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”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
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”
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”
Memphis
Last year, a friend of mine asked me to be on a panel on allyship. The fact that she thought of me for this panel was an honor, and one that I felt uncomfortable with in many ways because of how imperfect of an ally that I am. In prepping for the panel, I didContinue reading “Memphis”
Grand Challenges
Wednesdays this semester have been my craziest, busiest days of the week, and yesterday was the last official “regular” Wednesday of the semester. I am so very thankful! But I totally went out with a bang, in that not only did I teach my 4 classes but I hosted a tandem drama troupe of individualsContinue reading “Grand Challenges”
Cookies, crumbs, community
When I was in my PhD program, I had the opportunity to teach several courses at the UNC-Chapel Hill MSW program, as well as a course in their “triangle” MSW program (though they may call it something different now). One semester I was teaching a course that students typically dreaded (Research I) and I wasContinue reading “Cookies, crumbs, community”
Teaching (toward) the Beloved Community 