Need in Deed

What does it look like when the WHOLE Need in Deed staff can FINALLY get together for a picnic in the park? It's been a long 14 months Happy Friday, everyone!

We were glad to learn of this resource for Philadelphia students. It feels important to spread the word to all who need it:

Congratulations to ALL of the Lindback Winners but triple, special congratulations to Need in Deed teachers, Ms. Johnson at Baldi and Ms. Greenberg at McCall School and Ms. Chan at Jackson! We're so proud to know and work with them. https://fb.watch/5k4eGLnPf5/

We hope EVERYONE saw this Google Doodle about Teacher Appreciation Week. Teachers mean so much to us at Need in Deed and we hope they know how much they are appreciated.

Friends, your gifts mean so much during this difficult school year. Even in these difficult times, our classrooms are hard at work developing projects they can do in a socially distanced way. Your gift helps us meet the needs of our students and our teachers. Won't you help us meet our goal of raising $35,000 by the end of the fiscal year?

We at Need in Deed are busier than ever connecting the classroom with the community, albeit virtually! In a recent virtual meeting, we talked as a staff about how much we miss being in the same room with one another. We recognize how difficult these times are, and we are looking forward to the days when we can ALL truly be together again.

Last weekend, we had the privilege of presenting at the National Network of Schools in Partnership's annual conference. Using passages from Isabel Wilkerson and Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings we worked together to reflect, rethink, and reimagine how we envision partnership. Here's one of the passages we shared from Isabel Wilkerson's Caste: "Radical empathy....means putting in the work to educate oneself and to listen with a humble heart to understand another's experience from ...their perspective, not as we imagine we would fee. Radical empathy is not about you and what you think you would do in a situation you have never been in and perhaps never will. It is the kindred connection from a place of deep knowing that opens your spirit to the pain of another as they perceive it." We hope you will watch and share our presentation if you have thoughts or questions, please feel free to comment below or reach out to us!

You can now register for the African-American Children's Book Fair schedule for THIS Saturday. This year the fair will be virtual. Perhaps you will find some books by some of our favorite authors such as Jacqueline Woodson or Renee Watson. Register for the fair here: https://www.theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org/

We're so grateful to EdWeek for helping us kick-off Black History month the right way. Check out this series of essays and videos on the importance of teaching Black History this month and all year round.

Next week is Black Lives Matter Week of Action! Be sure to check out the amazing curriculum and ideas on the site below!

You may not SEE any teachers in this video but they are there. Last night our staff and teachers worked together to create a virtual KWL about racism. We decided to use a Google Jamboard to ask, what do we THINK we know about racism, what do we WANT to know, and how can we LEARN. We watched in amazement as teachers across Philadelphia a deep and thoughtful questions. Now, hopefully, they will take this activity back to their classrooms and recreate this activity with their students around whatever social issues they chose.

For all the teachers out there: We believe story is one of the best ways to welcome your students into your classroom. There is the sharing of your story as their teacher. Telling them who you are, where you come from, what makes you laugh and other peculiar details children want to know about their teachers. Then, there’s listening to their stories of who they are, what subjects they like, what they’re interested in learning and the peculiar details all teachers want to know about their students. And then, there are books. Everyone loves a back-to-school-read-aloud! Even middle school students-trust us. Here are our top three, and this list is subject to change at any given moment. Actually, we hope it does change. We hope it expands. Help us by sharing your back to school read-a-louds with us.

Love this! Thanks to our friends at MindShift! How do we honor student identity? *Amplify student voice *Display student work... *Give choice in reading, writing, products, etc. *Build relationships *Focus on students *Put a spotlight on cultures See more

Love this from the Louisiana State Teacher of the Year, Chris Dier. "I plan to allow my students to drive the conversation with their own questions, concerns, and thoughts. We already have established discussion norms centered on tolerance, understanding, and empathy. Although I’ve never met many of them in person, I have developed a relationship of trust with my students. I begin every virtual class with an opportunity for them to share news about their personal lives. I start it off by opening up about mine."

Make sure YOUR voices are heard this Election Day! Follow this link to find your polling place and exercise your superpower! https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pa/PollingPlaceInfo.aspx

JOIN US DECEMBER 3, 2020 FROM 7:00PM-8:00PM FOR OUR (VIRTUAL) SOIREE! While our soiree will be different this year, we are still committed to celebrating our teachers, community partners, and Philadelphia public schools. While there is no cost to attend, we hope guests will be moved to donate to Need in Deed or to bid on our silent auction items. Stay tuned for more information about those! Click below to learn more and RSVP!

The Need in Deed staff loves to read! We are always reflecting on what we read and trying to apply what we've learned to our work with teachers. Here are some of the titles we are reading right now. What books and articles are on YOUR shelves right now?

It's Media literacy week! Luckily, our friends at MindShift have some wonderful resources and videos to help us find credible sources. Check it out! https://www.kqed.org//media-literacy-week-2020-real-issues

Right now, Need in Deed staff and teachers are working together at our October in-service. This month we are thinking about ways to introduce social issues to students. One of our favorite activities is having students interview people in their communities. They might ask neighbors, family members, or friends about what they love about their community and what they might do to make it better if they had the chance. What questions might you ask YOUR neighbors about YOUR community?

So happy to see teachers across the country are leaning on one another for support during these difficult days. Many Need in Deed teachers meet once a week to discuss, support, and help one another as they navigate these difficult times.

Our teachers are so thoughtful. Read this poignant piece from our own network member Ami Patel-Hopkins and remember that's it's ok to practice self-care.

TODAY is the last day to make sure you're registered to vote in the general election. Make sure your voice is heard! Share if you're registered AND if you've already voted in the comments below! https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov//VoterRegistrationAppli

We are so grateful to the Philadelphia Writing Project at the University of Pennsylvania for the opportunity to present to an amazing group of educators this Sunday morning. Even during virtual learning, it is important to amplify the voices of our students. We shared how we use music to help students create lists of social issues they care about.

Happy Friday Teachers! You earned it!

How are teachers building community with their students while distance learning? Our wonderful teacher Ms. Thornton from Spruance School had her students write "I Am" poems. Students write about who they are, what they want the world to be, and what they love! Check out this beautiful work from our Philadelphia students.