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.

I know many other similar stories, not to mention the 500+ AFT teachers known to have died from COVID while teaching. The self-care PDs and warm check-ins are not enough. We need time to recover from our own traumas, time to gather strength, time to be healthy enough to care for our students and for ourselves. 

My ask is this: please, reduce the number of 'must haves'; streamline systems; minimize clicking around with the use of hyperdocs; and please, stop making us come to PDs on teacher wellness. The best wellness is time. Listen for other helpful tips and check out this tweet for others.

Visit Hedreich.com for more vignettes and educational strategies. 

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 little girls who look like me, for girls everywhere, and for everyone who loves girls anywhere.

That feat combined with the APA's apology to the BIPOC community, with its historical addendum, made last week a Really Good Week for our country.

Visit Hedreich.com for more vignettes and educational strategies.

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 common destiny" (President Donald J. Trump).

Visit Hedreich.com for more educational strategies.

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

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. Then tell them...well, listen to find out.

#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 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.com and join me on YouTube Friday nights at 7 central to get a jump on Monday's content. Also, connect with me throughout the week on Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook.

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 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.com and join me on YouTube Friday nights at 7 central to get a jump on Monday's content. Also, connect with me throughout the week on Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook.

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.com and join me on YouTube Friday nights at 7 central to get a jump on Monday's content. Also, connect with me throughout the week on Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook.