We Got This with Cornelius Minor

Connect with Cornelius Minor
Website: kassandcorn.com | Twitter: @MisterMinor | Book: We Got This
Connect with Vrain Waves
Twitter: @VrainWaves | Becky Twitter: @BeckyEPeters | Ben Twitter: @mrkalb
Links & Show Notes

Cornelius’ Introduction & Background (02:05)

Working through and reflecting on failure; teacher imagination (03:45)


We Got This, the book, and the Teacher-as-Hero Narrative (05:59)

Jamal Eigel, illustrator


Why is the Teacher-as-hero narrative problematic? (07:40)

People as humans not heroes; allies, not saviors
Heinemann Podcast w/ Mr. Minor - Building Better Heroes


We all want better (09:52)

Teaching in the contemporary political moment
We are pro-kid - to help them create opportunities for themselves
“Anything that abridges opportunity is my enemy.”
Challenge: How do we actualize ‘better’


How do we navigate the contemporary political moment? (12:05)

Everything is iterative
Story about Cornelius & his soccer team
Bringing it back to the classroom - what it means to be a member of a community - advocacy & activism (16:10)
The world hands you a curriculum - if you’re observant & you listen, you can do really powerful things
How can we all help surface and solve those stories? (17:55)
Racism, ableism, classism - Who should be working to solve it?
Empathy is a really powerful tool
Decolonize school by trying to understand each other


Get to know our students better by listening - “Where is the poetry in this person?” (21:04)

Spend our time observing (22:35)
Labels are necessary shorthand but we have to avoid getting trapped in those (23:08)
Disability spread - the spread effect (23:57)


Hip Hop Ed (24:31)

#hiphoped
Art vs. product (25:08)
At the heart of hip hop is innovation / engineering / iterative design
Fearless around the act of creation
Hip hop came out of the Bronx
Can’t teach without the crowd


How can we be more fearless in our creation? (28:36)

What is school?
True creation is messy & noisy - where are we leaving space for that during the school day?
Embrace approximation (instead of perfection) (30:12)


How do we create space for learning from each other? (31:45)

Be deliberate about it
Ms. Disbrow as Cornelius’ mentor
Watching specific teaching moves, going into each other’s classrooms at least once a week - specific, scheduled time to watch, then specific, scheduled time to practice the learning


Practices in literacy instruction (35:49)

Students and book selection - craft independence
“We’re here to create book culture.”
Independent reading time in class (37:51)
Agency for students (39:05)


Modeling in writing (39:52)

Lucy Calkins / Reading & Writing Project
Readers Workshop / Writers Workshop
Writing essays - “Essay is a journey of thought.” (39:50)
Is our own ability a ceiling on our kids’ progress?


Letting go of power without letting go of control (44:27)

Physics of human relationships
Create multiple points of investment / sharing power
“How can I raise a kid’s status in front of their peers?”


How to teach with deep community engagement (48:18)

Parents & teachers need to see each other as experts
How can I labor to understand each student in order to give them the best possible experience?


To learn more from Cornelius Minor:

Kassandcorn.com
Heinemann.com - We Got This
Loads of Free Resources from the Book!! Graphic organizers for your own Action Research to support your reflection & iteration
@MisterMinor on Twitter
@CorneliusMinor on Instagram


Wrap Ups & Take Aways (52:21)