Practicing Feminist Pedagogy in Various Classrooms

Teaching Tips

Classroom Setting

Chairs are usually positioned in a full circle to make the classroom more conducive to discussion.

Desks can be arranged in small groups to promote discussion and collaborative learning.

Role of Teacher and Student

Teacher sits with the students in the circle. It is usually difficult for someone outside the classroom to identify the teacher just by observing the way the classroom is arranged.

Students are responsible for their own learning, so they usually dominate the classroom discussion.

*Download: Discussion Tips that will help you prepare students for talking and listening in class. (MS Word, 23K)

Allow each student to express their ideas in the classroom so that their voice is not silenced.

At the beginning of the year, ask the students what they would like to learn and build the curriculum together.

Allow students to disagree and help them accept criticism from each other.

Have students peer evaluate a test, paper, or project.

Encourage students to bring in their own life experiences to aid in their understanding of the subject.

Curriculum

Look through your textbook. If it is lacking information on women, find material that is inclusive and make copies.

Don't hesitate to teach a unit on gender studies or ask questions that make students think about gender differences and equality.

Invite a speaker from an organization or university to speak on gender issues.

Speak to your administration about the importance of embracing diversity in schools.

Organize a club that allows topics about equality to be discussed. Help students learn how to make a difference. http://www.roundrockisd.org/mcneil/clubs/diversity/index.htm

*Download: Lesson Plans that will help you prepare for and plan your classes. (MS Word, 42K)

Resources to Help with Curriculum Development:

All Subjects:

http://www.cybergrrl.com/ - Great to use in any classroom. It contains biographies, quizzes about health, and advice on technology and finding jobs.

http://www.girlpower.gov/ - Another great website to use for any subject in the classroom.

http://www.greatwomen.org/ - All subjects and all grades. This site is National Women's Hall of Fame.

http://www.wowmuseum.org/ - All subjects, all grades. This site discusses women of the west.

http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/whm/activities.htm - All subjects, all grades.

http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/whm/trial.htm - A list of famous trials about women's rights.

http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/whm/bio.htm - A great list of biographies on women for all subjects.

http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/whm/feat_titles.htm - A great list of books to use in your classroom for various subjects.

http://www.ibiblio.org/cheryb/women/wresources.html - Great resource for all subjects.

http://pages.towson.edu/ncctrw/ - A great resource for lesson plans - The National Center for Curriculum Transformation Resources on Women.

http://www.research.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/wfiles_pedagogy.html - Helpful articles about real classroom events.

http://research.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/sensitive.html - Discussions about dealing with sensitive subjects in class.

http://research.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/femped.html - How to grade students.

Diversity:

http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_12/Unit_XIIQ2.html - For middle school discussion on unity and diversity in 1980's.

Feminist Pedagogy:

Rose, Ellen C., and Maralee Mayberry. Meeting the Challenge: Innovative Feminist Pedagogies in Action. – Great advice on how to use feminist pedagogy in various types of classrooms.

http://research.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/quizzes.html - Discussion of quizzes in a Feminist Pedagogy classroom.

http://womens-studies.ohio-state.edu/pedagogy/ - Helpful information and tips about making your classroom fit Feminist Pedagogy.

Gender Issues:

http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/Gender_Studies/GEN0200.html - General lessons for K-2 discussing gender roles.

http://www.maximag.com/ - Teaching gender issues, 9-12. This is more of a magazine for teen girls, but issues of power are discussed in a way that this age can connect.

http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/ - List of films that discuss gender issues.

Health/Sports:

http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Health/Chronic_Conditions/CHR0200.html - Health, 6-8.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/ - Great for health and sex education, 6-12 grades.

http://radicalpedagogy.icaap.org/content/issue2_2/schacht.html - Discusses Feminist Pedagogy in a sports classroom from the view of a male perspective.

http://www.eaze.net/~dene/feminist_pedagogy.html - Feminism and nursing.

Higher Education:

http://www.kckcc.cc.ks.us/human/women/art2.htm - Feminist Pedagogy in a community college.

http://research.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/fem_overhaul - Higher education.

http://atea.cqu.edu.au/content/know_base/rowan.html - Dissertation on teaching a class in an undergraduate classroom.

http://www.usask.ca/wgst/journals/conf3.htm - Higher education.

Literature/Language Arts:

http://www.curriculum.edu.au/download/lesspln/gender.htm - Language arts, 9-12.

http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/ - History and literature, all grades. Excellent site for teaching about women in war.

http://www.wasp-wwii.org/ - History and literature, all grades. This site discusses women that fought in WWII.

http://www.jwa.org/main.htm - Literature, history, or religion, all grades. This website discusses the history of Jewish women.

http://www.mwlusa.org/welcome.html - History, government, literature, and religion, 6-12 grades. This is a page on the Muslim Women's League, which is trying to ensure equality in an Islamic society.

Whaley, Liz and Liz Dodge. Weaving in the Women. – Language Arts, 6-12.

Howard, Jean. Engendering a Nation: A Feminist Account of Shakespeare's English Histories. – Language Arts, 6-12

McGowen, Carolyn. Teaching Literature by Women Authors. – Literature

http://www.as.wvu.edu/~lbrady/laska.html - Annotated Bibliography on Feminist Pedagogy in the Composition Classroom:

http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Topic/WomensStudies/ReadingRoom/Fiction/ - Literature.

*Download: Texts and ideas that can be used to teach gender issues in the classroom or integrate women's literature into the classroom. (MS Word, 61K)

*Download: How to integrate women's literature into the classroom. (MS Word, 29K)

Music:

http://home1.gte.net/esayrs68/FemPed.html - Feminist pedagogy in music class.

Social Studies/History:

http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/Sociology/SOC0006.html - Social studies, 7-12.

http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec4/Unit_12/Unit_XIIQ1.html - Government, 9-12.

http://www.uiowa.edu/~socialed/themes/culture.htm - social studies 6-12\ - Social studies 6-12.

http://www.uiowa.edu/~socialed/lessons/women/women.htm - Social studies, 6-12.

http://www.uiowa.edu/~socialed/lessons/2ndshift.htm - Social studies 9-12.

http://www.jwa.org/main.htm - Literature, history, or religion, all grades. This website discusses the history of Jewish women.

http://www.mwlusa.org/welcome.html - History, government, literature, and religion, 6-12 grades. This is a page on the Muslim Women's League, which is trying to ensure equality in an Islamic society.

http://www.wasp-wwii.org/ - History and literature, all grades. This site discusses women that fought in WWII.

http://www.nwhp.org/ - History, all grades.

http://frank.mtsu.edu/~kmiddlet/history/women.html - History, all grades.

http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/ - History and literature, all grades. Excellent site for teaching about women in war.

http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/ - Women in world history.

http://womenshistory.about.com/ - Women and history.

Technology/Science/Math:

http://www.girltech.com/Teachers/TE_menu_frame.html - Technology, science and math, all grades.

http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/Journal/Issues/1999/Apr/abs520.html - Science and Feminist Pedagogy.

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/English382/big.htm - Technology.

http://www2.educ.ksu.edu/Projects/JRCE/v28-5/christie/article/main.htm - A study done about young children, technology, and gender.

http://www.nae.edu/nae/CWE/cweteach.nsf/weblinks/ZOLA-4ZERAV?OpenDocument - Tips for women in engineering.

Women's Studies:

http://research.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/links.html - Women's studies, 9-12.

http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Topic/WomensStudies/ - Women's studies