Thank you for bringing your ears right here for episode 8 of CALM Conversations about Learning where we lean in to re-envision our children’s education with and for the folks who matter most: teachers, parents and of course, our young folks!

This week’s conversation is with Kendra Madden who teaches sophomores and seniors at East Village Early College High School. This year, Kendra is a former colleague and will have been teaching for 20 years this school year. 

As the most organized and Well-Wonderful-CALM teacher that I know, I was curious about the adjustments that she had to make, the innovations that she implemented into Pandemic teaching this past year and how her teaching practice has been informed by these experiences and innovations. 

Kendra does not disappoint; she speaks candidly about the challenges of teaching during the Pandemic school year and what it means for children to be equitably educated. 

By the way, Kendra and I have had some spirited conversations  over the years and because we know that “better humor than a tumor” is REAL, you can expect some loud laughter throughout this convo. 

Please enjoy and empathize!

Chunks & Nuggets Worth Summarizing: 

• Best advice she’s ever been given was from her dad who advised her not to make  situations bigger than they are; to keep things small and manageable.
• The most important relationships in the classroom occur between the students.
• Teaching children about dead white guys and their worldviews without relevancy makes no sense.
• Teaching children to write for purposes that will never be utilized in the real world makes no sense. 
• The controversy surrounding Critical Race Theory (which is relevant and very much real world) makes no sense. 
• Stop talking about ‘Learning Loss’...the children have learned something this past year. Ask them what they’ve learned. 
• Students are courageously speaking up about what’s happening in their lives instead of hiding behind shame--and educators should be prepared to hold space for them. 

Synthesizing and Internalizing:

1. Effectively educating our children means knowing, respecting and loving the children who are standing in front of us, in THIS moment, in THIS time and in THIS truth. How we teach them  must make sense, must be relevant and must help them thrive in this world. We can’t just throw them the "You-Are-the-Future" bone and expect them to  retrieve it without hope, purpose or direction.
2. Before you make a thing (like Critical Race Theory) a THING, ask questions, investigate, and be open to what is true history rather than to what is safe history. 
3. Don’t be a Colonizer or a Colonizing Conspirator. Decolonize your minds and the children’s minds will follow. 
4. Lean in and listen to the children; allow them space and moments to lean in and listen to one another; let them narrate their histories.
5. Make equitable education happen by keeping your processes small, focused and manageable.

Follow Kendra Madden on Instagram @CaptainSulley. 

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