Blog Archives
One Door at a Time: How Putting Students at the Center of Education Works
One Door at a Time is a powerful memoir-manifesto hybrid, co-written by Michael Gary Jr., David L. Heiber Sr., and Ivory A. Toldson, that tells the story of Concentric Educational Solutions, a student-first initiative grounded in Afrocentric values and real-world experience. Through a mix of lived narratives, reflective critique, and practical frameworks, the book charts the failures of the traditional education system, especially in underserved Black communities, and the grassroots, door-knocking, relationship-centered model that Concentric has pioneered. With stories from Baltimore to D.C. to Detroit, the authors show how putting students and their families at the core of the education process can transform not just academic performance, but lives.
The writing is earnest and clear, but it never hides from the hard stuff. I appreciated how the authors peeled back layers of bureaucracy and systemic dysfunction without sugarcoating anything. They didn’t shy away from naming how some systems are built not to serve but to survive themselves. What hit hardest were the sections about chronic absenteeism and the real lives behind those data points. They didn’t just throw around big ideas, they brought in stories of missed kids, misunderstood families, and teachers caught in the crossfire of outdated models. It felt deeply personal. You can tell these folks have walked the walk.
What stood out most to me was their relentless commitment to human connection. It sounds simple, just go to a student’s house and ask why they’re not in school, but the bravery and humility in that act is huge. This isn’t some theoretical overhaul. It’s a day-to-day grind rooted in trust and compassion. The Afrocentric lens added a depth I didn’t realize was missing in a lot of education reform writing. They’re not just advocating for more “diverse” classrooms. They’re rethinking what school means altogether, from the ground up, through culture, family, and identity. At times, it read like a love letter to forgotten students and a challenge to every adult who ever said, “We did our best.”
I would recommend One Door at a Time to anyone who works in education, or who has ever wondered why school isn’t working for so many kids. It’s especially important for policymakers, school leaders, and those in teacher prep programs. But I think it would move anyone who believes education should be about more than test scores. This book isn’t a silver bullet, but it’s a flashlight and a set of tools, and a reminder that sometimes, real change starts with just knocking on one door.
Pages: 260 | ISBN : 978-9004735989
Flowers, Plants and Fascinating Facts / Maua, Mimea Na Ukweli Wa Kuvutia
Ever wondered about all the hidden wonders of plants and flowers? Well, Flowers, Plants and Fascinating Facts by Gloria D. Gonsalves will give you a crash course in nature’s best-kept secrets! This colorful children’s book is a perfect read for curious young minds. From the quirky African tulip tree, which is like a natural squirt gun for kids, to the mysterious corpse flower that smells bad, this book brims with fun facts about plants from all over the world, especially Africa. It’s bilingual too, presenting names and descriptions in English and Kiswahili.
The book is educational, and the writing is clear and simple, which is perfect for younger readers. And honestly, I learned something myself—did you know banana flowers can be eaten or used as medicine?
The facts shared throughout this picture book are enlightening, with a delightful mix of everyday plants we know (dandelions, daisies) and exotic ones we wish we could see up close, like the blue waterlily from East Africa that smells like fancy perfume. There’s also an eco-friendly angle to the book. The bamboo page gave a feel-good fact about how bamboo helps the environment by sucking up lots of carbon dioxide. Gonsalves doesn’t just present a list of plants, she sparks curiosity about their roles in ecosystems and cultures.
Visually, the bilingual layout is a fantastic touch. It not only celebrates cultural diversity but makes the picture book feel like an adventure through Tanzania’s stunning flora. The hand-drawn artwork that accompanies each plant is bursting with color and will surely capture young readers’ attention, drawing them deeper into each fascinating fact. You get the descriptions in both languages, English and Kiswahili, making it a multicultural experience.
I’d recommend Flowers, Plants and Fascinating Facts to young nature explorers, teachers looking to liven up botany lessons, or anyone who loves learning about our leafy friends in an engaging and playful way.
Pages: 169 | ASIN : B0DHZB27SW
LITERARY TITAN 