Talking to Toddlers During a Time of Crisis
May 18, 2020

Talking to Toddlers During a Time of Crisis

[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″] Covid-19 descended upon Seattle, seeping in like a fog first in small ways, then eventually in signals we couldn’t ignore. Stores were empty, hours at our center were limited. A constant state of interruption became the norm. Children were being told constantly to get up and wash their hands, cover […]

Institute Blog 0 7 min read
Threshold of Imagination
May 30, 2019

Threshold of Imagination

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22.3″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.22.3″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.23.3″] One of my cherished childhood memories was working on my all-time favorite activity: building forts. I dove into a process of adding several layers of bedsheets combined with a set of mix-and-match chairs, creating an impervious stronghold. There was something really special about the way my lopsided constructions […]

Institute Blog 0 5 min read
Multiple Learning Styles
February 21, 2019

Multiple Learning Styles

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.19.11″] “Until you can recognize that you are living a racialized life and you’re having racialized experiences every moment of every day, you can’t actually engage people of other races around the idea of justice”  – Whitney Dow As our schools become more diverse, cultural responsiveness is an increasingly important skill for teacher efficacy and children’s success. […]

Institute Blog 0 9 min read
The Good Books: A Little Light Reading
September 11, 2018

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 […]

Institute Blog 2 5 min read
Building an Anti-Bias Library: Part Four – Family Structures and Holidays and History
July 18, 2018

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 […]

Institute Blog 1 7 min read
Building an Anti-Bias Library: Part Two – Economic Class, and Different Abilities
April 23, 2018

Building an Anti-Bias Library: Part Two – Economic Class, and Different Abilities

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ inner_width=”auto” inner_max_width=”none”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.4″ background_layout=”light”] PREFACE: This is part two of a four part series. For part one, please click here. On September 27th, 2017, we welcomed Debbie LeeKeenan, Dr. Caryn Park and Dr. Maggie Beneke to kick off of 2017-2018 Educator Discussion Series focusing on Anti-Bias Education. Their workshop titled: Using Children’s Literature to Provoke Conversations on Challenging Topics focused on […]

Institute Blog 0 11 min read
Seeking Equity Through Language-Rich Classrooms
March 25, 2018

Seeking Equity Through Language-Rich Classrooms

A great deal of evidence points to the critical importance of exposure to rich language during the first five years of life, yet, despite this knowledge, schools and classrooms still fails to provide rich language to children and as a result, the gap between rich and poor children in America hasn’t narrowed, as promised; it has widened. Which provokes the question…Why focus on Kindergarten readiness, when we could be seeking language equity for lifelong success?

Institute Blog 0 5 min read