Using Their Words: Six Elements of Social Justice Curriculum Design for the Elementary Classroom

Authors

  • Bree Picower Assistant Professor Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education College of Education and Human Services Montclair State University

Keywords:

social justice, curriculum design, elementary education, multicultural education

Abstract

This article provides a framework of six elements of social justice curriculum design for elementary classrooms. The elements move from students learning self-love and knowledge about who they are and where they come from to learning respect for people different from themselves. Students explore social injustice, learn about social movements, raise awareness, and engage in activism. By addressing all six elements, students develop an analysis of oppression and tools to take action. The elements help teachers visualize social justice education by providing examples of projects, making social justice in K-6 settings accessible, practical, and achievable.

Author Biography

Bree Picower, Assistant Professor Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education College of Education and Human Services Montclair State University

Bree Picower is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education at Montclair State University.  Her study on "The Unexamined Whiteness of Teaching," was awarded New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education Outstanding Dissertation Award of 2007.  She has taught in public elementary schools in Oakland, California and New York City. She is currently a core member of the New York Collective of Radical Educators (NYCoRE) where she works to organize public school teachers to take action on issues of educational justice.  Additionally she helped found a national network of Teacher Activist Groups (TAG) organizing for educational justice.

Downloads

Published

2012-04-24

How to Cite

Picower, B. (2012). Using Their Words: Six Elements of Social Justice Curriculum Design for the Elementary Classroom. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 14(1).

Issue

Section

Praxis Articles (Peer-reviewed)