January 21st 2024.
Meet Dawnavyn James, an author with a passion for teaching Black history. Her book, "Beyond February: Teaching Black History Any Day, Every Day, and All Year Long," is a 160-page instructional guide designed for educators who want to incorporate Black history into their curriculum for students in kindergarten through third grade.
The book is all about centering Black history in the classroom, as described in its introduction. Drawing from her own experience as a classroom teacher and researcher of Black history, James provides practical tips and strategies for infusing Black history into everyday lessons through read-alouds, music, historical documents, and art.
The inspiration for "Beyond February" came from a blog post James wrote about her own experience teaching Black history in schools. Her words caught the attention of an editor, who encouraged her to turn her ideas into a book. And thus, "Beyond February" was born.
The guide is divided into five sections: Beyond the People, Beyond the Books, Beyond the Curriculum, Beyond the Month, and The Work Doesn't Stop Here. Each section offers picture book recommendations and lesson plans to help teachers take a more holistic approach to teaching Black history.
Currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Buffalo's Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education, James is researching how elementary teachers use picture books to teach Black history. In an interview with UB Now News, she explained her focus on how teachers analyze and teach Black history based on their own knowledge and understanding.
Growing up, James had limited exposure to Black history, with the focus mainly on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But as an educator, she wanted to provide her students with a more comprehensive understanding of their history. "I didn't want my students to have the same limited experience that I did," she said. "So, I made sure to highlight Black history in my classroom year-round, instead of just during Black History Month."
James is a self-proclaimed "Lover of Black Histories" and uses her Instagram platform to share her research and recommend books and educational resources centered around Black history. Her book, "Beyond February," can be purchased on her website or on Amazon.com.
In addition to her book, James also supports the efforts of a Chicago-based publishing company that offers free e-books on Black history. She believes that by empowering educators with the tools and knowledge to teach Black history, we can create a more inclusive and accurate representation of our past and present. As she says, "Black history is not just a month, it's a vital part of our nation's history."
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