This article posted by the National Education Association details the experiences that a fellow teacher, Franchesca Mejia, has seen throughout her years as a music teacher.  Specifically, this article details how she is using an anti-racist lens to teach her students.  Mejia as well as other teachers provide helpful tips that all teachers should know about to teach all of their students better.  This article discusses major issues such as disguised censorship, defenders of truth, and critical race theory (CRT).  Key takeaways from this article to improve teaching strategies in your classroom through an anti-racist lens is to help students understand the origins of racism itself.  They must also teach racism in the present and not only in the past.  Teachers may also encourage students to participate in student government as in many states parents are forcing lawmakers to not allow the teaching of racism and sexism in schools.  In efforts to support teachers in their journey to teaching through an anti-racist lens, the National Educational Association offers numerous resources as well as training on how to take the first steps at teaching through an anti-racist lens.  As a future English teacher common books within our curriculum are racist or include hurtful words, therefore, I feel as though within my teaching of such books, it is imperative that students are prepared for what they will read and understand the issue of racism surrounding that period to not only further understand themselves, but also what their community, as well as other Americans, have gone through.  I also feel that every teacher should take the opportunity to do the training offered by the National Education Association, myself included.

Teaching with an Anti-Racist Lens 

This book details multicultural and anti-racist lenses as well as a social justice lens.  It is all about rethinking schools from these three perspectives.  Within this book, there are numerous amounts of articles portraying race and culture within classrooms.  Some teaching strategy takeaways include supporting students' identities, teaching through dialogue, viewing numerous cultural perspectives, encouraging students to involve themselves in political or social issues, criticizing Eurocentric knowledge within the school curriculum, and many more.  Personally, as a future English teacher, I feel as though I will be able to adopt all of these aspects as they are all each very important.  I feel as though it is very important to make every teacher's classroom welcoming so students can be who they want and feel comfortable regardless of race, identity, beliefs, or gender identity.  Since I chose English, teaching through dialogue and perspectives of every culture is imperative to teaching through an anti-racist lens.  I would incorporate encouraging students to engage in political and social issues coupled with criticizing Eurocentric knowledge simultaneously together as they both go hand in hand.  This book provides different articles as well as written chapters by Wayne Au exploring racial and cultural aspects of education.  

Rethinking Multicultural Education: Teaching for Racial and Cultural Justice 

This article posted by Wheaton College in Massachusetts defines what anti-racism is along with having an anti-racist agenda.  It also offers resources as well as other resources to help aid educators in their journey to educating through an anti-racist lens.  Included in this article are links to resources to identify white supremacy in your workplace, assess your position as an educator, acknowledge racial traumas, learn how racism shapes lives, and more.  Though it does not give teaching examples within the article, I thought it should be included as it provides numerous resources for educators as well as perspectives and a step-by-step guide to identify anti-racist teaching, how to teach through an anti-racist lens and how to create an anti-racist agenda.  As teachers, I believe it is extremely important to use this in order to make sure we are truly teaching through an anti-racist lens in the most respectful way.  

Antiracist Pedagogy

Published by Committee for Children this article details what an anti-racist curriculum is, what Black studies are, how they promote equality, the effects/responses of state legislatures on these courses both good and bad, and how to support these critical classes.  Within the article is the mention of Social-Emotion Learning (SEL) while detailing how SEL can aid in teaching through an anti-racist lens. Teaching strategies include bringing awareness to while promoting respect and fostering social awareness.  Teachers can also use SEL as a way to approach their teaching overall coupled with an anti-racist lens.  I would implement these strategies in my classroom through everyone being respected for their beliefs and feelings while making sure my students are socially aware of themselves, others, and events.  I would also encourage my students to try and make political and social changes to fight for critical race theory classes as well as Black studies classes as lawmakers in specific states have been attacking and illegalizing these race-based classes.       

Identity and Belonging: Anti-Racist Curriculum and Black Studies in Schools 

This article published by Learning for Justice details anti-racism is essential for all school systems.  It continues to talk about what anti-racist educators believe in such as love, deepening their critical consciousness, and embracing a holistic approach.  Teaching strategy takeaways include understanding our position as leaders makes a difference in students' lives, therefore, the need to treat it with love and leave the world a better place than it was when it came to us.  Another teaching strategy pulled from this article is continuously developing a critical consciousness and re-evaluating it from time to time.  I would implement this in my classroom by constantly educating myself on deepening my critical consciousness as well as understanding my position as a teacher and a role model and making a difference where I can.  I think it is important for all teachers to recognize that students look up to us and we must do everything we can to fight for them and their education.  This is definitely a must-read for teachers wanting to teach from an anti-racist lens.  I found it extremely helpful and will be implementing this in my classroom in the future.

 What Anti-racism Really Means for Educators