Weekly Digest #80: Resources for Teaching about Racism and Bias, Part 2
(cover image by ND Strupler from flickr)
This digest is Part 2 of a series of resources helping teachers teach and facilitate discussion about racism and bias. Read part 1 here.
This week, we provide 5 resources related to teaching about race and bias. Some of these might be more realistic than others to actually implement in your classrooms - but all provide interesting food for thought.
1) Lesson of a Lifetime by Stephen G. Bloom
This might be a "don't try this at home" exercise; it's certainly quite controversial. It involves creating a false racial divide according to eye color, and demonstrates the power of in groups and out groups, and how quickly allegiances and stereotypes can form. You can find many more details about the exercise and its implications on this website.
2) First Encounters With Race and Racism: Teaching Ideas for Classroom Conversations by Jinnie Spiegler
This new piece includes many excellent concrete suggestions for activities to promote discussions about race in the classroom, including videos and articles with specific discussion questions, as well as writing, drawing, and sharing activities.
3) Ten Teacher Recommendations in Facilitating Conversations About Race in the Classroom by H. Richard Milner IV
This post from Harvard Education Publishing outlines ways in which teachers can make room for and facilitate conversations about race - right from the beginning of the academic year. Ideas include identifying and centralizing evidence from multiple viewpoints, and engaging with a large range of educational stakeholders on the topic of race.
4) Making it Meaningful: Interrupting Biased Comments in the Classroom by Rosalind Wiseman
Sometimes, as teachers we are put in a position where a student has said something inappropriate and we have to strike the right balance between correcting them and shaming them. This article tells you how to do that with skill and grace.
5) 10 Tips for Raising “Woke” Children by Tatiana M. F. Cruz, Ph.D
Though this guide was written primarily for parents, it includes many useful tips that could also apply to the classroom, such as working on understanding one's own biases, ensuring representation, and encouraging critical thinking.
Every Sunday, we pick a theme and provide a curated list of links. If you have a theme suggestion, please don’t hesitate to contact us! Occasionally we publish a guest digest, and If you'd like to propose a guest digest click here. Our 5 most recent digests can be found here:
Weekly Digest #76: YouTube Channels to Help you Study
Weekly Digest #77: Cell Phones in the Classroom
Weekly Digest #78: How to Motivate Children to Learn
Weekly Digest #79: Resources for Teaching about Racism and Bias, Part 1