends through video calls. Some may have even taken a walk through their neighborhood for some fresh air, chatting with neighbors safely at a distance from the sidewalk! Even though we enjoy the immediacy of connecting with those with whom we are familiar, let’s do some good, old fashioned writing activities and connect with members of the community with whom we might not have considered. [Read more…]

Distance Learning Best Practices for Middle and High School Students

Distance Learning Best Practices for Middle and High School Students

California’s parents continue to feel overwhelmed as they become their child’s primary classroom teacher for the rest of the school year. While parents feel overwhelmed, they can take comfort that schools are implementing supports for their children. As a leader of two middle schools and a high school in Los Angeles County, our team has instituted the following best practices to ensure that all of our students have equal access and adequate support to succeed this current school year:

  1. All students have been issued computers and online access to all classes.
  2. Each class is staffed by a certificated teacher with a paraeducator to provide individualized instruction to students as needed.
  3. Students log into Goggle Meet for three hours of classes each day in addition to completing two hours of projects and independent study assignments.
  4. An afterschool program is available to students from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. each day. The program offers homework support through small group discussions. Creative clubs provide college guidance, physical fitness, and performing arts activities.

[Read more…]