Classroom Conversations with LaShona Dickerson

Here we go!!!!!!! CultivatED Living is on the way.. I want to start it all off by sharing opportunities to earn money to pay for college. What good is me knowing all this information and not do anything with it? This is for: college students, high school students preparing for college, a graduate student needing money to stay in college, and parents  planning for their children's college.  Now in order for any of this to work you need an email that you plan to check regularly! Then you need to sign-up on these 2 sites fastweb.com and Do Something Good. Viola!!!!, you will begin to receive a wealth of information on scholarship opportunities. Nothing of this will work if you are not responsive, but don't worry...I will continue to cultivate this seed I am sowing. I'll get you started for now.... Do Something Good has a campaign out now.  A poster contest...here are the details People of color and people with disabilities are underrepresented in science, t...

Shine Little Black Girl Shine little black girl As bright as the North Star Lighting the path of others Navigating through life to get where you are. Shine little black girl Don't let anyone dim your light With their judgment and ridicule Often at first sight. Knowledge and confidence are the accessories you should bear To keep that light shining Guiding little girls behind you on their journey thus far Shine Little Black Girl In the constellation of Little Black Girl stars Subscribe to Little Black Girl Channel

Those traits don’t define who you are within. Embrace Yourself Little Black Girl Inspired by: My niece, a kick-ass real estate agent!, who is contemplating her natural style. Embrace yourself Little Black Girl From your kinky hair to your chocolate skin. Embrace your lips, your curves, your smile and style Display them with confidence and a little flare As others look and wonder about the source of radiance you bare. Your gifts are uniquely crafted mysteries Like pieces of a puzzle connected Creating priceless art of your history. Embrace yourself Little Black Girl Your journey is not for everyone to understand Your strength and power to continue on will not come from man Look in the mirror and the girl you see Embrace her! She holds the key To a life of love and joy that only comes from within Beneath the kinky hair and chocolate skin. Embrace yourself Little Black Girl You are a sight to behold! Uniquely and wonderfully made ...

Chin Up Little Black Girl Inspired by:  My girls (my friend’s twins) who at still a tender age had to face disappointment in spite of their hard work and consistent commitment to excellence. Chin up little black girl You're destined to be a queen. Don't let this world Make you bitter and mean. Count your struggles as reps And let them make you strong, Position yourself for greater When they ignore, chastise, and belittle you Trying to prove you wrong. Chin up little black girl you're on a Queen's journey Not many will understand Continue to walk in your purpose It's all in God's plan Roadblocks, potholes, and curves you will ensue without forewarn Respond to it all with grace This was your destiny before you were born. Chin up little black girl Your crowning is at hand You’ve overcome your obstacles and Your reign as royalty is here and it's time to take the stand. Subscribe to Little Black Girl...

I will, as soon as I can. You spend time with me daily, yet I don’t believe you can possibly understand. All the turmoil in my environment, I’m just happy to be alive. You see your focus is teaching me while mine is simply to survive. Parents working nightly just to make ends meet. Me at home cooking and cleaning after school so my siblings and I can eat. I am not looking for sympathy, But I need you to know Your judgment and condescending words of ignorance must go. I will as soon as I can. It’s nothing you can rush What I need  is positive school relationships With adults, I can trust. Greet me in the morning, Ask me how I’m doing. Show me that you care About my interests and what I think about pursuing. I will as soon as I can. Right now  it’s just not a priority, But with your  belief in me each day, I will experience victory.

Acceptance Little Black Girl Acceptance Little Black Girl That is the key To our little black girl unity. All shades and sizes is what one will find But  the Little Black Girl tribe is about spirit and mind Tribal judgment and degradation has no place along the journey, we stride But respect and acceptance will help us build the little black girl pride Acceptance Little Black Girl Is how we win Building, lifting, and pouring into each other By sharing the places we've been. Rise Litte Black Girl We are going to the top. With our talents and skills We can’t be stopped. Practice Little Black Girl Acceptance from the heart. Today is the perfect day for you to start. Subscribe to Little Black Girl Channel

The Story Behind Little Black Girl As I begin to share my story through poetry, I don't consider myself to be anything but a woman with a passion to empower and inspire others through her experiences.  This is just as good a time as any to begin. Hey Little Black Girl is a series of poetry written based on my encounters in environments where, often times, I was the only person or one of very few that was black and female. Now, being the only individual to be or do in any environment has never kept me from doing anything and, truthfully, it was never evident until I began a life of leadership. There is a little black girl inside of each of us that has and continues to shape us into the women we are and will become as we live this journey.  This is my story. At the moment there are 5 Little Black Girl Poems. These poems are simply written but will have an impact on your soul. Especially if you have experienced it and if you haven't, share them with someone who has and...

Because I feel safe... Because I feel safe I am able to learn With no doubts, no worries No midnight concern. Because I feel safe My teachers will see Just how Maslow’s pyramid Applies daily to me. Because I feel safe My compliance you will find Is not because of fear But because I have a clear mind Because I feel safe I hope you understand Your protective provisions Is a social-emotional learning demand. My body, my mind, my heart and daily demure Is reflective of your efforts to keep me safe and secure. Important to you and essential to me Because I feel safe I attend school daily.

Hey Little Black Girl I entered a food court behind a group of students. As I come down the escalator, I see this cute little black girl. She is with the group, yet she is alone.   I proceed to get my food and find a seat. I sit and notice the same precious girl eating alone. I glanced at her and smiled. She smiled back. If I had the opportunity to speak with her, here is what I would say. Hey little black girl. Do you know who you are? You’re the rarest of gems, The brightest of stars. Hey little black girl. Don’t sit alone. Sit at the table and Be the backbone That you were meant to be Like the heritage of black women Since slavery. Hey little black girl Don’t be too shy To lean in and Project your voice it can not be denied. Hey little black girl I just want you to know You have a strong foundation On which to grow. Hey little black girl I have one last thing to say, You will become a phenomenal woman One...

MozFest 2017 was absolutely professionally rejuvenating. I spent a few days in London interacting with a diverse group of professionals discussing internet health. The topic I continued to be drawn to was digital inclusion. More specifically, the forgotten communities. While the discussion was centered around internet access in rural communities, the discussion led to other forgotten communities, particularly students with disabilities. I have deployed thousands of Chromebooks and pushed out hundreds of apps. Some at the request of staff and others as a means to spark creativity. Not once have I ever considered students with disabilities and how certain apps could bring them into the fold of learners or how digital tools would highlight a talent we would not otherwise know of because we are blinded by the disability. As a tech leader in the education space, I gained a much broader perspective on many uses of the internet in many different industries. I learned that our opportunities ...

Learning is not limited to the confines of physical space. Therefore, I am broadening the conversation and expanding the classroom. Conversations will no longer be limited school talk. Let's converse about LEARNING! Learning is ubiquitous. It happens everywhere. If you are living you should be learning and if you are not, well you need to be evaluated. Over the past few days, I have truly been rejuvenated as I held intercontinental discussions with diverse groups of professionals. The topics were authentic, the challenges were common, and the approaches to resolve were works in progress for all. My take away from London was inclusivity. While the focus was on digital inclusion, the conversation took me to mental places that were dormant. Now I want to be sure that I "unforget" the individuals and topics that have somehow faded in the background. The fabric of life and the fullness thereof is in the uniqueness of those that are brave enough to open their hearts and min...

What is it, what is its impact and how can I build it for my students? As I explore the streets of London at the ripe age of 45, I connect with topics I recall not understanding as a young girl. I finally made the connection! As an Educator, I always believed in the power of building background knowledge to give individuals a perspective on what they were about to learn. This gives them perspective and a connection. With a connection, the learning experience is different and more engaging because they now have something to reference. POWERFUL! We must set the stage when introducing topics to students. We owe it to them to give them perspective, a connection that some will never have the opportunity to gain otherwise. With the use of technology, this is possible. Videos are great but won't work for every child. Virtual Reality, however, can place students in actual environments where they gain real perspectives on topics. I've read stories of Paddington Bear many times but...

As we guide young people to adulthood, I can't help but observe the behaviors and expectations on the journey. On this journey, there will be plains, plateaus, hills, valleys, and mountains of varying depths, heights, and distances. Each journey with different expectations. Each journey personal. Now if we know all of this to be true or possible why do we set expectations for children on a path filled with plains and plateaus according to a path of hills and mountains. That makes no sense! We set them up for failure before their journey begins. I get it, there are a set of common expectations in life, those essential qualities, and skills we need as humans, but that's foundational. School systems, schools, and teachers are using one measurement for all students. Why? Why do you , as school system leader , demand that schools perform according to only the state metrics? Celebrate growth no matter how small. Why do you , as principal , evaluate teachers using a prescript...

I recently had the opportunity to listen to Angela Maiers speak about bravery. As I received the message I began to ponder about what that looks like in my life, the lives of my children and in the classroom. Brave is not some adjective on reserve for the superhero you see in the movies, doctors, firefighters, or civil right activists. Although these individuals display bravery, it's not the picture we should paint for our children. We all have the capacity to be brave. In order to demonstrate it or bring it out, we have to first define it. What does brave mean to you? How can you display bravery? Watch the link for my definition and example. Share yours in the comments..... Be Brave

It takes a village to .... "raise a child."  Let me add to that statement, "and educate a child." The days of sending your child to school to be returned to you with the knowledge and skills to become successful adults are long gone. Learning does not occur only during the hours of 7:45 and 3:30. It is continuous. Therefore, the village has to be prepared and committed to invest in the wonderful human resources we are so privileged encounter. Learning is continuous and there are so many aspects we have to develop. Children require emotional, social, intellectual, and kinesthetic stimulation and development. Which means, we have to build their knowledge about subject matters, teach them how to behave and interact with others, and how to be mobile beings. Who is the "Village?" The village is the parents, teachers, administrators, custodians, bus drivers, extended family, business owners, and community members. No individual teacher can prepare students ...

Schools across the nation are now in session. Along with the initial hustle and bustle of a  new school year, are placement tests and academic reviews and updates. Papers are being sent home for your signature, and routinely you sign. But WAIT! don't allow your child's academic review and updates be a part of that routine.  We mustn't be passive with something that has a huge impact on children's success in schools.  Let me get a bit more specific and personal. I just received my son's notification for SBLC Meeting (School Building Level Committee). My son is a junior in high school and is ADHD.  In the education system, they label it 504 and he is required to have an IAP (Individual Academic Plan). Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 grants rights to students with disabilities. These disabilities include ADD, ADHD, vision and hearing impairment, behavior disorders, academic difficulties, broken limbs, and etc.  Some classifications of 504 are t...

Words have the power to hurt or heal, to encourage and empower or destroy. What we say has a lasting impact on the spirits of our youth. From a personal experience, I watched one of my sons work hard in math at an early age (1st grade to be exact) to feeling defeated the moment he entered a math classroom.  This was the imprint on learning that his 1st-grade teacher left by saying he wasn't good in math. He believed her because after all, she was the teacher. That comment resonated in his spirit and still does. It didn't matter that he always scored well on the standardized test because in class he felt defeated. Communicating with students should be no different from communicating with any other human being. While we are to be firm and clear about our expectations of them, we must allow respectful expressions of self.  I have observed teachers speak to students as if they were mindless beings taking up space. When the students responded (not reacted) with respectful ...