December 7, 2021

Why I Teach: The Moments Students Remember

Meet Marvin Reed, who teaches third grade at Rosa Parks Elementary School in California’s Bay Area. In our latest edition of Why I Teach, he reflects on the last moments he spent with students before schools went remote in 2020—and what the past year taught him about prioritizing community, relationships and caring for each other.

Students Lose When Black Women Aren’t Supported // Jamilah Pitts

Parents Push for Student Safety // Coshandra Dillard

Learning Virtually Redefined // Jey Ehrenhalt
Having Conversations About Gun Violence in Schools
This year’s spike of gun violence in schools, including the recent tragedy in Michigan, cannot be ignored. We will not accept this harm as inevitable. We must have this conversation—and act. Use these resources to help navigate conversations about gun violence, school safety, mental health and how to take action.

Is Curriculum Violence Happening at Your School?

Yes, curriculum can be violent—whether you intend it or not. Education professor Stephanie P. Jones founded the Mapping Racial Trauma in Schools project and has uncovered that most instances of curriculum violence occur during instruction about Black history. Read this feature story by Jones about curriculum violence and how you can avoid it.

Story Corner for Young Learners: Kaia Speaks Up

“My life matters, and my voice deserves to be heard!” Based on events in real life, this story by student activist Kaia Woodford offers young readers a relatable tale of seeing injustice, realizing your power and taking action. Check out the full story and accompanying reader questions in the latest edition of Story Corner.

New Episode of Teaching Hard History Now Streaming

The latest episode of our Teaching Hard History podcast explores Black institution-building after the end of slavery and throughout the Jim Crow era, illustrating how Black workers reorganized labor to their advantage, despite virulent white resistance. During the same period, HBCUs produced future leaders while cultivating resistance to white supremacy—and continue to do so. Listen here.

Check Out What We’re Reading

“Statewide LGBTQ+ rights group Equality Florida denounced the removal of the LGBTQ+ resources, calling it yet another homophobic and transphobic action from the administration of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.” — Advocate

“This report represents a comprehensive effort by the Zinn Education Project to understand Reconstruction’s place in state social studies standards across the United States, examine the nature and extent of the barriers to teaching effective Reconstruction history, and make focused recommendations for improvement.” — Zinn Education Project

“Students of color are facing racial slurs and bullying in and outside the classroom, and many who are fed up have been walking out of class, speaking at board meetings and even suing school districts.” — CNN

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