Module 6: Education
Part 4: Creating an Antiracist Classroom
Using an equity approach can help educators move toward building classrooms that are antiracist. This part includes resources for considering how to create learning environments that are progressing toward being antiracist.
Suggested Goals:
1. To reflect on what it means to be an antiracist educator.
2. To apply racial identity development and antiracism to classrooms and schools.
3. To apply ideas learned in this module to construct a learning environment that is antiracist.
Suggested Goals:
1. To reflect on what it means to be an antiracist educator.
2. To apply racial identity development and antiracism to classrooms and schools.
3. To apply ideas learned in this module to construct a learning environment that is antiracist.
&1: Creating An ANtiracist Classroom
Racism in classroom structures and practices may not be intentional, but this does not diminish the impacts of racism. Educators must be vigilant and active in being antiracist. We will all make mistakes along our journey, but we must continue to learn, reflect, and grow.
The first resource is an article from Teaching Tolerance that reminds educators of the need for antiracist education for all students.
Read:
All Students Need Anti-racism Education
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/all-students-need-antiracism-education
To begin creating an antiracist classroom space, educators can use the resource from Wheaton College to review and reflect on their beliefs and actions and to set goals. The Atlantic article by Pirette McKamey can further the idea of being an antiracist teacher.
Read/Explore:
Becoming an Anti-Racist Educator
https://wheatoncollege.edu/academics/special-projects-initiatives/center-for-collaborative-teaching-and-learning/anti-racist-educator/
What Anti-racist Teachers Do Differently
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2020/06/how-be-anti-racist-teacher/613138/
Reflect:
After exploring the role of the teacher and reflecting on your beliefs and actions as an educator, you can consider how this will impact the classroom environment and students in the classroom. Dr. Tatum provides an overview of applying an understanding of racial identity development in the classroom and Dr. Kendi’s definition of antiracism is applied to schools.
Read:
Talking about Race, Learning about Racism: The Application of Racial Identity Development Theory in the Classroom
https://equity.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Tatum-Talking-About-Race.pdf
The first resource is an article from Teaching Tolerance that reminds educators of the need for antiracist education for all students.
Read:
All Students Need Anti-racism Education
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/all-students-need-antiracism-education
To begin creating an antiracist classroom space, educators can use the resource from Wheaton College to review and reflect on their beliefs and actions and to set goals. The Atlantic article by Pirette McKamey can further the idea of being an antiracist teacher.
Read/Explore:
Becoming an Anti-Racist Educator
https://wheatoncollege.edu/academics/special-projects-initiatives/center-for-collaborative-teaching-and-learning/anti-racist-educator/
What Anti-racist Teachers Do Differently
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2020/06/how-be-anti-racist-teacher/613138/
Reflect:
- What does it mean to be an antiracist educator?
- What do antiracist educators do? How are these actions different from non-racist teachers?
- What are two goals that you have for yourself in improving your role as an antiracist educator?
After exploring the role of the teacher and reflecting on your beliefs and actions as an educator, you can consider how this will impact the classroom environment and students in the classroom. Dr. Tatum provides an overview of applying an understanding of racial identity development in the classroom and Dr. Kendi’s definition of antiracism is applied to schools.
Read:
Talking about Race, Learning about Racism: The Application of Racial Identity Development Theory in the Classroom
https://equity.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Tatum-Talking-About-Race.pdf
| tatum-talking-about-race.pdf |
How Ibram X. Kendi’s Definition of Antiracism Applies to Schools
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54999/how-ibram-x-kendis-definition-of-antiracism-applies-to-schools
Reflect:
As an educator, you can build on the application of racial identity development and the definition of antiracism to classrooms and schools. The following resources help explore the creation of antiracist classrooms.
Read:
Creating an Anti-Racist Classroom
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/anti-racist-classroom-danielle-moss-lee
Developing Anti-Racist Classroom
https://www.learningforjustice.org/learning-plan/developing-antiracist-classroom
How to Create Antiracist and Culturally Responsive Classrooms
https://www.kickboardforschools.com/blog/post/diversity-equity/how-to-create-antiracist-and-culturally-responsive-classrooms/
How to Create Anti-racist Virtual Classrooms: Strategies for Teachers and Families
https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/how-create-anti-racist-virtual-classrooms-strategies-teachers-and-families
Let’s Talk: Discussing Race, Racism and Other Difficult Topics With Students
https://www.learningforjustice.org/sites/default/files/general/TT%20Difficult%20Conversations%20web.pdf
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54999/how-ibram-x-kendis-definition-of-antiracism-applies-to-schools
Reflect:
- How could racial identity theory apply to the classroom? How could it help you become more antiracist?
- How does the definition of antiracism apply to schools? How could you apply it to your classroom?
As an educator, you can build on the application of racial identity development and the definition of antiracism to classrooms and schools. The following resources help explore the creation of antiracist classrooms.
Read:
Creating an Anti-Racist Classroom
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/anti-racist-classroom-danielle-moss-lee
Developing Anti-Racist Classroom
https://www.learningforjustice.org/learning-plan/developing-antiracist-classroom
How to Create Antiracist and Culturally Responsive Classrooms
https://www.kickboardforschools.com/blog/post/diversity-equity/how-to-create-antiracist-and-culturally-responsive-classrooms/
How to Create Anti-racist Virtual Classrooms: Strategies for Teachers and Families
https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/how-create-anti-racist-virtual-classrooms-strategies-teachers-and-families
Let’s Talk: Discussing Race, Racism and Other Difficult Topics With Students
https://www.learningforjustice.org/sites/default/files/general/TT%20Difficult%20Conversations%20web.pdf
| tt_difficult_conversations_web.pdf |
Integrating Anti-Racist Teaching Practices into Your Course
https://sites.tufts.edu/teaching/2020/06/15/integrating-anti-racist-teaching-practices-into-your-course/
Explore:
USC Libraries Research Guide: Anti-racist Pedagogy Guide: Methods & Challenges
https://libguides.usc.edu/c.php?g=744325&p=5908931
Reflect:
The next two sections explore ideas that may be built into an antiracist classroom. These ideas represent just a sample of ways to approach building a classroom that centers students and their strengths.
One topic to consider is the use of social-emotional learning (SEL) activities or curricula in classrooms. While SEL has been growing in popularity and implementation across the United States, consideration should be given to the purpose of SEL in classrooms, schools, and districts, and how SEL is presented to students. SEL can be a racist or antiracist endeavor, depending on the decisions made in implementation. Perspectives on SEL are presented in the following resources.
Read/Explore:
Why We Need an Anti-Racist Apprpach to Social and Emotional Learning
https://edc.org/blog/why-we-need-anti-racist-approach-social-and-emotional-learning
Pursuing Social and Emotional Learning Through a Racial Equity Lens: 5 Strategies for System Leaders to Take Action
https://assets.aspeninstitute.org/content/uploads/2018/07/Taking-Action-on-the-Call-to-Action-FINAL.pdf?_ga=2.197586024.632201713.1598741519-1753640404.1598741519
https://sites.tufts.edu/teaching/2020/06/15/integrating-anti-racist-teaching-practices-into-your-course/
Explore:
USC Libraries Research Guide: Anti-racist Pedagogy Guide: Methods & Challenges
https://libguides.usc.edu/c.php?g=744325&p=5908931
Reflect:
- What are three new ideas you have learned about creating an antiracist classroom?
- How will you implement your new learning? What do you expect as your biggest challenges? How will you address these challenges?
- What do you hope to gain from your efforts to create an antiracist classroom?
The next two sections explore ideas that may be built into an antiracist classroom. These ideas represent just a sample of ways to approach building a classroom that centers students and their strengths.
One topic to consider is the use of social-emotional learning (SEL) activities or curricula in classrooms. While SEL has been growing in popularity and implementation across the United States, consideration should be given to the purpose of SEL in classrooms, schools, and districts, and how SEL is presented to students. SEL can be a racist or antiracist endeavor, depending on the decisions made in implementation. Perspectives on SEL are presented in the following resources.
Read/Explore:
Why We Need an Anti-Racist Apprpach to Social and Emotional Learning
https://edc.org/blog/why-we-need-anti-racist-approach-social-and-emotional-learning
Pursuing Social and Emotional Learning Through a Racial Equity Lens: 5 Strategies for System Leaders to Take Action
https://assets.aspeninstitute.org/content/uploads/2018/07/Taking-Action-on-the-Call-to-Action-FINAL.pdf?_ga=2.197586024.632201713.1598741519-1753640404.1598741519
| taking-action-on-the-call-to-action-final.pdf |
When SEL is Used as Another Form of Policing
https://medium.com/@justschools/when-sel-is-used-as-another-form-of-policing-fa53cf85dce4
Reflect:
Another issue in classrooms is the teacher’s view of students. Educators may look at students with a deficit view, focusing on what students cannot do, or with an asset view, focused on the abilities and experiences students bring to the classroom. When striving for an equitable, antiracist classroom, educators need to consider the strengths (assets) of students and build on these to ensure meaningful learning. The following resources provide insight into asset and deficit approaches.
Read:
Discarding the Deficit Model
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb07/vol64/num05/Discarding-the-Deficit-Model.aspx
Unlearning Deficit Ideology and the Scornful Gaze: Thoughts on Authenticating the Class Discourse in Education
http://www.edchange.org/publications/deficit-ideology-scornful-gaze.pdf
https://medium.com/@justschools/when-sel-is-used-as-another-form-of-policing-fa53cf85dce4
Reflect:
- How could social-emotional learning unintentionally reinforce racist policies, practices, and systems?
- How could social-emotional learning be used to further antiracist work in classrooms and schools?
- If you plan on implementing social-emotional learning, how will you be sure it is antiracist?
Another issue in classrooms is the teacher’s view of students. Educators may look at students with a deficit view, focusing on what students cannot do, or with an asset view, focused on the abilities and experiences students bring to the classroom. When striving for an equitable, antiracist classroom, educators need to consider the strengths (assets) of students and build on these to ensure meaningful learning. The following resources provide insight into asset and deficit approaches.
Read:
Discarding the Deficit Model
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb07/vol64/num05/Discarding-the-Deficit-Model.aspx
Unlearning Deficit Ideology and the Scornful Gaze: Thoughts on Authenticating the Class Discourse in Education
http://www.edchange.org/publications/deficit-ideology-scornful-gaze.pdf
| deficit-ideology-scornful-gaze.pdf |
Asset-Based Pedagogies
https://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ee/assetbasedpedagogies.asp
Reflect:
The next part provides resources to support building an antiracist classroom.
https://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ee/assetbasedpedagogies.asp
Reflect:
- How do you view all of your students?
- How can you overcome and/or help others overcome using a deficit model?
- How could a deficit model contribute to a racist classroom? How could an asset model contribute to an antiracist classroom?
The next part provides resources to support building an antiracist classroom.
