Elementary Working Group
D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice coordinates a working group for D.C. area elementary (3rd-5th grade) educators. The Elementary working group brings together individual pedagogies to form a collective practice of learning and teaching. They co-create their shared language and definitions and build plans and take actionable steps to address injustice. They are cultivating a space for joyful, creative experiences as educators.
The goals of the working group are to:
Act as a space for collaboration and lesson planning
Facilitate a space for teachers to share best practice for social justice and anti-racist pedagogy
Create innovative projects that lead to publication and to action to address injustice
As of the 2025 - 2026 school year, all DCAESJ working groups meet quarterly, collectively engaging in themes of social justice education (visiting local history sites, developing lessons, and more). Breakouts by grade level allow deeper discussion and praxis alignment among peers.
If you are interested, please fill out the application. For more information, write to D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice.
Sessions
Many sessions are described below, starting with the most recent session and working back.
On December 13th, the DCAESJ working groups came together at the Teaching for Change office for our final convening of the 2025 calendar year. The theme for the session, American Exceptionalism was aligned with our preparations for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2026.
Despite the current federal attacks on D.C. community members, educators came together to learn, laugh, and connect. On September 27th, the DC Area Educators for Social Justice (DCAESJ) Working Groupsheld their first convening of the 25-26 school year at the D.C. History Center.
Saturday, April 5, 2025, the D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice (DCAESJ) working group educators came together for a Spring Convening centered on advocacy.
Elementary and Secondary Working Group Meeting
Twelve teachers from the DCAESJ elementary and secondary working groups gathered at the Teaching for Change office for a workshop on race, identity, and stereotypes in art, led by Diamond Gray of the American Visionary Art Museum.
DCAESJ Working Group Meeting
The May working group meeting was held at the Teaching for Change office, and it was a reflective time for educators across all three groups to connect over a collaborative art project.
Elementary and Secondary Working Group Meeting
The April elementary and secondary working group meeting centered on a problem of practice that was raised by a working group member: how to find strategies for teaching about Black history that recognize both resistance and joy. Additionally, how to find ways to involve caregivers in that learning.
Elementary and Secondary Working Group Meeting
All three working groups met at the Phillips Collection for the March meeting. They kicked it off with group trivia, composed by the education team at the museum.
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.
A Week of Action. A Year of Purpose. A Lifetime Commitment. And all of this can start with just a few hours of planning. On Saturday, January 7th, 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.
The three D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice working groups convened a joint meeting to prepare to teach about Central America this school year, especially during the October 3–9 Teach Central America Week. Educators began with a trip to the National Museum of the American Latino’s first exhibit, ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States.
By Bridget Fuller
On March 29th, the Elementary working group gathered to connect and discuss Women’s History Month and how gender and racial biases are confronted in our schools.
The Elementary working group began their February meeting by selecting an item from their space that reflected their current emotions and discussed why they connected to it. Participants shared items that sparked confidence, strength, and joy, including a Post-It note from their mom and a puzzle that their students are collaborating on.
