Reflections from the 2024 Advent Collaborative

On March 16, the School hosted over 70 people at our annual Advent Collaborative. The Collaborative is Advent's signature event for educators, exploring progressive, Reggio-inspired, socially just teaching and learning. This year's event featured a panel discussion about courageous conversations followed by workshops led by Advent faculty and staff members.

Advent's Head of School, Nicole A. DuFauchard P'20, moderated the discussion, which covered courage, community, social justice, and the importance of early education.

The panelists were

Marie Enochty (she/her), Program Manager, Boston Public Schools' Early Childhood Department
Dr. Keith Jones (he/him), Lecturer, Africana Studies, UMass Boston
Ivonne Ortega (she/her), Program Coordinator, Peabody Terrace Children's Center
Dr. Tony Van Der Meer (he/him), Senior Lecturer, Africana Studies, UMass Boston

The panelists all agreed that children are constantly watching the adults around them. Children see how their trusted adults react to big and small situations. As educators, we have a responsibility to be role models for change.

The event’s panelists (L-R): Nicole A. DuFauchard P’20 (moderator); Dr. Keith Jones; Marie Enochty; Ivonne Ortega; Dr. Tony Van Der Meer.

One panelist shared, "Having a courageous conversation is about being vulnerable. Find common ground, knowing we are all human, and start from that place."

So, how can we begin?

Step Outside Our Comfort Zones: Courage involves taking the initiative and advocating for what is right, even stepping outside your comfort zone.
Open Communication: Sometimes, adults can quickly shut down young voices. Authentic learning happens through open conversations, creating a safe space for children to ask questions, share their ideas, and challenge the status quo.
Building a Strong Community: Education isn't just about academics; it's about building a strong community where everyone feels supported. You can build a strong community by recognizing that problems faced by one community member impact everyone.
Early Education Matters: Research shows that early education experiences have a lasting impact. The first three to five years are critical for academic and social-emotional learning. We need to ensure that all children can access high-quality early learning programs.
Educating Educators: The world where our students grow up is constantly changing. We must ensure that higher education institutions prepare educators to meet the challenges of today's classrooms, especially in urban settings.

“We know that if three to five-year-olds lose out in early education, it is harder to catch them up later”

— Marie Enochty

Events from the past few years - from global health crises to racial reckoning to climate change - have shown us the importance of working together and advocating for a better future. By working together, we can create a learning environment that empowers students to be courageous, compassionate, and critical thinkers.

Here are some additional takeaways to keep in mind:

Change Starts With You: Be willing to learn, grow, and make mistakes. When students see their teachers embracing challenges, it empowers them to do the same.
Model Courageous Behavior: How we react to situations shows our students more than words ever can. Let's show them it's okay to take risks, fail, and learn from our mistakes.
Listen to Understand: Young people constantly take in information about the world around them. Our role is to help them make sense of what they're hearing and encourage them to ask questions.

After the panel, Collaborative participants attended workshops led by Advent faculty. The workshops included:

Changemakers Reimagined: Refreshing Your Perspective to Inspire Student Activism, led by Marlene Boyette, Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher, Students of Color Affinity Group Co-Facilitator
From Problematic to Productive: A Framework to Analyze Curricular Resources, led by Third Grade teachers Holly Hennick-Marroquin and Danielle Tye
Power of the Pause: Stopping Teaching to Deepen Learning, led by Fifth Grade teachers Carlyn Simons and Taegan X. Williams, who also is the Students of Color Affinity Group Co-Facilitator

Thank you to each of the attendees who engaged in honest dialogue with one another and the fellow Collaborative participants. Overall, it was a day full of conversations about how we can do better for all children.