With so much hate and division in our world, thoughts of how schools can provide love and belonging have been weighing down on me these past several months. Feelings of safety, love, and belonging are essential needs every human needs in order to live their best, most fulfilled lives. When it comes to these three needs, schools can have such an amazing impact in improving the lives of our students.
But how are children’s needs of love and belonging being met in our schools? And what can we do to make our schools a safe place where students feel loved, valued, and welcome?
This week I go over a few simple steps we as educators can take to confront our own biases and ensure our schools are places of love and inclusion. Schools are the biggest influence on our children outside of the home, so we must be willing to make the necessary changes to make them safe places where students feel seen, heard, and valued.
Jump Through the Conversation:
[1:07] Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
[3:27] How do schools meet foundational needs of students
[5:32] My challenge to schools
[6:35] Be a voice of love and inclusion
[9:57] A need we can address
[11:47] My challenge to educators
Links and Resources
- Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
- No Place for Hate
- Loren’s Episode
- Email Maureen
- Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
- Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
- LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
- Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
- Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
- The Micro-School Coalition
- Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
- LEADPrep
Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.
Latest Episodes
Teaching Executive Function for School (and Life!) Success with Sean McCormick
We assume our children will organically learn how to organize their thoughts and belongings, be able to manage their time, and more. Not true. In fact, if you thought about it, you’d realize that you struggle with this too. We must teach these executive functioning...
Using Acting to Support Neurodivergency with Theater of Possibility
Neurodivergent students often get pulled out of classrooms and taught separately because they are “different.” Well, we’re all a little bit different. Does that mean we should all be taught in silos? Not a chance. There’s an inclusive program in the Seattle area...
Why Traditional Assessment Methods Don’t Work (and what to do instead)
How do we know if our children are digesting what we’re teaching? We give them assessments! And if you’ve ever stepped into a traditional classroom in the U.S., this could mean many things. Often it means large, summative assessments at the end of a unit or school...
Latest Blog Posts
Why Isn’t Educational Change Happening?
School change is so much harder than I thought! When I did my doctoral research on school innovation and created a hands-on learning school-within-a-school in the 90s, I had no idea that I’d spend the next few decades making tiny changes. Changes that often...
Instilling a Practice of Gratitude in Uncertain Times
Thanksgiving looks different this year. Traditions are being shattered in 2020 and new realities are emerging. Thanksgiving is no exception. After Canada’s Thanksgiving in October, COVID statistics jumped, reminding us that, sadly, the pandemic isn’t taking a break...
Building Interdisciplinary Learning into Traditional Classrooms
A traditional classroom setting is just that...traditional. Teachers must teach specific subjects for a required amount of time, often using prescribed curriculum materials that may be a decade old. There’s little consideration for the individual learner--their...
Categories
Coming Soon!
Subscribe
Related Posts
Using Acting to Support Neurodivergency with Theater of Possibility
Together we explore the role the current education system has had on neurodivergent youth, why pull-out programs might work in some instances (but generally don’t), the problem with special education, and why acting is a valuable tool for students with autism.
Why Traditional Assessment Methods Don’t Work (and what to do instead)
There are many ways to assess student learning, aside from the traditional test. And traditional summative assessments only test a student’s ability to memorize information for the short term. What happens when they need to remember information long-term and apply it in different scenarios?
Supporting Neurodivergent Youth in Schools with Vanessa Castañeda Gill
This week on the podcast, I’m talking with Doug Roberts, an educational consultant who works with education entrepreneurs and district superintendents. He’s recognized the importance of connecting leaders across state lines to help bridge the gaps that are all too evident now.
Sign Up for Podcast & Blog Announcements
and Get our Free Guide:
Five Interdependent Hacks to Lead the Creation of a Learner-Centered Culture!
By providing your email address you are agreeing to receive email communications from Education Evolution.
You can unsubscribe at any time.