Explore the materials: The Pursuit of Education Justice in Boston in anticipation of the workshop and the 50th Anniversary of the Garrity decision in June.

Teaching about Genocide:
The Armenian Genocide
April 22, 2024
1 pm PT / 4 pm ET

The history of the Armenian Genocide is both nuanced and complex. Sedda Antekelian, Senior Learning and Development at the USC Shoah Foundation will offer strategies for using testimonies and a variety of resources related to the Armenian Genocide experience, which can help encourage student reflection on the human impact of the events.
 

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DKP Deeper Civic Learning for BPS

Save the Date for DKP and Deeper Civic Learning

Please let Annie Brown know if would like to attend any of these events from our partners at the Democratic Knowledge Project: DKP Deeper Civic Learning Series including the January 23 and February 13th workshops (virtual) on Complex Conversations about strategies for discussing controversial or challenging topics in the classroom.

March 18th DKP/BPS Student-Led Civics Projects – 4pm-6pm (virtual)

Facilitators: BPS History and DKP (Adrianne Billingham Bock & Tina Blythe of DKP)

Geared toward BPS teachers who are piloting DKP’s 8th Grade Course but open to all (BPS)

Description: This workshop will focus will be on supporting students to design and carry out civics-focused projects and will include a short overview of the elements of project-based learning to support deeper civic learning and will then support you in using these elements to design or revise curricular plans for implementing civics-related projects in your own context.

January 18th “Assessment in the Civic Classroom” – 4pm-6pm (virtual)

Facilitators: BPS History and DKP (Adrianne Billingham Bock & David Kidd of DKP)

Geared toward BPS teachers who are piloting DKP’s 8th Grade Course but open to all (BPS)

This will focus on DKP’s approach to summative and formative assessment in the civics classroom and will provide space to interact with other teachers who are piloting the curriculum. The focus will not be on MCAS, but the upcoming MCAS will be addressed.

January 30th “Loyalty, Voice, or Exit? The Philosophical Foundations of Democracy through the Story of Prince Hall” – 4pm-6pm (virtual)

Facilitators: BPS History and DKP (Adrianne Billingham Bock & Tina Blythe of DKP)

NOTE: Teachers will experience a simulation which explores Prince Hall, an 18th century free Black man in Boston, whose civic engagement in the 1780s serves as a model for our students today. Prince Hall was an abolitionist community leader in the years following the revolution who used petitions and the ideals of the Declaration of Independence as his primary tool in the fight against enslavement. Through the simulation, teachers and students explore the basic challenge for every civic participant, which is how to decide responsibly about when to participate in an organization, when to seek reform in an organization through dissent, and when to leave it.

Upcoming DKP Sessions Just for BPS Teachers.  Sign up in Vector or email Annie to be added to a calendar invite. 

**NEW** BPS teachers can access all courses in the Primary Source SUMMER Catalog for FREE!

Asynchronous 4-Week Online Courses 

Multicultural History of Colonial & Revolutionary America

Tuesday March 19 – Wednesday April 17, 2024

How did British, Spanish, French, African, Indigenous people and others incorporate their cultural roots in the creation of a new society in the lands that became the United States? The 4-week asynchronous online course revisits key moments, movements and developments in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries to trace a more diverse story of the nation’s beginnings. Learn about topics such as African, Asian and European cultural influences, America’s Revolution through a global and multicultural lens, the global influences of the Declaration of Independence. Developed with support from the Library of Congress’s “Teaching with Primary Sources” program, the course familiarizes you with LoC resources and other best digital history materials. Access to this course and resources will give you the knowledge, tools and resources to teach early American history with global and multicultural perspectives. There are also opportunities for elementary and secondary students to participate through instructional support and differentiated instruction.

The seminar provides 22.5 PDPs or 1 graduate credit and is especially for teachers of grades 4-12.

Engaging Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Students & Families in Elementary/Secondary Schools

Tuesday March 19 – Wednesday April 17, 2024

This course has been approved by the MA DESE to provide 15 PDPs addressing the needs of English language learners.

This online course provides a theoretical and practical foundation for culturally responsive teaching of English language learners in the elementary and secondary school settings. We will examine how young immigrant students experience school; the demographic and diversity profile of Massachusetts districts; cross-cultural communication and its implications for teaching and learning; and effective strategies for schools to engage immigrant and refugee families. You will have the opportunity to reflect on your own teaching practice, apply course skills and strategies, and receive feedback from peers and the instructor.

The seminar provides 22.5 PDPs or 1 graduate credit

Course 1: Elementary School Learners

Course 2: Secondary School Learners