Our picks for books, videos, websites, and other social justice resources 39.3

Check out these valuable resources, reviewed by Rethinking Schools editors and Teaching for Change colleagues.

What Nina Simone Teaches 1st and 2nd Graders About Making Change

Cristina Paul in collaboration with Olivia Lozano and Nancy Villalta

During a unit on changemakers, 1st and 2nd graders learn about power, change, representation, and community through the songs of Nina Simone.

Six Ways U.S. History Textbooks Mislead Students About the History Between Central America and the United States

Olvin Abrego Ayala and Elizabeth Hertzler-McCain

Ayala and Hertzler-McCain examine the ways 10 popular U.S. history textbooks ignore the U.S. government’s role in destabilizing Central America, causing waves of immigration to the United States.

Teaching the Culprits of Climate Chaos

Bill Bigelow

Using his updated climate crisis trial, Bigelow shows how students explore the forces behind climate chaos.

This Land Is Our Land

Debbie Reese

Debbie Reese reviews This Land: The History of the Land We’re On by Ashley Fairbanks

Why We Cannot Go Back to Basics

Reclaiming The Right to Teach Literacy

Daniel Ferguson, Laurie Rabinowitz, and Amy Tondreau

Three literacy and early education scholars expose the racist, anti-teacher politics behind the push to implement “Science of Reading” curriculum in schools.

Seattle Planned to Close Up to 21 Public Schools — Here’s How We Stopped Them

Jesse Hagopian

Hagopian details how Seattle educators, students, and parents stopped their district’s school closure plan.

Sanctuary Lessons

How Chicago Teachers Are Defending Their Students

Kelly Hayes

Hayes shares lessons from the Chicago Teachers Union’s efforts to protect undocumented students.

Teaching the Haibun During Times of Chaos and Struggle

Linda Christensen

Christensen teaches the writing process by encouraging students to celebrate beloved places with the haibun, a Japanese poetic form.

Creating Classrooms for Equity and Social Justice

the editors of Rethinking Schools

On Jan. 29, the White House released an executive order (EO), “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K–12 Schooling.”  The EO is a rambling and lawless document that fundamentally misstates the role […]