Events | Book | Guides | Magazine | Add’l Resources
This resource page is for Teaching for Black Lives Study Group members only.
Events
As a Teaching for Black Lives study group, you are invited to attend monthly classes and workshops hosted by the Zinn Education Project.
All study group members are encouraged to attend at least three Teaching for Black Lives Campaign events, including the national welcoming and closing celebrations. Generally, there is one special event, workshop, class, or training per month.
All of these events are online, at 4:00 pm PT/ 7:00 pm ET, and last for 60 to 90 minutes unless otherwise noted.
ASL Interpretation will be available upon request. Please register at least four days in advance to give our team time to schedule interpreters.
♦ Study Groups Only
2025
Monday, August 18
General Orientation for Coordinators
This participatory orientation is for Teaching for Black Lives study group coordinators. Participants will hear from Teaching for Black Lives editor Jesse Hagopian. Coordinators will plan for the 2025–2026 school year and meet study group coordinators across the country to exchange ideas about their Teaching for Black Lives study group.
Saturday, August 23
Social Justice Curriculum Fair
This fair is an opportunity for D.C. area educators to connect in person while exploring curriculum aligned with various social justice themes.
Clint Smith
Monday, August 25
How the Word Is Passed: Remembering Slavery and How It Shaped America with author and educator Clint Smith. This session is a Teach the Black Freedom Struggle Online Class.
In conversation with Rethinking Schools editor Jesse Hagopian and educator and Prentiss Charney Fellow Jessica Rucker, will discuss the new young readers edition of How the Word Is Passed: Remembering Slavery and How it Shaped America, which was adapted by Sonja Cherry-Paul.
Wednesday, September 17
Racial Autobiography Orientation for Coordinators
This participatory orientation is for Teaching for Black Lives study group coordinators. Participants will hear briefly from Teaching for Black Lives editor Jesse Hagopian and a panel of alumni coordinators. You will engage in a racial autobiography activity. We are hosting this session at the request of coordinators who noted it would be helpful to consider racial identity as part of group facilitation. There will be time for small group discussion with fellow study group coordinators.
Eve L. Ewing
Monday, September 22
Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism with scholar Eve L. Ewing. This session is a Teach the Black Freedom Struggle Online Class.
In conversation with Rethinking Schools editor Jesse Hagopian and Rethinking Schools executive director Cierra Kaler-Jones, scholar Eve L. Ewing will discuss her book, Original Sins, an examination of how the U.S. school system helps maintain racial inequality and social hierarchies.
Monday, September 29
Teaching with How the Word Is Passed Young Readers Edition curriculum workshop for Teaching for Black Lives study groups
Monday, October 6
Welcome Session for Teaching for Black Lives Study Groups
This participatory and engaging workshop will welcome study group members and coordinators into their year-long inquiry into Teaching for Black Lives. You will hear from the book’s editors (Dyan Watson, Jesse Hagopian, and Wayne Au) and meet other study group participants from across the country.
Saturday, October 18
Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference
“Rethinking Our Classrooms, Organizing for Better Schools” is the theme for the 18th Annual Northwest Teaching for Social Justice Conference to be held at Parkrose High School in Portland, Oregon. Jesse Hagopian, Rethinking Schools editor and Teaching for Black Lives co-editor, will give the keynote. There will be speakers, workshops, a resources fair, and more.
Monday, October 27
Jeanne Theoharis
King of the North: Part Two with historian Jeanne Theoharis. This session is a Teach the Black Freedom Struggle Online Class.
Theoharis will return to discuss her book, King of the North: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life of Struggle Outside the South, with Rethinking Schools editor Jesse Hagopian. This class is part two to a March 2025 Teach the Black Freedom Struggle class with Theoharis where she discussed the book just prior to its release. Given the extent of King’s organizing in the north, and the in-depth history covered in the book, this second class will dive deeper into King’s influence in the north and beyond.
Wednesday, November 5
Welcome Session for Teaching for Black Lives Study Groups (2nd Option)
Saturday, November 8
Native Knowledge 360° Teach-In (12:00PM – 3:00PM ET / 9:00AM – 12:00PM PT)
The annual Native Knowledge 360° Teach-In, hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in collaboration with Teaching for Change, is an opportunity for educators around the world to access classroom resources from NMAI’s online education portal Native Knowledge 360°, the Zinn Education Project, and more. This event will be hosted ONLINE via Zoom.
Tuesday, November 18
Teaching with King of the North Curriculum Workshop for Teaching for Black Lives study groups
Engage with key excerpts from Jeanne Theoharis’ King of the North: Martin Luther King’s Freedom Struggle Outside of the South. There will be time to connect with other study groups to discuss ways to adapt the resources.
2026
Tuesday, January 13
Black Lives Matter at School Planning Workshop
Study group members will hear from Black Lives Matter at School coordinating committee member and Teaching for Black Lives co-editor, Jesse Hagopian, about the origins of the movement. We will provide ideas for the annual Week of Action (first week of February) in your school and give you time in breakout groups to connect with other study groups.
Guides
Guides
Study Guide
This guide, for teachers who are reading Teaching for Black Lives, includes thought-provoking questions for discussion, ideas for action, and resources for groups and individuals. Written by Cierra Kaler-Jones and Jesse Hagopian. Download the Teaching for Black Lives Study Guide.
Facilitation Guide
This month-to-month guide includes prompts and suggestions for study group meetings plus best practices for communication and engagement. Feel free to adapt and build off of to fit your own setting and your group’s particular needs.
Book
The heart of the study groups is collectively reading, discussing, and applying what you learn from the Teaching for Black Lives book. You’ll find a compilation of essays, teaching activities, role plays, poems, and artwork, designed to illuminate the movement for Black students’ lives, the school-to-prison-pipeline, Black history, gentrification, intersectional Black identities, and more. The book is edited by Wayne Au, Jesse Hagopian, and Dyan Watson.
Rethinking
Rethinking Schools
Each study group member receives a complimentary one-year Rethinking Schools subscription (digital and print). If you haven’t subscribed, please do so TODAY by following these instructions:
- Visit this dedicated page for your one-year subscription.
- Use code ZEPSTUDYSUB24
Beyond your study group members, do not share the code — there is only one subscription per study group member. For questions about the subscription, extending a current subscription, or if you don’t receive a printed issue, email orders@rethinkingschools.org.