Exploring Historical Significance on the First Day of History Class

For the first day of history class, I wanted to find an activity that engaged my high school students and resulted in, above all, a positive memory of their initial experience in my class. I wanted students to, when they were trying to recall the blur that was their first day of school, remember my […]

What is the Definition of a Feminist? or – How to Teach About Feminism

What is the definition of a feminist, or of feminism itself? How much do these definitions matter when we talk about the politics of representation? And to what extent does this matter when discussing or teaching about feminism? One would hope a whole hell of a lot.  When I was creating the curriculum to build […]

Structured Academic Controversy: A Powerful Tool for Critical Thinking

The structured academic controversy lesson plan is one of the best discussion strategies for critical thinking group activities in middle and high school classrooms because it relies on teamwork and respectful communication among students while developing close reading, writing, speaking, and active listening skills. A Structured Academic Controversy gives students a break from ways of teaching that rely on […]

Building Blocks for a Feminist Classroom

For feminist teachers who want to put theory to action, here are “building blocks” of strategies I have used over the years to guide how I set up and establish my classroom environment throughout the school year. I have not been able to do everything perfectly, nor have I been able to achieve everything to […]