One year ago, the United States took an important step in honoring a more complete and accurate history of our country with the recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day. Instead of focusing on Columbus’s “discovery,” this federal holiday (on the 2nd Monday in October) centers the history of Indigenous peoples that have inhabited the Western Hemisphere for tens of thousands of years. In creating this day we acknowledge the genocide, erasure, assimilation, and resilience of the Native people spanning generations.
Read MoreTopics: Holidays, Culture and Language, Equity
Learning is a curious thing. As we age, we know we have absorbed a fair amount of knowledge, yet we continue to be amazed by how much there still is to learn. Take for example my surprise when seeing the “Confronting History to Heal a Nation” segment on the CBS Sunday Morning show. There on my porch-that-feels-like-a-treehouse, I learned something I never knew before. I was told about a man named Bryan Stevenson and the work he is doing to heal the hurt of a country that repeatedly takes one step forward and then three steps back. While watching the 7-minute story, I made the connection between slavery and segregation, lynching and the legal system, and so much more. Convinced there was more to understand, I traveled to Montgomery to see, feel, and be in the spaces that explain the legacy of racial injustice in the Black community. Eloquent in its composition and strong in stature–the museum is built in a city that once held one of the busiest slave trades in the country. And, just down the street, is the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, an affecting testimonial to the way we treated and killed our brethren.
Read MoreTopics: diversity, Courses, Black History Month, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Equity
The mental health experiences of students who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) are different than those of people who identify as white. Race-specific microaggressions, trauma, and systemic racism create fertile ground for depression, anxiety, and self-harm for students who are BIPOC. If educators are to truly be supportive, we must advocate for practices to honor the specific needs and identities of our BIPOC students.
Read MoreTopics: diversity, Courses, Mental Health Awareness, Black History Month, Equity
Topics: Social Emotional Learning, Courses, mindfulness, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Equity, Teaching with Equity
Reignite Your JOY for Teaching & Learning:
Read MoreTopics: diversity, Black History Month, Digital Resources, Equity, Teaching with Equity, teacher resources, Monthly Resource Round-up
We need Black History Month now more than ever. While we need to remember that Black history (Asian American history, LGBTQ history, etc.) is AMERICAN history and should be incorporated into our curriculum and lessons throughout the school year, Black History Month gives us an opportunity to double down on teaching and learning about Black history and culture.
Read MoreTopics: Black History Month, Digital Resources, Equity
Topics: Instructional Strategies, Self-Care, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Digital Resources, Equity, Teaching with Equity, teacher resources
Topics: Content Areas, Holidays, Digital Resources, Equity, teacher resources
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