RESOURCES

OLD POST cross-posted from an old blog

July 16, 2017

During the school year, we find ourselves in close proximity to one another — popping into each other’s classrooms to see an interesting lesson; walking by each other in the hallways to say “hello”; or waiting by the copy machine and discussing the latest news story we’ve heard on our drive into work.

But, during the summer, we find ourselves in this absence of community. And, yet, in times and days like these, community is precisely what we need. During this week, there were times when I was thankful for colleagues who checked in on me and who were interested in discussing violence in our communities. At other times, I was grateful for my morning run when I tuned out the world and simply listened to my heart and my own breath.

As educators, we have the privilege of engaging in dialogue around meaning and purpose. In many ways, we seek the comfort of our classrooms, hallways and offices where we can more easily find community. But, the summer time brings about new challenges — challenges to connecting, to seeking predictability, and to experiencing our comfort.

If you are a parent reading this list of resources, know that we, as teachers, struggle with how to have conversations with our students about the recent tragedies in our world. Children look for predictability. Children look for comforting responses from adults. Children look for cues that they are going to be alright. But, as adults, we have been forced to question these for ourselves. Know this this is difficult. Know that this is a struggle. Know that you are human and will experience conflicting feelings. And, know that these conversations with our children are important.

Over the past few weeks, I have heard from parents who are seeking resources about how to talk to their children about recent events in our country. I have provided resources for parents and caring adults; for children in our lower division ages (ages 4-8); for children in our middle division (ages 9-11); and for children in our upper division (ages 12-14). It is not an exhaustive list; rather, it is a simple list. I wanted to provide you with some activities or questions that you can “do now” rather than overwhelm you with feelings of “when do I have time to do this?” I have provided a few follow up discussion questions to each activity.

But, parents and families and caring adults, this list doesn’t do anything unless you have the conversation. I’m asking you to have these conversations. Note that the list below doesn’t explicitly prompt you to discuss mass shootings or racism in America or protocol for when you encounter law enforcement with your children. But, those are important, too. If you are just wading into these waters, I’m asking you to engage in conversations — early in the lives of children — where we normalize difference. I’m asking you to engage in conversations — early in the lives of children — where we highlight that people are treated differently and that we must work together to create equity (that people have access to resources and opportunities for success). I’m asking you to engage in conversations — early in the lives of children — where we co-create tools for ourselves to include the humanity of others in our own lives. 

Diversity is who we are. Equity is what we strive to provide. Inclusion is how we get there. 

The other day, I dropped off one of my children at a sleepover. I was talking to the host parent about the incidents in our communities, and she simply asked, “So, what do we do? Where do we start?” I looked over her shoulder at the small group of children who were gathered for the sleepover, giddy over the fact that they hadn’t seen each other since June 18th, our last day of school. They were hugging and smiling and making plans for how late they would stay up that night. Looking deeper, they were children from different racial backgrounds; children from different family structures; children of same-sex parents; children of parents from different racial identities; children from different socioeconomic backgrounds; children with different interests and likes; children from different towns and communities; children with different abilities and disabilities. And, they were all going to spend time together.

I’m not implying that simply bringing together diversity helps our world. Just having diverse groups doesn’t change our world. I am saying that these children — early in their lives — have developed close relationships across identities. They see each other as people. They see each other as humans. They see each other as friends. They see each other’s differences and have come together across, not despite of, these differences. They have parents who have invited children to their homes and who have welcomed them for who they are. They have parents who have committed to driving across three or four towns to encourage friendships. They have parents who are proud of their cultures, families, class, and abilities and who have invited these difference into their lives.

I turned to the host parent and said, “This is where we start.” I’m not sure if she saw the tear roll from my eye. In the midst of writing about so much hate and violence, I had forgotten that this, too — this joy of friendship — exists.

Where will you start? What are you willing to do to invite difference into your life? What must you do in order to create a welcoming and inclusive environment in which others want to join you? 

Below are some resources where you can begin. I hope that these resources springboard you into other areas of literature, social media, conversation, dialogue and experience.

I continue to keep all of the families and communities that are affected by tragedy in our hearts. I hope you will engage in conversations with your children, your family, and your loved ones. And, I hope we commit ourselves to building community, compassion, and connection to all.

With peace,

Liza Talusan, Ph.D., Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

For Parents and Caring Adults

• An article about how to talk to your kids about race
• An article of by a mother reflecting on the lessons she hopes to teach her sons about #BlackLivesMatter
• A StoryCorps about a White mother and a Black son (graphic warning included)
• A NYT article highlighting structural class inequity and health
• An article about how we inadvertently send negative messages about race to our children
• An article about why it is important to talk about Whiteness
• A TED talk from Bryan Stevenson titled “We Need to Talk About an Injustice”
• A list of ways that well-meaning allies are counterproductive
• The manuscript on the impact of racial trauma
• Video of sports announcer Dale Hansen of WFAA TV as part of Hansen Unplugged talking about the tragedy in Dallas

For Students in Lower Division

• A YouTube version of The Sneetches (by Dr. Seuss)
  • How do you think the different characters felt in this video?
  • Have you ever felt left out? What does that feel like?
  • How did the Sneetches change from the beginning to the end?
  • Do you think characters were peacemakers or troublemakers? What would you have done?
  • What things can we do to promote fairness?
  • How can we include everyone?
• Activity: Crack eggs together for scrambled eggs, cake or meatloaf. Use brown and white eggs and discuss how even though they are different colors on the outside they are the same on the inside.
  • What type of eggs do we tend to buy for our house? Do you think we can try other eggs? What difference would that make? What kind of lesson do you think that would teach us in this house?
  • How might this example of the eggs relate to our friends or classmates or family?
• Reading Rainbow (Season 1, Episode 24, free with a Prime membership)
  • “A simple misunderstanding almost kept the boys from becoming friends.” What are some examples where this has happened to you?
  • When you met the two girls, one said, “I just got kind of nervous because I was wondering about all the kinds of things in her house.” How do you feel when you meet someone new? What types of cultural things do we have in our house? What are some examples of cultural items you have seen in other houses?

For Students in Middle Division

• A YouTube version of The Sneetches (by Dr. Seuss)
  • How do you think the different characters felt in this video?
  • Have you ever felt left out? What does that feel like?
  • How did the Sneetches change from the beginning to the end?
  • Do you think characters were peacemakers or troublemakers? What would you have done?
  • What things can we do to promote fairness?
  • How can we include everyone?
• Video featuring children ages 8-11 talking about their reactions to Dr. King’s speech
  • What is your dream for our country?
  • People in our country experience inequality. What are 3 ideas you have for making our country more equal?

For Students in Upper Division

• Video of sports announcer Dale Hansen of WFAA TV as part of Hansen Unplugged talking about the tragedy in Dallas
  • What are your reactions to this?
  • What is something the announcer said that you have heard before? What was something new?
  • What do you have questions about?
• A video called “Which games are culturally insensitive”
  • Do you play these games? Have you noticed this occurring?
  • What can we do as a family to help you understand stereotypes?
  • What should we do when we encounter racial stereotypes in things that we enjoy, like video games or comic books or movies?
  • What impact do you think this is having on you? What kind of impact is it having on your friends or peers?
• A series called “Being 12” which has a few areas addressing race
  • As a family, do you think we talk about race? What kinds of things have you learned from our family about race?
  • What do your peers say about race? Are they aware of racism?
  • If there was one thing you would tell your peers about racism, what would it be?
• Rising Grade VIII students have summer reading assignments that lean into issues of race. We invite you to ask your child about their reading and to engage in conversations that connect their books to our real-world experience.
  • How does the topic of your book relate to what’s happening on our world right now?
  • What types of solutions are offered in your books?
  • What types of challenges to the characters face that are similar to ones we have heard about in the news?