Many White teachers, like us, enter the field enamored of characters like Huck for what they allow us to feel as White people, especially in relation to people of color: heroic, on the right side of history, doing our part to combat racism through our teaching of literature. This is partly why so many of us reach for a text like Huckleberry Finn when we think about how it is that we (think) we address racism through our literature instruction. It feels good to “join” Huck in his decision to help Jim. And pointing out this decision through our teaching feels like we are doing work towards antiracist ends.
Professional development should be done by teachers, not done to them. It works best when it comes from the inside out, not from the top down. This idea is not new, and it is well-supported in research. However, teachers’ professional development is often provided, rather than supported. Why is this?
Writing art education lessons plans (or any lesson plan, for that matter) can seem like a tedious chore completed by a teacher for use by someone else (maybe) other than the teacher! However, I’d like to invite you to consider writing art lesson plans for a moment as a way to nurture your creative souls, which I lovingly refer to here as “unicorns and rainbows.”
With years of experience on the teacher, administrative, and academic level, Sonia Nieto and Alicia Lopez have a wealth of knowledge to offer new and experienced teachers. Below, we’ve selected a selection of poignant memories that they share in their new book, Teaching, A Life’s Work: A Mother–Daughter Dialogue.
Take a break from grading papers, lesson plans, or studying! Ever wonder if you’re teaching style is similar to the intimidating Professor Snape or the passionate Mr. John Keating? Enjoy our quiz below.
Today, the need for a teaching force prepared to handle and address issues of race, equality, and pedagogy is more urgent than ever. Ongoing racial turmoil between law enforcement and communities of color, political rhetoric, shifting migration patterns, global migration patterns, and increase in student population are some of the reasons for the demand in CRE-PD. The excerpt below defines and explains the approach of CRE-PD training.
