Thread by @ValeriaBrownEdu

I have been meaning to do this for a minute, and it appears that I have found a little time to tell you all about @Tolerance_org .

About - Teaching Tolerance provides FREE resources to educators who work with children K12. Materials can be used to supplement the curriculum, to inform practice, and to create civil and inclusive school communities where children are respected, valued and welcome participants.

Teaching Tolerance emphasizes social justice and anti-bias. The anti-bias approach encourages children and young people to challenge prejudice and learn how to be agents of change in their own lives.

Who doesn't want this?

I fell in love with them as a MS ELA teacher. I was looking for bellringer writing prompts that honestly I felt like reading (how many times can we talk about uniforms) and I came across Writing for Change prompts.

tolerance.org/sites/default/…

I read these and I was like...

After that, I am in the mailbox room, and I see one of their award-winning magazines on the counter. I don't know if it was free for the taking, but I looked around, didn't see anyone, and then I took it.

I was so excited to see the topics that were covered. I was learning for myself and learning for my students. The latest issue discusses The Opioid Crisis, Sikhism, Integrating for Equity. You can subscribe here.

tolerance.org/magazine/subsc…

After I found the lessons on @Tolerance_org website, I spent the rest of the time trying to figure out how to meet my district requirements and still do their lessons. I was calculating, y'all...

I was literally able to supplement just about every text with something I found on the @Tolerance_org website. My absolute favorite was combining reading The Pearl with this older lesson. So many powerful conversations happened in class.

tolerance.org/classroom-reso…

That was a long time ago before they brought what is my favorite framework right now, #TeachingHardHistory. Truthfully, I'd probably get fired for the fervor I would be teaching about American slavery in a classroom today.

All things #TeachingHardHistory can be found here.

tolerance.org/frameworks/tea…

My students did some powerful student-led projects back then and we did it before Go Fund Me. Straight hustle. If I would have known @Tolerance_org had grant money to give me, you best believe I would have been applying every month!

Attention - They have money they want to give you. Find out how to get it here.
tolerance.org/about/educator…

When I learned about the film kits with teacher guides, and realized that I hadn't used them I was like...

And for all of you who fell handcuffed by the textbook, and not enough options to diverse the texts you put in front of students, @Tolerance_org has you covered with the Perspectives Text Library. Texts from many of those voices who go ignored normally.

tolerance.org/classroom-reso…

Most importantly though, if I had a classroom right now, and I could only change one thing about my practice going into this new year, I would teach my students to see everything we are learning through the lens of the @Tolerance_org Social Justice Standards.

I don't know what all y'all teach, but I know if you are teaching it and pretending as if it is divorced from social justice issues, you are doing it wrong.

So do yourself a favor and spend some time reviewing and studying these before you go back to work. I know half of y'all don't do lesson plans...

...BUT you should figure out how to use this road map for anti-bias education in your practice.

Here they go. If you click on the link, you will see they are written for grade bands too.
tolerance.org/frameworks/soc…

And if you want to talk about your pedagogy some days, I am happy to do that too. Better yet, learn from our @Tolerance_org Award for Excellence in Teaching Award Winners. They do not play around. (You should apply next cycle!)

tolerance.org/award/award-fo…

I am often surprised by how many teachers are unfamiliar with @Tolerance_org , and I am hoping that you all will help me get the word out.

Here's a few things that you can do:

1. Follow @Tolerance_org . They should easily be at 100K followers. I mean, the Big Ben clock has more...

2. Share with others #onhere and F2F how you are using @Tolerance_org resources. For example, we have great resources regarding Digital Literacy, and that skill is highly needed by every doggone body.

3. Create an account. Download everything. It's free. Everything is free. Did I say...

4. Sign up for these webinars that I know you are not getting anywhere else. Topics include: What You Need To Know About The Alt-Right, Teaching Black Lives Matter, and Discussing Whiteness.

tolerance.org/professional-d…

5. Come and see us when we are on the road. We will be announcing new cities soon, and it's so affordable. I am afraid to say how much for fear of breaking the edu conference model, but you can click the link.

tolerance.org/professional-d…

There is so much! Honestly, this is how I look at my @Tolerance_org colleagues everyday.

Ultimately, this is about you being better for our students, our country and our world. And at this point in the game, I need you to know that you are running out of excuses.

Holla at me if you need anything.