At the San Francisco Teachers for Social Justice conference this year, I went to a discussion facilitated by Ann Berlak on teaching about class and economic justice. Ann wrote picture book Joelito's Big Decision/La Gran Decision de Joelito. The book is a story of the Fight for 15, told from the perspective of a kid. Joelito learns that his friend Brandon's parents are on strike at McMann's Burgers. They are fighting for a living wage. Joelito goes to McMann's every Friday with his family. Will Joelito cross the picket line?
I used this book during our study of ratio tables in 2nd grade. I had students work with a partner to fill out a 1:7 ratio table. If someone is making $7 dollars an hour, is that enough to live on? If a backpack for Brandon's sister costs $21, how many hours of work is that? Mathematical thinking can be a powerful tool to expose injustice and to inspire some big questions.
I used this book during our study of ratio tables in 2nd grade. I had students work with a partner to fill out a 1:7 ratio table. If someone is making $7 dollars an hour, is that enough to live on? If a backpack for Brandon's sister costs $21, how many hours of work is that? Mathematical thinking can be a powerful tool to expose injustice and to inspire some big questions.