Paper presentation at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Area of special interest: Lives of Teachers —Teacher Identity and Agency in Racially and Politically Contested Contexts

Thu, April 11, 4:20 to 5:50 pm, Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Floor: Level 4, Room 411

Abstract

This paper examines the understudied perceptions and experiences of early childhood educators in California. Life history interviews of six teachers working in differently-funded preschool programs were conducted to better understand the lived experiences of the ECE workforce. This study theorized education policy and labor as processual and situated in a racialized and gendered political economy. Despite variations in program context and teacher preparation, the teachers shared remarkably similar conceptions of their work, suggesting a professional ECE ethos shared through practice. This common purpose undergirded teachers’ descriptions of agentic meaning-making and resistance to political and organizational encroachments on their working conditions and professional autonomy – encroachments that may intensify as California works to further standardize early education in the state.

“About the AERA 2024 Annual Meeting

Each year, the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting is the world's largest gathering of education researchers and a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative studies in an array of areas. The 2024 Annual Meeting will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 11-14.

About the 2024 Program:
The 2024 AERA Annual Meeting offers a robust program of Presidential and AERA sessions; Division and SIG paper/symposium, roundtable, and poster sessions; and professional development courses, and off-site visits.”

Teaching Critical Media Literacy as a Liberatory Project

Roundtable panel featuring: Nolan Higdon, Mickey Huff, Micah Card, Andy Lee Roth, and Alison Butler

Click here to register.

Across classrooms, curricula, and communities, media is a rapidly expanding, complex influence on the experiences of students and educators. Today more than ever, young people need critical media literacy education. This panel explores the teaching of critical media literacy to empower students to form multidimensional understandings of what they read and watch, to see others like them making change, and to gain insights into their own identity projects. By covering topics such as media representations, digital culture, post-truthism, critical thinking, surveillance capitalism, digital gatekeeping, concentrated media ownership, and environmental justice through a critical media literacy lens, this panel discussion aims to prepare teachers to help their students evolve from passive consumers of media to engaged media citizens. There is no aspect of media that is not constructed by people working together to create certain meanings. Likewise, there is no aspect of media that cannot be better understood—or challenged—by people working together to decode and rethink those meanings. This panel focuses on the teaching of critical media literacy as one crucial way to promote students’ civic engagement and social justice commitments, thus contributing to the creation of a more equitable, peaceful world. Each of the panelists is associated with The Media and Me: A Guide to Critical Media Literacy for Young People (Censored Press/Triangle Square Press, 2022), a first-ever book about critical media literacy written for young people, rather than about them.

The Symposium: Peace, Culture and Social Justice

Available on Zoom, Facebook and Youtube.

The UNESCO Chair in Democracy, Global Citizenship and Transformative Education (DCMÉT) is part of the UNESCO eco-system of some 700 UNESCO Chairs internationally and 30 in Canada. A UNESCO Chair has a distinct research program, linkages with civil society, connects with the Global South, and subscribes to UNESCO values, with the environment, social justice, global citizenship and transformative education being central to DCMÉT’s priorities. DCMÉT has developed a robust and engaged series of collaborations in Canada and internationally, working in English, French and Spanish.

A workshop for educators of young children facilitated by Micah Card, educator and author of No Magic Lecture.

Reflective freewriting is an intuitive way for educators to tap into their thinking processes, gain clarity, and enhance wellbeing. Writing strengthens the hand/brain and mind/body connections. Freewriting strengthens the heart. No experience needed. Just bring pen and paper.

Writer, educator, and facilitator Micah Card will guide attendees through a brief intro to the practice of freewriting and a series of manageable, supportive writing exercises. Participants will come away with a framework for thinking and feeling their way into the new school year with intention, meaning, and purpose.

This is not a workshop for “Writers!” This is a workshop for teachers of young children, early childhood educators, and ECE students at the start of this new school year. No one will be asked to share writing, only reflections on the process itself (if you’d like!). 

Suggested donations are set on a sliding scale, from $25 to perfectly free. 

The zoom link for the workshop will be sent via email on the day of the event for security.

Select your price in the drop-down menu. 

Purchase Tickets Here

From Flappers Comedy Club:

This is a virtual comedy show! If you can't come to us, we'll come to you! EVERYBODY gets a front row seat. How it works: Comedians and audience sign into the same Zoom meeting room. 1) Buy a ticket 2) We will send you a link to sign in an hour before the show, along with brief video tutorial. 3) In the Socal area? Don't forget to order takeaway food before the show! Call 818-209-2368 or go to FlappersComedy.com to order! 4) Please check into the zoom meeting for the show 30 min before showtime so we can help you get set up!

Live Q&A for Santa Monica College Early Childhood Education Students

Come hear me read from my chapbook, A Series of Engagements, as part of The Next Lit Fest in Denver, CO. 

From organizer, Ctch Bsnss:

THE NEXT LIT FEST

The Next Lit Fest provides a physical space for internet writers to meet, share and support each other's work. Held in Denver, events over the weekend feature small presses and underrepresented voices. This fest is a platform for anyone who wants to take what they've used the internet to create or publicize and bring it to a place where there is so much more than likes or shares in response. Prepare yourself for performances, deep talks, long hugs, dancing, art and more. 

EVENT SCHEDULE

Thursday 8/16
6pm @ catch's house: Fully Rendered Garden Party
9:30pm @ catch's house: The Next Lit Fest Kickoff Poetry Party

Friday 8/17
7pm @ The White Whale Room: The House The Matrix Built: A Next Lit Fest Event

Saturday 8/18
4pm @ Whittier Cafe: The Next Lit Fest: Witch Craft, Reality Hands & Magic Helicopter
9pm @ catch's house: Poetry Party at The Next Lit Fest

Sunday 8/19
11am to 4pm @ catch's house: Bring Your Own Books Fair
1pm @ catch's house: Burn Down Every Human City