Jess Lifshitz

I believe that the ways in which different people are answering that question is leading us to very different places. And I’m fearful of the ways in which those with the most power in the education system continue to answer that question.

Often, in education, we make decisions by asking, “Will this meet the needs of our students?” I think we also have to start being more clear about the answer to the question, “Which needs are we most concerned about meeting?” Are we trying to best meet their test taking needs or their human needs?

One of the things that makes me most sad about these new packaged reading curriculum (and so so much makes me sad) is the way it feels as if we have switched from teaching children to training children. And we can do that, we can make it work, but it is costing us (and our students) so very much.

Because the truth is, I believe that if we focus on care, the rules and routines will come from that focus. Because so much of the compliance we demand of children can also be reached through conversations on how we care for ourselves, our community and our space.

Setting Goals on Taking Care Name: ____________________________________ Setting Goals on Taking Care In this new year, we are going to focus on taking care here at school. Taking care of ourselves, our community and our space. ...

When we return to school tomorrow, we are going to begin our new year by taking time to set goals on how we will work to care for ourselves, our community and our space. We will do this instead of focusing on rules and routines. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

I’ve been feeling so sad at the loss of freedom to craft curriculum in a way that allows us to cover standards while also guiding students towards compassion, critical thinking & justice. So I’m trying to find other ways to do that work. With that, I’m committing to a focus on care this new year.

Chanea. I am sending you all the love. I am so grateful to know you exist in this world. The goodness you add to it, gives my very tired heart so much hope. Happy year’s end, my friend. Here’s to a new one.

Welcome your spirit back from its wandering. It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together. They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long. Your spirit will need to sleep awhile after it is bathed and given clean clothes. Now you can have a party. Invite everyone you know who loves and supports you. Keep room for those who have no place else to go. Make a giveaway, and remember, keep the speeches short. Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark.

Put down that bag of potato chips, that white bread, that bottle of pop. Turn off that cellphone, computer, and remote control.

Open the door, then close it behind you. Take a breath offered by friendly winds. They travel the earth gathering essences of plants to clean. Give it back with gratitude. If you sing it will give your spirit lift to fly to the stars’ ears and back. Acknowledge this earth who has cared for you since you were a dream planting itself precisely within your parents’ desire. Let your moccasin feet take you to the encampment of the guardians who have known you before time, who will be there after time. They sit before the fire that has been there without time. Let the earth stabilize your postcolonial insecure jitters. Be respectful of the small insects, birds and animal people who accompany you.

Ask their forgiveness for the harm we humans have brought down upon them. Don’t worry. The heart knows the way though there may be high-rises, interstates, checkpoints, armed soldiers, massacres, wars, and those who will despise you because they despise themselves. The journey might take you a few hours, a day, a year, a few years, a hundred, a thousand or even more. Watch your mind. Without training it might run away and leave your heart for the immense human feast set by the thieves of time. Do not hold regrets. When you find your way to the circle, to the fire kept burning by the keepers of your soul, you will be welcomed.

You must clean yourself with cedar, sage, or other healing plant. Cut the ties you have to failure and shame. Let go the pain you are holding in your mind, your shoulders, your heart, all the way to your feet. Let go the pain of your ancestors to make way for those who are heading in our direction. Ask for forgiveness. Call upon the help of those who love you. These helpers take many forms: animal, element, bird, angel, saint, stone, or ancestor. Call your spirit back. It may be caught in corners and creases of shame, judgment, and human abuse. You must call in a way that your spirit will want to return. Speak to it as you would to a beloved child.

Every year, on New Year’s Eve, I pick a poem to carry with me into the new year. It’s a way for me to set some intention on what I want this new year to be. This year, my poem for the new year is Joy Harjo’s “For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth in Its Human Feet.” Here’s to 2026.

Holding on to justice and liberation in the classroom right now feels like trying to light a candle outside on a really windy day. And the lighter, it’s running low on fuel, y’all. And I guess we just keep on going. Trying to light the fire in whatever ways we can. That’s all.

Thanks, Jenn. I just don’t know where we go from here. I can’t remember ever feeling quite so hopeless in our profession.

Oh, Jenn. The money. The hundreds of thousands of dollars spent. And all that is being lost. I don’t know how we keep on doing this. I am also not sure what choice we have. I’m going to try to just keep on loving the kids through this all. But goodness. What this is doing to my heart!!!

Counter filled with workbooks.

Today I filled my shelves with workbooks. And my heart is just so sad at what teaching and learning have become.

I’d be curious to know how many people at the large national teacher conferences are classroom teachers. It just seems like such a far away world to what’s happening in our classrooms these days.

I think about what we, as educators, will say in years from now when we are asked, “How did you help kids through the crisis when human beings were being dragged off the streets by masked folks with guns?” For some of us the answer is sadly going to be, “Oh. We doubled down on phonics instruction.”

Halloween Letter Home Dear Families and Caretakers, Halloween is quickly approaching! While dressing up and celebrating the holiday provide opportunities for fun and community building, they can also create situations w...

This year the letter home about Halloween costumes and ways to help us ensure they are not harmful, feels particularly important. Teachers, please feel free to use in whatever ways feel helpful!

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

If you want to teach students to read media critically, to seek out reliable resources and multiple perspectives and support them as they process their emotions in response to that, that is important work that must be done with care and such deliberate intentions. That does NOT happen in a debate.

Teachers: DO NOT DEBATE ICE IN YOUR CLASSROOM! To ask students to witness their own humanity and safety being debated by their classmates is harmful. This is a reality that is causing harm and fear and pain to so many young people.

What they are asking us to do is not teaching. It is moving through curriculum. And I fear for what that means for our students.

Yes, there is good reason to be deeply concerned about what is happening in our schools. But no, it is not because of our test scores.

We hope you’ll join us in the work of building toolkits that help us create LGBTQ-affirming schools. Register today to secure your spot! 2/2 #IREL25

We can’t imagine moving through the world of education without the light that Jess consistently provides for children, families, and communities. Now more than ever we need this light and each other. 1/2

Join us virtually on Saturday, September 27th. Find more information at theirel.org.

Saturday, September 27th Teaching Towards Freedom. Register at theirel.org.

Presenters: Dr. Sonja Cherry Paul and Tricia Ebarvia.

A note from Sonja and Tricia.

About the founders.

The school year has started and I find myself already in desperate need of the kind of community rooted in justice and liberation. I am so grateful that @sonjacherrypaul.bsky.social and @triciaebarvia.bsky.social are bringing us back together again for another Teaching Towards Freedom.

Might I add that I’m terrified of what this coming year will bring.

Y’all. I’m trying something new this year. I am going to completely ignore the start of the school year. Until it arrives. I’m going to hold on to summer until it is gone. I’m going to welcome my students with a big open heart and a lot of love and whatever I can plan in the time I’m given.

Dining room table filled with random household objects in small plastic bags.

How you know back to school time is right around the corner…

I’m so grateful to @triciaebarvia.bsky.social and @sonjacherrypaul.bsky.social and #IREL for reminding me of the power of Dr. Love’s work.

So when we can’t do what used to work, we find new ways to do the work. And for me that is to work on developing my own “liberatory consciousness” and helping those around me to do the same.