Fostering Inclusion in the Classroom

Fostering Inclusion in the Classroom

I am constantly amazed and impressed by the group of kiddos I have in my class. When the school year began back in September, my co-teachers and I immediately noticed how quickly the children began connecting to one another and how strong their desire was to create a sense of community with peers and teachers. Over the next seven months, […]

Sparking conversation about children’s “rights”

Sparking conversation about children’s “rights”

New documentary sparking conversation about children’s “rights” makes Seattle premiere Dec 8 On December 8, Hilltop Educator Institute hosts Seattle’s premiere of the groundbreaking short documentary film about what can we learn of children’s views about their world, if we listen to children’s ideas and closely observe their actions.  “The Voices of Children” tells the story of an international team […]

Speaking In Tongues

Speaking In Tongues

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.76″ background_layout=”light” border_style=”solid”] “Could you tell me the normal way?” a kid asked me recently. “In English,” piped up another kid. “Yeah, the way regular people talk,” the first kid added. It’s not unusual for a kid to ask me to tell them something in English, either because they aren’t understanding something or because they do understand […]

Presents and Prejudice

Presents and Prejudice

Earlier this week, for the first time ever, one of my students asked me why I decided to be a teacher. Adults ask me all the time but never a child. It took me by surprise! To me, these moments are one of the biggest reasons I choose to spend my days with young children. They ask the best questions. […]

Changing Hearts to Change Behaviors: A Charlottesville Response

Changing Hearts to Change Behaviors: A Charlottesville Response

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.7″ text_font=”Times New Roman||||” hover_enabled=”0″ border_style=”solid” content__hover_enabled=”off|desktop” content_last_edited=”off|desktop”] As we saw in reports from Charlottesville and other cities around the U.S. last month, groups like the KKK, neo-Nazis, and other white supremacists are acting with greater confidence than they have in decades. Marginalized people and groups continue to feel even less safe than […]

What we do, and what we say matters!

What we do, and what we say matters!

It was 15 years ago this August when I was sitting at a table with my parents and their friends at some function I probably didn’t even want to attend.  I was undoubtedly filling my face with cake at the table, having decided I was “way too cool and way too old” to be seen interacting with the group of 5-year-olds […]

“Do you believe in Black Lives Matter?”

“Do you believe in Black Lives Matter?”

Students in Hilltop’s after-school program asked this question – of their teachers and their friends –  repeatedly this year. Mostly those inquiring were black students. They had heard about Black Lives Matter on the news, and noticed how educators and students in our local Seattle Public Schools were supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. The kids wanted to support the movement too, and wanted to know how Black Lives Matter was supported at Hilltop. They took action one afternoon by making their own Black Lives Matter signs.

Authentic Literacy Learning

Authentic Literacy Learning

The key to developing literacy is a love of reading that is best stimulated by frequent exposure to letters and books. Reading activities that are forced on children can transform a delight into work. It is best to follow a child’s lead in when, what, and how they want to engage with books and letters, while still offering them ample opportunities in various contexts.