Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction xix
Let's Get on the Same Page xxiii
What You'll Find in This Book xxiv
Chapter 1 How Do I Get Started If I'm New to ABAR Work? 1
Setting Yourself Up for Success: Develop a Lens for Antibias Practices, and Don't Reinvent the Wheel 3
Get to Know Yourself 3
Practice Viewing Students, Families, and Communities Through an Asset Lens 6
Think of Yourself as a Community Educator 7
Taking Action in the Classroom: Create Space for Students' Identities with Community-Building Activities 8
"I Am From" Poems 8
Identity Maps 12
Bio Bag Reveals 14
Make Time and Space for Student Reflection and Emotional Processing 14
Discover What Students Already Know 17
Creating a Sustainable Practice 18
How Do I Know If It's Working? 19
Don't Reinvent the Wheel? 19
Chapter 2 How Can I Make Time for ABAR Work? 21
Setting Yourself Up for Success: Viewing ABAR as a Lens for All Subjects 22
Think About How ABAR Work Aligns with Your Curriculum and Standards 23
Adopt a Critical Lens to Problematic Mandated Books 27
Taking Action in the Classroom: Build Trust 30
Stay Connected by Being Vulnerable 30
Get a Sense of How Students Feel with a Quick Check-In 31
Explore Stereotypes 32
Creating a Sustainable Practice: Reflect on Lessons 35
How Do I Know If It's Working? 35
Check on Classroom Culture 38
Don't Reinvent the Wheel 38
Chapter 3 How Can I Hold Space for Difficult Conversations in My Class? 39
Setting Yourself Up for Success: Intentionally Cultivate Your Classroom Culture 41
Be Aware of Your Own Reactions and Boundaries 41
Practice Calling In 42
Taking Action in the Classroom: Learn How Students Feel Talking About Certain Topics 46
Establish Group Ethos or Agreements 46
Learn from Questionnaires 48
Open Students' Minds to Other Perspectives but Interrupt When Necessary 52
Creating a Sustainable Practice: Student Ownership 57
How Do I Know If It's Working? 57
Don't Reinvent the Wheel 58
Chapter 4 How Can I Work with Parents and Caregivers? 59
Setting Yourself Up for Success: Seek to Understand and Communicate 60
Family Survey 63
Give Caregivers a Heads-Up and Follow Up with Support 63
Communicate and Be Transparent 65
Taking Action in the Classroom: Cultivate Community 67
Create a Roles and Responsibilities Chart with Students and Families 67
Collect Data 69
Create a Sign-Up for Mystery Readers, Guest Teachers, and Classroom Volunteers 71
Check for Understanding and Misunderstanding 71
Creating a Sustainable Practice: Partnerships for Joint Learning 72
How Do I Know If It's Working? Checking In with Caregivers 72
Don't Reinvent the Wheel 74
Chapter 5 How Can I Partner with My Administration to Support ABAR Work? 75
Setting Yourself Up for Success: Gathering Perspective 78
Build a Coalition of Stakeholders 79
Find the Root of the Concern 81
Do Your Homework and Make a Plan You Can Defend 82
Build Trust 83
Taking Action in the Classroom: Teach Students to Talk About Their Learning 84
Assign Classroom Ambassadors 85
Creating a Sustainable Practice: Relationships Are at the Root of All ABAR Work 87
How Do f Know If It's Working? 88
If All Else Fails 89
Don't Reinvent the Wheel 89
Chapter 6 What Does ABAR Look Like If All or Most of My Students Are White? 91
Setting Yourself Up for Success: Conversations Around Difference and Inclusion 95
Engage White Parents and Caregivers with a Weekly Wrap-Up 96
Center the Voices of BIPOC from an Asset-Based Perspective 98
Taking Action in the Classroom: Embrace the Beauty and Messiness of Diversity 99
Chart the Benefits and Challenges of Diversity 99
Make Venn Diagrams in Pairs Using Identity Maps 100
Create What Do We Think We Know? Charts 100
Hefp Students Unpack White Identity 102
Examine Privilege 104
Creating a Sustainable Practice: The Importance of White People in ABAR Work 106
How Do I Know If It's Working? 107
Don't Reinvent the Wheel 108
Chapter 7 What Does Developmentally Appropriate ABAR Look Like for Younger Students? 111
Setting Yourself Up for Success: Identify Foundational Building Blocks 114
Backward Planning That's Developmentally Appropriate 114
Taking Action in the Classroom: Gather Background Knowledge and Generate Questions 116
ABAR Word Wall 117
Revisit KWL Charts 118
Consider What Kids Already Know About Social Justice from Shared Experiences 119
Creating a Sustainable Practice: The Gradual Release of Responsibility 125
How Do I Know If It's Working? 126
Don't Reinvent the Wheel 128
Chapter 8 What Does ABAR Look Like If I Teach STEM Subjects? 129
Setting Yourself Up for Success: Examine and Redefine STEM Success 132
Consider How You Teach Content-Specific Language 134
Use Your Curriculum or Standards to Your Advantage 135
Make a Plan to Connect STEM to Students' Lives 138
Taking Action in the Classroom: Culturally Responsive Practices in STEM 138
Draw a Picture 138
Numbers in Our Daily Lives 139
Creating a Sustainable Practice: Make Sure Students Connect STEM to Their Lives and Community 142
How Do I Know If It's Working? 143
Don't Reinvent the Wheel 144
Works Cited 145
