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”
Tag Archives: social work education
Grief and longing
Several years ago I saw a poster that said “To teach is to touch a life forever”. I like the sentiment and in general agree with it, but my experience of teaching in higher ed is that the students touch my life as much or more than I touch theirs. It is a gift thatContinue reading “Grief and longing”
Winners, losers, and nuances
I was in the car a good bit this weekend, shuttling kids from various points to other various points. I was in my husband’s car, which meant I could actually use the radio. (My car radio has been broken for….awhile.) As a result of this car change, I got to listen to the TED RadioContinue reading “Winners, losers, and nuances”
The policy class challenge + The 1619 Project
I love teaching policy. I have taught it at the BSW level for close to 20 years, whether the foundation class (an overview of key social welfare policies) or the policy practice class. The one I have taught most frequently is the former, which includes a fair amount of history (to set the stage forContinue reading “The policy class challenge + The 1619 Project”
Laying a foundation for community in a class with (emotionally) tough content
I am teaching a child welfare class for the first time since spring of 2020, which as we know is a semester that went upside down and sidewise due to the onset of COVID. And, we haven’t had a truly “regular” semester since then. Even in the summer I feel like there has been aContinue reading “Laying a foundation for community in a class with (emotionally) tough content”
Being kinder to yourself: Strategies for self-compassionate talk.
In the swirl of prepping syllabi and other things to get ready for the semester, I am feeling exhausted and scattered. Trying to remember that I don’t have to do everything (or even anything) perfectly. This piece from the Harvard Business Review was very helpful, which I found surprising because I don’t think of theContinue reading “Being kinder to yourself: Strategies for self-compassionate talk.”
Teach me, but stay close by
I was giving a presentation today, on the second of two “dead days”, which is the space in between the end of the semester and the beginning of exam period. I have been running non-stop for the past few days especially, with all good things but also just too many things. A running joke duringContinue reading “Teach me, but stay close by”
Loaves and Fishes
A few weeks ago, on a sunny day, I put my students in pairs and told them to go for a 15 minute walk and check in on each other, and to specifically ask “What are the words you need to hear right now?” When they got back from their (much appreciated) walks, I askedContinue reading “Loaves and Fishes”
Remembering DeEbony
It was April 2018, a Sunday afternoon, and I was driving back from a volleyball tournament in East Tennessee with my three daughters in the car. They were all asleep when I took a call from my Dean while coming through a mountain pass. While it was unusual for her to call on a weekend,Continue reading “Remembering DeEbony”
Surface Pressure
Pressure like a drip, drip, drip, drip that will never stop. Woah. This line is just one of many apt descriptors in Luisa’s song (“Surface Pressure”) in Encanto, and it is what I am feeling these days. January has felt like it has had 74 days in it, minimum, and we still have the restContinue reading “Surface Pressure”
Teaching (toward) Beloved 