SELECTIONS FROM THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR TEACHING FOR JOY AND JUSTICE

1. Writing Poetry

The Role of Poetry: Community Builder, Grammar Text, and Literary Tutor

“Raised by Women”: Celebrating Our Homes 

The Age Poem: Building a Community of Trust

“Knock Knock”: Turning Pain Into Power

Teaching Writing: Making Every Lesson Count

Move Over, Sisyphus: Teaching Grammar and Poetry

Unleashing Sorrow and Joy: Writing Poetry from History and Literature

2. Narrative Writing

Teaching Narrative Writing: Why It Matters

Read-Around Procedure

Can’t Buy Me Love: Teaching About Clothes, Class, and Consumption

Writing for Justice

Trolling for Stories: Lessons from Our Lives

3. Writing Essays

Writing Wild Essays from Hard Ground

Honoring Our Ancestors: Building Profile Essays

Hurricane Katrina and Everyday Heroes

4. Literature in Context

Beyond Anthologies: Why Teacher Choice and Judgment Matter

Warriors Don’t Cry: Connecting History, Literature, and Our Lives

Literature Circles: Slavery and Resistance

5. Language and Power

Uncovering the Legacy of Language and Power

Putting Black English/Ebonics Into the Curriculum 

Into the World Project

6. Responding to Student Work

The Politics of Correction: Learning from Student Writing

7. Grading: Moving Beyond Judgment

My Dirty Little Secret: I Don’t Grade Student Papers

Christensen’s Grading Policy