Latinx Studies Curriculum in K12 Schools A Practical Guide

Created by an interdisciplinary team of researchers in partnership with a large urban school district, this guidebook helps teachers and school leaders in Texas and beyond learn how to overlay Latina/o/x Studies content on top of existing state standards, providing a practical roadmap toward historically accurate, culturally relevant curricula and instruction that can be injected into all K-12 social studies classes. Following a detailed introductory essay synthesizing the field for new practitioners, it provides detailed explanations of seven major themes that define Latinx Studies across time and space, each accompanied by embedded “enduring understandings” and “essential questions” to jumpstart the process of backward design. For Texas teachers and school districts, the guidebook also includes content maps that provide guidance on sample lessons for specific units in each course and grade level. Finally, educators can draw upon detailed annotated bibliographies to identify supplemental resources, guidance for learning activities outside the classroom, and a scope and sequence for a high-school Latinx Studies elective. This is essential reading for teachers and district leaders who seek to provide culturally relevant instruction to improve student outcomes among the nation’s largest and fastest-growing ethnic group.

DAVID COLÓN is professor of English and former director of the Latina/o Studies program, while MAX KROCHMAL is associate professor of history and the founding chair of the Department Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies, both at Texas Christian University.