Making Martin Luther King Jr. Day Count

What has MLK day traditionally looked like in schools?

Martin Luther King Jr Day is right around the corner. Most classrooms cover the holiday with some sort of activity right before students have the day off. 

Depending on the grade level you most likely mentioned he was an important figure in history that addressed racial injustice. I’m sure you covered parts of his “I Have A Dream” speech or at the very least the gist of that speech. Maybe you covered in more detail the civil rights movement. 

But my question for you is, is this enough? Or are these surface-level lessons/activities? Rashid Darden, an English/language arts and social studies teacher at YouthBuild public charter school in the District of Columbia stated It’s not that the “I Have a Dream” speech, which King delivered as part of the 1963 March on Washington, is unworthy of teaching, It’s that it’s almost never taught in its entirety, with an eye to its specific rhetoric, craft, and audience”. Why don’t we get into deeper conversations?

Books: Something Happened in Our Town (A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice)

A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation

https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/mlk-more-than-i-have-a-dream

Flag with text I have a dream

Is Your Comfort Level Holding You Back?

I’ve attended so many meetings and conferences where teachers share that they are uncomfortable with talking to their students about the country’s history. They worry they’ll say something wrong. Or that their students are too young to learn about the nation’s cruel and oppressive history.

Educators, you are not popping students’ innocence bubble by bringing up these issues. BIPOC students deal with it regardless of the exposure you bring. And students who are not in the BIPOC community have already seen or heard subliminal messages, microaggressions towards their peers or other members in the community. How can we tackle racism if we don’t talk about racism? 

Books: Civil Rights Then and Now: A Timeline of the Fight For Equality in America 

I am Brave: A Little Book about Martin Luther King, Jr. (Ordinary People Change the World)

Good Night Martin Luther King Jr. (Good Night Our World)

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/history/martin-luther-king-jr/

small chalkboard on a desk that says martin luther king jr day with a small flag right next to it

It’s Not Just About Racism

Here’s the deal with MLK day of course we should address what he contributed to society. But part of his legacy is about courage, speaking up, and peaceful protests. The importance of taking action.

His legacy is about freedom, equality, and social justice. We water his message down when we talk about his speech one day out of the year. These concepts and his ideologies should be addressed year-round.  

Books: Say Something 
Sometimes People March
Speak Up
No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History
How to Make a Better World: For Every Kid Who Wants to Make a Difference

statue of martin luther king jr

Has MLKs dream come to fruition?

One of the most important questions that should be asked when it comes to MLK is has his dream come to fruition? What’s the point of looking at history if we don’t connect it to the present?

Math Struggles Ain’t Just About Numbers

Let’s be B.F.F.R—math can stress kids out. You’ve seen it: the frozen-in-place stare, the pencil tapping like it’s sending an SOS, or the classic “I CAN’T DO THIS!” meltdown before even trying. But here’s the thing—most of the time, their struggle isn’t about numbers. It’s about mindset.

What if we borrowed some life coaching techniques to help our students not just survive math but actually thrive in it? Let’s break it down into simple, practical ways you can empower your students without turning into a full-blown therapist.

 Reframe the Narrative (A.K.A. Flip the Script on “I’m Bad at Math”)

Ever notice how kids say “I’m bad at math” like it’s their official personality trait? That belief is holding them back more than any tricky word problem ever could.

How to Do It:

  • When a student says, “I suck at math,” respond with: “You’re still learning. Let’s find a way that makes sense to you.”
  • Introduce the Power of Yet: “You don’t get it… yet. But your brain is working on it!”
  • Share stories of people who struggled with math and overcame it (bonus points if you can find famous athletes, musicians, or influencers).

Remind them that they once thought tying their shoes was impossible, and look at them now—shoe-tying pros. Math is just another skill that takes practice.

Teach Emotional Regulation (Because Frustration Is a Math Blocker)

We can’t expect students to push through challenges if they’re spiraling into math-induced panic mode. When frustration kicks in, their brains hit the “I’m out!” button.

How to Do It:

  • Pause & Breathe: Before jumping to the “I CAN’T,” have students take a deep breath. Try “breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4.” Simple, but it works.
  • Break It Down: Instead of tackling the whole problem at once, ask, “What’s one thing we DO know?” Small wins build confidence.
  • Normalize Struggle: Post a sign in your classroom: “Mistakes Mean You’re Learning.” Say it. Live it. Believe it! As Naruto says.

Set Micro-Goals (Because Big Goals Can Feel Overwhelming)

If a kid already feels lost, telling them “just keep practicing” is like saying, “just climb this mountain real quick.” Instead, break it into steps.

How to Do It:

  • Instead of “Get better at multiplication,” set a goal like: “Practice a doubling/halving strategy.”
  • Use progress charts so students can SEE their growth. 
  • Celebrate the small wins! Even if they only got one more right than last time—that’s growth!

Remind them “If you can memorize every single lyric to that TikTok song, you can 100% remember a few math strategies.” 
Honestly research shows long term memory is activated when we leverage different modalities in our lessons. It’s how the brain learns math.

Shift from Performance to Progress (Because Speed Ain’t Everything)

Fluency is about thinking efficiently, not racing to the answer. The goal isn’t to turn kids into human calculators—it’s to help them use numbers flexibly.

How to Do It:

  • Replace timed tests with strategy-based challenges (ex: “How many ways can you solve 12 × 8?”).
  • Instead of praising fast answers, celebrate smart strategies: “Ooooh, I love how you broke that down!”
  • Remind them that even adults use tools like calculators and sticky notes—real math is about knowing how to approach problems, not just getting the answer instantly.

 Teach Self-Talk (Because Their Inner Voice Matters More Than You Know)

The way kids talk to themselves about math shapes their experience with it. If they constantly say, “I can’t do this,” their brain believes it. Time to switch up the self-talk game.

How to Do It:

  • Teach “I can” statements: Instead of “I don’t get it,” try “I don’t get it YET, but I can figure this out.”
  • Have students write down one math strength (even if it’s “I’m good at counting on my fingers” – that’s a start!).
  • Encourage students to talk to themselves like they’d talk to a friend. Would they tell a friend, “You’re dumb at math”? No? Then don’t say it to yourself either!

Emphasize- “You wouldn’t let your best friend talk trash about you, so don’t let your brain do it either!”

Coaching Math Mindsets for the Win

At the end of the day, teaching math fluency isn’t just about numbers—it’s about helping kids believe they can figure things out. When we shift from just teaching math to coaching their mindset, we create students who are not only fluent in math but confident in life.

So, here’s your challenge: What’s one small move you can try this week? Whether it’s shifting self-talk, celebrating small wins, or breaking down frustration, pick one and run with it.

Oh, and if you want more strategies like these, check out my Figuring Out Fluency series, (Book 1) (Book 2) where we make fluency engaging, empowering, and (most importantly) actually make sense.

And if you want more math mindset strategies, grab my Guide For Teachers To Help Students With Growth Mindset