Social media can be an exceptional platform to create community, share resources, and gain insights to help embed equity and anti-racism in our teaching practices.
These are just a few of the many accounts run by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) educators, activists, and leaders that we follow and learn from on a daily basis.
At IslandWood, we believe in the power of children’s books to promote representation and equity, provide windows into other people’s experiences, and reflect our own lives in distinctive and authentic ways.
We are also lucky to have a passionate children’s book advocate and connoisseur on our team – Director of Campus Education Dr. Déana Scipio! In our graduate program, Déana helps graduate students understand how they can use children’s books with their own students as anti-bias and anti-racist educators. Below are just a few of Déana’s recommendations, as well as additional books we recommend to spark these crucial conversations, encourage thoughtful questions, and inspire action.
If you are interested in buying any of these, we urge you to consider ordering from a Black-owned bookstore.
A is for Activist – written and illustrated by Innocento Nagara
A Sweet Smell of Roses – written by Angela Johnson and illustrated by Eric Velazquez
Ada Twist, Scientist – written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts
Gator, Gator, Gator! – written by Daniel Bernstrom and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon
Over and Under the Pond – written by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal
The Extraordinary Gardener – written and illustrated by Sam Boughton
The Youngest Marcher – written by Cynthia Levinson and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer – written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Wangari’s Trees of Peace – written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter
From addressing misinformation in curriculum, to opening up conversations about race and racism in the classroom, to affirming and celebrating BIPOC students, these are just a few of the articles and resources that our educators have been sharing, recommending, and engaging with.
“Education and Criminalization: Do #BlackLivesMatter in Schools?” Open-Access Google Doc of resources compiled by Subini Ancy Annamma, Ph.D.
“Affirming Black Lives Without Inducing Trauma” from Teaching Tolerance
“‘We are committing educational malpractice’: Why slavery is mistaught – and worse – in American schools” by Nikita Stewart, from The New York Times
“27 Mistakes White Teachers of Black Students Make and How to Fix Them” by Jay Wamsted, from Education Post
“Race Talk: Engaging Young People in Conversations about Race and Racism” from the Anti-Defamation League
“How to Be an Antiracist Educator” by Dena Simmons, from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
“All Students Need Anti-Racism Education” by Christina Torres, from Teaching Tolerance
“Teaching About Race, Racism, and Police Violence” from Teaching Tolerance
“What Anti-Racist Teachers Do Differently” by Pirette McKamey, from The Atlantic
“The Urgent Need for Anti-Racist Education” by Christina Torres, from Education Week
“Being Antiracist” from the National Museum of African American History & Culture
Black Lives Matter Instructional Library Open-Access Google Presentation
“Why mispronouncing a name can undermine a student’s identity – and how to help” from Vox
“How can environmental educators practice intersectional environmentalism?” by Laura Brown, Christina Guevara, Rae Jing Han, Abby Rhinehart & Déana Scipio
