February 8, 2021

Focus: DEIJ, assessments, and butter

Dear Colleagues,

When Miles proposed the Black History Month assessment initiative several weeks ago, I was reminded of something that Courtney Jackson shared at a faculty meeting this fall.

"We tend to think of DEI as an extra or add on...like grating cheese on top of a largely finished dish or like a finishing salt...something that makes the dish better but isn't really necessary. Instead, we need to think about DEI like fat...It is the thing that makes all the other ingredients work together and, in butter's case, the thing that offers and unlocks immense flavor. … with our work, without DEI as a base, our students won't get the most out of what we offer them. Education without DEI isn't nutritious learning."

Given my love of butter-laden food and of authentic assessments, this analogy makes sense. I feel a similar satisfied, joyful reaction when my students embark on an educational journey, culminating in an authentic assessment, as I do when I eat the butter-laden Ina Garten's "smashed potatoes" (She demonstrates a clear understanding of the importance of butter, cream, and the inclusion of fat in food. Classic Ina.) or my Monty Brownies (happy to share if interested). The richness of discovery, not only of the curriculum but also of my students undiscovered abilities –the ability to define the questions that will eventually lead them to a greater understanding of the material, the ability work collaboratively, the ability to make connections, the ability to create, and hypothesize – give me that same satisfaction as the richness of food.

Many of you have jumped at the chance to share ideas for the Black History Month initiative in your department meetings. Delphine, Rachel, Maribel, Sterling, and I are going to meet to talk about the possibility of a project which entails the important influence of Black francophone intellectuals and the "négritude" movement had on Black American leaders. Jen McCandless and Harrison Shure shared that both of their department collaborated on possibilities. We hope that you will regard this initiative as an opportunity to collaborate, engage, share, question, and enrich your curriculum – just joining the conversation will bring great value and richness to your curriculum and, of course, to the student experience. We welcome your participation at any level even if you only have time to listen and offer feedback to colleagues.

The end of February will offer us the opportunity to see our colleagues' labors of love as they add the critical ingredient to their curriculum. John Larmer, Editor-in-Chief of PBL Works reiterates this point in Black History Month and Moving Beyond History Months. As Miles said recently: "DEIJ obviously goes beyond race, so if you're including other identities in your curriculum, we're always here to help you."

Here is a link to the description and the schedule of workshops and a link for you to fill out if you would like to participate.

Have a wonderful week, and I look forward to seeing you all either on campus or in a BHM initiative collaborative session this month.

Sara, on behalf of the Kravis Center

Kravis Center Reminders

Please fill out this Kravis Center Survey, which will guide us as we plan programming for this spring and beyond.

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Independent School Magazine, Winter 2021 is dedicated to DEI.

Here is a link to a Q&A with Ralinda Watts, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California

Professional Development Opportunities

Looking for an amazing line up of experts on the adolescent brain? Look no further than the The Science of Teaching During a Pandemic. Click here on the Learning and the Brain site for even more professional learning opportunities. A wealth of opportunities awaits us!

Here's the perfect opportunity to take a deep dive into creating authentic assessments with the Buck Institute, the gold standard of PBL workshops.

PBL Works Summer Workshop, June 21-24, 2021

Another outstanding opportunity to take a deep dive into the neuroscience of learning: The Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning is offering numerous winter workshops: Foundational Strategies for Teaching during COVID.

Harvard GSE programs for educators - so any worthwhile workshops for teachers!

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More articles and podcasts from past Monday Musings...

Media Bias Chart

NAIS: Assessment Practices for Promoting Equity, by Amoy Walker is a must-read. Ms. Walker speaks to her experiences as a student as an an educator on the importance of examining "assessments more closely and identify best practices to combat bias."

When broken down into chunks, What works, what doesn't could serve as a valuable learning tool for our students. "Some study techniques accelerate learning, whereas others are just a waste of time—but which ones are which? An unprecedented review maps out the best pathways to knowledge." Thanks, Scott!

Another resource on teaching and learning that I always keep handy: Deans for Impact, The Science of Learning

Women of Color Need Courageous Allies in the Academy: An Open Dialogue Part One and Part Two. These interviews with seven women are outstanding, informative, and full of information about how to advance the work of allyship and accompaniment.

Reading Diversity: a tool for selecting diverse texts, Teaching Tolerance

Seeing White - podcast - and there's a study guide!

Creating Moments of Genuine Connection Online. the Cult of Pedagogy

Are you Teaching Content or Just Covering Material?, by Terry McGlynn, The Chronicle of Higher Education, A new book on science teaching makes the case for focusing on a smaller set of concepts to produce deeper learning.

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