“Winter Wear”

Dear Teacher,

Last weekend, my family headed to the mountains in pursuit of snow.  The weather drew us to higher elevations with the promise of the white, fluffy stuff.  In preparation for our trip, I rummaged through bins and in the back of closets to find gloves, hats, long johns, and ski pants.  Once I'd filled a laundry basket with all our winter-wear, we were off!

Once arriving at the sledding hill, we donned our gear.  Little feet were shoved into snow boots.  Cold fingers were stuffed into mittens.  As the wind whipped and snow blew, I was grateful for the decade our family had spent in the Midwest that afforded us proper winter wear.  

However, glancing around at the others sledding, I was amazed to see a wide variety of attire.  Southern sledders don't have the right clothes, I determined.  Jean-clad knees were wet.  Work gloves brought frigid fingers.  Fleeces absorbed moisture.  Although we were on the same sledding with the same sleds at the same time, these sledders beside me were ill-equipped for the winter challenges.  If only I had had an equity bucket, I would have generously doled out coats, pants, and scarves to ensure everyone was warm and safe from the winter wiles.

And you, teacher, there in your classroom, face similar challenges. Although your students daily arrive to learn the same curriculum in the same setting, some are coming without all the tools they need for success.  They come without executive functioning skills, support systems, and resiliency.  They wear trauma, baggage, and adverse childhood experiences.  In short, they are ill-equipped for the learning environment.  And yet you have an equity bucket that you generously dole out Christ-centered differentiated instruction, collaborative learning, and social-emotional literacy to ensure that your students are safe from worldly wiles.

Doling with you,
Mindy
Christian Educator & School Counselor