The Moment Archive

The PBS series Reconstruction: America After the Civil War has viewers across the country learning and talking about this critical period in U.S. history. These resources offer ways for educators to carry the lessons of Reconstruction into their schools and communities and a reminder of why we must be honest with students about the hard history of American slavery.

For many of our students, academic preparation isn't enough to ensure a smooth testing season. In this edition of The Moment, we offer tips for dealing with this stressful time of year—including resources for understanding and countering stereotype threat and affirming all your students.

Did you know that, in seven states, April is officially designated as Confederate History Month? Or that Confederate monuments can be found from Portland, Oregon, to the Bronx in New York? These resources can help you teach the real history behind the "Lost Cause" and public monuments in its honor—and explore how communities are challenging this false narrative.

As we reflect on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, we know that many people teach about his legacy in the context of a purely progressive view of history—devoid of regression, repression and missed opportunities. But that simply isn't true, and we do our students a disservice when we teach this way. These resources can help you teach history in a way that encourages students to see their role in it.

This week, the power of words is illustrated in two celebrations: the beginning of National Poetry Month and Maya Angelou's birthday. Angelou's life, words and activism offer a unique opportunity to show students how writing is shaped by identity and experience, and the power words can bring. These resources can help you make that introduction and inspire the poets, thinkers and activists in your school—so their words, too, can sing.