We know that you, our community of educators and leaders, face many challenges in cultivating anti-racist, transformative classrooms. So many of you tell us how you work to create safe, anti-bias spaces that center the lived experiences of your students. How do you create space for students to process violent global events?
Many of our students and families have direct experiences of violence and war. Talking about current events can trigger trauma responses. While for some students, war feels distant; for others, it is a lived reality still present in body, mind, and spirit.
Here are 3 ways to make space for students to turn hard conversations into transformative conversations:
Draw upon an ethic of love: What touchstones or practices of conversation help you and your students to create a loving container for conversation? How do students contribute to an ethic of love in classroom conversation?
Equip your students: What tools do students have to articulate their needs and boundaries and advocate for themselves?
Be honest: It’s ok to say, “I don’t know.” Set boundaries to honor your own experiences and process.
For more tips, download the framework for transformative conversations.
Russia/Ukraine Conflict