I read a memoir recently called Goodbye, Sweet Girl: A Story of Domestic Violence and Survival by Kelly Sundberg. I hope to use it in the spring 2024 semester when teaching an interdisciplinary learning course on Trauma Studies, but if I hadn’t already missed the deadline for book orders for fall 2023, I would probablyContinue reading “24 people a minute: Teaching about intimate partner violence”
Author Archives: sabrinasullenberger
Books are…the most patient of teachers: My top picks
One of the things we talk about in social work is the necessity of lifelong learning. When I think about all the knowledge I have now, versus when I graduated with my undergrad degree in social work, I would be in poor shape indeed without additional learning. Most of this has come in the formContinue reading “Books are…the most patient of teachers: My top picks”
The right question(s) to ask about communities
Earlier this week I was walking around a part of the city that I don’t spend much time in, and as I was meandering down a side street, a building caught my eye because of some of the graffiti on it. As I got closer to the building, I saw that one of the windowsContinue reading “The right question(s) to ask about communities”
Basics of engaging with elected officials
For most years I have been teaching social work students, I have taught policy classes. There is an expectation of political engagement for social workers, and this aspect of our Code of Ethics is something I teach within the first week of policy class. But political engagement is something that is (should be) for everyone.Continue reading “Basics of engaging with elected officials”
Same song, different verse: Resources for teaching about gun violence
In prior posts, I have written about the issue of gun violence before, most recently here https://teachingbeloved.com/2022/02/05/remembering-deebony/ Yesterday in Nashville, the city where I live, there was a school shooting. Three children died. Three adult school staff. And the shooter was killed by police. I wrote some about this from a personal perspective yesterday here:Continue reading “Same song, different verse: Resources for teaching about gun violence”
Secondary traumatic stress and burnout, part 2
In the most recent post, I shared some resources I use when teaching students about secondary traumatic stress (STS). STS results when social workers, teachers, nurses, doctors, police officers and others in helping professions begin to experience symptoms of trauma because of the stories they hear from their clients/patients/students. Helping professionals may also experience STSContinue reading “Secondary traumatic stress and burnout, part 2”
Secondary traumatic stress and burnout, part 1
Earlier this evening I saw a social media post from a student I had several years ago. She was writing about transitioning into a new line of work because of experiencing burnout in her social work career. I have kept up with this student over the years and I know her to be committed toContinue reading “Secondary traumatic stress and burnout, part 1”
Arrange whatever pieces come your way: Teaching about caregiving
One of the classes I have taught most often is Human Behavior in the Social Environment, aka HBSE. I love teaching this class so much; I have standard concepts that we address each semester, but I am also able to be flexible in how I present some of the content and the sources that IContinue reading “Arrange whatever pieces come your way: Teaching about caregiving”
Walking update, and naming + class ideas
I wrote about my plans for local intentional walking on my sabbatical here about a month ago, and since then I have made decent progress. I am about 19 miles in to my minimum goal of 62.14. One of my best walks was in the neighborhoods where Fisk University and Meharry Medical College are located,Continue reading “Walking update, and naming + class ideas”
A chasing after the wind
When I was a young professional (honestly, with not enough life experience to do the job I was doing), I went to a church that was pretty big, and though I was very involved, the minister could never remember my name. He always greeted me warmly at the door and called me Samantha. (My nameContinue reading “A chasing after the wind”
Teaching (toward) Beloved 