“Being vulnerable and sharing a piece of yourself might be the hardest thing we do as humans. What if we are rejected? What if we aren’t liked? What if we are othered? Being part of a group that is often lumped in with others, the world often forgets just how brilliant and beautiful our people are. In this interview, Mike […]
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 […]
Language is a Construct
It wasn’t only until 1990 that the United States adopted the Native Americans Language Act. That means for the last 400+ years prior to that, not only did we try to eradicate Indigenous identity or culture, but we had policies and systems in place that was meant to erase their language… Language is something we often take for granted. But with […]
Risk-taking and Social Activism (Part 1)
This is a two-part series about fostering social activism in young children. In Part 1, Hilltop educator Lauren Mayo (she/her) shares some of her own experiences learning about injustice and activism as a young child. She challenges readers to reflect on the ways that they are taking risks with their own children – at home or in classroom settings – […]
White America (Almost) Stole My Soul
“Which part of you do you leave at the door in order to survive?” – Michael Browne (he/him), Community Engagement Manager at Hilltop This question has made an impact in the way I think about my own identity. The first time I heard it out loud was on Episode Two (Deathmetal & Toddlers) on the podcast, Napcast, (Napcast is a […]
Identifying Identity
Identifying our roots of identity can help us see where we came from, and most importantly, where we wish to go.
Indigenizing Edu – 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=”3.20.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off”] PREFACE: This space has been created for educators, administrators, parents, and youth advocates and attendees of “Indigenizing Education: A Discussion of Early Learning in Native America” as a forum for sharing experiences and reflections as they work through these resources. On […]
SES and Class Identity 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=”3.19.5″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” use_border_color=”off”] PREFACE: This space has been created for educators, administrators, parents, youth advocates and attendees of “Can We Talk About Socioeconomic Status and Class?” as a forum for sharing experiences and reflections as they work through these resources. On this page, we […]
Rituals: A Vessel for Participation
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″] Educators in the Rainbow Room at Hilltop welcome a new group of children ages 2-3 each September, some who are moving from a younger Hilltop classroom or have had siblings at Hilltop, and some whose families are new to Hilltop. As one of those educators, I try my best to observe and listen carefully to what […]
Hilltop’s Anti-Bias Booklist
[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.1″] In late fall of 2013, I was trying to appear calm and collected via Skype, my laptop resting precariously on a cardboard box, in order to impress the Hilltop hiring panel that was interviewing me. For the most part, I was feeling confident and qualified. Then they asked the question “How familiar are you with anti-bias […]