Empowering Youth to Confront the Climate Crisis in English Language Arts

This special episode of NWP Radio features many of the educators behind Empowering Youth to Confront the Climate Crisis in English Language Arts, a co-published book from Teachers College Press and the National Writing Project. Recorded in three parts, you won't want to miss this comprehensive overview of this important book.00:00 - Introduction/Systems Thinking with Richard Beach and Fawn CanadyRichard Beach and Fawn Canady discuss chapter two of the book, focusing on how to engage students in critiquing and transforming systems impacting the climate crisis. Learn how students can use writing to examine how fossil fuel energy, capitalist economic structures, agriculture, transportation, urban design, and political systems need transformation to address our changing climate.26:52 - Critical Media Literacy with Jeff Share, Andrea Gambino, Amber Medina, and Noah Asher GoldenThis segment explores the intersection of critical media literacy and environmental justice/climate education. Our guests explain why climate change is not merely a scientific problem but an issue of priorities and narratives. Discover how educators can help students understand how dominant cultural stories contribute to our climate crisis and how we can change these narratives to create more sustainable and socially just futures.50:04 - Writing of All Kinds with Allen Webb and Rich NovackAllen Webb and Rich Novack share diverse writing approaches that empower students to engage with climate issues through creative expression, persuasive writing, research, and more. Learn practical strategies for incorporating climate-focused writing across the English language arts curriculum.Related ResourcesBook ResourcesBook Website: Climate Crisis ELAWebsite for Allen's Chapter on climate change and teaching writing: tinyurl.com/y9ebyc5mWebsite for previous book "Teaching Climate Change to Adolescents": climatechangeela.pbworks.comBeach, R. (2025). Adopting a languaging approach for teaching about the climate crisis in English language arts. English Teaching: Practice & Critique, 24(1)Critical Media Literacy ResourcesKellner, D., & Share, J. (2019). The critical media literacy guide: Engaging media and transforming education. Brill/Sense PublishersClimate Crisis ELA: Critical Media Literacy and the Climate CrisisClimate Crisis ELA: Local Ecologies and Critical Media ProductionClimate Crisis ELA: Engaging Elementary Students in Inner-city LAClimate Crisis ELA: Challenging Climate Misinformation and DisinformationCML Framework ResourcesFree-to-use/share PDFs of the CML Framework:English: tinyurl.com/4v5ndatxGerman: tinyurl.com/yckctfp9Mandarin: tinyurl.com/mpfveh85Portuguese: tinyurl.com/mwrkf9szSpanish: tinyurl.com/2fdaz8upAdditional CML Framework Digital Downloadable Posters with Illustrations: drive.google.com/fileAdditional Websites & ResourcesEcomedia LiteracySubject to ClimateCritical Media ProjectBioneersLittle Justice LeadersJeff Share's WebsiteInquire 2 TransformClassroom Caffeine: Antonio LopezJohn Cabot University ArchiveOur Towns, Our Stories