Airlifted, Uplifted: Operation Babylift, Transracial Adoptees, and the Classroom – The Teaching History Her Way Podcast

Send us a textIn this deeply personal and powerful episode of Teaching History Her Way, I sit down with my friend and colleague, Amy Mai Tierney, to discuss her experience as one of the many children brought to the United States through Operation Babylift at the end of the Vietnam War. Amy Mai shares her story of growing up as a transracial adoptee, how she uses history to understand her identity, and the questions that still remain. We explore why it’s essential for history teachers—and all educators—to acknowledge and understand the unique experiences of transracial adoptees in their classrooms. You won't want to miss this conversation full of insight, emotion, and inspiration.Let's be friends and continue the conversation!Instagram: @teachinghistoryherwayX: http://www.twitter.com/historyherwayOn the Web/Blog: https://www.teachinghistoryherway.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/teachinghistoryherwayBlueSky: @historyherway.bsky.socialSupport the production of the Teaching History Her Way Podcast by purchasing some really great history tees. Click here to shop now or go to www.teachinghistoryherway.com and click on "Merch."

1. Airlifted, Uplifted: Operation Babylift, Transracial Adoptees, and the Classroom 37:40
2. History is an Invitation to Wonder: Insights from Kansas Teachers 15:06
3. Badass Women, Badass Stories: Strategies for Highlighting Local Women's History 34:52
4. Art, Exploration, and Wonder with ArtsQ 39:52
5. Teaching World War II with Shane Gower 33:21

Lindsay defines social justice in the classroom as a foundational and cultural mindset of partnership between teacher and student in which students are talking and grappling with meaningful work that has eyes beyond the teacher and changes the community for the better in some way. Additionally, they are able to see mirrors of their own experiences and backgrounds of their identities as well as step into someone else’s experience through this work. To do the work, and fit it into our classes, she tells us to take a topic that students are talking about and then use our historical knowledge and pedagogical background to bring those issues into the class by designing our lessons from the present to the past. She recommends the Social Justice Framework from Learning for Justice as a way to guide you through making work developmentally appropriate.

Lindsay also makes the excellent point that you need to make your classroom a place where students are prepared and ready to talk about the issues at hand as well as be able to work through disagreements. She’s so generously given us a template for Circle Planning, which is a really great discussion method, for our students. Get your free Circle Planning Template here!

Resources:

• Learning for Justice Social Justice Standards: https://www.learningforjustice.org/frameworks/social-justice-standards
• Lindsay’s Website: http://www.lindsaybethlyons.com
• FREE Circle Planning Template from Lindsay: https://extras.lindsaybethlyons.com/herway