T.G.I.F. Newsletter - Summer Vacation, Hard History, and Digital Equity

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Hello Friends and T.G.I.F. 😁 Here are some things I thought were worth sharing this week.

The News

Here are some articles that grabbed my attention.

• If you are an educator I hope you are currently on summer break. If not, I hope your break begins very soon. Here is how some of our colleagues are spending their summer vacation.
• Juneteenth is on June 19th. Here are some Juneteenth teaching and learning resources.
• This week I came across the term “digital equity” for the first time. In this article, an initiative is discussed that will help to ensure new teachers enter the workforce with the digital learning skills needed to lead equitable learning in a modern classroom. This got me thinking about how different a student’s education would be depending on where they live in the United States.
• You might find one of these 14 Ways to Tech-Up Your Classroom useful.
• TIME highlighted innovative teachers from 2022 who are making a difference in a unique way. Explore how these teachers incorporate virtual history lessons, strengths in STEM, climate exploration, and help teens to get to know themselves.
• Explore the 4 Laws of Learning (and How to Follow Them) from the Cult of Pedagogy.
• How do you confront Hard History?

Growth

Personal Development and Wellness Resources

• When it comes to technology, what parents do matters more than what they say. Children mirror the behaviors of their parents.
• One of the important factors in determining levels of happiness is trust. According to this article, Trusting Societies are Happier Overall, “Trust is one key factor that helps shape societies – specifically, if individuals feel a basic level of trust in others, outside of their immediate friends and family, they are happier.”
• Explore some of the benefits of journaling. My favorite way to journal is by using the DayOne app.

Inspiration

Here is a quote I’ve been revisiting this week:

“Be courageous. Challenge orthodoxy. Stand up for what you believe in. When you are in your rocking chair talking to your grandchildren many years from now, be sure you have a good story to tell.”
— Amal Clooney

Favorite Things

• 📚 Book - The Four Agreements* - I try to read this book at least once each year. I even have a poster of the Four Agreements on my door in the hopes they will rub off on me and my family a little bit each day.

• 🎶 Music - This song hit me at just the right time. Picture this, a teacher just starting summer break, driving down the road, the sun was shining - I couldn't help but smile. The young people might say it has a summertime vibe. Here it is - Demarco x Stephen Marley - 'Dance My Stress Away.

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