Teaching Central America: Celebration of Learning

BRUCE MONROE @ PARK VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

In a country that is deeply divided, the staff at Bruce Monroe @ Park View Elementary School show how to bridge that gap with a schoolwide exploration of students’ history and culture — and a commitment to activism for justice.

This was evident in the 5th annual Teaching Central America Celebration, a showcase of their multi-week study of Central America. With more than 50% of their student body having ties to Central America, the unit of study reflected the school’s mission to provide culturally responsive teaching and equity-driven instruction. Coinciding with the school’s first quarter theme of identity, the study of Central America drew on resources from the school’s collaboration with Teaching for Change’s Teach Central America Week and the Pulitzer Center 1619 Project Educator Network. (The school took a similar in-depth approach to a study of the Black Lives Matter principles.)