Author | Lightnews

Andrea

@teachbk.bsky.social

3.3K followers 4.6K following 1K posts

nyc public school educator + holder of opinions critical pedagogy • PBL• linguistics • literacy fan of art, coffee & liberation. she/her فلسطين حرة

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · Feb 8

I wrote about culturally responsive teaching and how educators who promote these practices in theory should be building pathways for these principles to be put into practice.

Part of a series from @edweek.bsky.social
With @ericabrivera.bsky.social

www.edweek.org/leadership/o...

We should understand that the work we do in our classrooms and schools is part of something bigger than us

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Reposted by Andrea

Marcus Luther @marcusluther.bsky.social · 14h

Given the hunger and fear that this administration is inflicting upon so many children across the country, it has never been a more difficult time for schools to be good places for kids to walk into and it has never been a more important time, too.

And that both/and is overwhelming.

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Reposted by Andrea

Truthout @truthout.org · 12h

From private prisons to health care scams, the attack on unhoused people is about exploitation, not safety.

The US Is Criminalizing Homelessness and Expanding Incarceration. Who Profits?

From private prisons to health care scams, the attack on unhoused people is about exploitation, not safety.

buff.ly

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New York Focus @nysfocus.bsky.social · 12h

New York is violating its climate law — and doesn’t get a pass because implementing the law is “complicated,” a judge found Friday.
nysfocus.com/2025/10/24/n...

New York Is Violating Its Flagship Climate Law, Judge Rules

The law required a state agency to issue major regulations more than a year and a half ago, and it had no excuse not to, the court found.

nysfocus.com

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 1d

What @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is saying here really hits home.

I don’t often talk about my faith. I don’t feel like explaining. I don’t want to be judged or othered, whether by strangers or people in my life.

Hoping a Muslim mayor can make Islam more known.

youtu.be/XjiAl-u2Cr4?...

Zohran Mamdani’s EMOTIONAL Speech Denouncing Islamophobia in New York City

YouTube video by Zeteo

youtu.be

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Nick Covington @covingtonedu.bsky.social · 1d

More of this!

Nicole Hemmer @pastpunditry.bsky.social · 5d

DC friends!! Join us on this Sunday on the National Mall for a teach-in in defense of history and museums, ft. an all-star line-up! We’ll be there from sun-up to sun-down. More info here: linktr.ee/historyteachin

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 1d

“Adequate housing is a ‘Muslim issue’, public transit is a ‘Muslim issue’, universal childcare is a ‘Muslim issue’. Zohran fights for these issues bc they advance the common good for all of us” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

From scapegoats to city hall: how New York Muslims built power and shaped Zohran Mamdani

Muslim New Yorkers have steadily become a political force amid post-9/11 Islamophobic sentiment. Mamdani is their most accomplished expression

www.theguardian.com

Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 1d

A feature of his brand of socialism, not a bug

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 3d

“This is Andrew Cuomo’s final moments in public life, and he’s choosing to spend them making racist attacks on the person who would be the first Muslim to lead the city”

Andrew Cuomo Turns To Shockingly Racist Attacks On Zohran Mamdani In NYC

With Mamdani leading in the polls, Cuomo is turning to scare tactics.

www.huffpost.com

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 3d

having fun with prefixes

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 4d

that is my question as well

Reposted by Andrea

Lucky Earther @wrecka.bsky.social · 4d

Cuomo and Sliwa pronounce "Zohran Mamdani" correctly when

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 4d

Marianne Pizzitola from UFT retirees

Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 5d

"Play is not a distraction from learning. It is the work of children and the means by which they become thinkers, creators, and members of a democratic society."

lmonaco.substack.com/p/protecting...

Protecting Play and Experiential Learning in School

“Democracy as an ethical ideal calls upon men and women to build communities in which every individual has the necessary opportunities and resources to realize his or her potential”.

lmonaco.substack.com

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 5d

If students are taught to self-regulate and focus on completing challenging academic tasks like tests, they'll do slightly better.
However, it doesn't necessarily mean they're learning more.

www.kqed.org/mindshift/65...

Some Social Emotional Lessons Improve How Kids do at School, Yale Study Finds | KQED

Despite political backlash, students who received soft skill instruction made gains in reading and math scores.

www.kqed.org

Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 9d

the expansion of democratic decision-making processes.
The DOE is notoriously top-down with a handful of very powerful individuals making policy w/little consideration of feedback from families or the expertise of educators.

The public overwhelmingly supports the end of mayoral control.
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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 9d

NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos has done well (considering her circumstances) & merits consideration. What remains to be seen is how the role itself will evolve if the system is restructured. Most important is
www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

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Zohran Mamdani will consider keeping Eric Adams’ schools chancellor if he wins

“And I've said time and again that I will consider anyone on the basis of the work that they have done — not hold it against them as to who appointed them,” Mamdani said.

www.chalkbeat.org

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 10d

At the Afghans for Zohran debate watch party

Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 10d

how on earth did they pull this off

NYCLU @nyclu.org · 11d

Invasive surveillance cameras are being installed in classrooms across Nassau County with direct, live feeds to the local county police department, without any oversight or public discussion.⁠
⁠
We're filing a FOIL request to demand the contracts, agreements and timeline on this program immediately.

A photo of a surveillance camera mounted in a classroom. Over the photo in all caps red text reads BREAKING. Below it in white all caps text reads "We're filing for info on police cameras in Nassau classrooms".

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Reposted by Andrea

Jamie @itsthejam.bsky.social · 11d

“I’m not actually here to teach you to memorize US History facts, I’m here to teach you how to use your brain, and if you use AI to complete my assignments, you aren’t using your brain, and I’m not doing my job.” - one snippet of me ranting yesterday in response to a “why can’t I use ai” question

Anne Lutz Fernandez @lutzfernandez.bsky.social · 12d

I've updated my document that tackles four of the common arguments used to encourage teachers to use AI.

I hope this will be helpful to those educators wanting to push back on AI mania.

Resisting School AI Mania Help Sheet

Help Sheet: Resisting AI Mania in Schools K-12 educators are under increasing pressure to use—and have students use—a wide range of AI tools. (The term “AI” is used loosely here, just as it is by man...

docs.google.com

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Jennifer Gonzalez @cultofpedagogy.bsky.social · 13d

Concept maps: simple but powerful learning tools. On the podcast this week, Dr. Kripa Sundar shares practices for making the most of them. Also joining us is Dr. Pooja Agarwal (@retrievelearn.bsky.social), editor of the book Smart Teaching Stronger Learning. www.cultofpedagogy.com/concept-maps/

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 13d

@chiosse.bsky.social

Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 13d

@velazquez.house.gov says @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social has united us around a simple but powerful idea: that New York City should be a city for everyone

“As Trump targets our community, we need a mayor who won’t flinch, who will stand up and defend every NYer. That is who Zohran is.”

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 13d

@chiosse.bsky.social at the @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social rally:

“This election is to be part of a political revolution that continues inside and outside the halls of government… After we win this election, it’s not where the work ends- it’s where it begins.”

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Andrea @teachbk.bsky.social · 14d

This article speaks more on the current state of G&T under Mayor Adams than on Mamdani's ed policy plans.

Basically @nycschools.bsky.social is still failing to equitably identify & enroll students, provide appropriate curriculum, and desegregate existing programs

www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

NYC gifted and talented: Mamdani’s calls for change comes amid already shifting landscape

Mamdani wants to rethink gifted and talented in NYC schools. The program has already seen big changes.

www.chalkbeat.org

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Reposted by Andrea

Alan Dettlaff @alandettlaff.com · 15d

Yesterday I was told that the class I’m scheduled to teach this month, Confronting Oppression & Injustice, is no longer part of our curriculum. This is a required class yet there was no discussion, no faculty vote, just an email saying the class no longer exists. This is what it’s like in Texas now.

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