Embedded Files
Riverside Unified School District has a long-standing tradition of offering courses in African American Studies, Chicano Studies, and Ethnic Diversity in America dating back to the early 2000s. In 2020 an effort was made to guarantee that ethnic studies courses were offered at every high school site. Since then RUSD has increased opportunities for students to enroll in ethnic studies courses throughout their high school years.
ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN AMERICA:
ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN AMERICA:
Ethnic Diversity in America is taught using a theme-based approach, incorporating the various cultural, ethnic, and religious groups throughout the course. Teachers should use their knowledge of their student populations to determine which topics to focus on in each unit, however, students’ own cultural or ethnic identity should not be the only consideration. Rather, teachers should take into account the lessons they want students to walk away with and highlight groups, events, art, and ideas that help them attain their goals. In each unit, at least three different cultural/ethnic groups should be at the heart of the study. Teachers should incorporate examples from the following groups: African Americans, Asian Americans, Irish, Italians, Jews, Latinx, Muslims, Sikh, and Native Americans. Teachers can be more specific as well. For example, in highlighting refugees, they can focus on a comparative study of Cuban and Vietnamese refugees of the 1980s.
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES:
AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES:
The major purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of the role and contributions of African Americans to the growth and development of the United States. Students will study the significance of pre-colonial and indigenous cultures and their role over time in shaping and influencing modern American society. The history, experience and perspectives of African Americans and African American culture will be studied through a humanities and inquiry based learning approach to understand the importance of these peoples to US society in history and today.
CHICANO STUDIES:
CHICANO STUDIES:
The major purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of the role and contributions of Mexican Americans to the growth and development of the United States. Students will study the significance of pre-colonial and idigenous cultures and their role over time in shaping and influencing modern American society. The history, experience and perspectives of Mexican Americans and Mexican American culture will be studied through a humanities and inquiry based learning approach to understand the importance of these peoples to US society in history and today.
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES:
NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES:
Native American Studies will provide an interdisciplinary introduction to the histories, cultures, identities, governments, traditions, and Native ways of knowing of Native Americans, with an emphasis on the continued struggle and importance of self-determination, sovereignty, and social justice. Students will consider the diverse and shared experiences of Native American and California Native American people and communities by elevating their voices and perspectives - historical and contemporary - throughout this course.
ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER STUDIES:
ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER STUDIES:
Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Studies is an interdisciplinary study of the diversity of experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander people in the United States, with a focus on their histories, cultures, politics and communities. The course will highlight the continued struggle and importance of social justice in the United States and highlight the social, economic, and political conditions that have impacted and shaped AAPI communities.
AP AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES:
AP AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES:
AP African American Studies is an interdisciplinary course that examines the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with rich and varied sources. Students explore key topics that extend from early African kingdoms to the ongoing challenges and achievements of the contemporary moment.
Local Histories
Local Histories
The local histories, experiences, and communities representative of RUSD and the broader Riverside region will be considered and highlighted throughout the curriculum, materials, and professional development. As students learn and engage with the local histories and narratives they will make connections to national and global events.
Standards Aligned
Standards Aligned
Where appropriate, the California State Standards, Common Core Literacy in History/Social Studies Standards, the California History Social-Science Framework, and the FAIR Education Act are aligned to the coursework students encounter in RUSD. Inquiry-based learning, literacy, and citizenship are strongly aligned with the core principles of Ethnic Studies as a discipline.
Professional development
Professional development
K-12 teachers will be introduced to the foundational concepts in Ethnic Studies, build their content and pedagogical knowledge of Ethnic Studies, and learn ways to create classroom environments that represent diverse perspectives of students.
NEWSELA MATERIALS
NEWSELA MATERIALS
Teachers piloted and chose Newsela to support the learning in RUSD Ethnic Studies classes. Newsela is a digital resource that can be accessed through Clever. You can view the Family Engagement slide deck from Newsela below to better understand how material is assigned to students.
In addition to Newsela, teachers integrate material that they have used throughout the years to provide high quality, rigorous instruction in our three Ethnic Studies courses. African American Studies also used the book The African American Odyssey published by Pearson. In addition to their hard copy, students have online access to this book through a code teachers give to them.
Page updated
Report abuse