February 03rd, 2021

“We are striving to forge our union with purpose. To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.” —Amanda Gorman, ‘The Hill We Climb’

February may be the shortest month of the year in terms of number of days, but anyone who has taught through the month of February knows that it is a mighty month. We have Groundhog Day (although, there’s something about the past year that feels a little like a continual version of Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day!), President’s Day, and, of course, the month-long celebration of Black History Month. Black History Month is an opportunity to focus on highlighting courageous leaders such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks. It is also a month to celebrate Black voices and perspectives through the sharing of stories, poetry, oration, and narratives that demonstrate the experiences and contributions of foundational Americans.  It is 28 days to affirm cultural traits and contributions and reframe thinking. In Jeffco, we not only want to make sure we take the time to celebrate Black History Month, but also to honor that these stories should not only be taught this month, but all throughout the curriculum. 

As Teaching Tolerance reports, students throughout the country often encounter curriculum that does not fully address the history of Black Americans. “What students often get instead is a condensed version of factoids, a February full of “holidays and heroes,” when they can explore sanitized experiences of Black people without any context.”1 The Social Studies curriculum team is currently adjusting unit-specific materials to push teaching beyond chronicles of “famous firsts”, exceptional Black people, and trauma spotlights in relation to marginalized populations in the United States. Honoring Black history is inextricably connected with the broader objectives of racial justice and racial healing for people from all communities, and pushing ourselves to think intersectionally about other marginalized social identities that can lead to compounding struggles. As Audre Lorde states “There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives”.  Some highlights include: 

• 3rd grade curriculum has shifted to a regional studies model to allow for students to explore the indigenous cultures across the western region as both a cornerstone of historical experience but also as a keystone of current events.  
  
• 4th grade Colorado history has expanded historical narratives to include figures such as Dr. Justina Ford and the Trujillo family.  
  
• 5th grade units focus on identity and reframes the story of Indigenous people and the roots of slavery. 
  
• Moving towards early US History in 8th grade finds students exploring the historical context of a newly formed country and the divisive idea of chattel slavery and its place in America’s history. 
  
• High school students explore the unresolved issues of inequality that are elevated in the Civil Rights Movement and the Equal Rights Amendment. Teachers are encouraged to expand key figures such as Rosa Parks from beyond a single token act of sitting on a bus to her dedication and service in the fight for equal rights that started long before 1955 and lasted throughout the remainder of her life.  Students also engage in world events to expand their knowledge of inequities and intolerance, which is evident in their studies of the Nazi Holocaust in 11th grade.
  

So why share all that?  The social studies team, through the strong partnership with the Equity,  Diversity, & Inclusion team, are collaborating in the work of allyship and are working to move Jeffco beyond the bite sized pieces of Black history to infuse our curriculum with the rich history of our country that is Black History, Indigenous History, Womens’ History, and also continues to elevate the history of the United States.  We are also working with other content areas such as English/ Language Arts, to create strong connections across content areas and through disciplinary literacy to expand opportunities for students to engage in these topics.

To conclude, we are excited to see the lessons of Black history, and ways the teachers and schools will  honor the resilience, creativity, and vitality of Black people in the face of inequity and violence, past and present.  And just how we encourage the use of other commemorative months such as American Indian Heritage Month (November), Asian Pacific Heritage Month (May), and Women's History Month (March) to highlight stories and contributions of various American groups, we also strive to do the same within the curriculum and resources available to teachers and students in Jeffco. Below you will find a list of resources to support learning, discovery, and lesson planning this month from several trusted sources.  Jeffco teachers can find various resources across grade levels in Bridge to Curriculum that support examples mentioned above.  

Resources:

• Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion and Jeffco Public Schools Racial Equity Resources 
  
• The Founders of Black History Month | BLACK HISTORY THEMES, ASALH
  
• Teaching Black History in 2021, EverFi 
  
• February 2021: Honoring Black Agency & Black Joy, Facing History 
  
• Black History Month: Teaching Beyond Slavery, Teaching Tolerance 
  
• Why We Need Black History Month, Teaching Tolerance 
  
• Scholastic Black History Month Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources
  
• Black History Month Lessons & Resources | NEA 
  
• Recent and Upcoming Literary Releases by Black Authors, The Root
  
• The 18 Best Black Books of All Time for Black History Month  
  
• Black History Month Is Every Month & This Book List Is Here for It 
  
• Black History and Literature resources, ActivelyLearn
  
• Resources for Black History Month, CommonLit
  

Contact information:
Sarah.Hurd@jeffco.k12.co.us and Natalie.Schaefer@jeffco.k12.co.us - Curriculum & Instruction TOSAs/ Social Studies
Citations:

1. Dillard, C. (2019, January 11). Why We Need Black History Month. Retrieved February 02, 2021, from https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/why-we-need-black-history-month