Prepare to Teach Choices in Little Rock Workshop

This workshop will introduce teachers to Facing History’s newly revised Choices in Little Rock unit, which delves into the historical context, circumstances, and legacy of the 1957 Little Rock school desegregation crisis and centers the essential question, “How do the choices people make, individually and collectively, strengthen or weaken democracy?” The lessons help students explore the range of choices made by individuals, groups, and institutions before, during, and after the Little Rock desegregation crisis in order to reflect on the power of their own choices today. 

Participants will:

• Explore a variety of primary sources on the history of Brown v. Board of Education and the results of the movement to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957
• Learn a new way of structuring curriculum to help students connect history to their own lives and the choices they make
• Discover new teaching strategies that help students interrogate texts, write and think critically, and discuss controversial issues respectfully
• Increase students’ ability to facilitate respectful classroom discussions on difficult issues such as racism, antisemitism, and other forms of exclusion in a way that invites personal reflection and critical analysis

Who should take this online workshop: 6–12th grade US history, civics, humanities teachers, and curriculum specialists.

Time Commitment: 5 hours

Cost: There is a non-refundable $25 registration fee due once your application has been accepted. The full event fee for this workshop has been waived thanks to generous funding from Facing History & Ourselves donors and partner organizations. The registration fee for educators participating in a District Curriculum Program, Schools Where We Belong, or the Partner Schools Network has also been covered. 

Format: Facilitated Zoom meeting. This interactive workshop will include opportunities for conversation and facilitated breakout sessions. Captioning will be provided during this workshop. Details for joining the Zoom meeting will be shared by email prior to the workshop. This workshop will not be recorded.

Accessibility: Facing History is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive educational environment for educators of all abilities. If you have an accessibility need, please contact us at support [at] facinghistory.org (support[at]facinghistory[dot]org). If possible, requests should be made at least two weeks in advance. Please note: we will make every effort to secure services, but all are subject to availability.

Questions? Contact support [at] facinghistory.org (support[at]facinghistory[dot]org)