I Always Liked When Teachers Got to Know Me

Welcome to the Arts and Education Newsletter!

Welcome to the Arts and Education newsletter, a monthly newsletter by me-Andrea Augustus-a New York-based teaching artist and spoken word poet.

Here you will find all things arts, culture, and events through the lens of a black female educator.

If that sounds interesting, stick around and join the tribe! ??

National Black Business Month

I'm coming in hot and starting with some food for thought. ??

Last month was National Black Business Month.?

First question: Did you know that? Like did you have any idea whatsoever?

Second question: How did it inform your thoughts and behaviors across the month? Hmmmm. This is an important question.

Let me tell you why.

As a black business owner, I appreciate the effort of National Black Business Month but I require more.?

For some reason, it feels like a bit of a consolation prize.?

Like Black History Month. 28 days of acknowledgment. Cool. Cool. But, what else?

Sure it looks great on a calendar, but how does it truly contribute to the success and well-being of black people?

It reminds me of how when black people were being racially targeted and harassed by police during the pandemic, the response was to make Juneteenth a national holiday.?

It's missing the point.

It’s giving, let's just cover the poop in candy and call it chocolate.

I challenge the powers that be to address some of the roots of these systemic issues that affect everyday living for black people in this country.?

Just a little food for thought.?

Community Events

There were tons of really dope local events that took place in NYC last month!

Listed below are some of my favorites:

Open Mic at The Bronx Native Shop

Da Block Music Festival

The Power of She by the Soap Box Presents

Pop Out and Paint

Healing Through Hip Hop

September???

This tidbit is specifically for my educator friends!

Heyyyyyyy Tribe!

So if you haven’t had the first day of school yet, it’s officially September and that first day is likely just around the corner for y’all!?

Are you and your students ready to have a productive and educational school year?

I'm sure you are because you're a part of the tribe, but if you have some nerves surrounding this back-to-school season I got you.

Here is one tip that I’d like to offer any educators who may be feeling a bit nervous about this upcoming school year.?I know the first time I led a seminar in a classroom I was nervous as heck!

I wondered things like:

What if they don't like me?

What if they don't understand the lesson?

What if I don't connect with them?

In order to address some of these concerns, I had to take a look at my experience from when I was in school.

Okay so y’all might not know this but when I was in school I loved it.

Absolutely loved it. I was the black nerd. You caught me, haha!

Education has always been so freeing for me.?

Education has allowed me to get on airplanes and travel the world long before I even had a passport.?

When I was learning about new information in school I always felt like my brain was being stretched and restructured in different directions as my mind expertly made room for new ideas.?

Almost like that good stretch you get after working out. Like slightly uncomfortable, but you know it's good for you so you dig in further. (Where my gym people at! Leave a comment below, haha)

Now as nerdy as that all sounds, it allowed me to be a malleable student and build relationships with my educators.?

They showed an interest in me after I showed an interest in learning about the content that they were teaching.?

I always loved when teachers spent time playing icebreakers in the class.?

Not because the icebreakers were the most unique thing ever, but because they really allowed me to get to know my classmates more!

As we answered questions like: How many siblings do you have? Where is your family from? What is the most exciting thing you did this summer? What are you looking forward to this year? it allowed me to really open up and create some roots and commitment t the teacher and classroom experience.

As a student that wasn’t always the most socially adept and popular, these organized icebreaking activities really helped me to be outgoing and connect with others in a way that I wouldn’t have without them.

The classes that made space for connection are the ones that stick out in my mind the most.

Ironically enough these classes tended to be history classes and English classes. Maybe because these subjects are rooted in communication so building a baseline of communication, in the beginning, can be helpful!

Taking a quick moment to send a shout-out to all of my past educators who took the time to make space for us as students.

This brings me to my number one tip for educators returning to classrooms this fall.?

#1 Tip

Create space.

Create space for your students to feel safe.

Create space for your students to get to know one another.

Create space for students to be vulnerable if they need to.

Create space for students to feel like they are a part of a community inside of your class.

Create connections.

Cultivate culture and community.

Show students that the dedication you have to them isn't just about how well they do on tests.

Show students that you care about their interests and they'll be a lot more likely to care about yours! Especially if you are a teacher who isn't from the neighborhood where you teach. Initially, students might be hard on you or fail to see the obvious connection between yall.

So meet them halfway by creating a learning experience that truly benefits the students and their overall well-being.

The teachers who take the time to create space for students in the first 3 months of school will have a teaching experience that can be rooted in authenticity and care.

I know when the school year begins we may feel like we need to be teaching the content and testing on the content and reporting the progress and all of that is cool, fine, and dandy.?

However, taking the time to CONNECT with the students on an emotional and personable level is what is going to keep a heartbeat, love, respect, and communication in the classroom.?

All of this is a fancy way to say, show up and show the students that you care. Invest in their conversations. Invest in their wellbeing. Invest in them.

Now obviously this isn't the end all be all.?

This tip is, not the only thing that you should do in your classroom this school year.?

But this tip can INFORM the other things that you do in your classroom this year.?

Allowing students time to get to know you and allowing yourself time to get to learn about your students and their lived experiences makes a difference in how students will receive that content that is being taught.

You may also find yourself adjusting the way you deliver content to meet the interests and needs of your class.

Students want to have connections with their educators. They want to feel seen heard, and understood.

Cuz students are human, duh! & at all humans' core [at least the ones I've encountered] they want to feel important and valued.

We are educating humans.?

Coming from different backgrounds.?

Different ages.?

Different sexual orientations and gender expressions.?

So showing students that you care about them the person, and not just them as another student in the class makes a big difference.?

The MINIS:

Now, I talked the talk about engaging students. Can I walk the walk?

You decide, haha!

Last month I had the immense pleasure of leading yoga classes at the Dreamyard Project to the MINIS!

This summer program immersed students in a variety of different arts classes for them to learn, engage, and grow!

This particular bunch of kindergarteners and first graders learned about mindfulness, meditation, and practicing yoga!

You should have heard us repeating positive affirmations and saying the things w appreciated about ourselves aloud.

After a solid 2 weeks of instruction, these students were able to

???? Identify and Name Yoga Poses

???? Work Collaboratively in Yoga-Based Games

???? Become Certified MINI Yogis! ?

While I taught them, they also taught me!

They taught and reminded me of:

? The Importance of being ADAPTABLE

? To remain GRATEFUL & KIND

? To slow down and stay PRESENT

The project was a success and I look forward to leading the MINIS again!

Gratitude

I keep finding myself feeling soo grateful.

Grateful that working as a teaching artist allows me to have an impact on the lives of students.

Grateful that schools and non-profits see the value in bringing the arts to their organizations.

Grateful that so many dope creatives are in my circle.

Grateful that you are reading this.

As always, I am just an email away if you think of any way I can add value to your organization like with a wellness workshop or a speaking engagement.

Also, feel free to update me on community events happening in your network.

I look forward to an amazing school year and remember you have got this.

You have always had this.

You are destined for greatness.

See you next month! Byyyyyyyyyyyyyye tribe!

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