Holidays
Learn more about how and what schools teach about religious and cultural holidays
Equity & Diversity
Q&A
Talking About Religion Is Hard. This District Leader Says Schools Should Do It Anyway
The Bellevue, Wash., district leader emphasizes that students need to be prepared to navigate a multicultural world.
School Climate & Safety
Do Holidays Belong in Public Schools? It's a Controversial Question in December
Whether it's classroom decorations or lessons on religious traditions, educators have wide-ranging opinions and practices.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Opinion
A Lesson in Gift-Giving, According to Research
Here’s a new way to think about the holiday spirit for young and old alike.
School & District Management
A Thanksgiving Reading List (With Extra Gravy)
A guide to gratitude, inclusion, and education for the holiday season.
Curriculum
Q&A
Juneteenth: How and Why It Should Be Taught in K-12 Schools
The national holiday's legacy is worth studying year-round, says the leader of a Black education research collective.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Kids Are Balancing Fasting and School During Ramadan. How to Support Them
Muslim children often have to juggle their religious obligations with academics, extracurricular activities, and other social pressures.
Student Absenteeism
Why Students Ghost the Day After Halloween (And What Schools Can Do About It)
Missing school on Nov. 1 can for some students lead to chronic absenteeism and academic problems down the road.
School Climate & Safety
Schools Ban 'Squid Game' Costumes for Halloween
N.Y. school officials are telling parents the popular Netflix series has no place in schools, either as a costume or a game at recess.
Curriculum
As Thanksgiving Approaches, 'Unlearning' History Continues
Thanksgiving offers schools an opportunity to take a hard look at narratives that minimize colonial oppression of Native Americans.
Social Studies
Teachers Rethink the Real Lessons of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is seen as a feel-good holiday, but many argue the way its taught in schools perpetuates a myth and dishonors Native Americans.
Teaching
Opinion
Use the Lead-Up Time to School Breaks for 'Hidden' Learning Opportunities
John Spencer, Kevin Parr, Jessica Torres, and Tammy Quist share their suggestions on how to handle the time leading up to school breaks.
Teaching
Opinion
The Blessings of Liberty Include Fully Public Education
I think I was experiencing the sacred last night, watching the 90-something Navy man sing 'Anchors Aweigh' in the front row--and the grandfathers who served in Vietnam shyly nod to each other across the crowd. I also thought about where and how those men and women were educated. Where did they absorb the idea that citizenship is both blessing and duty? Who taught them to read and calculate, who nurtured their talents and their dreams?
Teaching
Opinion
For Valentine's Day, Students Can Lead the Way
If we provide structure for students to raise their voices and take action, they can astonish us with their capacity—and show us a good time!
Curriculum
Opinion
Holiday Movies That Will Spark Fun Class Discussion
Holiday movies offer opportunities to talk about family traditions, charity, and treating other people the way we wish to be treated.