I hope you are getting lots of rest this summer.
As many of you know, CT has passed a bill to integrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Studies into K-12 education.
Last year, I had the privilege of working as an UConn Asian and Asian American Studies Institute Activist in Residence. My main project was facilitating a teacher community of practice for 10 high school teachers across CT, creating units of
study centered on Thi Bui’s graphic memoir,
The Best We Could Do. What a life-changing experience for all the students, teachers, professors, and me! Check out a recent WNPR story about our work (including hearing from students about their experiences):
I am thrilled to share that this coming school year, I am back at it as a UConn AAASI Activist in Residence, and I am facilitating three teacher communities of practice, one for K-2 teachers, one for grades 3-5 teachers, and one for grades 6-8
teachers. Here are the details:
who: work together in a small teacher community of by grade band (K-2, 3-5, or 6-8)
what: work together as a community of practice (K-2, 3-5, or 6-8) to include Asian American & Pacific Islander texts in a unit of your choice
what else: work together to integrate oral storytelling into that same unit of your choice
when and where: an intro Zoom meeting in August + monthly meetings via Zoom over the course of six months (1-1.5 hours each session)
why: to co-create K-8 units of study over time in preparation for this integration of AAPI studies
AND the most important and fundamental why—to ensure our students get the inclusive education that they deserve and need.
For your contributions, there is a $300 stipend, opportunity to build your network of teacher collaborators, as well as rich professional learning experiences with lifelong educators throughout our CT community. You will also get to learn unwritten
histories in your local community and state-wide!
If you are interested in participating, please complete this Google form by EOD August 6:
Please share widely with CT K-8 teachers who would want in!
Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions—I am here for all of them.