Navigating Tough Conversations: Shelby Kretz on Talking Social Justice with Kids

Dr. Shelby Kretz is the creator of Little Justice Leaders, an organization that provides social justice education resources for educators and families. Shelby earned her Ph.D. in Education from UCLA, and her research explores social justice education at the elementary school level. Over the past decade, Shelby has worked with thousands of parents, teachers, and school leaders to bring social justice education to elementary aged kids.She emphasizes that biases begin to form as early as three years old, making it crucial for educators and parents to have resources that support age-appropriate conversations about complex topics such as race, gender, and disability justice. With a focus on collaboration and continuous learning, this conversation underscores the significance of fostering critical thinking and empathy in children as they navigate today’s multifaceted world.Takeaways: Parents and educators must engage young children in conversations about social justice early. Little Justice Leaders provides resources for teachers to address complex social issues effectively. The shift to digital resources allows for more accessibility and affordability in education. Building a supportive community among educators fosters collaboration and shared learning experiences. It's crucial to keep up with changing language and terminology surrounding social justice topics. Creating a curriculum that evolves with students ensures they grasp the principles of justice. Websitewww.littlejusticeleaders.comSocial Media Information@littlejusticeleaders on IG, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTubeShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)https://nape.org.uk/Discover more about Education on Fire🔥 https://www.educationonfire.com/🔥 Support the show with a One-Off Tiphttps://educationonfire.com/support🔥 Ecamm Free Trial – How I record and produce this show.https://educationonfire.com/ecamm🔥 Captivate.FM – My podcast hosthttps://educationonfire.com/captivate🔥...

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Do you feel the education system is sucking the life out of you and the pupils you serve? I think many of us wish we could click our fingers and make it fit for purpose. A place of growth with shared learning that empowers pupils to be their best selves, so they can create a world they want to inhabit now and in the future. While a magic wand or a visionary politician might sound like the answer I believe change is already happening. Educators are changing futures one conversation at a time. New technology and the environments where we learn are beginning to look different both in and out of the classroom. I hope you are seeing this first hand and are excited about what you can share with your pupils. We are having conversations, sharing organisations and communities that are supporting education in a way that you may have not experienced. Educational change will come from us all working in way that supports the best interests of each of our pupils, personalised learning. Governments and policy makers will follow when they see fully how it can be different. So let us teach, coach, mentor and create an environment that fuels every child with feedback, inspiration, resilience and empowerment. The Education on Fire community is shining the torch, so no matter where you are in the world or how you are supporting children this podcast is here for you. ‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.’