Prompt 2

What fulfills you as a teacher of color in today’s schools?

— Malika Johnson-Willis

The Thank You Letter

It brings me joy to see progress and resilience. The Thank You Letter fulfills me in this work because it represents black boy joy. He is showing his appreciation for his friendship with another boy. He is showing vulnerability and that means he feels safe enough to do so.

— Myra Bellamy

This is a note that I found inside my desk from one of my students back in September. I’ve been a voice of reason and my classroom has been a place of peace for her with the chaos going on in her community at times. I save all of my notes from students current/past and they help me get through if I am having a tough time.

— Deborah Bartley-Carter

Under the Desk

Students, like most people, come in all sizes and shapes. Comfortable seating arrangement is the key to a successful learning experience. Culturally responsive teaching means thinking of the whole child. I often hear my colleagues asking students to stay in their seats and refrain from talking but I know that must be hard for some students to do when they are almost 5’11 and the desk and chairs are only 3.5 ft tall. I have a rug in my room for any student who needs a moment to stretch or move from the small confining desk during a 90 minute class. While sitting on the rug I looked up and noticed no gum under the desk and a clean floor. This was at end of a long school day. It brings me joy to know that I have created a learning space for students that is gum free, clutter free and arranged in a collaborative way and builds community and engages student in conversation.