Equity

This page is intended to support you in the delivery of the equity curriculum that TDSB is has recommended. Pease feel free to add any idea that you have found useful and have had success teaching.











=Teaching Web sites=

[|http://www.readwritethink.org]

Be sure to visit **Read-Write-Think,** a Web site with a full range of liteacy lessons and lilteracy activities that help teach and promote various aspects of literacy.

The following sites can be a start for classroom teachers and teacher-librarians to collaborate and build projects that will promote the values of diversity, equity, and freedom in the global community.


 * The Global Classroom** - This site is organized aroun all levels of the currculum with many simple project ideas from Times Aroung the World, Authors in Residence, and The Art Room. There are hints on starting projects and making contacts internationally. []

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 * The Global Education Network** - This portal offers information and project ideas in five areas: peace and justice, environment, human rights, development, and alternative media. There are also dozens of links and several curriculum units available.

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‍**The EarthWatch Global Classroom** - A comprehensive site, it has many links to reseachers and scientists who take students on virtual tours and provide lessons online fro the classroom. "Virtual Expeditions" and "Teachers teaching form the Field" offer rich authentic learning experiences.===== []

Books to Help with Teaching the Concept of Social Justice:
The resource lists that follow are designed to help teachers to address issues of social justice, specifically, ablism, classism, herosexism, racism, and sexism. They also include resource son how to work for peace.

__**Ablism**__ - is discrimiantion against people who have mental or physical disabilities (Adams, Bell, & Griffin 1997). When I explain it to my students, I say that ablism is being unfair to someone because they are unable to do something. Making fun of someone who can't run as fast as you can or teasing someone who needs glasses to help them see are examples. I also point out that it is ablist when buildings are designed without ramps for people who have trouble walking.

//**Thank-you, Mr. Falker**// by Paticia Polacco This story relates Polacco's own struggles with learning to read. It features a bully who torments her for being"dumb" and a teacher who likes all of his students equally. Pollacco's beautiful illustrations capture the poignancy of her struggle.

//**My Friend Isabelle**// by Eliza Woloson Charlie's mom tells him the "differences are what make the world so great." Simple text and beautiful illustrations help frame Charlie's celebration with Isabelle, a girl with Down'ssyndrome. As Charlie puts it, "Life is more fun with friends like Isabelle."

//**Susan Laughs**// by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross Susan laughs, sings, swings, dances and swims through this book. Susan feels happy, sad, angry, proud, and shy. Susan is good and Susan is bad. Susan does and feels many things. It is not until the final page that the reader learns that Susan also uses a wheelchair.

//**Nathan's Wish**// by Laurie Lears Nathan has cerebral palsy and can't get around without his wheelchair or walker. More than anything, he would like to find a way to help his neighbour, Miss Sandy, who cares for wounded birds. After meeting an owl with a broken wing, Nathan finds ways to help Miss Sandy and the birds.

=Classism= ====**Classism** - is discrimination against people who are poor or workimg class. In simple terms, classism is being unfair to people who are poor or who have less money than you do because they are poor or have less money than you do. When I talk about this with my students I often need to explain terms like working class, middle class, and rich. I also suggest that when employers treat people who are working for them badly, it is a form of classism because they are using their power over them. Teasing someone for being on social assistance is also classist.====

Ni**ce Work, Little Wolf** by Hilda Offen
A poor young wolf is taken in by a family of pids who treat him like a slave, running errands and building houses and swimming pools. At long last, Little Wolf rebels and the pigs flee, leaving him to invite his mother into the mansion proclaiming proudly "it's all my own work." The story is also a good resource for talking about ageism and sexism as the pig family is run on a hierarchy headed by the father.

A Metis girl, given a packet of seeds when her grandmother dies, decides to plant a garden in the city where she is living - Winnipeg. Midway through the summer, her father goes on strike and she uses the vegetables from her garden to make soup for the hungry strikers
 * In the Garden** by Carolyn Mamchur and Meguido Zola

Molly's mom is on strike at the local cannery. When Molly goes with her mom to the picket line one day, she learns that the line is understaffed because everyone has the flu. Mid-afternoon, word comes that a fleet of trucks will be trying to cross the line. With some quick thinking Molly uses her teddy bear and a note to cover the picket's weakest link.
 * Strike!** by Maureen Bayless

=Heterosexism=
 * Heterosexism** - is the belief that heterosexuality is the only natural, normal, acceptable sexual orientation. When I explain it to my students, I say it is being unfair to people who are gay or lesbian because they are gay or lesbian. but it is also heterosexist to make fun of children who have gay or lesbian parents. It is heterosexist to assume everyone is heterosexual and it is heterosexist to use the word "gay" or "lesbian" in a derogatory way. For example, if students say, "That's so gay," meaning the thing in question is not cool, their comment is heterosexist as it implies being gay is uncool.

This simple book reminds you that no matter what your family looks like whether it is made up of a mom and a dad, a single parent, a grandma, two dads or two moms, children or no children - families are the people who love you.
 * Who's in a Family?** by Robert Skutch

The queen decides she wants the prince to get married and begins a hunt for the most suitable princess. What she doesn't realize is that the prince is far more interested in princes. In the end both the queen and the prince are happy as the prince falls in love with a wonderful prince and they get married after all.
 * King and King** by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland

A young boy tells of his family which consists of his mom in one house and his father and his father's partner in another. As he explains it, "Gay is just another kind of love."
 * Daddy's Roommate** by Michael Willhoite

A story of a little girl who has lesbian moms, Mama Kate and Mama Jane. Although this book has been met by controversy, the story itself is far from challenging.
 * Heather Has Two Mommies** by Leslea Newman

Asha's teacher doesn't believe she has two moms and Asha may be unable to go on the class field trip if she doesn't get her permission form signed "properly." Asha's moms and the principal help solve the problem.
 * Asha's Moms** by Rosamund Elwin and Michele Paulse

=Racism=
 * Racism** - is discrimination against members of cultural, ethnic, or racial groups that have little social power by members of cultural, ethnic or racial groups who have relatively more social power. When I talk to student about racism, I say that it is being unfair to people who have a different color of skin than you do or speak a different language then you do.

Grace loves to act out stories. At auditions for the school play one student tells her she can't be Peter Pan because she is Black. Another student tells her she can't be Peter Pan because she is a girl. Grace's Nana helps set things right and encourages Grace to be whoever she wants to be. One of the few books to directly address racism or sexism.
 * Amazing Grace** by Mary Hoffman

A young Ojibway girl comes home confused and sad after friends at school have been playing cowboys and Indians, Her mom and her sister comfort her and plan how she can address the game at the school. In Ojibway and English.
 * Bird Talk** by Lenore Keshig-Tobias and Polly Keshig-Tobias

This poem celebrates the diversity of human skin colors and hair. The pattern-like text makes it useful for extension activities. One good idea is to have children illustrate the poem or write other verses.
 * All the Colors of the Earth** by Sheila Hamanaka

When Lena and her mom take a walk through the neighbourhood, they find that all the different colors of friends and family remind them of treats, like chocolate, honey, peaches, cinnamon and toffee.
 * Colors of Us** by Karen Katz

Cree artist George Littlechild's paintings form a beautiful backdrop for his discussions about Aboriginal history and current challenges,. This book, with its contemporary perspective, would be particularly useful for older students assigned research projects on Aboriginal peoples.
 * This Land is My Land** by George Littlechild

This book discusses the Ojibway prophecy concerning the seven fires of seven eras of the Ojibway people. It would be useful for opening up discussions of the impact of European settlement on Aboriginal peoples.
 * The Seven Fires: An Ojibway Prophecy** by Sally Gaikesheyongai

Newbery Honor book author, Julius Lester, offers a compelling discussion of race. As Lester writes, race is part of the story of who you are, but it is ony part of the story. Lester's gentle text reminds us that "beneath everyone's skin are the same hard bones."
 * Let's Talk About Race** by Julius Lester