How have we codified the vital contributions of women throughout American history? How can we recognize more of our collective history moving forward?
Women’s History Month, celebrated every March by presidential proclamation, is a time to elevate the voices, dreams and stories of the women who changed the course of history and have made our world better and more equitable. The 19th Amendment was ratified more than 100 years ago, but there is still much more work to be done, and even more work that goes unrecognized and needs to be uplifted.
For me, Women’s History Month means recognizing and appreciating not just the women who inspire me daily but also those who have helped me become a better human being.
This month, and always, I celebrate:
- The friends who make me a better listener;
- The activists who educate me on being anti-racist;
- The journalists who broaden my horizons;
- The teachers who fought for me to succeed;
- The authors who challenge the way I think;
- The professors who mentored me;
- The neighbors who shared their culture with me;
- The medical professionals who keep me healthy; and
- The comedians who make me laugh.
How can we ensure our students have role models in their lives and historical figures they can relate to? Providing resources and professional training to teachers to ensure they help all students reach their full potential, regardless of race or background, has been paramount in choosing content for Share My Lesson’s 2022 Virtual Conference. In pursuit of making education more culturally responsive and equitable, we have gathered several diverse voices for this year’s lineup; all are sure to be innovative and inspirational.
Here are 10 upcoming webinars centered around supporting, celebrating and protecting women—and those who identify as such—that will provide voices and historical context so that your students can be the next generation leading the world to a fairer, more equal place:
Unladylike2020: Women History Makers
The documentary series UNLADYLIKE2020 presents the stories of women history makers in an innovative and captivating way utilizing animation, fast-paced editing and contemporary music, dramatizing how women have been active agents in history. The timeless and highly entertaining profiles of 26 women who accomplished great things over 100 years ago and modern women who follow in their footsteps was distributed by PBS’s American Masters.
Countering PUSHOUT: Skills to Support Black Girls
Black girls experience school discipline for a host of reasons—many of them associated with the increasingly punitive responses to student behavior and the absence of alternatives to exclusionary discipline in schools. Using social-behavioral research, as well as before and after interactive animated video scenarios, this session from Women in the Room Productions will help teachers increase their capacity to interrupt school-to-confinement pathways by helping teachers create a positive environment where students feel safe and cared for.
TeachRock on LADAMA: Teaching Music and Community of South America
This session will feature the band LADAMA who were the central focus of the TeachRock lessons: LADAMA: Movement, Music, and Community of South America which was an SML Resource of the Year for 2021. The session will include hands-on activities and arts-integration best practices.
Creating K-12 Schools That Welcome All Genders
We know that all children benefit from a school climate that addresses gender role stereotyping and disrupts bullying around gender identity and expression. Join the HRC Foundation's Welcoming Schools for this session that will provide participants with a brief overview of lesson plans, books and resources as well as concrete strategies to create an environment where all students thrive.
Elevating Educator Voices on Teaching Truth About Racism
Our school children need access to culturally diverse curricula and materials – windows and mirrors for our nation’s increasingly diverse student body – and to learn the full and accurate history and current realities of racism in our nation, so they can work to end racism. Join the Education Civil Rights Alliance and the National Center for Youth Law for specific tools and advice for educators to speak out in favor of teaching the truth about racism.
Keynote: Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence
Outraged with the frequency and acceptance of gun violence in all its forms, three educators decided to launch a national organization, Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence, whose mission is to elevate the stories we don’t hear about—the ripple effects and aftermath; to support school communities impacted by gun violence; and to raise our collective voices as those on the front lines of this public health crisis for cultural and legislative change. Hear about their journey and how you can get involved.
Keynote: Freedom to Teach Honestly
Featuring U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes; CEO of PEN America, Suzanne Nossel; Organizing Director of Red Wine & Blue, Julie Womack; and facilitated by AFT Secretary-Treasurer, Fedrick Ingram, this session will be an open discussion on the importance of teaching honest history and affirming students’ identities, and how to teach honestly in such polarized times.
Summer of Soul: Celebrating Black History Through Music and Film
Join Journeys in Film for this exciting panel discussion about teaching the critically acclaimed, Oscar nominated documentary Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised). Directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Summer of Soul is a powerful, transporting film about the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 featuring performances by Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and more.
Once Upon A Time: Film as a Narrative Springboard for Investigating Race and Racism
Join DoGoodery to learn how to use films in the classroom to foster transformative learning and facilitate learners connecting what is learned to what is felt, which is a key component of transformative learning and behavior change. Using three Original Amazon films and wraparound content developed by educators, you will learn to utilize film as a story form to create an immersive and emotive learning landscape for learners to investigate race and racism.
Addressing a Pandemic Crisis: Violence Against Educators and School Personnel
The United States is experiencing trends of dramatic employee turnover in our nation’s schools. Current and future decisions to leave the field of education affect the quality of our PreK-12 education and the next generations of learners, educators, and school leaders. Physical and verbal violence directed against educators may be exacerbating reports of high stress, transfers and leaving the profession.
Join the American Psychological Association to hear more about the viewpoints and concerns of school personnel across the country.
Register for All 2023 Virtual Conference Webinars
Here is a complete list of all the 2023 virtual conference webinars you can register for. Register for one, or all!
One of the best things about my job is that I get to find free teaching ideas and activities created by educators for the benefit of the growing Share My Lesson community. If you’re looking to augment your lesson planning this month, or any other time of the year, with the unique voices that make women’s history so special, head over to our Women’s History Month collection of free preK-16 resources and be sure to save your favorites!
Women's History Month Lesson Plans & Resources
Use these timely preK-12 lesson plans and class activities to incorporate key figures and historical events in your Women’s History Month lesson planning. This Share My Lesson collection spans topics like women’s suffrage and women’s rights and features influential women in science, social justice and rock-and-roll.
Who inspires you?
Let us know in the comments, or share more resources that your colleagues will find useful in their lesson planning and pursuit of professional goals.
Andy Kratochvil is an SML team member who loves hiking, video games, scary books, Mexican food, and finding great content for the Share My Lesson community.He studied political science and French at California State University, Fullerton and received his Master’s in International Affairs from Americ
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