Kyle Schwartz is in her tenth year of teaching, this year as a reading teacher at Doull Elementary in Denver, Colorado. Her first book, I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything for Our Kids focuses on realities that students face and how educators can respond to their students’ needs by building relationships. Her second book, I Wish For Change: Unleashing the Power of Kids to Make a Difference is a guide for educators, families, and mentors to help young people find a personal sense of power and use it to better their communities.

In addition to teaching, Kyle is a dedicated advocate for students. She has spoken nationally and internationally about supporting all students, differentiating instruction for students learning English, building strong classroom communities, and helping young people create change.

Episode Notes:

-Unlikely teacher, grew up hating school, who became her arch-nemesis, an elementary school teacher. But wanted to provide an experience she never had for students after falling in love with tutoring as well as teaching and learning.

-The ‘I Wish My Teacher Knew’ lesson went viral on Twitter - “I wish my teacher knew I did not have pencils at home to do my homework with”- grew into an international movement.

-Wrote the book, I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything for Our Kids as well as I WIsh For Change: Unleashing the Power of Kids to Make a Difference.

-The truth and vulnerability of seeing the words in kids’ handwriting struck a chord with educators.

-Kids pulled her to share with the class, kids were invited and not required to share notes, the power of community building came through. One child said, “I wish my teacher knew that I did not have friends to play with.” Yet, the students banded around this child and built connections with her.

-Kids are experts on childhood, we must understand that expertise. They are problem solvers and will engage with one another.

One student never shared, but later spoke to Kyle that she never knew other people’s parents were divorced. She saw herself in others and was able to build empathy through this practice.

-Teachers, we see you and all you are juggling right now.

-Have the courage to value all the things that are not being measured on a rubric right now: the relationships, the empathy, the connections - respond to what kids give you and hold sacred those times.

- A shift in education to meet kids where they are and look at the whole child.

-Impact story: trying this lesson, other strategies, and how kids take it over, as well as other industries all the way to the Vice-Admiral of the U.S. Coast Guard!

-We are a nudge in children’s lives!

-” Be the nudge you wish to see in the world!”

-” Notice what kids want you to see and be really thoughtful about noticing that.”

-Find the connection with kids!

-Let kids be experts no matter what, build one on one connections!

-Tips:

-Make it about the community in any way you can. Kids have to be vulnerable, so you should too. Be honest with kids about mandated reporting. Be honest with kids, Give them options about how they participate or add their name or share, serious or silly. Really round it out with community too and building connections and caring.

Connect with Kyle:

Instagram: @Kylemschwartz

Twitter: @Kylemschwartz