Some big ideas from NCTE 2025 Conferencesession facilitators that I will be putting into action are: 

• There is power in connection capital where students understand the benefits they gain from their relationships, networks, and connections with others.

• We need to slow down and look at the world through the eyes of a child, seeing it for the first time with wonder and curiosity. 

• We need to bend the curriculum we’re using to leave space for students to explore, be curious, and be surprised. 

• Fidelity is different than integrity when it comes to following a curriculum. Fidelity means following without question, while integrity means following reflectively. 

• There are three practices teachers are using effectively to reclaim the right to teach in ways that are responsive to their kids, their setting, and their beliefs.

1. Do the small but mighty workarounds to ensure learning is responsive and differentiated for our students.

2. Know and teach our state standards.

3. Know the research. 

• We can empower our students to advocate and create positive change by helping them identify problems that matter to them, understand who has the power to create change, take action, and document the outcomes.

• We need to center family engagement if we want our students to feel safe and be engaged. 

• Invite families in to learn with their children.  Families will come to school more if they are doing something with their kids children.

• Funds of knowledge matter. 

• “The idea involves an educational policy and concept which, by recognizing and legitimizing the lifestyles involved in the cultural practices of the students’ families, is expected to create relationships of “confianza” (mutual trust) between teachers and families in order to: 

  a) build bridges of cooperation that can diminish the prejudices and stereotypes between the two contexts of activity (González & Moll, 2002) 

  b) link school curricula and educational practice to the lifestyles of students (McIntyre, Rosebery & González 2001).”