The Mississippi Civil Rights Movement and Labor History Teacher Fellows came from across the state for our mid-fall convening in Jackson from October 18-20, 2015. In just two short days, the fellows explored new lessons for the classroom, learned about opportunities for students to showcase their work, heard from inspiring guest speakers, wrote stories from their own …
More Teachers Than Ever Teach People’s History
Here are 2015 highlights and plans for 2016 from our Zinn Education Project. Coordinated by Teaching for Change in collaboration with Rethinking Schools, the Zinn Education Project promotes and supports the teaching of people’s history in middle and high school classrooms across the country. The Zinn Education Project registered 11,000 new teachers in 2015. We now …
Early Steps for a Parent Leader
Teresa Rodriguez is a parent at Teaching for Change partner school LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (DCPS), a school that has seen a rapidly growing Latino population in a historically black community in Northeast D.C. Teresa came to story quilting sessions and parent meetings led by Teaching for Change during the 2014-2015 school year and started to …
Principal Chit Chats Boost School Success
On October 2, 2015, Principal Carmen Shepherd of Thomson Elementary (DCPS) weaved excitedly around the tables in the crowded room, calling on parents at different tables. “Eighty-five percent!” one table responded. “Ninety-nine percent!” exclaimed another. In both English and in Spanish, proud parents aimed high with their goals for the percentage of students they hope …
Why Are They Coming?: Uncovering Central American History
As children from Central America flee to the U.S. in record numbers, Teaching for Change continues to offer the only lessons and professional development available for teachers to learn about the history and culture of these refugees. Every workshop offered by Teaching for Change staff begins with the question, “How many Central Americans of note—from …
Teaching for Change in 2015
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are pleased to share highlights from Teaching for Change’s work in 2015. This is just a small window into our accomplishments. We encourage you to read below and follow the links to read about our work and our 25th anniversary celebrations. Teaching for Change is the antidote to the anti-knowledge movement. Supporting …
Southern Freedom Movement Workshop at NCSS Conference
At the 2015 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) conference in New Orleans, Mississippi Civil Rights Movement and Labor History Teacher fellow Anthony Golding and fellowship director Julian Hipkins III presented a workshop on the freedom movement in Mississippi. Hipkins began the session session by engaging participants in a critique of the traditional textbook narrative on the Civil Rights Movement. For example, …
Virginia Educators Explore Beyond Heroes and Holidays
The challenge was to introduce 35 educators to their new copies of Beyond Heroes and Holidays: A Practical Guide to K-12 Anti-Racist, Multicultural Education and Staff Development in 75 minutes. Alexandria City Public Schools had purchased Beyond Heroes and Holidays as a mentor text for each participant in the Teaching for Change facilitated workshop on engaging in culturally responsive pedagogy. …
How well do you know Montgomery Bus Boycott history?
Students from preschool through high school learn that Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in Montgomery, the buses were desegregated, and the Civil Rights Movement was launched. This quiz explores some of the myths surrounding the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and provides an opportunity to learn about the strategic brilliance and courage of the …
Luci Murphy: A D.C. Cultural Warrior
There is always somebody tending the flame, even when the spotlight is removed, and the publicity vanished. Luci Murphy is a preeminent advocate of utilizing culture to advance social and political justice. She is often the featured vocalist at progressive events. Her boundless energy has made Murphy indispensable in organizing Latin American solidarity, the peace …
Teacher Fellows Plan for Future
The Mississippi Civil Rights Movement and Labor History Teacher Fellows came from across the state for our mid-fall convening in Jackson from October 18-20, 2015. In just two short days, the fellows explored new lessons for the classroom, learned about opportunities for students to showcase their work, heard from inspiring guest speakers, wrote stories from their own …