April 2023 Bookshelf

As the abundance of  “deep fake” content surges and the national political discourse becomes more polarized, media literacy is a necessity for young people. Media literacy can help young people identify legitimate news sources, question the content they see, and understand the interests of news institutions — ultimately developing better-informed citizens and keen critical thinkers. Pick up Sam Shain’s Education Revolution if you want to offer young people the tools to understand how the media impacts their lives and their futures.

While women of color have been disproportionately discriminated against for the majority of civilization, they continue to push forward in pursuit of the respect they deserve. “Sharing rich, personal stories of challenge, resilience, and triumph, this book brings together a collective of diverse women from across North America who advocate for social change and offer pathways and strategies for transformative actions.” This collection of essays shares a range of perspectives, all beautifully written and highly inspiring. Check out this read if you’re looking for a little motivation from women working toward creating a better tomorrow.

In Schooling for Holistic Equity, Don Berg takes a psychological approach to assessing the type of transformation that is needed in education. “Berg lays out the foundation for a scientific understanding of deeper learning grounded in Self-Determination Theory and the primary human needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness.” Berg makes a case for how schools can be joyful places where passionate educators and enthusiastic learners thrive.

As enslaved Africans were barred from receiving an education in the United States, communities worked together, often in secret, to ensure their children had the skills they needed to survive. “Teachers developed covert instructional strategies, creative responses to the persistence of White opposition. From slavery through the Jim Crow era, Black people passed down this educational heritage.” Jarvis R. Givens dives deep into this history in Fugitive Pedagogy and explores how it shows up in our world today.

In a world with ever-changing technology, climates, and politics, planning for the future can be daunting. But, for that reason, looking ahead for new possibilities is more important than ever. “In? Imaginable, Jane McGonigal draws on the latest scientific research in psychology and neuroscience to show us how to train our minds to think the unthinkable and imagine the unimaginable.” Whether you’re working to advance a movement or planning ahead for your own life, McGonigal explores how you can make resilience a cornerstone of your work.