Teaching When the World Is on Fire Hardback -

A timely collection of advice and strategies for creating a just classroom from educators across the country, handpicked by MacArthur "genius" and bestselling author Lisa Delpit

Is it okay to discuss politics in class? What are constructive ways to help young people process the daily news coverage of sexual assault? How can educators engage students around Black Lives Matter? Climate change? Confederate statue controversies? Immigration? Hate speech?

Lisa Delpit's Other People's Children, a classic text on cultural slippage in classrooms, has sold over a quarter million copies. In Teaching When the World Is on Fire, Delpit now turns to a host of crucial issues facing teachers in these tumultuous times. Delpit's master-teacher wisdom tees up guidance from beloved, well-known educators along with insight from dynamic principals and classroom teachers tackling difficult topics in K-12 schools every day.

This honest and rich collection brings together essential observations on safety from Pedro Noguera and Carla Shalaby; incisive ideas on traversing politics from William Ayers and Mica Pollock; Christopher Emdin's instructive views on respecting and connecting with black and brown students; Hazel Edwards's crucial insight about safe spaces for transgender and gender-nonconforming students; and James W. Loewen's sage suggestions about exploring symbols of the South; as well as timely thoughts from Bill Bigelow on teaching the climate crisis--and on the students and teachers fighting for environmental justice.

An energizing volume that speaks to our contentious world and the necessary conversations we all must have about it, Teaching When the World Is on Fire is sure to inspire teachers to support their students in navigating the current events, cultural shifts, and social dilemmas that shape our communities and our country.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Lisa Delpit

Politics Matters

I Shall Create!

William Ayers

Teaching Politics in the Age of Trump

Justin Christensen

The Three Illusions

Julia Putnam

Standing Up Against Hate

Mica Pollock

Yes, Race and Politics Belong in the Classroom

H. Richard Milner IV

Safety Matters

Cops or Counselors?

Pedro A. Noguera

How Hurricane Harvey Altered My Perspective as a Teacher

Jeff Collier

I Was Raised to Believe Education Could Keep Me Safe

fredrick scott salyers

Calling on Omar

Carla Shalaby

School Justice

T. Elijah Hawkes

Race Matters

Don't Say Nothing

Jamilah Pitts

Black Teachers, Black Youth, and Reality Pedagogy

Christopher Emdin

How One Elementary School Sparked a Citywide Movement to Make Black Students: Lives Matter

Wayne Au and Jesse Hagopian

The Fire

Sarah Ishmael and Jonathan Tunstall in conversation

Engaging and Embracing Black Parents

Allyson Criner Brown

Who Do I Belong To?

Natalie Labossiere

To My Sons' Future Teacher, Colleague, Sister/Brother, Co-madre, Maestra, Comrade, Friend

Crystal T. Laura

Gender and Sex Ed Matter

Sexual Harassment and the Collateral Beauty of Resistance

Camila Arze Torres Goitia

Believe Me the First Time

Dale Weiss

Nothing About Us, Without Us, Is for Us

Hazel Edwards and Maya Lindberg in conversation

Climate Matters

Climate Science Meets a Stubborn Obstacle: Students

Amy Harmon

Teachers vs. Climate Change

Bill Bigelow

Culture Matters

Teaching Middle School Students to Advocate

Carolina Drake

Why I Teach Diverse Literature

Noah Cho

Love for Syria

Cami Touloukian

Correct(ed): Confederate Public History

James Loewen

Creating Inclusive Classrooms for Muslim Children

Deborah Almontaser

Appendix: Books on Immigration for Young Readers

Jay Fung