Planting the Seeds of Equity: Ethnic Studies and Social Justice in the K-2 Classroom

by Ruchi Agarwal-Rangnath, Patrick Camangian

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807763582
Publisher:	Teachers College Press
Publication date:	03/13/2020
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	1,048,573
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ruchi Agarwal-Rangnath is an assistant professor at the University of San Francisco; founding member of CARE-ED (California Alliance of Researchers for Equity in Education); and founding member and vice-president of the National Association of Multicultural Education, California Chapter. Her books include Preparing to Teach Social Studies for Social Justice (Becoming a Renegade) and Social Studies, Literacy, and Social Justice in the Common Core Classroom: A Guide for Teachers.

Table of Contents

Foreword Patrick Camangian vii

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xv

1 Introduction Ruchi Agarwal-Rangnath 1

2 Teaching to Heal, Healing to Teach: Ethnic Studies as a Healing Endeavor in and out of the Classroom Farima Pour-Khorshid 17

3 Creating Something Beautiful Amalia Medina-Glover 27

4 Little Children Have Big Hearts: Teaching for Equity and Justice in K-2 Classrooms Cami Touloukian 36

5 Mindfulness and Yoga Ruby Vyas 44

6 What It Means to Teach for Social Justice as a White Educator Emily Starr Bean 51

7 Ethnic Studies in a Transitional Kindergarten Classroom: Learning About Race and Identity Vilma Serrano 68

8 Exploring Gender Dale Weiss 76

9 Teaching Your Community Roxanne Cano 83

10 Changing the Narrative: Asian American Ethnic Studies in My 1st-Grade Classroom Judy Yu 90

11 Creating a Democratic Classroom Rosamund Looney 96

About the Authors 105

Index 108

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“I salute Dr. Ruchi Agarwal-Rangnath for bringing together such a powerful set of teacher voices to produce a book that celebrates children and communities of Color, and offers insights into teaching that are important and help the field understand what education as a project of humanization can look like at the early stages of elementary children's development.”
—From the Foreword by Patrick Camangian, associate professor and department chair, Teacher Education Department, University of San Francisco

“This is an essential text for anyone interested in the transformational possibilities of early childhood education. A powerful collection of narratives, this book challenges limits to the elementary classroom through bold visions of humanized and community-oriented approaches to teaching.”
—Rita Kohli, associate professor, University of California, Riverside, and codirector of the Institute for Teachers of Color Committed to Racial Justice

Editorial Reviews

This collection of exemplary social justice lessons provides a social justice spark and encouragement to other early childhood teachers.”

—Teachers College Record

From the Publisher