Online classes, lessons on resistance, Teaching for Black Lives study group spotlight, & more
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Coordinated by Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change.
Escaping Slavery by Sea
Maritime escape was a long, slow-moving, and unstoppable oceanic wave of resistance, bigger and more powerful than we have ever known.
— Marcus Rediker
On Monday, May 4, join historian Marcus Rediker, in conversation with Rethinking Schools editor Jesse Hagopian, to explore the hidden history of enslaved people who escaped not by land, but by sea.
Across the waterways of the Carolinas, Chesapeake Bay, and northern ports, thousands of freedom seekers stowed away on ships and forged paths to liberation across the Atlantic world, including Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.
ASL interpretation and professional development certificates provided.
In the Poetry of Defiance lesson, students create a collective poem exploring the daily, creative, brave, and varied forms of resistance to slavery, including sabotage, maintaining family and community, cultural practices, resistance at work, escape, confrontation, revolt, and more.
Now in its sixth year, the Zinn Education Project is sponsoring 50 Teaching for Black Lives study groupsfor the 2025–2026 school year, supporting anti-racist educators nationwide.
Amid ongoing attacks on honest history education, educators continue to help students think critically and imagine more just futures. Many groups also organized programming for the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.
In Orem, Utah, teacher educators partnered with the Black Student Union at Utah Valley University for a guiding principlesevent. Associate professor and group coordinator Laurel Dias writes: “Everyone I talked to was excited to be part of the event and share their perspectives and ideas.”
Join us on Monday, May 11, for a 45-minute informational session for educators interested in forming a Teaching for Black Lives study group in their school, district, or statewide.
Hear from study group coordinators, Sharae Green, middle school teacher in Elk Grove, California; Haileigh Mejia, middle school special education teacher in Iowa; and Nicole Seymour, early education programs consultant in California.
Learn about the benefits and logistics of hosting a study group. Jesse Hagopian, Teaching for Black Lives co-editor and Rethinking Schools editor will facilitate. There will be time to ask questions and meet other educators in small groups.
The spring 2026 issue of Rethinking Schoolstakes a deep dive into the inspiring, imaginative teacher organizing that helped produce the January uprising in Minneapolis against ICE.
The issue also features two reflections from administrators — one about the importance of creating and supporting dual language programs and biliteracy, and another detailing efforts to rebuild community after losing his school to the Eaton Fire. And so much more!
Rethinking Schools co-coordinates the Zinn Education Project and is the source for many of the lessons and articles on the site. Subscribe to the magazinefor new content quarterly.
Check out these events hosted by the Zinn Education Project, our coordinating organizations (Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change), and our colleagues. All events are online unless noted otherwise.
On Monday, May 11, join us for a 45-minute informational session on how to form a Teaching for Black Lives study group.
Join Rethinking Schools on Thursday, May 14, for a conversation on how teacher unions are leading the fight against fascism and ICE in their communities and schools. In this webinar, we will learn, celebrate, and amplify the lessons of the people heroically fighting back against ICE occupation — from Chicago to Los Angeles to Minneapolis.
From the classroom to the streets, we need to defend our students and together learn the most effective ways to kick ICE out of our schools and communities.
Join us for a Media Workshop onThursday, May 21.
This is a participatory and informative workshop on effective media strategies — with time to practice responding to Teach Truth FAQs and American Revolution FAQs in small groups. Facilitated by Rethinking Schools editor Jesse Hagopian. Learn more and register.
Teachers are under attack for teaching truthfully about U.S. history. Please donate so we can continue to offer free people’s history lessons and resources, and defend teachers’ right to use them.
