Creating Belonging for Students in a Virtual World
How do I create a meaningful experience when teaching in Brady Bunch boxes? I taught middle school for 15 years, and on the days when I felt my lessons were the most engaging and impactful, I would come home exhausted. As an introvert in a very extroverted career, I had to work extra hard at
An interview with local author, Cheryl Minnema
AMAZEworks is excited to have Cheryl Minnema’s book Hungry Johnny in the release of our newly revamped elementary curriculum. Cheryl Minnema (Waabaanakwadookwe) is a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. She was born in Minneapolis and raised on the Mille Lacs Reservation. Along with writing children’s literature and poetry, she creates Ojibwe floral
Celebrating Women’s Equality Day and Protecting the Right to Vote
August 26 is Women’s Equality Day. This date commemorates the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which prohibits denying someone the right to vote on the basis of sex. As we mark the 100-year celebration of this amendment, we are still reminded of how important voting rights are. This year we have seen exacerbated gaps in
Introducing the NEWLY UPDATED AMAZEworks Elementary Curriculum
For the last year, AMAZEworks staff, with the help of our incredible teacher task force and community members, have been working hard to update our pre-K through 5th grade Elementary Curriculum. With this curriculum and Anti-Bias training, teachers create connected classrooms where all children are seen, heard, and valued. Educators learn to examine how identity,
Rethinking the Privilege Walk
Both the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent racial justice protests have highlighted gaping disparities in our country. By now, many of you have likely seen videos of Privilege Walks circulating around social media as a means of illustrating these gaps. The version I have most frequently seen shows a group of people lining up for
Reflections on COVID-19 and PRIDE 2020
Meet Ari. She is currently working 3 jobs to support herself and is grateful there is work available. Meet Miranda. She lost her job but is okay and likes that she has more time to volunteer on a farm. AMAZEworks interviewed two young adults, Ari and Miranda, to learn how they have
A Reflection on George Floyd’s Death: Where do we go from here? From helplessness to action
I am marveling at how much things can change in a week. Just over a week ago, I was preparing to write this note about celebrating PRIDE month in the midst of a pandemic and honoring fathers and father figures for Father’s Day. Both things are still featured in our newsletter this month and are
A Q&A with Neighborhood Forest Founder & Director Vikas Narula
In celebration of Earth Day 2020, AMAZEworks chatted with Vikas Narula, Founder and Director of Neighborhood Forest, a non-profit that provides free trees to elementary-aged children. Over the last 10+ years, Neighborhood Forest has reached over 150 schools and 60,000 families and has planted over 31,000 trees across the U.S. and Canada. In addition to
An Anti-Bias Education Lens on Environmental Justice
“Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. This goal will be achieved when everyone enjoys: the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards, and equal access
