A Conversation with Learning for Justice
Welcome to the Modern Classrooms Project Podcast. Each week we bring you discussions with educators on how they use blended, self-paced, and mastery-based learning to better serve their learners. In this episode, Toni Rose is joined by D’Aisha Smith, Skyla Hudson, and Jaci Jones to talk about their involvement with Learning for Justice and how teachers can incorporate social justice teaching and learning into their work.
They emphasize the importance of empowering students through critical thinking and media literacy skills, encouraging them to question information and engage in civil dialogue.
Here are three key takeaways from this podcast episode:
Empower students with media literacy and critical thinking skills to navigate information effectively.
Foster civil dialogue in the classroom to promote understanding and engagement across diverse perspectives. D’Aisha states, "I hope that what is being said, what is being taught, just echoes, and can cast down some of the other thoughts and other misconceptions about education and teaching."
Utilize technology as a tool for educational equity and global connectivity. Jaci shares, "We are empowering students with the tools to pave the way for a more equitable future."
Utilizing technology as a tool for access to knowledge, they highlighted its potential to bridge gaps and foster global connectivity, enhancing educational equity. The conversation underscored the need for educators to embrace technology while guiding students in responsible and ethical online behavior.
Discussion questions for PLC and PD:
How can educators effectively integrate media literacy and critical thinking skills into their curriculum to help students navigate the vast amount of information available online?
In what ways can educators facilitate civil dialogue in the classroom and empower students to question and analyze information effectively?
How might educators disrupt traditional teaching methods to foster greater student engagement through practice and application, particularly in the context of justice education?
Our Host
Toni Rose taught MS English for 10 years and will forever identify as a teacher. Toni Rose strives to be the teacher that they never had growing up, so they focus on anti-bias, anti-racist work and wants to create a brave space for everyone around them. As a queer Filipinx, they understand just how important it is to be represented, be valued, and belong. They especially love being a thought partner for and celebrating teachers.
Our Guests:
Jaci Jones (she/her) is a Professional Learning Facilitator with Learning for Justice. She spent her first decade in education as a high school history teacher in New Jersey and completed her undergraduate education at Penn State University where she majored in Secondary Education, Social Studies and minored in History and Dance. With a passion for human rights, she completed her Masters in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Kean University where she now adjuncts, teaching teachers how to teach about the Holocaust and embed social justice in their classrooms. She has worked on various curriculum initiatives to help include histories of the LGBTQIA+ and disability communities, received the Teacher of the Year Award in 2018, and serves on the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education.
D’Aisha Smith (she/her) is a passionate advocate for social justice and equitable education. With nine years of experience in elementary and middle school education, D’Aisha has dedicated her career to empowering students to become critical thinkers and compassionate citizens. As a fifth-grade Social Studies teacher, she believes in the power of education to create positive change in society. In addition to their role in the classroom, D’Aisha serves as a Learning For Justice Facilitator Fellow, leading the Elementary Teaching Hard History: American Slavery cohort for the past two years. Through this work, she has helped educators navigate challenging conversations about America's history of slavery, promoting empathy, understanding, and action among students and teachers alike.
Skyla Hudson (she/her) is a middle school ELA teacher in Atlanta, Georgia with Atlanta Public Schools. She is currently in her sixth year of teaching and has taught all subjects in grades 3-7, including Special Education. In addition to being a classroom educator, Skyla is also a Learning for Justice Trainer Fellow, where she works with current educators both in the South and beyond to implement the Critical Practices of Social Justice Education through in person and virtual learning experiences.
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