Many multilingual learners (MLs) and their families face significant challenges and barriers that highlight the profound impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on vulnerable students. Failing to recognize the adversities that our MLs and their families are facing can limit our ability to support them effectively. Even with knowledge, we …
I recently read a thought-provoking article in Fast Company titled “Emotional Intelligence Is So 2020.” It opens with a powerful statement: “…people are starving to be seen, acknowledged, and witnessed.” The article features a business survey on empathy conducted by Ernst & Young LLP, revealing that 86% of employees believe …
by Becki Cohn-Vargas and Debbie Zacarian For too long, many children have experienced barriers that harm their sense of safety, belonging, value, competence, and confidence to speak up for themselves and others. Examples include children who are teased about their race, gender identity, the languages they speak, and being neurodiverse. …
“Identity Safe Spaces at Home and School,” by Becki Cohn-Vargas and Debbie Zacarian, is a critical resource addressing educational inequity. The book integrates research with practical tools to support inclusive environments for diverse students. Emphasizing home-school collaboration, it offers strategies for fostering trust, empathy, autonomy, and resilience in classrooms.
I am excited to share that Identity Safe Spaces at Home and School: Partnering to Overcome Inequity, co-written with Dr. Becki Cohn-Vargas, has been released nation-wide. Several people have asked how to spread the word about the book. Here are some activities to do if you would like. Please share …
School superintendents, principals, teachers, specialists, support staff, and others are becoming much more aware of the epic number of students experiencing adversity in the form of trauma, violence, and chronic stress. However, many of us are not familiar with the steps that we should take to support our instructional programming. …
When Alina was 11 years old, she moved to the United States from Irpin, Ukraine with her mother and younger brother to live with distant relatives. The Russian invasion resulted in their witnessing the destruction of their city and the death of family members. As Alina enrolls in school, we learn …
Interested in learning more about practices for supporting students living with adversity? Listen in as Dr. Jobi Lawrence and Dr. Debbie Zacarian discuss the topic of teaching to empower and share a call to action to foster student agency, self-confidence, and collaboration. This episode of ASSETS is part of a …
In September 2020, our daughter planned to travel from Miami to Armenia to do some volunteer work. The first flight had only a few passengers. She excitedly texted that she had the whole economy row to herself! As she headed from the first flight to the second, she was stopped …
This new publication is being released in January 2020! “Teaching and Supporting Students Living with Adversity,” is a Quick Reference Guide. It includes six pages of key easy-to-implement K-12 instructional strategies for students living with trauma, violence and chronic stress. Filled with examples, it is now available for pre-order! TinyURL.com/yx52hn33
