BubbleUp Take5: Cultural proficiency, native voices, drawing, and what teens need from schools

This week we've got all sorts of things on our mind. We've been focused on equity in our school district this year so a piece on cultural proficiency sparked my interest. I also discovered a new podcast for kids, learned about the impact of drawing on learning, and considered the teen brain a bit as well.

So, take5 and share with us what you think about these stories and more! We'd love to hear from you.

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A recent piece from PBS News Hour addresses the idea of cultural proficency among teachers. One comment that particularly resonated from Cassandra Herring, President of the Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity: "I think the race-blind, colorblind, language-blind, culture-blind educational system of the past is failing us. It's obsolete. Because our classrooms are becoming so diverse, to not equip teachers to know how to really leverage that diversity in a positive way, to move forward student achievement, is only going to increase the achievement gap." Watch the segment or read the transcript.

A new podcast from PBS Kids is remarkable because, as ​Fast Company notes, it "tells native stories with native voices." Molly of Denali is an eight episode adventure-detective podcast for kids set in Alaska and voiced by indigenous actors, that also rolls out as a TV show later this summer. 

The Powerful Effects of Drawing on Learning (Edutopia, May 14, 2019). A recent study found that drawing has significant postive effects on learning and recall -- this Edutopia video shares those study results in an engaging way. It's time to get our students drawing out their thinking, making sketchnotes, and more.

Recently the ASCD journal Educational Leadership published a theme issue on what teens need from schools. An interview with psychologist, educator, and author Thomas Armstrong explores how school envirionments can better support teen brains.

A companion issue of ASCD Express surveyed teens to hear what they say they need. It's time for those of us who educate teenagers to listen up!

What are you reading, watching, and listening to this week?

​-Gretchen

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You might also like:

• Note Taking Strategies (April 30, 2019)
• BubbleUp Take 5: Rubrics, Podcasts, and More... (May 24, 2016)