Social Justice Standards Support

Inspired by the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards1, the reference points that are bolded below can enhance your efforts to foster social justice in your educational spaces.

Identity — Develop recognition of diversity through author resources that reflect the complexity of ourselves and the world beyond.

  • Recognize the complexities of cultural identity with this Meet-the-Author Recording from Kevin Noble Maillard on Fry Bread.
  • Encourage an open conversation about disability and difference with this interview from Shane Burcaw on Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability.

Diversity — Respond to diversity by building empathy, respect, understanding, and connection with Diverse Books Collections and Meet-the-Author resources.

  • Examine the importance of respecting other cultures and uniting instead of fighting with this book guide for Thirty Minutes Over Oregon.
  • Respond to author Jasmine Warga's reflection on what it means to have "home" be more of a feeling than a place in this Meet-the-Author Recording from Other Words for Home.

Justice — Analyze bias and injustice from history to present day through Book Guides, Activities, and Lessons.

  • Reflect on the detrimental effects of religious bias while listening to this Meet-the-Author Recording on Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine.
  • Guide deep discussion on the civil rights movement with this teacher's guide for Troublemaker for Justice: The Story of Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the March on Washington by Michael G. Long.

Action — Speak up against social injustice with support and empathy from the voices of authors

  • Listen to authors Ian and Sarah Hoffman as they took action when their child faced gender bias in this Meet-the-Author Recording for Jacob's Room to Choose.
  • Spark discussion on respecting the names of others with this Audio Name Pronunciation with Thanhha Lai.

1. Referenced from "Social Justice Standards: The Teaching Tolerance Anti-Bias Framework." Teaching Tolerance, https://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/2017-06/TT_Social_Justice_Standards_0.pdf.