Plus, the long road to Georgia's first Black senator Morningside Center NEWSLETTER Dear Morningside Center friends, This first week of 2021 has been a rollercoaster ride - up, down, and sideways. In this issue, we share a lesson about yesterday's insurrection at the Capitol - and other developments in our nation this week. But first, we want to stop and appreciate that you have made it to 2021 with us. We grieve our many losses of this past year - and celebrate the kindness and solidarity that has helped us carry on. Thank you for being part of our community. New on TeachableMoment Decades of Organizing: Georgia Elects its First Black Senator The election of Raphael Warnock to be Georgia's first Black senator was the result of decades of organizing by voting rights activists. Students discuss that history and the organizing that led to Warnock's election in 2020. American Democracy, Week 1 of 2021 Students reflect on the state of democracy in the U.S. in light of the insurrection at the Capitol and discuss news stories about this and other events of the week. A Critical Thinking Exercise on Conspiracy Theories Students practice their critical thinking skills by analyzing an image and then articles about conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine myths. The Politics of Vaccines and Vaccinations Why are some people skeptical about getting a Covid vaccine, even though evidence shows that the approved vaccines are safe and effective? And who should be vaccinated first? Students read about and discuss the vaccination news. Video Read Aloud: Paloma's Secret Paloma, a 5th grader, is feeling sad and anxious. As her feelings start to show at school, her classmates single her out. Will Paloma find the strength to share her secret? This video read-aloud can open up important conversations with our young ones. What We're Reading Ending Admission Screens Isn’t Enough: NYC Middle Schools Must Do More to Mix Students Successfully "If students are prepared for the more diverse classrooms they will encounter in middle school, they will be more tolerant and respectful, which will in turn help their classmates feel welcome. District-wide sample curricula and lesson plans can help teachers in this effort." By Ronda Matthews and Aaron Pallas at the New York Daily News Delivering on Equity Post-Pandemic: Will We Or Won't We? "The pandemic may have forever changed the rules we have known and played by for decades. The question now is: Will we collectively seize this opportunity to rewrite those rules and reimagine and rebuild an education system worthy of our children?" By Susan Enfield at EdSurge In Case You Missed It: The Future of Education is Calling Us Forward! Donate “Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise.” —Maya Angelou Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility www.morningsidecenter.org ‌ ‌ ‌ Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility | 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 550, New York, NY 10115 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by [email protected]