Coming at you with a short update to fill you in on all of the details that flew by in December. Curriculum wise, we spent the 3 weeks of December learning a total of 20 vocab words. These vocab words apply to every area of their lives as members of the Commerce City community. In order to provide adequate SEL education, you cannot do so authentically without teaching through a culturally responsive lens that relates to the communities in which we are serving. Through this lens, students learn about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and the parts of our world and/or thinking that can poison it.
This is why I dedicated this month to creating diverse lessons that prompted students to engage with their partners and classmates to provoke critical thought about their environment and how they have perpetuated such divisive thoughts through action and language. We had deep conversations that met students where they were at and each week they learned about each term in a different way- using experiential activities, games, discussions through circle talks, group posters, and World Cafe, book breakdowns (How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram Kendi), and youtube videos to help further break down the concepts. The first graded final was given before we let out for break and I am elated and proud to say that 85% of students passed. Preparing students to go into the world with this knowledge of themselves and others was very important to me in regards to living out an anti-bias lifestyle where they are given the choice to think in a way that positively impacts their character, leadership ability, self-esteem, and understanding of how to feel empowered, and most of all, liberated within their unique intersectional identities.
The mentor and mentee of the month undoubtedly goes to Alberto Alvarado and Anayli Romero. Alberto was a Mentee last year and gained a lot of confidence, knowledge, and wisdom from his relationship with his former mentor, Kevin Clark. At the beginning of the year, Berto came to me with the conviction of being allowed to be a Mentor this year. Last year he really struggled to take some of our heavier lessons seriously so I was hesitant, but I believed he could do it with consistency. Not only is Berto proving that he deserves his role as a Mentor, but he is going above and beyond for his Mentee and his entire class. He contributes to discussions in his vulnerability and his ability to retain concepts. He is always first to raise his hand and recite what he guesses that concepts and terms might mean, and 9/10 times he is both articulate and accurate. Anayli is very open to receiving help from him because of his leadership abilities and because of his upbeat, charming energy. He tutors her and helps her get to class as she is someone who struggles with on-time attendance almost daily. I am looking forward to seeing her blossom as a Mentor next year. Congrats to Berto and Anayli!
A month highlight was getting another visit from Shalayah! She has popped up in the YESS blogs many times before and I hope she always will. She showed up before Holiday Break got out to update us on her EMT Certification!!! She is now able to ride in the ambulances and is qualified to aid people needing medical attention on the streets of Denver. Her passion is working in an ever changing environment where undeserved minorities are struggling with addiction. She seeks to lend a caring presence and offer her expertise and getting people physical help and referring them to programs where they can learn about how to break out of the cycle of addiction. I have never been more proud of someone in my life. She is driven, ambitious, and unstoppable in her drive to create positive change in this world.
A month highlight had to be getting together with the Mentor Leaders at the ML Boondocks event. They got to compete in bowling, arcade games, and laser tag! It was a blast and the ACHS mentor leaders loved the opporunity to get to know the Leaders from North, West, Lincoln, and Westminister.
Mentor Leader Selfieeeeee~~~*~*~
This response met a lot to me. I am really proud of how open minded my students were coming into these discussions and how they were up for the challenge each day of learning material that has never been presented to them before.
Until next month,
Ms. C
