Today Dawnavyn James joins the pod!

 Dawnavyn's main message is TEACH BLACK HISTORY! Dawnavyn is an early childhood, elementary, and Black History educator. She is a PhD student at the University at Buffalo and a fellow for the Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education. Her research interests include elementary Black history education, instruction, and curriculum development.

I so enjoyed talking to Dawnavyn after following her on Instagram for several years. You’ll hear me fan girl a little as it was our first time on Zoom, and I’m so used to seeing her on screen on social media flexing a cool outfit but really trying to tell you about Black History through picture books. I refer to her Instagram (@queendomteaching) a lot here because its how I’ve gotten to know of her important work, and I encourage all of you to check it out just for the picture book references alone that you can use with your learners, your own children, or even yourself.

We talk about how picture books are great for everyone in this interview, we talk about teaching black history, we talk a little bit about Black Joy, (as, from my perspective, Dawnavyns joy radiates!) We talk about teaching kindergarten and teaching teachers. I’m thrilled and so grateful to Dawnavyn for having agreed to come on the show and share her thoughts and recommendations not only for teaching Black history (beyond enslavement), but for teaching all sorts of things in a world where politicians are trying to regulate the content of the classroom. We are pushing back with the most basic and logical argument for teaching an inclusive history that elicits all sorts of honest questions from students. Thank you for being here, Dawnavyn, and for the work and light you’re putting into the world!

Show links

Follow @queendomteaching on ig to connect with dawnavyn (that's how i did it!). Follow her so you can stay posted on her resources and her upcoming book!

Dawnavyn James is an early childhood, elementary, and Black History educator. She is a PhD student at the University at Buffalo and a fellow for the Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education. Her research interests include elementary Black history education, instruction, and curriculum development.