Community Schools

Belonging brings out the best in everyone. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, community organizer, or leader of any sort, your group is unlikely to thrive if the individuals don’t feel welcomed, included, and valued for who they are. The good news is that you can use design to create feelings of inclusion in your organization: rituals that bring people together, spaces that promote calm, roles that create a sense of responsibility, systems that make people feel respected, and more.

One day, third-grade teacher Kyle Schwartz asked her students to fill in the blank in this sentence: "I wish my teacher knew _____." The results astounded her. Some answers were humorous; others were heartbreaking; all were profoundly moving and enlightening. The results opened her eyes to the need for educators to understand the unique realities their students face in order to create an open, safe, and supportive place in the classroom. When Schwartz shared her experience online, #IWishMyTeacherKnew became an immediate worldwide viral phenomenon.

In 16-year-old Mike Hernandez's life, only one thing is clear: Gay is not okay. His family's life revolves around the church, a church run by the vocally intolerant Pastor Myers, so Mike has resolved to spend his life in the closet. His only escape - besides the occasional, anonymous gay make-out session - is his art. He pours his complicated emotions into risque drawings he keeps in a secret sketchbook. A sketchbook he carries everywhere. When his sketchbook goes missing in the middle of Sunday school, Mike is sure his life is over.

In Creating Cultures of Thinking: The 8 Forces We Must Master to Truly Transform Our Schools, Ron Ritchhart, author of Making Thinking Visible, explains how creating a culture of thinking is more important to learning than any particular curriculum, and he outlines how any school or teacher can accomplish this by leveraging eight cultural forces: expectations, language, time, modeling, opportunities, routines, interactions, and environment.

On the surface, Riverview High School looks like the post-racial ideal. Serving an enviably affluent, diverse, and liberal district, the school is well-funded, its teachers are well-trained, and many of its students are high achieving. Yet Riverview has not escaped the same unrelenting question that plagues schools throughout America: why is it that even when all of the circumstances seem right, black and Latino students continue to lag behind their peers?

About the book The following book was designed to provide educators, school administrators, and researchers, with an overview of theories and research pertaining to teacher professional development and a narrative discourse of the impact of professional learning communities in action at designated middle schools in South Texas. In addition, the book provides opportunities to engage in dialog, critical reflection, and ideas for engaging in reflective action. Chapter 1 describes the school systems across the country and the challenges encountered due to accountability and school reform. ...

In Who's in My Classroom?, accomplished educator and author delivers an inspirational and practical combination of true stories from teens in Youth Communication's award-winning writing program and the most current educational research. The book links theories of adolescent development and identity formation to best practices in real-world classrooms where teachers strive to form supportive relationships with students.

The Art of Coaching Teams is the manual you never received when you signed on to lead a team. Being a great teacher is one thing, but leading a team, or team development, is an entirely different dynamic. Your successes are public, but so are your failures-and there's no specific rubric or curriculum to give you direction. Team development is an art form, and this book is your how-to guide to doing it effectively. You'll learn the administrative tasks that keep your team on track.

299 Days: The Community, the third book in the 299 Days series, reunites Grant Matson with his family after his wife, children, and in-laws accept that the only way to survive the Collapse is to flee the comfort of their suburban lives and join him at his isolated cabin in the woods. With riots becoming more violent, power outages more widespread, and the military crumbling, Grant and others throughout Washington State realize they must organize if they want to endure.

Ted Just try and have an unusual ministry like mine these days. What’s so terribly wrong with a hug a day, huh? A non-sexual hug? Why can’t I have a non-denominational ministry based on hugs and assistance with getting back on your feet without the paparazzi tailing me, the media blasting me, and my own parishioners afraid to come out of their houses? It’s not like my church does anything other than community outreach to the poor, homeless, and those who want a leg up. The ones whose families and communities couldn’t or wouldn’t help. I’m the friend who gets them back on their ...

Ten years ago, Bell Hooks astonished readers/listeners with Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom. Now comes Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope - a powerful, visionary work that will enrich our teaching and our lives. Combining critical thinking about education with autobiographical narratives, hooks invites listeners to extend the discourse of race, gender, class and nationality beyond the classroom into everyday situations of learning. Bell Hooks writes candidly about her own experiences.

For those who declare that Sunday school doesn't work anymore, here is a book that can revitalize this often neglected ministry. Steve Parr encourages churches to re-energize traditional Sunday school by making it intentionally evangelistic, using proven methods and strategies already implemented in hundreds of growing churches. He guides churches through the process of analyzing their present programs and moving in a new direction to fulfill the Great Commission.

Learn about community helpers at school.

Most educators want to cultivate an antibias and antiracist classroom and school community, but they often struggle with where and how to get started. Liz helps us set ourselves up for success and prepare for the mistakes we’ll make along the way.

Discover the transformative power of community with "Building Community," your essential guide to creating a robust support network for your family. This comprehensive eBook dives deep into the myriad resources and opportunities available right in your own backyard, offering practical strategies and actionable insights to enhance your family's well-being and connectivity. Start your journey with an introduction to Family Support Networks, where you'll learn the significance of community, identify your family's unique needs, and uncover the myriad benefits a strong support network can offer....

In 1978, when Jamiyla was two years old, her mother, Ummi, quit her job, converted to Islam with her husband, and moved into an exclusive Muslim society in Brooklyn. Once inside the Community, the family was separated by its powerful and charismatic leader, Dwight York, who was hiding behind the name Imam Isa. Instead of the devotional refuge they’d imagined, the Community was a nightmare of controlled abuse and unspeakable secrets. Forty years later, Jamiyla was ready to excavate and understand a past buried in bad dreams, disturbing memories, and inexplicable rage.

For too long, White educators have relied on people of color to make change to a relentlessly racist school system. Racial equity will not come until White educators recognize their role in supporting racist policies and practices, and take responsibility for dismantling them.

The NFT marketplace has become so popular that the average NFT now sells for $3,257, according to NonFungible.com. In fact, the most expensive NFT picked up $91.8 million in 2021. But it’s not only the ease of selling attracting artists to NFTs. Or even the total control they have over their earnings.

Discover the ultimate resource for relocating to Raleigh and its neighboring communities, including Apex, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, and Clayton. Written by licensed real estate broker Crystal Hutchinson, this guide offers invaluable insights and practical tips to ensure your move is smooth and successful. Inside this guide, you'll find: Detailed Neighborhood Overviews: Learn about the unique qualities and amenities of each community to find your perfect fit. Expert Advice on School Selection: Access resources and tips for evaluating schools to ensure your children receive a ...

Coping Skills for Teens with Autism provides essential guides and tips for helping teenagers with autism develop the skills they need to navigate life's challenges and improve their quality of life. The coping skills shared here are not just for immediate relief—rather, they will become an integral part of the teenager and fortify them with a lifetime of knowledge and self-help tools.