Knowing that parents do not have much free time, this guide is purposefully succinct. Parent Champion is designed to motivate and educate parents to be their very best as school-partners. Parents will be inspired to analyze, reflect, and take action in regard to how they co-educate their children by partnering with their child's school. With practical strategies and tools, Parent Champion allows parents to take action immediately. As parents, you are the best champions for your child's success. Being a Parent Champion means prioritizing (making the choice to give highest importance to) hands-on time and strategies for your child and their education. As a parent, when you prioritize time invested in education, you are modeling your values that education is important and, therefore, championing your child's academic and life success. In addition, this guide is a must-have for parent organizations and schools everywhere to lead their parents to be more actively and purposefully involved in schools so families can assist educators in the paramount work that cannot be done alone: closing the achievement gap. For over 50 years, urban youth and youth of color have been at a significant disadvantage in our country's educational system, with low literacy rates, poor high school graduation rates, and even worse college-going and completion rates. Our schools consistently try to educate our children without significant engagement from parents - and that's a misstep. If we are going to change the trajectory of success in our schools, we must bring parents into the equation more actively and intentionally. This guide is a positive shift in the trajectory.

Be a Parent Champion: A Guide to Becoming a Partner with Your Child's School

Education & Teaching

Scruggs, Tovi C.

Schools & Teaching

Dirt Path Publishing

Most college professors assume students entering higher education come with research and writing skills; because of the current educational focus on content acquisition over skill development, however, that is not the case. Skills I Wish I Learned in School: Building a Research Paper was written in direct response to the need new college students have for specific skills left out by current high school teaching standards, especially in the area of social studies. Written in an easy to follow, step-by-step manner, Skills I Wish I Learned in School: Building a Research Paper is a fantastic resource for new college students who need a frame of reference for how to research and write a college-level paper. Differentiation is provided for different learning styles; an appendix of reproducible handouts offers students an additional layer of support. If that was not enough, references for where to find additional information in areas such as writing and citations are also included. This all-inclusive handbook helps students break down the daunting task of research in ways that feel doable, and then moves them forward through a comforting structure that gets them to their end goal successfully. It also is a valuable tool for high school educators looking to teach their students how to write a research paper. Skills I Wish I Learned in School: Building a Research Paper is a must have for any student entering college.

Skills I Wish I Learned in School: Building a Research Paper

Politics & Social Sciences

Lusiani, Nicole

Social Sciences

In a society that promotes perfectionism, anti-racism work is made tougher, paralyzing those of us who want to do better with worry that we might make a mistake. This is the byproduct of patriarchal, white supremest cultures that value the work of the individual above all else; in contrast, Check Your Privilege values the collective, knowing that this vulnerable work requires us to lean into interdependence and imperfection. Check Your Privilege requires all of us to pause, making time for self-reflection and connection through relationships in order to move forward. In this book, five social activists offer a window into their journeys of Living Into the Work. Learning from their relationships with anti-blackness, white supremacy, privilege, and discrimination, we feel empowered to brave the next step on our our Check Your Privilege journeys.

Check Your Privilege: Live into the Work

Review\nPraise for Nothing's Missing\nFrom the very first sentence of Nothing's Missing I felt seen, heard, loved and unconditionally accepted for my messy humanity. There are very few other humans who've been able to reach out from the page to make me feel that way, and for that, I am forever in Nicole's debt. And, as someone who has been "shoulding" all over myself my entire life, what a gift that, through Nothing's Missing, Nicole made me feel less alone AND helped me to see that there's another way. "Fine sucks," indeed. 
-Michele Rehinhart, Educator, Mother\nA story of reckoning with the tension of romantic love, betrayal, and self love in the face of fear and grace. Through observing her own vulnerability, Nicole will reveal vulnerability to the reader, themselves. 
-Dr. Carrie Wasson, Psychologist, Mother\nNicole's story inspires readers to take the time to honor their authentic selves without the pressure of the many roles we hold in life. She reminds us to always search for our peace, whatever it may look like, no matter how hard the journey. 
-Lauren Midgette, Educator, Mother\nAs someone who is also a recovering perfectionist, Nicole's powerful memoir really knocked me over when she articulated this statement, "In short, Should is a real asshole." In releasing herself from the power of Should, she also released something in me. What would it mean to be free from Should and, instead, focus on the potential of now? That may just be what freedom is. 
-Tessa Yeager, Educator\nI read this book in one sitting and cannot wait to read it again. Next time, I want to tag pages and highlight phrases - there are so many that both inspired and challenged me. The emotions and insights were raw and real - moving me to draw analogies to my own life and goals in ways that I didn't expect. 
-Linda, Project Management, Mother, Grandmother\nNicole's beautiful writing addresses the darkness of struggle through a fresh, honest, memoir. We learn from her, witnessing how a life can be lifted through the alchemy of courage, faith, and self-care. I was inspired by her story. 
-Martha Van Buskirk, Writer, Mother\nNicole captures the essence of what is true for so many people - in our quest to live our lives the way we think we should, we lose sight of who we are and what is important. In her journey to move forward in a more meaningful way, we gain insight about how to rethink what is important in life. I've gained a whole new appreciation for wildflowers - and so many other things that don't grow in rows. 
-Traci Everett\nIn her debut memoir, Nicole Lusiani writes a tribute to those who came before her and a survival guide for those who come after her with her story of struggling against betrayal, anxiety, perfectionism, and a life driven by "Shoulds." An invitation to put down your mask and allow yourself a long exhale, this book signs your permission slip to stand tall in the light that was created just for you because, when we liberate ourselves to live in our light, we liberate others to do the same.

Nothing's Missing: A Year of Reckoning, Release, and Remembering Who I Am

Biographies & Memoirs

Memoirs

Leaning into discomfort is an essential part of the anti-racism journey. In a society that values comfort at all costs, people have been conditioned to reach for coping mechanisms deemed "cures," instead of embracing discomfort as an invitation into growth and change.Heart-centered anti-racism work seeks to dismantle barriers to growth and change and follows the principle that discomfort can be a powerful teacher and guide. When we learn to lean in and listen to it, we can begin to move away from performance-based ally-ship into more heart-centered coconspirator-ship, dismantling white supremacy.Check Your Privilege invites us all to pause, reflect, and connect with one another through our common humanity. In this book, seven social activists share their stories and insights into life on the other side of learning to Lean Into Discomfort. Learning from their journeys and the healing they found on the other side of discomfort, empowers us to brave the next step on our Check Your Privilege journey.

Check Your Privilege: Lean into the discomfort

Myisha T. Hill

Jennifer Kinney

Tina Strawn