#SmallBites

Almost half of the educators I polled on Twitter this weekend said they don't use randomizers. A randomizer is a name picker. Teachers use it to call on students, randomly put together project and discussion groups or even to assign class jobs. What about rubrics? How consistent are you in using a written rubric All. The. Time? Chances are, if these two practices are not your norms, your favoritis...

As an edtech/design teacher in an IB MYP setting, I anchor my year with strong digital citizen and media literacy lessons. Those are my gifts to the world. When students know how to be good citizens online, when they understand that it's necessary to use critical thinking to sort through the various sources of information and not just 'eat whatever is served', they become better citizens. This yea...

With all the talk of Dr. Seuss and cancel culture, we are in a quandary about what we book under tradition and what is too inappropriate to keep. Who decides? Based on what criteria? How to we decide? And how do we make the hard decisions when our precious memories all seem to be tainted with some kind of -ism or offense to someone? Those very personal decisions should tie you to your humanity and...

#SmallBites episode 37 explains the pitfalls of the halo effect. If you've ever been guilty of pretty prejudice or giving the student you like a slight edge, you've experienced the halo effect. If you thought Obama could do no wrong and Trump could do no right, or vice versa, that's the halo effect. So how do you get around it? How do you teach your students and even personal kids to circumvent it...

This episode is a reminder that all the isms, phobes and phobia accusations cannot win over supporters. If you want to do the best for your campus, classroom and community, remember the one thing that connects us all, humanity. As we do our best for our students, our own families and the communities around us, we need to reduce all of the concepts to one no one can disagree with--humanity. Teach c...

This episode dives into the connection of communication and civics standards to every K-12 grade level and content area. We can't be afraid to teach respect, empathy and citizenship because we might get push back. Good citizenship is based on humanity and respect. Behaviors that do not exemplify those tenets can be discussed so that our students can be better. We cannot teach our students that bad...

As educators, teaching the next generation of citizens is a big part of what we do. We give students mottos and mission statement like be ready, responsible and respectful . We give schools mottos like Pro Scientia Atque Sapientia (for knowledge and wisdom) and Empowering all Students, Celebrating our Community, Inspiring Lifelong Growth and yet, when it's time to teach civic responsibility, we al...

They say you cannot judge a man unless you've walked a mile in his shoes. Well, I would like to know what it's like to send my son out without having him come home and say he was followed around the store. I would like to drive to Arkansas and not have to explain to my child why there is a cross burning on the land next to the highway. I would like to not have to pretend that I am fine while I cho...

How will you keep your ideologically mixed classes from emotional arguments grounded in hearsay and conjecture? This prequel to Friday's episode will give you an overview. Visit Hedreich.com for resources.  Proud member of the Teach Better Podcast Network.

Is Bias a real thing or do people just like to throw around terms like White fragility and racist? Does offense at one negate the other? Listen, learn and share. Visit Hedreich.com for more vignettes and educational strategies.

This year is exceptionally hard on us all and Administrators, I would not want to be in your spot. I understand that often you find yourself between a proverbial state or district level rock and teaching staff hard place. So it is not without much gratitude and appreciation that I make this appeal. One teacher I know suffered 4 losses in one week, while she herself, a teacher with underlying healt...

Two little Black girls grew up in the 70s, a time when the Jim Crow south still cast a shadow over more of the country than we'd like to believe. Those two girls went on to stand on an international stage and I, another little 70's Black girl watched in awe, knowing. The fact that there were THREE (!) Black women on the stage; Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama and Amanda Gorman, was a Big Thing for li...

In this episode, #SmallBites reminds educators that students cannot get the sense of belonging they need to be successful if we belittle them for their beliefs. Our feelings are not more important than their success.  Links to this week's strategies at Hedreich.com , Easier Said Than Done.

Many educators as well as campus leaders are fearful about discussions going off the rails or parental backlash if they watch tomorrow's inauguration. There is no need for either. If we say the pledge in our buildings, "One Nation, under God Indivisible...", then we can find a way to watch history in unity. Listen to the end for a simple strategy that will support your campus in "forging our commo...

Integrating quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King in celebration of his birthday, this SmallBites is a spoken word tribute to Dr. King  applying his quotes to our time, particularly to this week's transition of power.  Consider visiting The King Center and/or reading Dr. King's works in their entirety.

I wanted to be able to tell my kids that they are safe, that what happened on Capitol Hill did not happen in their homes or neighborhoods. But then that same ugliness invaded my neighborhood and ruined what should have been a peaceful morning run for my son. All the kids are not OK.

Not sure what to tell the students? Play them "This Is Me" from The Greatest Showman : I am not a stranger to the dark Hide away, they say 'Cause we don't want your broken parts I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars Run away, they say No one'll love you as you are If America were to sing that, we'd tell he we love her, even when she does not live up to our ideals. That's what patriotism is. T...

#StopTheSteal opens with a personal story about my relationship to the Confederate flag as a Texas born and bred Black kid. It goes from there to explore the words "stop the steal" from the perspective of those who've experienced gaslighting in classrooms throughout our nation's history (spoiler alert, that's all of us). Want to create more equitable and inclusive classrooms, campuses and communit...

What's in a Name discusses the importance and historical context of just getting your students' names right. "A rose by any other name" may be just as sweet, but roll over and call your partner any other name in bed. Let me know how it works out for ya. Want to create more equitable and inclusive classrooms, campuses and communities, but not sure how? Join me as we explore 5 strategies each week t...

Want to create more equitable and inclusive classrooms, campuses and communities, but not sure how? Join me as we explore 5 strategies each week to provide you with a "start here" game plan to help you build better relationships with each of your students, especially the ones who may look, think or opine differently than you do. BEGINNING JANUARY 18TH. Get the links to the strategies at hedreich.c...