Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools - The Making of a More Joyful, Just, and Humane School

Revolutionize the way you negotiate the realities of childhood education
 
In Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools, accomplished educator Kass Minor delivers an inspiring and practical exploration of what it means to be a just teacher in a system that actively incentivizes injustice. The author explains how to build joyful experiences even in the face of inevitable injustice and demonstrates how to accept the seemingly conflicting experience of joy in the face of heartbreak.
 
In the book, you'll learn to be a catalyst for change, unlearning the patterns of school that have marginalized children while becoming aware of tenets of justice as they manifest in educational spaces. You'll also discover:
* Strategies for creating human-centered care and joy, in which thoughts, actions, and decisions are drawn from within the school community
* Techniques for creating student-centered experiences within standards-based classrooms
* How to raise the level of family involvement in your students' education and improve communication between family and staff
 
An essential blueprint for K-12 educators, school support staff, and school administrators, Teaching Fiercely will also earn a place on the bookshelves of education policymakers, researchers, and students.

List of contents

Work Alongs and Reflections xi
 
Author's Note xiii
 
Foreword by Sara K. Ahmed xv
 
Introduction xvii
 
Acknowledgments xxxiii
 
Prologue: Anthem for a Teacher xxxv
 
Chapter 1: Building the Foundation: A Structured Generator of Hope for More Joyful and Just Schools 1
 
A Structured Generator of Hope 1
 
The Pedagogy of Justice 5
 
What Is Justice? 7
 
Justice for Whom? (In the Realm of School Integration) 17
 
Where is Joy Located in the Pursuit Toward Justice? 22
 
Dreams, Nourishment, Rituals: Toward Future Goodness 25
 
Historical Underpinnings: Exploring the Roots of Schooling 31
 
Chapter 2: Seeing and Feeling the Pressure of Injustice: Perspective Changes Everything 35
 
Dominant Culture: Perspective Changes Everything 38
 
Catalyst for Change: Knowing How to See and Feel the Pressure of Injustice 44
 
Identifying Layers of Perspective 49
 
Tools for Perspective Analysis: More than a Decade Later 52
 
Timeline Pedagogy: To Move Forward, We Must Look Back 62
 
Chapter 3: A Framework for Social Justice Work in Schools and Gentle Notes on Learning 75
 
Collaborate 77
 
Nurture 78
 
Build 81
 
Reflect 83
 
Connecting the Collaborate, Nurture, Build, and Reflect Framework 84
 
Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools ix
 
Gentle Notes on Learning: Rituals and the Beginnings of Our Thought Sanctuary 96
 
Somatic Literacy 97
 
Chapter 4: Pursue Joy by Thwarting Injustice: Develop Teacher Agency Through Reflective Practice and Collaboration 105
 
Points of Reflection 109
 
The Nature of a Curriculum-Making Journey 116
 
Embracing Teacher Intellect: Changing the Narrative About Teachers 133
 
Chapter 5: Moving Toward Joy: Student-Centered Experiences in Standards-Based Classrooms 141
 
To Teach Fiercely Requires Teacher Agency 145
 
Four Methods of Instructional Delivery 156
 
Curriculum-Making: Frameworks and Foundational Understandings 163
 
Chapter 6: The Joyful Work of Building Imaginative Capacities Matters: Know that Learning Predates School 175
 
"Do Schools Kill Creativity?" 179
 
Working Toward Justice: The Continued Conversation on Student Centeredness 183
 
Chapter 7: Beyond the Protest March: How to Design Justice-Oriented Learning Spaces, Experiences, and Curriculum That Is Immersed in Joy for Kids 205
 
Designing Justice-Oriented Learning Spaces 211
 
The Nuts and Bolts of Justice Designs 213
 
What Matters to Children 223
 
Chapter 8: Negotiating the Curriculum for Your Current Students in Today's World 227
 
Three Paths for Considering Kids, Justice, and Curriculum Design 233
 
Epilogue: Redefining Ferocity 245
 
My Edu-Credo 247
 
Works Cited 249
 
About the Author 265
 
Index 267

About the author

KASS MINOR is an inclusive educator who has worked as a teacher, staff developer, adjunct professor, speaker, and documentarian. She is the co-founder of The Minor Collective, a community-based movement designed to foster sustainable change in schools.

Summary

Revolutionize the way you negotiate the realities of childhood education

In Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools, accomplished educator Kass Minor delivers an inspiring and practical exploration of what it means to be a just teacher in a system that actively incentivizes injustice. The author explains how to build joyful experiences even in the face of inevitable injustice and demonstrates how to accept the seemingly conflicting experience of joy in the face of heartbreak.

In the book, you'll learn to be a catalyst for change, unlearning the patterns of school that have marginalized children while becoming aware of tenets of justice as they manifest in educational spaces. You'll also discover:
* Strategies for creating human-centered care and joy, in which thoughts, actions, and decisions are drawn from within the school community
* Techniques for creating student-centered experiences within standards-based classrooms
* How to raise the level of family involvement in your students' education and improve communication between family and staff

An essential blueprint for K-12 educators, school support staff, and school administrators, Teaching Fiercely will also earn a place on the bookshelves of education policymakers, researchers, and students.

Report

"What a grounding and energizing reminder of the power, hope, and everyday joy of our world-changing profession. When the weight of teaching feels heaviest to bear, pick up this book."
 
- Carla Shalaby, Author of Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom From Young Children at School
 
"When I think about educators who are out there doing 'the work,' one of the first people who comes to mind is Kass Minor. In her debut book, Kass leads from her years of experience working in New York City schools, and always from a place of loving accountability. This is a must read for any educator and person who strives to center community in their field."
 
- Liz Sohyeon Kleinrock, Author of Start Here Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community
 
"Kass Minor's luminous book, Teaching Fiercely, draws us into a world where teachers actively cultivate a pedagogy of justice and joy. Through practical tools and personal stories, Minor invokes a space of radical possibility, reminding us that our communities already hold the knowledge we need to transform teaching and learning."
 
- Shane Safir, School Transformation Coach, Consultant and Author of The Listening Leader and Street Data
 
"Teaching Fiercely is a joyful, collegial invitation to incorporate our whole powerful selves into teaching for justice so that we may invite students to engage and learn with their whole powerful selves. As a most beautiful bonus, this invitation comes with guidance for teaching for justice in meaningful, transformative ways from an author who is known to walk her justice talk."
 
- Paul Gorski, Founder of the Equity Literacy Institute
 
"In a landscape heavy with the weight of increasing WHYs about the urgency for remedying injustices, Kass Minor provides a wise, insightful, and joyful guide for educators about HOW to move forward day to day in the work of justice with a ferocious heart."
 
- Ashley Lamb-Sinclair, Author, Educator & National Geographic Explorer
 
"Teaching Fiercely is exactly what you need right now whether you are a new or veteran teacher. Kass Minor's voice is strong and clear - teaching must be joyful and just. At the heart of this book is love and respect for children, families, communities, and teaching as an art. This book will be your anchor to living a teaching life in which you bring your whole self, and which is steeped in reflection and action.
 
- Dr. Laura Ascenzi-Moreno, Professor of Bilingual Education, Brooklyn College, City University of New York
 
"For educators who are striving to engage in justice-centered work and align values to equitable classroom practices, this book will nourish your soul and well-being during these complex times in education. Kass Minor beautifully blends scholarship, teacher activism, and her wealth of educational experiences to emphasize how we build and sustain a sense of connection and belonging in school communities out of love for youth and humanity."
 
- Erica Buchanan-Rivera, Educator and Author of Identity Affirming Classrooms: Spaces that Center Humanity
 
"Educators seeking a relevant, accessible playbook to center joy and counter injustice in schools should approach this book with a curiosity like it was written. Kass animates possibilities that have not yet been imagined or realized in this rhythmic compilation of curated practices for a truly fierce commitment to serving children."
 
- Natalie Zwerger, RE-Center Race & Equity in Education
 
"Kass Minor has crafted a glorious literacy love letter to all educators committed to bringing 'joy and justice' to life in the company of children. Her words are the gentle nudge we need to envision the HOW so that we may assume an active role toward the diverse, equitable, and inclusive schools our children deserve."
 
- Dr. Mary Howard, Literacy Consultant and Author
 
"Amidst the fatigue and burnout that characterizes teachers' lives, Kass Minor invokes a rethinking of the educational project. This book outlines the real, nourishing classroom practices that support students' comprehension of--and responsiveness to--justice and equity."
 
- Cathlin Goulding, YURI Education Project

Product details

• Authors: MINOR, K Minor, Kass Minor, Kassandra Minor
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2022
• EAN: 9781119867678
• ISBN: 978-1-119-86767-8
• No. of pages: 320
• Subjects: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Family; Humanities, art, music > Education > Special education; Education, Bildungswesen, EDUCATION / Professional Development, Educational strategies and policy: inclusion, K-12 / Lehrerbildung, K-12, Teacher Education (K-12), Educational strategies and policy, EDUCATION / Teacher Training & Certification