The second series of the D.C. Educators for Equity book club began in early January of this year. Classroom educators, librarians, media specialists, and school coordinators gathered at Tubman Elementary (DCPS) school to explore Cornelius Minor’s We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest To Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be. The group held discussions centering their most thought-provoking ideas and concepts. Director of Library and Innovation at Capital City Public Charter School, Chip Chase, provided large poster print outs of Minor’s diagrams, curricular planning tools, and organizers from the book.

The second and closing session for the book club met virtually via Zoom in order to practice social distancing on March 24th. Welcoming the intimate group of fifteen educators with warm introductions, Minor and each participant shared one thing that is currently bringing them joy during these challenging times. Throughout the conversation, Minor shared practices for curriculum, school pedagogy, and freedom work and the need for their interconnectivity. As the group shared responses and questions, Minor asked participants “what feels necessary?” in engaging in radical liberatory teaching and learning.

During the virtual workshop, Minor shared strategies for informal kid interviews and things to consider when fostering relationships with students. Below are practices for uplifting the power of ‘kid-watching data’. 

When we are getting to know children, there are a few different things that we are trying to infer. To teach children effectively, it is important to continually grow our knowledge of key aspects of our students. These are not things that we will ever “know” in a static way. These knowledges evolve because children change over time:

• Who and what they LOVE. Even if that thing is not school-related. Also, it is important to know that when children are young, the things that they love change. Frequently.

• How they know what they know. For example, if a child knows all the Fortnite dances. Understanding how they came to know these things can benefit me immensely.

• How children find commonality with other children. This helps me to understand identity and how they see themselves in this moment.

• What they consider their best attributes to be. Even if those attributes are not school-related.

• Why they choose to engage in learning.

• What they want out of life right now.

• How I might put all of these insights into use…

Unlike adults, children will not tell us these things outright. These are complicated things to know about oneself (even for adults!). We learn these things by listening to kids and by seeking to understand them as best we can. Most times we discover these things in informal ways. This interview is designed to help us learn from kids by thinking about what we learn from the (sometimes non-school-related) things that they say and do. 

Read more about Minor’s things to know when strengthening connections with students.

If you missed this book club series, Heinemann Publishing Group is offering access to their entire audiobook library for free through the month of April, including Minor’s We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be.

Cornelius Minor is a frequent keynote speaker for and Lead Staff Developer at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. In that capacity, he works with teachers, school leaders, and leaders of community-based organizations to support deep and wide literacy reform in cities (and sometimes villages) across the globe. Whether working with teachers and young people in Singapore, Seattle, or New York City, Cornelius always uses his love for technology, hip-hop, and social media to recruit students’ engagement in reading and writing and teachers’ engagement in communities of practice. As a staff developer, Cornelius draws not only on his years teaching middle school in the Bronx and Brooklyn, but also on time spent skateboarding, shooting hoops, and working with young people. You can follow Cornelius on Twitter @MisterMinor