The last few years have challenged teachers in ways some of us never imagined. While the pandemic may have challenged schools to make unexpected logistical shifts for health and safety reasons, many educators and communities have also been challenged to unlearn and relearn their own understanding of racial and social justice. 

While many of us understand the critical role that schools play in shaping students’ ethical and social consciousness, we also know that this work is easier said than done. Even as many educators strive to do better, resistance and pushback, both inside and outside of schools, has made teaching for social justice more difficult. Given these challenges, it’s easy to become disheartened and discouraged. 

And yet it is precisely now, in spite of these challenges, when creating truly inclusive spaces for all students is more important than ever. 

During this two-day workshop, join other educators as we:

• Reflect on how recent challenges have transformed teaching and learning 
• Examine how systemic problems in schools can be opportunities for positive change
• Define the conditions for authentic, inclusive, and justice-centered classrooms
• Identify our own roles and responsibilities as educators in creating inclusive classrooms
• Assess and audit our current curriculum and instructional practices through an anti-bias lens
• Develop strategies for creating an engaging, culturally relevant classroom space that nurtures a sense of belonging for all students

These sessions will be organized around three themes:

DAY 1

• Here and Now
  • Identify current challenges and opportunities in our local contexts
  • Imagine and define liberatory, justice-centered classrooms 
• Critical Self-Reflection
  • Examining the role of bias in instructional decision-making
  • Understand how diverse student and teacher identities impact teaching and learning

DAY 2

• Justice-centered Lesson Design
  • Learn how to create a more meaningful, inclusive start to the school year
  • Identify and apply culturally relevant teaching practices throughout the year 
  • Learn how to facilitate conversations about difficult topics in the classroom
  • Integrate social justice standards in any lesson
  • Create inquiry-focused unit design that is inclusive and engaging for all students and student identities

Join Tricia  for this 3-hour deep dive over 2-days as she explores these topics in greater depth. While this workshop will be particularly valuable for humanities teachers, educators of all subject areas as well as administrators and coaches, will learn how to apply this learning to their unique contexts.