ReThinking Schools

Finding a quality Social Studies program that tackles not just history, but also cultural awareness and social justice, can be a daunting task for parents. After diving deep into various educational resources, Rethinking Schools stood out for its dedication to shaping a more equitable society through education. This curriculum was initiated in 1986 by a group of educators in Milwaukee who sought to counter the conservative, test-driven paradigms dominating public education. They've since won accolades for their approach to integrating social justice into all facets of learning. What I adore about Rethinking Schools is its fearless approach to discussing complex social issues, making it a powerful tool in an educator's arsenal. It's perfect for those who aren't just teaching history or geography but are committed to fostering a deeper understanding and respect for diverse perspectives and communities. Though some might find its progressive stance more provocative than traditional curricula, its comprehensive coverage and engaging materials far outweigh this concern. A pro-tip for parents: engage actively with the content alongside your children to enrich discussions and deepen the learning experience.

Grades: K-12

Cost: Some resources are free; ebooks are around $9.99 and printed books $24.95. A magazine subscription is $24.95/month

The in-depth review

Social Studies education is vital as it builds critical thinking, awareness of social justice, and understanding of complex societal dynamics. When selecting a Social Studies curriculum, consider inclusivity, historical accuracy, and how it engages with contemporary issues.

About Rethinking Schools

Founded in 1986 by a group of Milwaukee education activists, Rethinking Schools is a nonprofit organization aiming to enhance public education through social justice teaching and advocacy. It is known for its grassroots magazine and has published numerous educational books focused on equity and racial justice​.

Who Rethinking Schools is for

This curriculum is ideal for educators and parents who wish to impart an education that is reflective of social justice principles, fostering critical thinking and equity.

Why I recommend Rethinking Schools for Social Studies

I recommend Rethinking Schools for its commitment to social justice and equity, comprehensive resources that include magazines, books, and online materials, and its focus on empowering educators to tackle complex social issues in their teaching.

How Rethinking Schools works

Educators can integrate Rethinking Schools' materials into their lesson plans, which include activities, readings, and projects that encourage students to critically engage with historical and contemporary issues. Their resources also support teaching complex topics such as racial justice and environmental sustainability.

What Differentiates Rethinking Schools from other Social Studies programs

Rethinking Schools distinctly sets itself apart from other Social Studies programs through its unwavering commitment to social justice, racial equity, and educational activism. Unlike traditional curricula that often rely on mainstream historical narratives, Rethinking Schools integrates critical pedagogy principles that challenge students to analyze and question systemic inequalities and historical narratives. It emphasizes grassroots efforts, encouraging teachers and students to engage directly with their communities and enact change. The program includes unique resources like the Zinn Education Project, which offers materials to teach a "people's history" that highlights the roles of marginalized groups in shaping history. Furthermore, Rethinking Schools continuously updates its offerings to reflect contemporary issues and debates, ensuring that its content is not only educational but also relevant to current social dynamics

What Rethinking Schools covers

• Social Justice Education: Incorporates themes of equity, activism, and the role of education in fostering societal change.

• Multicultural and Anti-Racist Education: Focuses on teaching from a multicultural perspective, addressing racial justice, and challenging racist practices and policies in education.

• History from Below: Promotes a "people's history" approach, which presents history through the lens of everyday people and marginalized groups rather than through the traditional narratives of elite figures.

• Environmental Justice: Includes content that encourages students to engage with and understand environmental issues within a framework of social justice.

• Global Perspectives: Offers lessons and content that provide a global outlook on social, political, and environmental issues, encouraging a broader understanding beyond local or national narratives.

• Critical Literacy: Engages students in critical thinking about the media and other texts, promoting an understanding of how information is constructed and for what purposes.

• Grassroots Organizing and Activism: Provides resources for teachers and students to get involved in activism and community organizing, aligning educational practices with broader movements for social change.

Updates and Additions

Rethinking Schools regularly updates its offerings with new books and magazine issues that reflect current social justice topics and teaching strategies. Recent publications focus on multicultural education and anti-racist teaching​.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Rethinking Schools

What Parents Like about Rethinking Schools

• Social Justice Focus: Rethinking Schools emphasizes social justice, racial equity, and educational activism, promoting critical thinking about systemic inequalities and diverse historical narratives.

• Engaging Content: The curriculum includes engaging and practical resources, such as magazines and books, that discuss current social justice issues and teaching strategies, helping educators to bring these topics into the classroom effectively​.

• Comprehensive Material: It offers a wide range of teaching materials that are well-regarded for their depth and relevance to modern educational needs, including lesson plans and activities that integrate multicultural and anti-racist perspectives​

• Community Involvement: Encourages active participation from both educators and students in community and grassroots efforts, enhancing real-world learning experiences and activism​.

What parents dislike

• Complexity of Topics: Some reviews indicate that the topics covered can be quite complex and may require a considerable effort from educators to effectively integrate into standard curricula without overwhelming students​.

• Potential Bias Concerns: As with any curriculum that focuses intensely on social justice, there may be concerns about bias or an overemphasis on certain ideologies, which could be seen as a con depending on one's educational philosophy or objectives​​.

• Resource Intensiveness: Implementing Rethinking Schools' materials into teaching may demand significant preparation time and a strong background in social justice issues, which might be challenging for some educators​.

Tips from Parents on how to get the most out of Rethinking Schools

Many parents recommend using Rethinking Schools materials to facilitate open discussions with children about social justice, utilizing the books and articles to create a comprehensive, engaging learning experience.

Why Trust Me

With over 20 years of teaching experience across diverse cultural and conflict settings, I bring a depth of understanding in educational needs and media quality, ensuring that this review reflects both professional insights and practical application in educational contexts.

How I Vetted

This review is based on extensive research, including analysis of online reviews, discussions with educators and historians, and personal evaluation of the curriculum's effectiveness in fostering an understanding of social justice in education.

What I Looked For and How Rethinking Schools Stacks Up

• Comprehensive: Rethinking Schools covers a wide range of topics including social justice, environmental education, history, and multicultural studies, providing comprehensive materials that go beyond traditional educational content to address broader societal issues​.

• Secular: As a secular curriculum, Rethinking Schools focuses on social justice and equity without aligning with any religious teachings, making it suitable for public school settings and diverse educational environments.

• Accurate: The content in Rethinking Schools is known for its accuracy and commitment to presenting historical and contemporary issues through well-researched and fact-checked materials. It emphasizes historical perspectives often left out of standard textbooks, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of societal issues.

• Decolonized: One of the core strengths of Rethinking Schools is its focus on decolonized education, presenting history and social issues from the perspectives of those often marginalized in traditional curricula. This includes content that challenges colonial narratives and promotes understanding of indigenous and minority rights.

• Inclusive: The curriculum excels in inclusivity, providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives. It particularly focuses on racial justice and inclusivity, ensuring that students from all backgrounds see their histories and experiences reflected in their learning materials​.

• Anti-racist: Rethinking Schools is explicitly designed to be anti-racist, with materials and lessons crafted to combat racism and promote equity within the classroom and beyond. It includes resources for teachers to address racism actively and constructively with their students​.

• Mastery-based: While Rethinking Schools encourages deep understanding and mastery of social justice topics, it may not be explicitly structured around mastery-based education principles like some other curricula designed specifically for competency-based progression.

• Aligned with school standards for Social Justice Rethinking Schools aligns well with social studies standards that include critical thinking, historical analysis, and understanding societal issues. However, it may not align perfectly with standard benchmarks that focus more on traditional historical narratives and less on critical, justice-oriented content.

• Fun and engaging for kids: The curriculum is designed to be engaging by connecting learning to real-world issues that impact students' lives and communities. It includes interactive projects, discussions, and critical engagements that make learning relevant and interesting.The Bottom Line

Who is Rethinking Schools an ideal fit for?

Rethinking Schools is perfect for educators and parents who are looking for a curriculum that not only covers academic essentials but also empowers students to become active, informed citizens concerned with equity and justice.

Who is Rethinking Schools not a fit for?

It might not be the right fit for those looking for a traditional, conservative educational approach or those who prefer a curriculum that avoids deep discussions of social and political issues.

Alternatives and supplements to Rethinking Schools

• Curiosity Chronicles: This is a great option for those looking for a comprehensive world Social Studies curriculum. It offers an engaging narrative approach to teaching history, which can be particularly appealing for younger students.

• Crash Course US Government and Politics: For visual learners, this YouTube channel provides a series of informative and fast-paced videos that cover the essentials of U.S. government and politics. It's a great supplementary tool that can make complex concepts more accessible and entertaining.

• Digital Inquiry Group (Formerly Stanford Social Studies Education Group): For educators on a budget, this organization offers a free, full Social Studies curriculum. Their resources are research-backed and provide a robust framework for engaging students with critical thinking about history and civic issues.

• Revisioning History for Young People Series: This book series is an excellent alternative for those looking to provide a broader perspective on history. It revises traditional narratives to include more diverse viewpoints, which can help students develop a more comprehensive understanding of historical events and their impacts.

Value for the Money

Given its specialized focus and the depth of content, Rethinking Schools offers good value for those looking to enrich their educational approaches with social justice perspectives.

Ways to Get Rethinking Schools

Materials can be accessed through their official website, where educators and parents can subscribe to the magazine, purchase books, or download resources directly.

Affilate Disclaimer

This review is unbiased and independent; however, I may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this review, which supports further educational content development.

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