Reimagining Civic Education

This volume surveys the new global landscape for democratic civic education. Rooted in qualitative researc, the contributors explore the many ways that notions of democracy and citizenship have been implemented in recent education policy, curriculum, and classroom practice around the world. From Indonesia to the Spokane Reservation and El Salvador to Estonia, these chapters reveal a striking diversity of approaches to political socialization in varying cultural and institutional contexts. By bringing to bear the methodological, conceptual and theoretical perspectives of qualitative research, this book adds important new voices to one of educationOs most critical debates: how to form democratic citizens in a changing world.

Reimagine civic education! This innovative resource provides practical strategies and technological resources for creating authentic, engaging learning experiences that empower students to participate in civic discourse and action. It examines the current reality of civic education in the United States and other democracies, identifies why change is necessary, and guides readers on how to spark interest and build skills for participating in a democratic society. K-12 educators and leaders will: Learn how to transform civic education to prepare students to become active and engaged citizens Discover how to weave civic instruction across the curriculum to create authentic, interdisciplinary projects. Explore games and other activities that enhance student engagement and understanding of civics Receive lesson examples of effective civic instruction for various grade levels and subject areas Understand how to create opportunities for teaching democratic values through productive civil discourse Contents: Introduction Part I: Civic Education in 2022 Chapter 1: Civic Education in 2022 Chapter 2: What Works in Civic Education Part II: Modern Civic Education in Action Chapter 3: The Power of Action Civics and Authentic Experiences Chapter 4: Engagement in Civil Discourse Chapter 5: News Media Literacy for Combating Misinformation Chapter 6: Engagement Through Games, Simulations, and Competitions Part III: Civics Lessons Across Subject Areas Chapter 7: Civics Lessons for English Language Arts and Social Studies Chapter 8: Civics Lessons for Science and Mathematics Chapter 9: Interdisciplinary Civics Experiences Epilogue References and Resources Index

Reimagine civic education! This innovative resource provides practical strategies and technological resources for creating authentic, engaging learning experiences that empower students to participate in civic discourse and action. It examines the current reality of civic education in the United States and other democracies, identifies why change is necessary, and guides readers on how to spark interest and build skills for participating in a democratic society. K–12 educators and leaders will: Learn how to transform civic education to prepare students to become active and engaged citizens Discover how to weave civic instruction across the curriculum to create authentic, interdisciplinary projects Explore games and other activities that enhance student engagement and understanding of civics Receive lesson examples of effective civic instruction for various grade levels and subject areas Understand how to create opportunities for teaching democratic values through productive civil discourse Contents: Introduction Part I: Civic Education in 2022 Chapter 1: Civic Education in 2022 Chapter 2: What Works in Civic Education Part II: Modern Civic Education in Action Chapter 3: The Power of Action Civics and Authentic Experiences Chapter 4: Engagement in Civil Discourse Chapter 5: News Media Literacy for Combating Misinformation Chapter 6: Engagement Through Games, Simulations, and Competitions Part III: Civics Lessons Across Subject Areas Chapter 7: Civics Lessons for English Language Arts and Social Studies Chapter 8: Civics Lessons for Science and Mathematics Chapter 9: Interdisciplinary Civics Experiences Epilogue References and Resources Index

In this special edition, we call attention to the role of Critical Multicultural Citizenship Education (CMCE) in schools, societies and global contexts. The fundamental goal of CMCE is to increase not only the students’ awareness of, and participation in, the political aspects of democracy, but also students’ abilities to create and live in an ethnically diverse and just community. Global migration and increasing diversity within nations are challenging conceptions of citizenship all over the world. The percentage of ethnic minorities in nation- states throughout the world has increased significantly within the past 30 years. The United States Census, for example, projects that 50% of the population will consist of culturally, linguistically, racially, ethnic, and religiously diverse groups by 2050. With an increase growth of diversity within national borders, issues concerning educational equity, equality, and civic engagement have not always been well attended to in educational and societal contexts. Growing ethnic diversity in schools/ society has not automatically led to a dismantling of persistent educational barriers or structural inequalities. In the past decade, culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse populations have faced barriers impacting their rights as citizens in the United States and international contexts. Citizenship, and the rights that are associated with being a citizen, are re-framed when culturally, ethnically, and linguistically students seek equality. In 2020, many urban cities in the United States witnessed Latino/Black youth demonstrate peacefully guided by social justice and their civic responsibilities. Similarly, in international contexts students have demonstrated civil disobedience by expressing concerns about their rights as citizens and the disempowerment of communities. We emphatically believe that students in K-12 settings must begin to understand their rights as citizens and also advocate for the rights of others in order for communities in the U.S. and international contexts to achieve democracy.

This book offers nuanced analyses of the narratives, spaces, and forms of citizenship education prior to and during the aftermath of the January 2011 Egyptian Revolution. To explore the dynamics shaping citizenship education during this significant socio-political transition, this edited volume brings together established and emerging researchers from multiple disciplines, perspectives, and geographic locations. By highlighting the impacts of recent transitions on perceptions of citizenship and citizenship education in Egypt, this volume demonstrates that the critical developments in Egypt’s schools, universities, and other non-formal and informal spaces of education, have not been isolated from local, national, and global debates around meanings of citizenship.

As former elementary school teachers, the authors focus on what is possible in schools rather than a romantic vision of what schools could be. Based on a 5-year study of an elementary school, this book shows how civic engagement can be purposive and critical—a way to encourage young people to examine their environment, to notice and question injustices, and to take action to make a difference in their communities and school. Focusing on the intersection of student voice and critical inquiry, the book describes how to embed civic engagement into curriculum, school decision-making processes, and whole-school activities. Chapters provide an overview of what research has demonstrated about civic engagement at the classroom, school, and community levels, including detailed descriptions of activities and lessons for practice. Classroom teachers, school principals, community members, and teacher educators can use this resource to foster a deeper, richer understanding of what is entailed in civic life. Book Features: A vivid portrait of a “typical” public school that wants to do more than teach to the test.An examination of the conditions that enable young people to participate in democratic practices, including identifying and questioning injustices.Concrete examples of student voice and critical inquiry in classroom contexts.Practices and activities that encourage children to get along with others, exchange perspectives, and work across differences. “Offers a suggestive range of evidence that high-quality civic engagement initiatives can enhance students’ academic, social, and emotional engagement. . . . It reveals the nitty-gritty of how experienced teachers can enable children who are immersed in meaningful civic work also to engage more deeply with mathematical problem-solving, peer collaboration, literacy and social studies learning, and development of empathy and mutual trust.” —From the Foreword by Meira Levinson “Mitra and Serriere show us not only that elementary-aged children are capable of civic engagement, but how such engagement can be nurtured in the classroom. Children can be active civic participants; this book demonstrates both the power of this idea and how we might accomplish this essential task.” —Beth C. Rubin, Rutgers University

Underscoring the complex relationship between civic engagement and education at all stages of life, this innovative Handbook identifies the contemporary challenges and best approaches and practices to encourage civic engagement within education.

"By nearly every measure, Americans are less engaged in their communities and political activity than generations past.” So write the editors of this volume, who survey the current practices and history of citizenship education in the United States. They argue that the current period of “creative destruction”—when schools are closing and opening in response to reform mandates—is an ideal time to take an in-depth look at how successful strategies and programs promote civic education and good citizenship. Making Civics Count offers research-based insights into what diverse students and teachers know and do as civic actors, and proposes a blueprint for civic education for a new generation that is both practical and visionary.