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October 2–6, 2023

Join the growing community of educators in the D.C. area and nationally committed to teaching about Central American history and culture during Latinx Heritage Month. To support your commitment, access free lessons, booklists, biographies of historical figures, and poetry and prose.

Tell us how you teach about Central America in your classroom! In appreciation for your time, we will send you a book of your choice. Check out the stories teachers submitted last year.

Get Inspired!

Students Teach About

Central America

Students at Cardozo Education Campus were encouraged to teach other students about the countries from which they migrated. Students drew from personal experiences and deep research to comprehensively recognize and instill pride in the array of cultures present in their classes. Read more.

Connecting Pre-Colonial Indigenous Central American Cultures to the Present

Students at the Lab School made Hojalatas based on imagery from different cultures in the area and were able to compare and contrast pre-colonized and current cultures and think about how the Indigenous cultures we learned about were impacted by colonization and later globalization. Read more.

Indigenous Peoples' Day Curriculum Teach-In

Saturday, September 30 | 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM

National Museum of the American Indian | 4th St. SW

Register | Schedule | Keynote | Workshops

Register for the 7th annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day Curriculum Teach-In, hosted in-person at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian.

Teachers will select two workshop sessions that include relevant and resource-rich training experiences to support effective use of NMAI-DC exhibitions, American Indian-focused classroom lessons, and resources from Teaching for Change and NMAI. Registration fee of $20 includes coffee, lunch, a book, access to museum exhibits, and other classroom resources.

Shout Mouse Press Presents:

BooktoberFest!

Sunday, October 1 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Planet Word | 925 13th St. NW

Shout Mouse Press, a literary youth non-profit, presents BooktoberFest, a booky celebration for all ages! Grow your brain and imagination with a book fair, a writing workshop, and a panel discussion on banned books featuring Teaching for Change associate director Keesha Ceran. BooktoberFest marks the beginning of Shout Mouse’s month-long Booktober campaign.

Extraordinary Cinema: Art & Krimes by Krimes

Sunday, October 1 | 3:00 PM

Kennedy Center | 925 13th St. NW

Attend a FREE film screening in the Justice Forum at the REACH. A documentary about an incarcerated artist, a secret masterpiece, and finding a way to survive in the act of creativity. See a post-show panel moderated by Kara Gotsch, executive director of the Sentencing Project. Panelists include artist Jesse Krimes, filmmaker Alysa Nahmias, and more. 

Children’s Africana Book Awards Festival

Saturday, October 14 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Martin Luther King Jr. Library

The Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA) are presented annually to the authors and illustrators of the best children’s and young adult books on Africa published or republished in the U.S. Africa Access and the Outreach Council of the African Studies Association (ASA) created CABA in 1991 to encourage the publication and use of accurate, balanced children’s materials about Africa.

EmpowerEd D.C. Teacher Voice Festival

Saturday, October 14 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Eastern Market Metro Plaza

Whether you're a fellow educator, parent, student, advocate or community member: come chat about D.C. education with these teacher leaders and hear about what role you can play in helping achieve educational equity in D.C. You'll find tents on issues from teacher retention, supporting educators of color, arts education, well-rounded education & so much more along with tables and giveaways from amazing partner organizations.

Native Knowledge 360 & Teaching for Change Teach-In

Saturday, November 4 | 12:00 PM–3:00 PM

Online via Zoom

Join the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and Teaching for Change for a short keynote and workshops. The teach-in will be held virtually via Zoom. Register for $15 a person.

D.C. Area Black Lives Matter at School Curriculum Fair

Saturday, January 20 | 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM ET

Online via Zoom

Save the date for the annual curriculum fair hosted online by D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice. The event will feature a keynote speaker and workshops set to uplift the national demands based in the Black Lives Matter guiding principles that focus on improving the school experience for Black students. Educators around the country are invited to virtually connect, collaborate, and prepare for the 2024 National Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action and Year of Purpose. 

D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice (DCAESJ) is always looking to lift up the incredible work pre-K-12 social justice educators are doing in the D.C. area. Read examples of DCAESJ teaching stories and learn how to share the critical social justice work you are doing with your students.

Make a gift or create your own fundraiser to support Teaching for Change.

Teaching for Change

PO Box 73038

Washington, DC 20056

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