Teaching for Change
Finding the right social studies curriculum that goes beyond the usual narratives and truly engages students can be a daunting task for many parents. I delved deeply into the Teaching for Change curriculum, drawn to its commitment to social justice education and its distinct approach in the educational landscape. Created by educators and activists looking to fill the gaps left by traditional curricula, Teaching for Change has won recognition for its comprehensive resources that aim to empower students to think critically about history and society. What I particularly love about this program is how it encourages students and teachers to challenge norms and think independently. It is ideally suited for families and educators who value a deep understanding of social and historical contexts and are committed to raising socially conscious citizens. While the curriculum’s intensity and complexity may be challenging for some younger students, its quality and depth are unmatched. To get the most out of Teaching for Change, I recommend that parents actively engage with the materials and discuss them with their children, fostering a household environment where learning continues beyond the classroom.
Grades: K-12
Cost: Various, with many resources available for free; specific books and materials may be purchased.
The in-depth review
Learning about social studies is crucial for young minds to develop an understanding of societal structures, history, and civic responsibilities. A quality social studies curriculum not only covers these basics but also fosters critical thinking and empathy, preparing students to participate actively in democracy.
About Teaching for Change
Teaching for Change is an organization dedicated to providing educators and students with tools to create social change through education. It was established to deepen the understanding of American history and society, particularly from a social justice perspective. The organization is known for projects like the Zinn Education Project and initiatives such as Black Lives Matter at School.
Who Teaching for Change is for
This program is ideal for educators, parents, and community organizers who wish to incorporate an anti-bias, multicultural education into their teaching practices.
Why I recommend Teaching for Change for Social Studies
Teaching for Change is an invaluable resource for its comprehensive approach to education, which includes critical literacy and anti-bias education. Their materials help educators present a more nuanced view of history and current events.
How Teaching for Change works
Educators can utilize the resources from Teaching for Change by integrating their books, lesson plans, and projects into existing curricula. The organization provides a plethora of online resources, including detailed lesson plans and books recommendations.
What Differentiates Teaching for Change from other Social Studies programs
Teaching for Change uniquely differentiates itself from other social studies programs through its explicit focus on social justice and anti-bias education. Unlike conventional curricula that often present a more sanitized or traditional view of history, Teaching for Change encourages educators and students to explore history through the lenses of race, class, and power dynamics. This approach includes resources like the Zinn Education Project, which provides lessons on a "people's history," and specific initiatives like Black Lives Matter at School, which integrate contemporary social movements and issues directly into the classroom setting. These elements make Teaching for Change particularly valuable for those looking to offer a more critical and inclusive educational experience.
What Teaching for Change covers
Teaching for Change offers a wide range of educational content focusing on social justice, multiculturalism, and critical literacy. Here's a list of some of the key areas they cover:
Anti-Bias Education: Teaching strategies and content aimed at confronting prejudice and promoting equity in the classroom.
Black Lives Matter at School: Curriculum and resources that support the Black Lives Matter movement and its principles within the educational context.
Challenge Islamophobia: Lessons and resources designed to combat stereotypes and misinformation about Islamic cultures and communities.
Civil Rights Teaching: Historical and contemporary resources that focus on the civil rights movement and its ongoing impact.
Social Justice Books: A collection of books and resources that promote social justice and diversity, including children’s literature reviews.
Teaching Central America: Curriculum materials that provide a comprehensive understanding of Central American history, culture, and politics.
Teach the Beat: Go-Go Music in D.C.: Resources that explore Go-Go music as a cultural and historical phenomenon in Washington D.C.
Zinn Education Project: Collaborative effort with Rethinking Schools to offer materials based on Howard Zinn’s approach to U.S. history, highlighting underrepresented stories.
Parent Organizing: Strategies and resources for engaging parents in school and community activism focused on educational equity.
Updates and Additions
Recent initiatives include the "Teach Central America Week" and enhancements in their social justice books section, continually updating educational materials and strategies for effective teaching.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Teaching for Change
Focus on Social Justice: Teaching for Change is highly commended for its emphasis on social justice, providing resources and guidance for educators to incorporate anti-bias and multicultural education into their teaching practices.
Comprehensive Resources: The program offers a wide range of materials, including books, lesson plans, and projects that cover various aspects of social justice and history from alternative perspectives.
Active Learning Approaches: The curriculum encourages critical thinking and engagement with current social issues, making it relevant and thought-provoking for students.
Community and Support: Teachers and educators have access to a supportive community that includes professional development and collaborative opportunities.
What Parents Like about Teaching for Change
Parents recommend engaging actively with the materials and incorporating the discussions and activities suggested by Teaching for Change into regular learning sessions to reinforce understanding and retention.
What parents dislike
Complexity and Challenge: The depth and nature of the topics covered can be challenging for both educators and students, requiring a significant commitment to understanding and discussion.
Resource Accessibility: Some users might find it difficult to integrate the materials into standard curricula due to the radical shift from traditional educational approaches.
Limited Direct Content Focus: The emphasis on broad themes like social justice and critical thinking might not align with more conventional educational goals or standardized testing requirements.
Special Needs
Gifted and Profoundly Gifted: The curriculum’s emphasis on critical thinking and engagement with complex social justice issues may be well-suited for gifted learners who often thrive on in-depth exploration of subjects and can handle the nuances and challenges of such discussions.
Autism: For students on the autism spectrum, the structured and thematic approach of Teaching for Change might help in understanding social contexts and historical events better, especially if the resources are used in a way that includes visual aids and clear, structured discussions.
ADHD: The active learning and participatory nature of the Teaching for Change curriculum could potentially engage students with ADHD more effectively by involving them in hands-on activities and discussions that require active participation and thus maintain their attention.
Dyslexia: Although not specifically tailored for dyslexic students, Teaching for Change's diverse range of resources, including potentially oral histories or visual materials, could help accommodate different learning preferences and aid understanding through multimodal learning.
Dysgraphia: Students with dysgraphia might benefit from the curriculum's potential use of oral assignments and discussions, reducing the dependence on written work and allowing alternative methods of expression and learning.
2e: The program's comprehensive approach that combines intellectual rigor with creative and critical thinking can cater to 2e students by engaging their strengths while also supporting their areas of challenge through a flexible and accommodating learning environment.
Tips from Parents on how to get the most out of Teaching for Change
Why Trust Me
With over 20 years of teaching experience across different cultural contexts and subjects, including social studies, my review is based on a comprehensive evaluation of educational programs, consultation with academic professionals, and personal teaching experience.
How I Vetted
I conducted an extensive review of available literature, including academic reviews and testimonials, and consulted with historians and educators to assess the efficacy and relevance of Teaching for Change's offerings.
What I Looked For and How Teaching for Change Stacks Up
Teaching for Change's curriculum is designed to meet specific educational criteria that cater to a progressive, inclusive, and socially conscious teaching approach. Here’s how it stacks up in what I looked for.
Comprehensive: The curriculum covers a wide range of topics and historical perspectives, focusing extensively on social justice themes. It provides resources across different grade levels, making it comprehensive in scope.
Secular: While primarily focused on social justice, the curriculum maintains a secular approach, emphasizing historical and cultural education without religious bias.
Accurate: Teaching for Change prides itself on providing historically accurate content that includes often overlooked aspects of history, such as contributions from various minority groups.
Decolonized: One of the core aims of the curriculum is to offer a decolonized view of history, highlighting indigenous histories and perspectives that are frequently marginalized in traditional educational materials.
Inclusive: The curriculum is designed to be inclusive, featuring diverse voices and stories. It focuses on anti-bias education and includes resources that reflect a variety of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.
Anti-Racist: Anti-racism is a fundamental part of Teaching for Change. The curriculum includes explicit anti-racist education, encouraging students and educators to confront and dismantle racial prejudices and systemic inequities.
Mastery-Based: While it supports progressive educational practices, there is less emphasis on traditional mastery-based approaches. Instead, the focus is on understanding and critically engaging with the material.
Aligned with School Standards: Teaching for Change’s resources aim to complement standard school curricula but are designed to challenge and expand beyond conventional educational standards, especially in social studies.
Fun and Engaging for Kids: The curriculum includes engaging teaching methods like interactive projects, critical discussions, and hands-on activities that make learning fun and engaging, particularly in how it connects classroom learning to real-world issues.
The Bottom Line
Who is Teaching for Change an ideal fit for?
This program is perfect for those who are looking for an educational approach that prioritizes social justice and critical thinking about history and current events.
Who is Teaching for Change not a fit for?
It may not be suitable for those seeking a traditional, standardized educational curriculum without a strong emphasis on social justice and equity.
Alternatives and supplements to Teaching for Change
Curiosity Chronicles:
Type: Comprehensive world social studies curriculum.
Description: Offers a narrative approach to teaching history, making it engaging for children by telling the story of different civilizations and events in a conversational style.
Crash Course World Social Studies (YouTube Channel):
Type: Educational YouTube channel.
Description: Provides a series of educational videos covering a wide range of topics within social studies, presented in an informative and engaging style suitable for older students.
Digital Inquiry Group (Formerly Stanford Social Studies Education Group):
Type: Free social studies curriculum.
Description: Focuses on fostering historical thinking skills through inquiry-based learning. The curriculum includes primary documents and secondary sources that encourage students to analyze and question historical narratives.
Revisioning History for Young People Series:
Type: Book series.
Description: This series aims to present a more inclusive view of history, revisiting traditional narratives to include more diverse perspectives and stories often left out of mainstream textbooks.
Value for the Money
Given the breadth and depth of resources available, Teaching for Change offers significant value, particularly for those looking to enrich their educational practices with comprehensive, justice-oriented content.
Ways to Get Teaching for Change
Resources can be accessed directly from their website, and books can be purchased through affiliated links. For more detailed information, you can visit the official Teaching for Change website.
Affilate Disclaimer
This review is unbiased though I may earn a commission from purchases made through links provided in the review.
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