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Teaching About El Salvador’s Civil War at Columbia Heights Educational Campus
Students explored the political and economic factors leading to the civil war in El Salvador, as well as the role of the United States in influencing the war's outcome.
Celebrating Central America at D.C. International PCS
Maximo Alfaro integrated various cultural, historical, and geographical elements into a cohesive unit in his middle school classroom at District of Columbia International PCS. The unit included a map activity, a Central American Cultural Day, and a guest speaker from the local Central American community.
Teaching Central America in an AP English Language Classroom
Teaching about Central America in an AP English Language and Composition classroom using mixer activities, poetry, and an essay.
Students Research Central American Countries
In and ESL/Bilingual class, students learn about Central American countries and student contribute to a shared/collaborative slide presentation about each country over the course of a week.
Designing Monuments of Central Americans in an ESOL Classroom
High school students learn about Central Americans of note and desing monuments to celebrate them.
New Graphic History of Reconstruction in D.C.
We are big fans of the new graphic history called Freedom Was in Sight: A Graphic History of Reconstruction in the Washington, D.C., Region. The book was recently introduced at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture at an event we co-sponsored for educators. We are also hearing from D.C. area educators who are using the book in their classrooms.
The Most Inspiring Medium: Filmfest DC Classroom Visits 2024
In April 2024, Teaching for Change partnered with Filmfest DC: The Washington, DC, International Film Festival for a thirteenth year to bring filmmakers into D.C. classrooms to share some of their films.
Share Your Teaching Story
D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice (DCAESJ) is always looking to lift up the incredible work preK-12 social justice educators are doing in the D.C. area.
Filmfest DC 2024
Teaching for Change is partnering with Filmfest DC: The Washington, D.C. International Film Festival (April 18-24) for a thirteenth year to spread the word about the festival and to bring films and filmmakers into D.C. classrooms.
4th Graders Challenge Book Bans and Scholastic
Inspired Teaching Demonstration PCS’ 4th grade teaching team led students through a unit on book banning this fall, which culminated in a letter to Scholastic expressing concern about the way that books are categorized at their book fairs.
Central American Students Inspired to Share Family Stories
Anna Lapera taught “Central America: An Introductory Lesson” in her middle school ESL and Spanish as a Heritage Language classes. The lesson prompted students to share their own family stories.
"Liberty and Justice for Who?" D.C. Area Teach Truth Day of Action Rally 2023
DCAESJ partnered with the African American Civil War Museum for a third year to host the #TeachTruth Day of Action rally at the memorial. The D.C. site was one of more than 60 sites across the country – plus more online events – each with a unique approach to uplifting educators in their commitment to teaching the truth.
High School Students Lead Interactive Youth Justice Summit
The annual Youth Justice Summit at Capital City PCS in Washington, D.C. included six sessions of youth-led workshops on a variety of social justice topics including book banning, the impacts of gentrification, gun violence, disability and policing, and climate justice.
Black Lives Matter at School Marketplace of Knowledge at Bruce-Monroe ES
On March 24, the entire school community at Bruce-Monroe ES @ Park View (DCPS) was invited to participate in the Black Lives Matter at School Celebration of Learning. The school was transformed into a Marketplace of Knowledge that was the culmination of a six-week project that involved all grade levels in deep explorations of Black Lives Matter.
Filmfest DC 2023
Teaching for Change is partnering with Filmfest DC: The Washington, D.C. International Film Festival for a twelfth year (April 19-30) to spread the word about the international film festival and to bring films and filmmakers for several films into D.C. virtual classrooms.
Teach the Beat! Swamp Guinee at Seaton ES
Athena Kopsidas welcomed Teach the Beat back to Seaton ES in February for a series of visits that were part of the way Seaton was participating in the Black Lives Matter Week of Action this year. Matt “Swamp Guinee” Miller facilitated the two visits with students in the school cafeteria, leading students through interactive lessons on different percussive instruments used in go-go.
Sweet Cherie at Simon ES During the BLM Week of Action
Children learned about the history and fundamentals of go-go and each child got a chance to play an improvised tune on Sweet Cherie’s bedazzled keyboard. They danced when they heard their name called by the talker, just like at a go-go.
Past Is Prologue: How Lessons from the Reconstruction Era Can Help Us Build a Better Tomorrow
Mimi Eisen, co-author of Erasing the Black Freedom Struggle: How State Standards Fail to Teach the Truth About Reconstruction, was in conversation with Michelle Coles, author of Black Was the Ink, to discuss the parallels between the Reconstruction Era and today.
Unapologetically Black Educator Story Lounge
D.C. Area educators for Social Justice co-hosted our second annual story lounge with EmpowerEd DC. Educators shared their stories as teachers and how their experiences as students drove them to education, and DCAESJ program manager Vanessa Williams shared a composite poem with golden lines and messages from storytellers that night.
Self-Portraits and Braiding in Art at Seaton ES
Athena Kopsidas, art teacher at Seaton ES (DCPS), led students through projects that incorporated books and art during the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.