Author Archives: sabrinasullenberger

The one where my students asked what the heck is going on

I feel like if I title this like a Friends episode, it might seem less dystopian. Night before last, I was preparing for my HBSE class (Human Behavior in the Social Environment). We explore topics across the lifespan, and learn about bio-psycho-social-spiritual functioning at each stage of life, after a few weeks of introducing someContinue reading “The one where my students asked what the heck is going on”

Happy Birthday, Dr. King: I am sorry we haven’t bent the arc more yet.

Though we have an official day to recognize Dr. King’s birthday coming up next week, today (January 15) is his actual birthday. Going to college in Memphis and spending several years there after college, I visited the National Civil Rights Museum (at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated) many times. I have hadContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Dr. King: I am sorry we haven’t bent the arc more yet.”

“Small flat rigid squares of paper”: Books that shaped me in 2024

Several years ago, a friend introduced me to Anne Lamott, and specifically to her book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. I have given this book to several people over the years, including to a special student this year who served as a teaching assistant for me. And I have re-bought myselfContinue reading ““Small flat rigid squares of paper”: Books that shaped me in 2024″

Getting out the vote: All kinds of resources related to voting

I haven’t written in awhile, first because of the start of the semester, and then because of general malaise, and then (and most importantly) because I have been doing the work in different ways that I am now writing about. In other words, I have used spare minutes and nights beyond work and family toContinue reading “Getting out the vote: All kinds of resources related to voting”

Say her name: Sonya Massey

A few weeks ago my daughter and I went to a local museum (The Frist) to see their current installation called Printing the Revolution. It is powerful. One of the first pieces you see when you walk into the gallery is a piece with names and facial drawings of people of color who have beenContinue reading “Say her name: Sonya Massey”

Inconceivable Truth: Podcasts in Teaching Part 2

I have written before about using podcasts in teaching: here, with how you might use the Do No Harm Podcast and here, with ideas for using The Call, which is an episode of This American Life podcast. For various reasons in the past week, I have been by myself in the car more than usualContinue reading “Inconceivable Truth: Podcasts in Teaching Part 2”

Speaking life

When I say this has been a semester….whew. I am not exaggerating. I have missed writing but in the great scheme of survival, writing has taken a back seat. (I have big wrting plans for the summer. We will see if they come to fruition.) Today I have my last final session of Spring 2024,Continue reading “Speaking life”

Synchronicity in classroom and community

This semester I am teaching in an interdisciplinary learning community (ILC), which is part of our university’s general education curriculum. The ILC is called “Introduction to Trauma Studies” and the two courses are the human behavior across the lifespan course that I teach and a literature/writing course which is taught by a colleague in the EnglishContinue reading “Synchronicity in classroom and community”

Creatively applied learning

Every fall semester for the past 10 years I have taught a social welfare policy course. This is a course where social work majors and occasionally some social justice minors take a dive into a broad array of policy topics. This is a class where we discuss so many policy topics (child welfare, housing, food andContinue reading “Creatively applied learning”