This practical book shows how veteran, justice-oriented social studies teachers are responding to the Common Core State Standards, focusing on how they build curriculum, support students’ literacy skills, and prepare students to think and act critically within and beyond the classroom. In order to provide direct classroom-to-classroom insights, the authors draw on letters written by veteran teachers addressed to new teachers entering the field. The first section of the book introduces the three approaches teachers can take for teaching for social justice within the constraints of the Common Core State Standards (embracing, reframing, or resisting the standards). The second section analyzes specific approaches to teaching the Common Core, using teacher narratives to illustrate key processes. The final section demonstrates how teachers develop, support, and sustain their identities as justice-oriented educators in standards-driven classrooms. Each chapter includes exemplary lesson plans drawn from diverse grades and classrooms, and offers concrete recommendations to guide practice. Book Features: Offers advice from experienced educators who have learned to successfully navigate the constraints of high-stakes testing and standards-based mandates.Shares and analyzes curricular and pedagogical approaches to teaching the Common Core, including lesson plans teachers can use in their own classrooms. Examines a range of philosophical and political stances that teachers might take as they navigate the unique demands of teaching for social justice in their own context. “This inspiring book invites us into conversations that cannot help but to make our teaching more collective, impactful, and profound.” —Kevin Kumashiro, University of San Francisco “This is a must-read book for practicing and aspiring educators interested in learning how to teach justice-oriented, critical social studies.” —Brian D. Schultz, Northeastern Illinois University “At a time of increasing pressure on teachers, this book provides practical approaches from teachers, for teachers to teach within the confines of the Common Core without compromising rigor, integrity, or social justice.” —Tyrone C. Howard, director, UCLA Black Male Institute, UCLA

Elementary-aged children are often positioned as not developmentally ready to learn about race, racism, and injustice. Yet, the classroom materials used in most schools misrepresent history, withhold knowledge about racial injustice, or fail to uplift stories of resilience and resistance. For almost a decade, this groundbreaking resource has been one of the most highly used textbooks in justice-oriented social studies methods courses for grades 3-8. The author has thoroughly revised her bestseller to provide additional lessons that are more deeply situated within the current context of converging pandemics--COVID-19, racism, and impending environmental catastrophe. Grounded in the daily realities of public schools, Agarwal-Rangnath shows teachers how to use primary and other sources that will offer students new ways of thinking about history while meeting language arts standards for information text proficiency and critical thinking. Educators will also learn how to teach language arts and social studies as complementary subjects. New for the Second Edition: More concrete connections between theory and practice. Additional lesson examples that are centered in today's context of converging pandemics. Reflection questions that challenge readers to think about ways to navigate curricular constraints and standardization in the classroom.

Bringing together an inspirational group of educators, this book provides key insights into what it means to implement social justice ideals with young children. Each chapter highlights a teacher's experience with a specific aspect of social justice and ethnic studies, including related research, projects and lesson plans, and implications for teacher education. The text engages readers in critical dialogue, drawing from works within ethnic studies to think deeply about ideals such as humanization, representation, and transformation. Finding ways to integrate acceptance of difference and social justice content into the primary grades is a complex and challenging endeavor. These teacher stories are ones of courage and commitment, inspiring the possibility of radical change. Book Features: Guidance for teachers who want to teach for social justice, including lesson plans and strategies. Examples of what ethnic studies looks like in early childhood classrooms. Dialogue questions to prompt critical thinking and professional conversation. Windows into classrooms that foster valuing of self and respect for diversity of color, ethnicity, and gender. Activities to tap into personal strengths and enrich teaching, including yoga and song. Connections to relevant research.

"Learn how to enact curricular, pedagogical, and policy shifts that nourish students' linguistic repertoires. Drawing on their experience working with educators and students in grades 7-12, the authors challenge readers to transform their approach to languaging, agency, and authority in the classroom. Strategies come alive through classroom vignettes and examples of student work"--

Explores the value and impact of implementing social action and social justice activities in the elementary classroom. Includes a discussion about how teaching social studies for social justice relates to standardized testing and state curricula and offers classroom activities, teaching ideas, and a list of children's books, curriculum materials, and websites.

Learn how co-teaching relationships with paraeducators can improve outcomes for students with special needs, and find guidelines for successful teamwork and authentic case studies of working paraprofessionals.

What does it mean to teach for social justice? Drawing on his own classroom experiences, leading author and educator Kevin K. Kumashiro examines various aspects of anti-oppressive teaching and learning and their implications for six different subject areas and various grade levels. Celebrating 20 years as a go-to resource for K-12 teachers and teacher educators, this 4th edition of the bestselling Against Common Sense: Teaching and Learning Toward Social Justice features: • An expanded introduction that examines teaching in today’s context of censorship and attacks on diversity, democracy, and teaching truth; • New sections on teacher preparation, social studies, reading and writing, and the arts; • Updated lists of resources in every chapter; • Graphics, teacher responses, and discussion questions to enhance comprehension and help translate theory into practice across the disciplines. Compelling and accessible, the 4th edition of Against Common Sense continues to offer readers the tools they need to begin teaching against their commonsensical assumptions and toward democracy and justice.