I have a Youtube playlist where I read aloud from 19th Century American literary texts, and I thought I’d share those here. In addition to reading the texts, I add my own commentary and analysis. I hope you enjoy them.
Author: Roshaunda D. Cade, Ph.D.
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Don’t Despise the Day of Small Beginnings
In “The Limitations of Teaching ‘Grit’ in the Classroom,” which is about education, trauma, and growth mindset, Aisha Sultan writes, “When asking the question of why some children succeed in school and others don’t, [Tyron C. Howard] said the educators and administrators tend to overestimate the power of the person and underestimate the power of the situation.” Sultan further quotes Howard: “‘We are asking students to change a belief system without changing the situation around them.’”
This idea of eliding the power of a situation in favor of the power of personal characteristics directly echoes Malcolm Gladwell’s concept of the Fundamental Attribution Error in his 2000 book Tipping Point. In Tipping Point, Gladwell examines what makes social movements start and spread, and one of those factors, according to Gladwell, is the power of context – the impact the environment has on how we think, act, react, interact, and respond.
That children come to school carrying baggage from their personal lives that interferes with their learning isn’t news. I’m glad, however, we continue to discuss it, because it bears repeating. I fear, nevertheless, we too often neglect the idea of a tipping point embedded in the contexts our students inhabit.
If Gladwell’s premise holds, then inherent in the home contexts of our students is the notion that one small change in that context could tip the student’s ability to find success at school, however success is defined.
In other words, let’s remember that even if we cannot change everything about a bad situation, we can change something, and that one thing may make a world of difference.
Reference
Sultan, A. (Dec. 2, 2015). Limitations of teaching ‘grit’ in the classroom. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/12/when-grit-isnt-enough/418269/
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Learning is a Lifetime Adventure
Check out the next episode of Real & Raw with Roshaunda where I discuss where I am currently in my education journey and where I’d like to go. Please comment below to share your education journey.
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Welcome Back!
August 2017
In my David Attenborough voice –
The indigenous population has returned from its great summer migration. They engage in their ritualistic greetings, such as “Bruh, really!” and “Girl, you wouldn’t even believe!”
And now my writing center feels like home.
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Be Myself
Start your week off with self care by journaling to the following prompt.
How will I be more of myself today?
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Our Nig by Harriet Wilson – Ch 8, Video 8
I have a Youtube playlist where I read aloud from 19th Century American literary texts, and I thought I’d share those here. In addition to reading the texts, I add my own commentary and analysis. I hope you enjoy them.
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Educators and Coaches Need Support to Achieve Their Own Dreams
Last week I wrote about how I’m envisioning the US education system differently, and I said I would come back to some of the ideas and flesh them out. So here goes.
I wrote the following last week: “In what I’m envisioning, librarians, resource center directors, community liaisons, school psychologists/coaches, and teachers would be the rock stars.” And I meant it. In my view, educators and coaches are rock stars who do the very important work of transforming lives by helping people discover their own potential and helping them navigate how they will impact the world. These rock stars need support, however, and that is part of why God placed LELA House in my spirit.
Educators and coaches exhaust themselves pouring into people, but who pours into them? Additionally, educators and coaches have a wealth of experience to share, but who helps them share it?
So I have an idea, and I’d love to hear what you think about it.
I’m thinking about offering a 4-month program to help educators and coaches turn their experiences into nonfiction books and learn to practice self-care habits that serve their call to write, such as reading and journaling. I’ve created what I call a Writing Mindset, and in the program I will teach the components of a writing mindset, offer lessons on specific aspects of writing, and provide 1:1 and group life & writing coaching. Plus, participants will join small writing groups where they will share their work and give and receive feedback on their writing. By the end of the 4-month program, participants will have learned how to adopt a writing mindset; worked through the LELA House themes of Learn Your Unique Design, Become Critically Engaged, and Transform Community, and completed a first draft of their nonfiction book.
Educators and coaches need support to achieve their own dreams, just as they support others to reach their dreams. Caring for educators and coaches, providing them with time and opportunity to discover new ways they can impact the community, and supporting them as they do so are all part of my vision for US education. If we take good care of our educators and coaches, they will be able to take good care of our students, and everyone thrives. My 4-month program is a starting point. What do you think? Are you interested? Type YES in the comments to let me know!
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That Time I Was Sent to the Principal’s Office for Assaulting a Teacher
Check out the next episode of Real & Raw with Roshaunda where I discuss racism and equality in my high school experience. Please comment below to share your school struggles with this topic.
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Choose Joy
Start your week off with self care by journaling to the following prompt.
How will I choose joy today?
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Our Nig by Harriet Wilson – Ch 7, Video 7
I have a Youtube playlist where I read aloud from 19th Century American literary texts, and I thought I’d share those here. In addition to reading the texts, I add my own commentary and analysis. I hope you enjoy them.