Happy Thanksgiving! I was a teacher for 15 years. Teaching is the hardest thing I’ve done. There is a lot of joy and a lot of pain. Since the election, teaching has gotten even harder. Not only do teachers have to maintain a safe space for all students, but they also have to figure out how to respond. Teaching is political.

Today’s edition of Extras is about teaching after the election. If you’re not a teacher, you may want to, in addition to donating to deserving organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, head on over to your favorite local teacher and slip them a $100 bill for all that they do.

“What Do I Say?” Stories From the Classroom After Election Day

Many teachers I know said there wasn’t enough time between Election Day and the next morning to get ready for their students. Here are poignant firsthand accounts from teachers from Wednesday, the day after — as well as their students’ letters, drawings, and photographs. If teachers take care of children, who takes care of teachers?

What It's Like Teaching '1984' After Trump's Election

Bay Area English teacher Andrew Simmons writes about his experience teaching George Orwell’s 1984, and how he is “ecstatic to be a teacher at this time in American history.” Mr. Simmons believes that “bravery is something that people can be taught,” and that books are “rich, perpetual gifts to those in need of solace and inspiration.”

I prepared these berries all by myself.

Teaching After Trump

Professor Melissa Febos, who teaches literature and creative writing at a conservative private college in New Jersey, discusses how she approaches teaching students who are different from her. Prof. Febos is careful not to alienate; she hides her own identity; she asks for compassion. Though she may get results, I worry she’s not telling the truth.

Most Students Don’t Know When News Is Fake

According to a new Stanford study, teenagers think an online source is true when it (1) contains a lot of details, (2) includes a photograph, and/or (3) it confirms something they already believe. (This is likely true for adults, too.) Professor Sam Wineburg calls for the teaching of critical reading skills in social studies classes. I wholeheartedly agree.

Thanks for reading Extras #68! Please email me back with your thoughts. You may notice that all four articles today centered on a theme. Do you like this, or do you prefer a more random assortment of articles? I’ll keep you posted on where Extras is heading, and in the meantime, have a great week, and I’ll see you next Thursday at 9:10 am.