Contributor: Vanessa Clinton
As the most wonderful time of year commences - the reconvening of knowledge expanding, curious minds, and innovation - we are happy to provide you with practical tips for a smooth start to the school year. Join us as we explore ways to elevate our daily routines and champion liberation in our education system.
Leveling Up Your Routine
Have you heard about the British Cycling team that set nine Olympic records and seven world records after hiring a surgeon to teach each rider the best way to wash their hands — simply to avoid catching colds that would impact training time negatively? Isn’t it amazing how small improvements create big change? When you do the simple things better, your children gain momentum — academically, emotionally, and physically.
Start the mornings with MORE. While the start of the school year may feel challenging, preparation is key. Try waking up just a tad earlier than usual, and spend the new found time with a collective review of what will become of the day ahead, connecting with your student in conversation or over a healthy breakfast. You will be surprised how much connection and intention can be found by adding 30 more minutes to your morning.
Protect downtime .As students navigate longer days and more socializing, they may come home exhausted, hungry, and in need of some alone time. Try not to plan/over plan too many after school or weekend activities during this time. Eat dinner earlier than normal, and get to bed earlier than you are used to. Safeguard their downtime so they’re refreshed and ready to take on the days ahead
Heartfelt highlights. In your extra wind down time before bed, be intentional about strengthening your students' belief in themselves. We call this one the “highlight reel”. Spend a few moments each day looking at “first day photos” from previous years as well as significant accomplishments from years past. Use this review to provide comfort and instill confidence, so that when they face the world, their classrooms, and their teachers the following day, they do not question who they are, what they have accomplished, and what they have yet to achieve.
Celebrate small wins. Lastly, level up your school year by celebrating small wins. Did everyone make it out of the house this morning on time, with lotion on their knees and elbows, and brushed teeth? Those are three small wins right there! Did you make it to all of the orientations and tryouts on time and with all necessary materials and completed paperwork? Success! Did bathtime, books, and prayers all take place before 9pm? Victory! Cheer abundantly for the small wins—because on busy school days, even lotioned elbows and on-time arrivals are worth a victory dance.
Looking for Liberation in Your Education System
Just as small, consistent habits can transform your child’s day, intentional changes in our schools and systems can transform their future. As we have stated boldly before, we believe that every single child in our community should be included in the joy, curiosity, and innovation found in liberated classrooms and spaces.
Can you imagine how our young people would benefit from an enhanced community of care and a balanced division of resources? Think of how our students would grow with access to culturally responsive classrooms where they see a reflection of themselves? Imagine a curriculum where our young people are able to identify and name the resilience of those who have been historically oppressed? Picture increased trauma-informed educators and liberatory classroom management training for teachers. Just think of the impact of educators feeling accomplished and supported to guide students through a history that is inclusive and reasserts our value of diversity and equity.
As you fervently seek liberated classrooms, educators, and students, here are some questions for you to keep close. These questions are crafted to support your efforts and ignite conversations when seeking, verifying, and validating the liberated systems caring for our children:
- How would you describe your community of care?
- Would you say our district resources are balanced? Do you feel that our school has an abundance or lack of resources? Do you have the contact information of someone that I can speak to about this?
- What are you doing to ensure all of your students see themselves reflected in your classrooms?
- How does your school/community teach history? Do you feel your curriculum highlights the resilience of the historically oppressed?
- What measures do you have in place to ensure all of your students are fully seen, heard, and supported?
- Are your educators trained in trauma-informed practices?
- What systems do you have in place to help you verify that your classrooms and systems are genuinely caring for every child?
- What kind of emotional learning opportunities do you students have access to?
- How do you teach critical thinking as an expectation in reading? Writing? Math? Social Studies? Science?
- In what ways do you support authentic relationships and connections in your community?
These are not just reflection questions — they are conversation starters. We encourage you to boldly ask them in parent meetings, bring them to school board sessions, and use them to ignite and guide your advocacy. Liberation starts with the questions we dare to ask, and the actions we take afterward.
A liberated system of care is for all children. Every single child must be included in joy, curiosity, and innovation. Let’s encourage a standard where our children are liberated and empowered to show up as they are, with no judgement, where they are listened to and supported holistically.
This is our year to start building a new system of care for our families, educators, and children. Let’s build that system together. Go ahead, ask the tough questions. Listen closely to the answers. Advocate boldly for what’s missing.
The future we want for our children starts with the small changes and significant conversation we choose today.