National Native American Heritage Month, celebrated every November, is an opportunity for educators to highlight the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Native American communities. Here are some resources and strategies to help you create meaningful group sessions for your students.

<p>National Native American Heritage Month, celebrated every November, is an opportunity for educators to highlight the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Native American communities. As special educators, it’s crucial to present this content in a culturally sensitive and inclusive manner. Here are some resources and strategies to help you create meaningful group sessions for your students.</p>
<h3><strong>1. Utilize Comprehensive Teaching Guides</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/for-teachers.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The National Endowment for the Humanities</a> offers a detailed Teacher's Guide that explores the cultures and histories of various Native American groups. This guide provides context and helps debunk stereotypes, ensuring students receive a well-rounded understanding.</p>
<h3><strong>2. Explore Free Learning Resources</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/free-learning-resources-for-native-american-heritage-month" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Common Sense Education</a> has curated a list of free learning resources that focus on Native Americans and First Nations people in North America. These resources are excellent for integrating into lesson plans and activities, providing diverse perspectives and engaging materials for students.</p>
<h3><strong>3. Learn from Native Educators</strong></h3>
<p>Insights from Native educators can be invaluable. Lynette Stant, a third-grade teacher and member of the Navajo Nation, shares her perspective on celebrating Native American Heritage Month. Her experiences and strategies can inspire educators to create respectful and enriching classroom environments. <a href="https://blog.discoveryeducation.com/native-american-heritage-month/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Discovery Education</a> accomplishes this through its learning channels of vetted, high-quality content that uplifts the voices and stories of Indigenous peoples in an authentic manner.</p>
<h3><strong>4. Broaden the Narrative</strong></h3>
<p>To build a more holistic curriculum, it’s important to incorporate multiple viewpoints and experiences of Native Americans. Students often learn about Native Americans, and usually in the past tense or as helpless “wards of the state.” To counter this, the <a href="https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/native-american-activism-1960s-to-present/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zinn Project</a> offers this collection of recent Native movements and activists who have continued to struggle for sovereignty, dignity, and justice for their communities.</p>
<h3><strong>5. Tell a Better Story of the “First Thanksgiving”</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/Thanksgiving/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This resource</a> from the National Museum of the American Indian provides evidence-based resources, lesson plans, videos, and visuals to help teachers and students dispel the myth of the “First Thanksgiving.” Through this unit, students will examine historical details, circumstances, choices, and events that include Wampanoag perspectives, which have been largely absent from this national story.</p>
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<p>By utilizing these resources and approaches, special educators can create group sessions that honor and celebrate National Native American Heritage Month in a culturally sensitive manner. Consider integrating technology tools such as screen readers, text-to-speech, e-books, and speech-to-text to make the above information more accessible. This not only enriches the educational experience, but also fosters respect and appreciation for the diverse cultures that make up our classrooms, schools, and world. Check out our blog next month for more in depth information on the tech tools mentioned above!</p>
<h4><strong>Citations</strong></h4>
<ol>
  <li style="margin-left:20px">OpenAI. (2024). Response generated by ChatGPT for National Native American Heritage Month. Retrieved October 14, 2024, from [OpenAI ChatGPT] <a href="https://chatgpt.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://chatgpt.com/</a>.</li>
  <li style="margin-left:20px">National Endowment for the Humanities. (n.d.). National Native American Heritage Month - For teachers. National Native American Heritage Month. Retrieved from<a href="https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/for-teachers.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/for-teachers.html</a></li>
  <li style="margin-left:20px">Common Sense Education. (2023, October 12). Free learning resources for Native American Heritage Month. Common Sense Education. Retrieved from<a href="https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/free-learning-resources-for-native-american-heritage-month" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/free-learning-resources-for-native-american-heritage-month</a></li>
  <li style="margin-left:20px">Discovery Education. (n.d.). CelebratewithDE: Native American Heritage Month. Discovery Education. Retrieved from<a href="https://blog.discoveryeducation.com/native-american-heritage-month/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://blog.discoveryeducation.com/native-american-heritage-month/</a></li>
  <li style="margin-left:20px">Zinn Education Project. (2015, November 26). Native American activism: 1960s to present. Zinn Education Project. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/native-american-activism-1960s-to-present/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/native-american-activism-1960s-to-present/</a></li>
</ol>



Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month: Resources for K-12 Special Educators