Only rarely does a teachable moment come along that is as powerful as the one we're in right now. Ever since the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, teachers have been encouraging their students to share their feelings and thoughts, discuss, and learn more about what's in and behind the news. (See this CBS News video of students in our Restore360 Program talking passionately about these issues.)
We are also helping teachers take advantage of this moment through TeachableMoment.org (as this AP story about teaching on Ferguson recently noted). At least two school districts - in Washington, DC and Madison, WI - have used our TM materials as the basis for teacher guides on discussing this subject.
Lessons to date include:
- Guidelines for Teaching about Controversial Issues. These general guidelines are helpful in discussing all kinds of difficult issues.
- What to Do? Examining 6 Proposals in the wake of Garner & Brown
(posted Dec. 11) - Staten Island & Ferguson: Considering the Responses
(posted Dec. 6, 2014) - A Circle on Events in Ferguson
(posted Nov. 25, 2014) - What is Justice? What is Peace?
(posted Sept. 12, 2014) - Challenging Stereotypes: Michael Brown and #IfTheyGunnedMeDown
(posted Aug. 25, 2014) - What Happened in Ferguson and Why
(posted Aug. 21, 2014)