Teaching in Higher Ed Counterstory Pedagogy
Aug 7, 2025
Adriana Aldana, an associate professor at California State University, focuses on youth empowerment and multicultural organizing. She discusses Counterstory Pedagogy, emphasizing the power of alternative narratives to combat systemic inequalities. The conversation highlights how reflective letter writing can amplify marginalized voices and foster emotional connections in learning. Aldana also explores the role of self-care in social work education and shares practical strategies for embracing change and uncertainty, all while nurturing resilience and creativity in students.
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Building Rest Into Class Time
- Adriana Aldana tried assigning self-care as homework but students did not engage due to structural barriers like work and caregiving responsibilities.
- She then built rest time into class sessions, enriching conversations and helping students view self-care as resistance to capitalism.
Letters Amid Pandemic Loss
- During the pandemic, Adriana Aldana transformed a final essay into a letter-writing exercise to inspire hope and belonging among social work students.
- This evolved into compiling student letters into books to celebrate their experiences amid lost graduations.
Letters Unlock Authentic Voices
- Letter writing lets students express their authentic voices beyond the performative academic writing they often feel pressured to do.
- The format fosters personal connection and conveys tacit knowledge in ways traditional essays do not.
