May 03, 2010

Linda Christensen discusses joy and justice in new video

Linda Christensen, veteran teacher and director of the Oregon Writing Project, advocates for writing in the classroom to promote social justice.

Through her work as director of the Oregon Writing Project at Lewis & Clark, Linda Christensen helps teachers from all over the state discover a passion for writing and teaching writing. She wants teachers to be respected as “artists and intellectuals” in the classroom. Her new book, Teaching for Joy and Justice, is a guide for teachers on how to use writing as a tool for passion, discussion, social justice, and equity in schools — and a guide for teachers on how to create creative curricula in the face of increasing standardization. In this profile and an accompanying video from the National Writing Project, Linda discusses how teachers can reclaim joy and find justice in the classroom.