Small Marvels: Reflective Writing to Understand Place and Equity

In this webinar, participants will use reflective personal writing to understand ourselves, each other, and the world. The first webinar (recording available in link), “The Stories We Tell: Reflective Writing to Examine How Nature, Diversity, and Place Influence Our Teaching,” focused on identity and diversity. This time, the focus will be on place, equity, and the possibilities inherent in exploring what is nearby. We will use excerpts from Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book, Gathering Moss, as inspiration and will also refer to the ideas of place-based educators. For educators, reflective writing can provide new ways of inquiring into the familiar with students – new ways of appreciating worms in a schoolyard garden, moss in the cracks of city sidewalks, and other marvels. Reflecting on our own lives in relation to our work and the natural world can also help us uncover inequity, find community-centered solutions, and recognize small victories.