How are we teaching and talking about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? That is a question that is often met with silence, a printable activity or a single book. I want to start by saying those responses are normal and a great starting place to shift the conversation from “What did Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. do?” to “Who was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?” But why do we need to shift the conversation? I believe that shifting can help us start the conversation about who is Dr. King, and extend it beyond January with children in your classroom by helping them see the entirety of his personhood and not just one or two of his accomplishments.
THIS MONTH
This interactive mini series previewed above is presented by THENCE at month.thence.us
As an educator, it is my goal to expand the child’s world to other possibilities and one of those possibilities is see Dr. King for more than an activist. He was a father, husband, pastor, a music lover, and an avid reader. And in seeing him as a regular person, our children can also see that they will be able to accomplish many important goals that they hold now or in the future.
I am so excited to talk about how we as adults can honor the life's work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the children, and even the very young kids in our lives.
Why do we need a course about honoring MLK? It’s not just to check a box in our classrooms. If you are an educator, parent or a loved one, talking about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can be a great introduction to explore humanity, values and human rights.
We can see Dr. King in his full humanity, and explore the whole scope of his work. Talking about Dr. King is more than just a January occasion. It’s a place of inspiration to ground children in the beliefs, values and struggles of MLK. The practices and related activities I introduce here can truly be foundational to your teaching and inspirational to the children’s learning.
So let's get started! My course is available at This Month a free teaching and professional development resource for eductors K-12+
You can also Navigate to month.thence.us enjoy!