Starting an Infant Program – Part 1

Starting an Infant Program – Part 1

My palms were sweaty for the first time in a long time. I hadn’t figured out the bottle warmers yet. My co-teacher, Andrea (she/her), and I talked about the sensory experiences we wanted to bring in. We arranged our room to be cozy and homey. The familiar sight and scents of our rainbow room, a room I had just spent […]

We Are in Mourning

We Are in Mourning

Preface: This blog is a reflection of the conversation educators in River Room at Hilltop had with their 3-5 year olds when news broke that the remains of 215 Indigenous children were found.  Acknowledgements: I want to start by honoring and thanking Queen Anne’s Program Supervisor, Theresa (she/her), an Indigenous womxn from the Crow Nation, whom in a conversation last […]

Collaboration and Critique with an Anti-Bias Foundation: Designing Classroom Murals

Collaboration and Critique with an Anti-Bias Foundation: Designing Classroom Murals

“I’ve always wanted to have a classroom mural created by kids.”  I honestly cannot remember what my co-teachers and I were talking about before this came out of my mouth, but from that point on, it was inevitable – we would have a mural. We actually ended up with three, one of which was a mural installed at a bus stop shelter across the street from Hilltop at our […]

Can Kids Go to Jail?

Can Kids Go to Jail?

[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=”4.4.2″] Children are naturally curious about things that we adults sometimes have a challenging time wrapping our minds around. And children sometimes feel even more curious as our own discomfort grows. Recently, despite my own discomfort, I decided to engage with a subject that stirs distressing feelings for me: […]

Inspirations from Italy – Reggio Emilia

Inspirations from Italy – Reggio Emilia

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.25.3″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.25.3″] This spring I had the opportunity to travel, with a group of colleagues from my graduate  program at Portland State University, to Reggio Emilia, Italy to tour the schools. While I have many thoughts to share about my trip, I want to focus on teacher preparation in a community that features emergent curriculum, […]

Creating LGBTQ+ Schools Resources

Creating LGBTQ+ Schools Resources

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.101″ next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.101″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.21.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” z_index_tablet=”500″] PREFACE: This space has been created for educators, administrators, parents, and youth advocates and attendees of “Creating LGBTQ+ and Gender-Inclusive Schools: A Human Rights Campaign” as a forum for sharing experiences and reflections as they work through these resources. On […]

Trauma Informed Care – Resources

Trauma Informed Care – Resources

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] PREFACE: This space has been created for educators, parents, adults, and attendees of “Trauma Responsive Care with Communities of Color” as a forum for sharing experiences and reflections as they work through these resources. On this page, […]

The Good Books: A Little Light Reading

The Good Books: A Little Light Reading

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.12.2″] Hilltop has a long-standing commitment to anti-bias education. Over the years, educators here have explored the challenges of converting this value from intention to reality. Standing up and saying “I believe in anti-bias education” doesn’t do much to change the day-to-day experience of our classrooms and culture. Even acknowledging the subtle inequalities, the tacit racism, the […]

Building an Anti-Bias Library: Part Four – Family Structures and Holidays and History

Building an Anti-Bias Library: Part Four – Family Structures and Holidays and History

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” next_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.8″] This is the fourth and final installment of a four part series titled “Building an Anti-Bias Library.”  Today, we will focus on Family Structures, Holidays and History.  For part one, please […]