Anti-Bias Early Childhood Working Group — D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice

Sessions

Many sessions are described below, starting with the most recent session and working back.

February 3, 2024:

For their February meeting, the Anti-Bias Early Childhood working group met with Denisha Jones to provide feedback on her drafted curricular framework for anti-racism in early childhood. Jones shared digital copies of it to working group members in advance of the meeting and then facilitated the group’s time together.

Denisha began by sharing the history and intention behind the framework. She then opened the discussion up for feedback. The groups shared the importance of using the anti-bias framework as a beginning point and discussing how this framework goes deeper on issues of race with an explicit focus on anti-racism and anti-Blackness. They shared that they liked the guiding questions and the clear and direct language used in the framework. They discussed the way parents often ask how to respond to young children’s questions or comments about race, and they discussed some pointers to share with families. We ended the discussion thinking about intersectionality and how to help children address disability issues around different body types. Many resources were shared.

Before wrapping, group members were reminded of upcoming events and opportunities in the D.C. area, including a panel — featuring Makai and Denisha! — about centering collective value in the early childhood years. This meeting fell the weekend before the national Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.

November 18, 2023:

On Saturday, November 18th, the Anti-Bias Early Childhood Working Group met at the Teaching for Change office. The group focused on addressing holidays in the classroom with an anti-bias lens. READ MORE.

May 20, 2023:

The anti-bias early childhood working group gathered virtually for their May meeting. After their standard land acknowledgement, the group dove into the meeting centered on gender identity in early childhood classrooms. READ MORE.

April 1, 2023:

Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones joined the anti-bias early childhood education working group for their April meeting for a session about writing for Rethinking Schools and storytelling. The session kicked off with group discussion about:

What children’s book really speaks to you/tells a story you connect with?
What story do you wish was available when you were growing up?
What story would you write now for your younger self?
How do you ensure students see themselves in your classroom/school library?

People shared that they wished there were more stories about Black natural hair, or how important it is to pronounce peoples’ names. Above all, folks expressed wanting more mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors to the incalculable number of human experiences there are that can be captured in books.

Kaler-Jones guided folks through a writing workshop designed to draw out stories from teachers’ classrooms. Beginning with a reading of Barbara Ransby’s “A vision of where the Black freedom movement could take us,” Kaler-Jones directed participants to pen their own letter where they envision a collective future 50 years from now. Two attendees wrote letters to their daughters, specifically about ways they are imagining and working towards a future that is more accessible and where kids are listened to and respected. Folks were charged to delineate what classroom lessons, teaching practices, and political work they’re doing to help realize their vision.

March 2023:

In lieu of a formal meeting during the month of March, all working group members were encouraged to attend and/or participate in annual events from a few of our partner organizations. READ MORE.

We see you @BenWilliamsDC and @maya_baum!!! #ListenToTeachers https://t.co/3QwyhoKnO5
— D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice (@dcaesj) March 20, 2023

May 20, 2023:

The anti-bias early childhood working group gathered virtually for their May meeting. After their standard land acknowledgement, the group dove into the meeting centered on gender identity in early childhood classrooms. READ MORE.

February 25, 2023:

To begin their February meeting, members went around the Zoom room or responded in the chat to the posed questions: “In one word or phrase, what describes your school year so far?” and “What is sustaining you? What support do you have? What do you need?” To help ground folks in the main topic of the meeting–reflecting on the BLM at School Week of Action and ways to continue engaging in the Year of Purpose–attendees were then reminded of a few of the guiding principles and demands, and spent time in breakout groups discussing them and how they can be practiced for early childhood educators. Folks also shared out the lessons, activities, etc. they did or are planning for Black Lives Matter at School, and what successes and struggles they’ve experienced in that work.

Here’s a VIEW ONLY version of the slideshow.

January 7, 2023:

All DCAESJ working groups joined together and invited fellow D.C. area educators to share advice, build on resources, begin planning their BLM at School Week of Action, and continue to participate in the Year of Purpose. READ MORE.

December 3, 2022:

The anti-bias early childhood education working group gathered to attend a staged production of Jacqueline Woodson’s The Day You Begin at the Kennedy Center for their December meeting. After partially discussing this book during their September meeting as something to read during the first few days of school, the group wanted to see how it was imagined as a musical play. A number of working group members brought their own children, as well. After the play, the group briefly met and discussed how the play deviated and remained similar to the book. One group member already had plans on bringing her students to the play, and is looking forward to experiencing it with them! All attendees were given a free copy of the book.

November 19, 2022:

In lieu of a formal meeting for this month, the anti-bias early childhood education working group attended a panel discussion hosted at Busboys and Poets on K St. Megan Pamela Ruth Madison, Akiea “Ki” Gross, Laleña Garcia, and Ijumaa Jordan read pieces of each others’ writing, offered up their reflections on each excerpt, then posed a question to each writer about their work. The conversation centered around abolition, and self and community care.

Madison signed copies of her First Conversation Series books including, Yes! No! A First Conversation About Consent, and Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race.

October 22, 2022:

The early childhood working group formally met for the first time this school year in October, and their focus was on community building. While there were a number of folks in attendance at the meeting that have been with the group since its inception, there are also folks who are new to DCAESJ in general, or who recently plugged into this particular working group. To become (re)acquainted, the members participated in a Story Fortunes activity where they spent a few minutes in breakout rooms responding to get to know you questions based on the corresponding breakout room number. There was also a whole group check in for folks to share any updates, talk about challenging or rewarding experience of the school year thus far, and what they’re hopeful for during the remainder of the school year.

Participants shared:

There are so many wonderful folks in this group. I was inspired by the dedication and the insights. Also struck by how much we need to support teachers at this time. Feels so critical.

Just really happy to be part of this group. Thank you!

Thank you for your continued work and for keeping our hopes alive.

September 17, 2022:

The D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice early childhood, upper elementary, and secondary working groups convened to kick off their monthly meetings for the 2022–2023 school year. Educators decided to focus their convening on preparing to teach about Central America, especially during the October 3–9 Teach Central America Week.

The convening began with a trip to the National Museum of the American Latino’s first exhibit, ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States (currently housed within the Smithsonian National Museum of American History), and to participate in their Hispanic Heritage Month Family Festival. Educators were excited to see that parts of the exhibit highlighted Central Americans in D.C., including Mario Bencastro’s typewriter.

The working groups then traveled to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for community building via teamtrivia on Peoples’ History of Central America and enjoying pupusas. The groups then broke into two different rooms for grade level lesson development, collaboration and planning, and resource review around teaching Central America. READ MORE.

June 11, 2022:

The anti-bias early childhood education, elementary, and secondary working groups actively participated in the June 11th D.C. area #TeachTruth rally at the African American Civil War Memorial.

After the rally, working group members gathered at the Teaching for Change office to celebrate one another and the groups’ work this year. Thank you to working group leadership, members, and our interns Maddy, May, and Tayna for their work in preparing for both the #TeachTruthrally and the end of year celebration.

After the rally, working group members gathered at the Teaching for Change office to celebrate one another and the groups’ work this year. Thank you to working group leadership, members, and our interns Maddy, May, and Tayna for their work in preparing for both the #TeachTruthrally and the end of year celebration.

Read more about the rally.

April 30, 2022:

The working group convened to recap a Critical Whiteness workshop hosted with Social Justice Books and discuss ways in which connecting themes from the workshop could be useful as a form of professional development.

The majority of the working group meeting was spent envisioning what an ideal school could look like. The working group was joined by Zani Dalili-Ortique and Ebony Marshman of The Riverseed School D.C. Dalili-Ortiqueand Marshman shared their experiences with forming this new school, including their commitment to centering a school that served communities East of the River and provided freedom for young people to have space that was theirs to be creative, explore, and have access to outdoors that was proximate to their building. The building is a Victorian home with green space to support varying forms of learning and play. Dalili-Ortique and Marshman also highlighted their intentionality in creating a working environment that supported the well-being of educators as well, giving them time to not only be in the classroom, but also planning and community building.

As the time together ended, the working group celebrated Marissa Howser, who is preparing for sabbatical after this school year. Howser has served as one of the working group Teacher facilitators for the 2021-2022 school year alongside Makai Kellogg and has been part of the working group since its foundation.

Working group members shared,

It was interesting to hear all that it takes to open a new school.

I loved Makai's share, and I appreciate the new lens that she shared.

March 26, 2022:

The anti-bias early childhood education group spent time working on their virtual Bio board project. While group members, old and new, make a concerted effort to connect during these monthly meetings, there just never seems enough time to get to know everyone. Working group members were encouraged to create their own slide(s)with images and information about themselves to help everyone better know some of the essentials of other working group members. From there, Nadine Foty led the group in a discussion and resource share about Palestine and the importance of introducing and teaching about Palestinian early childhood.

Working group members shared:

Nadine’s lesson was phenomenal. I learned so much.

Nadine’s presentation was powerful. It is so important to hear passionate, first-person stories.

Really appreciated Nadine’s presentation, both the teacher aspects and the personal aspects of it.

February 26, 2022: The group met to connect as a community, discuss challenges and successes with the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action, and share ideas on using biographies in early childhood classrooms. Learn more.

January 8, 2022: All three working groups gathered virtually to connect and plan in preparation for Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action happening this year from Jan. 31st - Feb. 4th. The hour was rejuvenating and yielded thoughtful conversation around the 13 guiding principles and national demands for Black Lives Matter at School. They reviewed resources, such as padlets for early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school educators around Black Lives Matter at School. Working group members commented:

All the resources shared, the padlets and articles shared in the chats, are reinvigorating me to make plans now for the week of action and beyond. I will be returning to these as I plan and collaborate with colleagues at my school.

Thank you for everyone and this space! What an amazing group!

Thank you so much for this wonderful group of educators, resources, and space to share! I really appreciate it!

November 13, 2021: The group focused on sharing practices and resources around teaching Thanksgiving from an Indigenous people’s perspective for the November meeting. Makai and Marissa led the group in a slidedeck with tips and resources around how to best approach teaching during this time with sensitivity, purpose, and intention. Karen Brown and Renee Gokey also shared activities and more resources for early childhood arts projects centering Indigenous people.

October 23, 2021: The focus of the Anti-Bias Early Childhood Education group’s October meeting was trauma-informed care and education. After their land acknowledgment and some mindfulness exercises to begin the meeting, the working group members engaged in conversation around what trauma is and how it often manifests in early childhood classrooms and teaching practices. The group discussed the chapter “Imagining ‘Classroom Management’ as an Abolitionist Project” by Carla Shalaby from the book Lessons in Liberation: An Abolitionist Toolkit for Educators.

September 11, 2021: For their September meeting, the Anti-Bias Early Childhood Education members regrouped as a whole for the first time since last academic year. They shared community-building activities, resources, and ideas for the first couple of weeks of school and reflected on the question, “How do you remember what community looked like when you were your students’ age?” Sara created this Wordle with their responses!

August 14, 2021: The Anti-Bias Early Childhood Education working group leaders and advisory spent time doing some dreaming and planning for the 2021-2022 academic year. They combed through feedback they received from previous meetings to have a better understanding about what topics or practices working group members wanted to see implemented in the upcoming year, and composed a survey to help inform their decisions.

Here are photos and video clips from Anti-Bias Early Childhood Working Group sessions.