Local Civic Engagement

Resources for holding our elected officials accountable

New York City Council: find your district council member's information to write him or her a letter

Community Board 7: participate in our school district's community board meetings held every month (sign up for the mailing list to receive notices about the monthly agenda or neighborhood events)

Participatory Budget Voting: decide how you want to spend 1 million+ to improve the school's neighborhood

Council Member Helen Rosenthal's website: keep updated on what goes on in our school's neighborhood

Recommended Reading Material for Parents

I'm interested in providing families with books and articles on nurturing emotionally healthy children. Please feel free to send me your recommendations to add to this list:

Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting by John Gottman

[great examples of active listening/showing empathy]

Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World by Devorah Heitner

[online safety practices for your child]

It's Complicated: The Social Lives Of Networked Teens by Danah Boyd

[essential read to understand social media use among teens]

Parent's Guide to Teen Depression

[recognizing the signs of depression in teens and how you can help]

The Care and Keeping of You

[American Girl Series to read with your child; check out the many other topics!]

Books on ELA and Reading:

With Rigor For All by Carol Jago (my high school English Teacher)

The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miler

Great Habits, Great Readers by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo

Deeper Reading by Kelly Gallagher

The Rights of the Reader by Daniel Pennac; Quentin Blake

Books on Education:

Classroom Confidential by Laurel Schmidt (my 4-6th grade teacher)

Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher by Stephen Brookfield

Soka Education by Daisaku Ikeda

Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown; Henry L. Roediger; Mark A. McDaniel

Raising Kids Who Read: What Parents and Teachers Can Do by Daniel T. Willingham

Why School? Reclaiming Education for All of Us by Mike Rose

Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain by Zaretta Hammond

2020 Recommended Articles/Media

1. Helping Teens Make Room for Uncomfortable Emotions

[excellent article on how to help your teenage child through difficult emotions]

2. Helping Kids Process Violence, Trauma, and Race in a World of Nonstop News

[excellent webinar about how to talk to your children about race and racism]

3. Common Sense Media Resources About Race and Racism

[advice, books, movies, & other resources]

4. Rule No. 1 for Parents Doing ‘Crisis Schooling’: Take a Deep Breath

[special report from the NY Times]

5. How to Avoid Burnout When You Have Little Ones

[special report from the NY Times]

Past Recommended Articles

Should Parents Help their Children With Homework? (NYT)

Why are More American Teenagers Than Ever Suffering from Severe Anxiety? (NYT)

How Kids Learn Resilience (The Atlantic)

[excellent article citing research on the factors that promote resilience]

For Checking on What Your Child is Reading and Watching visit Common Sense Media

*Take a self-directed course on "how to become a better ally" with Justice in June