In the 2014-2015 school year, Brian Juarez* was a second grader at Thomson Elementary (DCPS), a fourth-year Tellin’ Stories partner school. He spoke Spanish at home and had already become the interpreter between his parents and his teachers. When there were forms to send home, he filled them out during class with his teacher’s help. Emily Prater, his second grade teacher noted... Read more >>

World famous after her visit to the White House for the 2016 Black History Month reception, Ms. Virginia McLaurin spoke with D.C. history classes at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School on March 16, 2016. McLaurin was born in South Carolina and came to D.C. during the Great Migration. Media outlets from all over the world have interviewed McLaurin about what it was like to meet the the Obamas. Read more >>

Our 11th-grade FOOD JUSTICE EXPEDITION is an interdisciplinary three-part study (past, present, and future) of the impact of food on our community–both locally and globally. The expedition begins with an exploration of our students’ families’ cultural connections to foods; as 99% of our students come from African American and immigrant families, we discuss the significant role of food in dictating cultural identity. Read more >>

Rachel Hull’s fifth graders were studying the founding of the United States from various perspectives in a unit called “Know Your Rights.” Through their analysis of primary sources and research, they began to uncover a version of history that was missing from their textbooks. To deepen their knowledge, they invited Teaching for Change board member Timothy Jenkins as a guest speaker. As a lawyer, lifelong activist, and veteran of the Civil Rights Movement... Read more >>

Fourteen D.C. area teachers gathered on Sunday afternoon (October 25) to write stories from their classrooms. This was the first session in a year-long course launched by Teaching for Change. As a result of writing and reflecting together, teacher participants will deepen their own practice, build community among D.C. area social justice educators, and contribute to the all-too-scarce collection of published descriptions of classroom practice by teachers themselves. Read more >>

On September 17, John Buchanan visited two of Kerry Sylvia’s D.C. history classes at School Without Walls (DCPS). In advance of the lesson, students participated in an introductory activity called “Meet the Beat” about go-go. This visit was one of many by noted go-go performers and scholars that took place at schools across Washington, D.C. Here are some reflections from the students about Mr. Buchanan’s visit and their preparation for it. Read more >>

Fifth graders at Randle Highlands Elementary School enjoyed a hands-on go-go workshop taught by legendary drummer, William ‘JuJu’ House. With JuJu’s guidance, students excitedly took to the assorted drums, tambourines, and other percussion instruments and played basic go-go beats to the delight of their classmates, teachers, and JuJu himself. Vocalist Staci Payne (currently of Be’la Dona) also joined the session, and the visit quickly became a boisterous ‘in-the-pocket’ battle between the boys and the girls. Read more >>

Teaching for Change was pleased to help Filmfest DC 2015 bring filmmakers and students together for the fourth year in a row. In April 2015, students at three high schools in Washington, D.C., had the opportunity to talk with film’s directors about their documentaries. This year’s films were about gay marriage in the U.S. and education in Israel and Palestine. Read more >>

A spaceship representing the United States and El Salvador. The church from a small pueblo (village). The “Birthday Party Express” bus. These are a few of the family projects proudly on display in the hallways of Thomson Elementary (DCPS) this spring. The first graders at Thomson Elementary (DCPS) are learning all about shapes, so in April 2014, the first-grade team held a Parent-Teacher Grade Level Dialogue to show parents what their children... Read more >>

“If you were at the grocery store and saw an apple with one stem and another apple with two stems, which one would you buy?” As much as I would like to say it doesn’t matter, I would probably end up picking the one with one stem because this superficially normal-looking apple was an option. Marquell and Isaiah, the students who asked me this question, confirmed that most buyers would do the same, thereby reinforcing perceptions... Read more >>

High school students studying U.S. history at the E.L. Haynes Public Charter School learned about labor history during a January 29, 2013 Labor Walk led by Metro Council Union Cities Coordinator Chris Garlock."It was easy to see the now and then relationships for labor movements and other issues," wrote one student. The students saw the AFL-CIO lobby mosaics, the old CIO headquarters, and Bonus Army and Occupy DC sites. Read more >>

For the past several years, I have been the music teacher at Shepherd Elementary School in Washington, D.C. This has given me the chance to combine two passions: music and social justice activism. I teach students the civil rights songs, peace songs, and union songs that I learned throughout my life. And I make links between the songs and peace and justice movements. One of my specific objectives is to get the internationally acclaimed singer, actor... Read more >>

Twenty-four D.C. area teachers, administrators, and students recorded stories as part of the National Teachers Initiative the weekend of August 20-21, 2011 at the Teaching for Change offices.Teaching for Change was honored to partner with the National Teachers Initiative, a project of StoryCorps, to host these 40-minute conversations about teaching with DC area public school teachers. It was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the experiences of social justice educators. While the conversations are open-ended, we suggested questions such as... Read more >>

Students in Washington, D.C., had the rare opportunity to discuss the hidden history of labor through Brothers on the Line, a new film they screened in school, with Sasha Reuther, who is both the filmmaker and grandson of one of the famous Reuther brothers. Teaching for Change and Filmfest DC, with the support of the Wyncote Foundation, worked with educators Julian Hipkins III at Capital City Public Charter School and Susan Ikenberry... Read more >>

Doughnut holes and orange juice jugs cover the table. Chairs set in neat tight lines cover the floor. The background of the stage is painted with colorful murals from the latest school play. The entire setting looks perfect, orderly. But what happens next in the multi-purpose room of Capital City Public Charter School is not so expected, or orderly. It’s radical. Four groups of eleventh graders in Mr. Julian Hipkins history class presented... Read more >>

It was a hot day in early June, but the 11th graders inside of Capital City Public Charter School in Washington, DC never seemed to sweat. They were cool, put together, looking more like policy advocates in front of congress instead of soon-to-be seniors in high school. Their task: pick a problem facing the community, develop a proposal to fix it and sell it to an audience. Read more >>