Articles

Join the conversation on priority issues in our nation’s public education system and find resources, suggestions and news.

622 ARTICLES

July 19, 2011

Under the Influence of Teacher Talk

At the start of my career as an eighth-grade language arts teacher, it never bothered me when students were described by teachers as “low,” “middle,” or “high” as a way to label their abilities. No disrespect was meant toward our learners; it was just a fast and easy way to describe our kids and get to know them when we had so little time with them.

Topic

Bullying & Bias Race & Ethnicity

May 9, 2011

Remember the Tulsa Race Massacre

Photograph of the aftermath of the Tulsa Massacre.

May 31 marks the anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Here's why this history must be told.

Topic

Race & Ethnicity

April 7, 2011

Imani and the Cabbage Seeds

Imani walked down the hall with a paper cup in her hands. She stopped and held up the cup to me. Inside of its paper walls were soil, water, and seeds—all those humble and elemental things that build a third-grader's scientific knowledge. Imani was growing cabbage.

Topic

Race & Ethnicity Gender & Sexual Identity

April 5, 2011

The Case of the Black Barbie Doll

Leslie, a 38-year-old social worker who counsels children with stressful life situations, found her 4-year-old daughter, Sophia, engaged in animated play with her dolls. She watched incredulously as Sophia invited the four white dolls with blonde hair to a tea party while the dark-skinned doll with black hair lay alone across the room.

Topic

Race & Ethnicity Bullying & Bias

March 28, 2011

Help Students Remember César Chávez

Today is the kickoff of Farmworker Awareness Week. It is a time to honor the backbreaking work that goes into harvesting our food.

Topic

Race & Ethnicity

March 22, 2011

Lunch With Teacher Builds Relationships

Consider the humble lunch as one of your most powerful teaching tools. From the first day of school, Ricky was one of my most difficult students. Defensive, angry, and sensitive, this 7-year-old was constantly putting up walls and “testing” the adults in charge to see if we would respond to his needs. With the lack of a guidance counselor or a full-time school psychologist in the school, I knew that I had to find a way to connect with him, or we were going to have a disastrous school year.

Topic

Race & Ethnicity

March 15, 2011

It’s Never Too Early to Talk About Race

Feast for 10, a children’s book by Cathryn Falwell, recently found its way into a lesson at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Cooperative Nursery School. The book, focusing on counting skills, follows a family through the

Topic

Race & Ethnicity

March 14, 2011

Teens Find Fun, Focus in Summer Programs

Summer is the most violent time of year in urban areas. Some cite hotter temperatures, while others point the finger at out-of-school teenagers. No one factor is to blame, but it makes sense to provide opportunities for young people while keeping them off the streets. Summer service programs can help.

Topic

Race & Ethnicity Class

Articles

Sign in to save these resources.

Learning for Justice in the South

Get the Learning for Justice Newsletter