On May 15, we held a webinar on the spring issue of Rethinking Schools, Teach Palestine. Panelists offered stories, examples, and concrete strategies for teaching truthfully and critically about Palestine-Israel. At a time when the attack on social […]
Share the spring Teach Palestine issue with your colleagues, union members, students, and friends to engage in political education and critical dialogue. Use the issue as a resource for teaching […]
Rethinking Schools invites you to apply for our Summer 2024 In-person Restore & Connect Writing Retreats in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Portland, Oregon. The Restore & Connect Writing Retreats will […]
We offer you the inaugural Teach for Environmental Justice Newsletter from Rethinking Schools. Last year the Earth shattered climate records, and the entanglement of militarism and fossil fuels bears out […]
“Teaching climate justice means sharing stories of hope and resistance with students. It means connecting the movement for a livable planet to the movements for racial justice, economic justice, disability […]
This Black History Month and always, we honor the Black radical tradition that disrupts oppression and organizes for justice. We teach for joy and freedom. We teach the truth about […]
“Every time I get a new issue of the magazine, I am inspired and feel more hopeful about the work that I am trying to engage in. The books I’ve […]
We mourn the loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives and grieve for those who have lost loved ones due to the ongoing occupation and massive bombardment. We denounce Israel’s planned invasion of Gaza […]
By Wayne Au It was almost 7 p.m. when the text came in. “Hello Dr. Au. I’m the assistant superintendent of the District. I need to speak to you right […]
No matter what the grade level or content area, we believe that several interlocking components comprise what we call a social justice classroom. We argue that curriculum and classroom practice […]
Get the free New Teacher Back-to-School kit when you sign up today for email updates from Rethinking Schools. What’s inside the New Teacher Back-to-School kit? The New Teacher Back-to-School kit is […]
Rethinking Schools recently caught up with our new Executive Director, Cierra Kaler-Jones. Learn a little about her below and join us tomorrow, Wednesday, May 31st for a virtual meet-and-greet. What […]
Melissa Bollow Tempel is an excellent bilingual teacher in Waukesha, Wisconsin, loved by students and parents. Her classroom is a model learning community, welcoming all students, nurturing their growth, celebrating […]
I used to have a tendency to rush through life. I struggled to slow down and be still. Celebration did not come easily as part of my vocabulary or practice. […]
Download Free Discussion Guides Did you know that select Rethinking Schools books have discussion guides? These free downloadable guides are perfect for book reading groups. Here’s how to get started: […]
Dear Supporters and Friends of Rethinking Schools, We are thrilled to introduce you to Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones and to welcome her as Rethinking Schools’ first-ever Executive Director, effective January 17, […]
This free booklet is an invitation to educators everywhere to join the national conversation about how we help our students understand what is happening to our climate, why it is happening, who it is affecting, and what we can do about it. This work belongs to all of us.
This year is the 100th anniversary of Howard Zinn’s birth. Zinn, who died in 2010 at 87, was a historian, professor, activist, and author of A People’s History of the United States, […]
For Arab American Heritage Month, we wanted to share excerpts from a short article by Rethinking Schools contributor and Portland, Oregon, high school teacher, Suzanna Kassouf — along with some […]
In his sadly timeless song “Masters of War,” Bob Dylan sang: You fasten all the triggers For the others to fire Then you sit back and watch When the death […]
Dear Rethinking Schools friends, Like you, we are angry and fearful about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is already causing immense suffering — which will only increase. These are […]
For 35 years, Rethinking Schools has sought to bring more critical voices into the conversation about public schools to help schools become more just, anti-racist, and engaging places of learning […]
This Giving Tuesday we ask for your help to bring social justice teaching to life for educators everywhere. A tax-deductible gift to Rethinking Schools will go a long way to […]
Inviting Students’ Lives into the ClassroomBy Linda Christensen I remember holding my father’s hand as he read my story hanging on the display wall outside Mrs. Martin’s classroom on the […]
Raising writers By Linda Christensen The read-around is the classroom equivalent to quilt making or barn raising. It is the public space—the zócalo or town square—of my room. During our […]