📅 Record Date: October 1, 2024 🎧 Hosts: Christian Ace Stettler 🎙️ Guest: Kwame Sarfo-Mensah In this episode of The Critical Social Worker, host professor Christian Ace Stettler is joined by Kwame Sarfo-Mensah, an educator and consultant living in Sierra Leone, to explore the power of culturally responsive teaching, storytelling in education, and the importance of values-based classrooms. Together, they delve into Kwame’s journey to Sierra Leone, the writing process behind his book Learning to Relearn, and critical topics like Critical Race Theory, decolonization, and land acknowledgment. They also discuss the crucial role of curiosity and critical thinking in education, offering educators actionable insights on how to navigate the challenges of the post-pandemic educational landscape. Key Takeaways: 📌Education transcends the four walls of the classroom. 📌Culturally responsive teaching is essential for student engagement. 📌Storytelling is a powerful tool in education. 📌Critical thinking skills are crucial for student development. 📌Curiosity should be fostered in the classroom. 📌Resistance to culturally affirming education is often rooted in fear. 📌Understanding critical race theory is vital for educators. 📌Building relationships is key in multicultural classrooms. 📌Values-based education promotes community and accountability. 📌Land acknowledgment is important for respecting Indigenous cultures. Timestamps: 00:30 Exploring the Natural Environment 03:28 Sierra Leone's Rich History and Natural Resources 06:36 Kwame's Journey to Sierra Leone 09:16 The Writing Process Behind Learning to Relearn 12:13 Counter Stories and Cultural Affirmation in Education 15:20 The Importance of Curiosity in Education 18:17 Education vs. Schooling: A Critical Perspective 21:22 Resistance to Culturally Responsive Education 24:23 Understanding Critical Race Theory 27:25 Culturally Affirming Classrooms 30:22 Building Relationships in Multicultural Classrooms 33:16 Starting the Journey of Cultural Affirmation 36:17 The Role of Storytelling in Education 39:06 Books That Impact Understanding of Different Cultures 41:23 Decolonization and Indigenous Perspectives 44:23 The Importance of Land Acknowledgment 47:27 The Future of Education Post-Pandemic 50:24 Creating Values-Based Classrooms 53:09 Advice for Educators Facing Curriculum Constraints 56:09 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

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