Hi there! I’m Shawna Coppola (she/her).
I’ve been teaching learners of all ages for over 25 years, and I am constantly thinking about how to engage my students while offering them the kind of literacy learning that is authentic, equitable, and responsive to their needs and interests.
I’ve also been a member of the “system is broken” crowd.
As someone who has worked in a range of institutions – from public schools to universities to local community centers – I could never understand how hard I always worked to be the best educator I could, only to find myself disheartened by student mindsets and outcomes (and spending far too much of my time putting out fires every day).
I now recognize how the educational system privileges certain literacy and learning practices over others, and how this affects students – particularly those whose literacy and language practices lay outside of the perceived “norm.”
We need to push beyond these ideological boundaries and advocate for the kind of learning that centers care, critical thinking, and curiosity - while also making the inner workings of “the system” as transparent as possible.
It takes humility, humor, and a willingness to reflect if we want to move forward.
That’s why I facilitate workshops, design in-person and virtual courses, and write books and articles for educators who are looking to take that same approach in order to improve their own practice. And while I have a lot of experience and expertise to share, I also strive to ensure that everything I do makes space for those with whom I work to share their own expertise and lived experiences.
Are you ready to:
Reflect on your practice and the system you work in?
Consider how dominant ideologies around literacy teaching and learning limit what we are capable of?
Nurture a curious and creative mindset?
Engage in a deep learning experience that is centered around care, collaboration, and critical thinking?
Let’s learn alongside one another!
You may be surprised to know…
My favorite genres to read are horror and true crime.
I was diagnosed as having ADHD while in my mid-40s.
My first publication was at age 18 (in Sassy magazine–the greatest teen magazine of all time)!
My husband’s family has no relation to the Hollywood Coppolas, but Francis Ford Coppola and I share a birthday!
My favorite food is sun-warmed, fresh-picked blueberries.