# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM3Lfk751cg.

The video I found is on YouTube. In this video, the woman in the video (Dena) discusses six ways to be an Anti-Racsit Educator.

# data[].attributes.headline
9 Tips Teachers Can Use When Talking about Racism 

# data[].attributes.subject
9 Tips Teachers Can Use When Talking about Racism 

# data[].attributes.body
This article includes nine

tips that teachers can use when discussing racism in the classroom. A couple of these tips are providing accurate historical context, focusing on change rather than blame or shame, and modeling inclusive behavior. This article also includes a couple of videos that would be relevant to the conversation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As Black Lives Matter protests rage across the world, many of us are motivated to learn more about racism, and talk to our students and children in ways that can facilitate change.

Education is a powerful tool for creating change. So, it's important teachers don't shy away from difficult conversations in the classroom, even if they may feel daunting.

Here are some things teachers can consider to help them discuss racism with their students.

1. Provide accurate, historical context

Understanding and coming to terms with past racist practices is essential to an anti-racist education.

When historical oppression is denied, omitted or whitewashed - as when Prime Minister Scott Morrison incorrectly claimed Australia didn't have a history of slavery - it is difficult to explain how racism still affects black, Indigenous and people of colour today.

Read more: Was there slavery in Australia? Yes. It shouldn't even be up for debate

A teacher can take students to visit memorials and museums, or ask them to research place names. Do names in your local community, for example, hark back to racist practices? In some towns, " Boundary Road " recalls a line Indigenous Australians could not cross after curfew.

Teachers can encourage students to critically reflect on whose stories are celebrated in public memory, and brainstorm what would better represent the contributions and experiences of all members of the community.

2. Explain racism is not just done by 'bad people'

Racism should be taught as a system of racial hierarchy that is sustained consciously and unconsciously by the idea that one group of people is superior. Because of this presumed superiority the ideas, books, voices and expertise of one group are seen as the "norm".

Read more: Bias starts early - most books in childcare centres have white, middle-class heroes

Racial discrimination today is often referred to as " soft" or " new" racism, often expressed through covert microagressions.

Categorising racism as something only "bad" people do means the "good" ones are denied the opportunity to examine how their everyday thoughts and actions may be sustaining society's racial hierarchy structure.

The below video of the blue-eyed/brown-eyed experiment (in which kids are told brown-eyed people are superior to blue-eyed people and vice versa), is a good way to show students how unconscious behaviours emerge and how quickly prejudice can form.

3. Show the impacts of unintended harm

People commonly assume their good intentions bear more weight than their unintended consequences. Just because someone did not intend to be racist, does not lessen the impact on the person experiencing it. You can use metaphors to illustrate this.

For example, if you accidentally pour hot coffee on someone, the natural response is not to say "why are you upset when it wasn't my intention to pour a hot drink on you?".

The more appropriate response is to acknowledge your mistake, apologise to the other person and move more carefully in future.

The insidiousness of "new" racism is that people who do not consider themselves racist might actually be perpetuating racism without being aware of it.

4. Encourage students to be brave in calling out racist behaviour

Being silent after observing racist behaviour is being complicit in racism. Teachers need to practise giving constructive feedback on racist speech and behaviour, and support students in being resilient about taking on board anti-racist feedback.

Read more: Explainer: what is casual racism?

Actively anti-racist teachers are quicker to notice and respond to racial micro-aggressions when they occur in the classroom, such as teaching students not to use racial nicknames or stereotypes.

5. Explain there are hierarchies within racism

Experiences of racism are magnified when different forms of discrimination combine to create a more intensified exclusionary experience for people, based on intersections between their multiple marginalised identities.

Experiences of racism for young black men, for example, may vary a lot from the experiences for young black women. Explain to students it is possible to experience oppression in one identity category but be privileged in another.

6. Be aware of students' racial trauma

Teachers sometimes strive to teach about racism, without considering that it is the lived experience of some of their students.

Racialised trauma is passed across generations, and can include indirect and direct experiences of interpersonal and systemic racism.

We need to support people who have been traumatised by racism, not just challenge those who instigate it.

Teachers should also be sensitive about the way anti-racist teaching is delivered. If you are going to discuss sensitive topics, you can provide trigger warnings in advance to the class. This way students can prepare or raise concerns in advance.

Be aware of who is in your class and avoid using potentially re-traumatising images, examples or videos.

7. Model inclusive behaviour

Teachers should model anti-racist behaviour in their classroom. For example, they should not mock or say inappropriate things about other people's cultural and racial backgrounds. Teachers should encourage students to think of the various cultures as different and not superior to, or better than, others.

Read more: Growing Up African in Australia: racism, resilience and the right to belong

You can also model an understanding of relevant cultural protocols, including through Acknowledgements of Country, or avoiding the use of names and images of Indigenous people who have passed away.

8. Ensure diversity in the curriculum

A consequence of colonialism has been the centring of white experiences and knowledge, and erasure of other ways of knowing and being.

We can challenge the historic and continued silencing of alternative voices by integrating diverse voices into our curriculum.

As a teacher, you can select readings, videos, and other classroom resources that are informed by diverse knowledge and experiences.

You can use a racial Bechdel test to check the diversity of resources.

9. Focus on change, not blame or shame

Discomfort is often an essential part of any learning process, more so for sensitive topics. Anti-racist education should be compassionate and aim to move through discomfort to produce change, rather than instilling shame or blame.

Anti-racist and decolonial education is often just as much about unlearning, as it is about learning.

We may have to challenge ourselves to unlearn inaccurate history and stereotypes, question our own deeply ingrained thoughts and habits, and practise different ways of listening to, and working with, people from different backgrounds.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
9 tips teachers can use when talking about racism

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As Black Lives Matter protests rage across the world, many of us are motivated to learn more about racism, and talk to our students and children in ways that can facilitate change. Education is a powerful tool for creating change. So, it's important teachers don't shy away from difficult conversations in the classroom, even if they may feel daunting.

# data[].attributes.headline
10 ways teachers can fight racism and teach tolerance

# data[].attributes.subject
10 ways teachers can fight racism and teach tolerance

# data[].attributes.body
In this article the author gives 10 things that teachers can do to help fight racism. Things such as speaking up, staying informed, and giving your classroom a "Diversity Audit" is mentioned.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The pain of racism is devastating our country and you've likely seen the impact in your own community. You may have even seen it in your classroom. Now, we see demonstrations taking place with people taking to the streets to stand against prejudice and injustice. Our stomachs churn. Our hearts break. And our minds wonder. What can we do to make this a better world for everyone? Here are 10 ways teachers can fight racism and teach tolerance right now.

1. Get (and Stay) Informed

Sometimes, we think we know more than we actually do. When it comes to racism, you cannot neglect the importance of being informed. Reading books and watching movies is just the beginning of the journey. It's absolutely essential that we learn about how our own implicit biases (and where they came from) can impact how we think and behave.

Racism is such a deeply ingrained part of our society that we may not even recognize it. For example, many schools have dress codes that contain exclusionary policies, particularly when it comes to hairstyles. We've seen African-American students denied the right to or participate in sports unless they were willing to cut their dreadlocks. A daycare a biracial child's hair without her parent's permission "for reasons of cleanliness."

This lack of understanding of natural hairstyles within the black community is just one example of the many causes of trauma to children. Families are all too often punished for refusing to conform and educators need to make every effort to stop this destructive pattern from continuing. The Teaching Tolerance website offers professional development through workshops, self-directed learning, webinars, podcasts, and even facilitator guides to empower you with the knowledge you need to take on this highly important endeavor.

[contextly_auto_sidebar]

2. Speak Up

One of the most painful things we can experience is people being silent around us while we are suffering. No matter the circumstance, it's never okay to look the other way when we see others being mistreated and/or abused. We must always confront and address racism in all forms every single time.

Once you become more aware of the injustices your students, their families, and your co-workers of color face every day, you absolutely must speak up whenever you witness racism in action. Discriminatory policies in your school must be confronted head-on.

When we're forced to stand alone for what's right, it can feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. But when we can look around and see others joining together in acts of solidarity, we make it clear that we, as a society, will not tolerate racism and discrimination. We can't stand on the sidelines and watch this toxic dynamic continue. We all need to say something!

3. Give Your Classroom a "Diversity Audit"

It's natural to gravitate to familiar concepts, which is why it's so important that we push ourselves to look through multiple lenses when we're preparing our classrooms. More than ever, our students deserve to feel included, loved, and celebrated for who they are. They need to know that we recognize and support them.

Choose wall decor, such as these beautiful posters, to promote inclusivity and spark a conversation. Introduce that teach diversity to elementary school kids and explore the many ways in which you can help prepare your students for citizenship.

4. Commit to Listening

The classroom culture you create should focus on giving every student a voice while honoring student experience and providing social and emotional safety. Fostering student-led discussions and consciously working to better communicate with culturally diverse students will help everyone feel seen and heard.

5. Bring Empathy Into Your Classroom

Teaching with empathy is incredibly important, especially if you are trying to teach tolerance in the classroom. According to Merriam-Webster , empathy is "the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another... without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner."

Ready to begin? The Harvard Graduate School of Education has published called "How to Build Empathy and Strengthen Your School Community." Once you've read that, check out the website. This free tool combines live videos with activities designed for elementary students. Empatico connects classrooms around the world, empowering teachers and students "to explore the world through experiences that spark curiosity, kindness, and empathy."

6. Enhance Your Curriculum

As such, one of the most important ways to fight racism and teach tolerance in our classrooms is to rethink and enhance the curriculum. We should always look for ways to give our students the fairest and most balanced experience possible. Especially during these formative years in their lives.

Need some inspiration? This offers 8 Ways to Teachers Can Address White Supremacy in the Classroom. If that seems heavy, remember that your students of color and their families are likely dealing with this in their real lives every day. The Teaching Tolerance website also provides classroom resources including Teaching Strategies , , Learning Plans , Student Texts , Student Tasks , and even to help you feel better prepared to emerge as a leader against racial injustice.

7. Set High Expectations (And Lead By Example)

Challenge any policies, punishments, or practices that take away from the mission of creating an inclusive environment. For example, as the Teaching Tolerance website , "Zero-tolerance policies are popular, but mounting evidence suggests that this approach does not make schools safer. An alternative is taking a 'zero-indifference' approach to bullying, harassment, and other disciplinary issues. Zero indifference means never letting disrespectful conduct go unaddressed; school staff always name and respond to behaviors, but they do not implement automatic suspension, expulsion or other punishments."

Additionally, we can consider the "restorative justice approach to school discipline (and criminal justice) by focusing on repairing harm and restoring relationships rather than simply punishing those who have engaged in misconduct. Restorative justice spans a wide variety of practices and strategies, including peacemaking circles, peer jury processes, mediation, conferencing and classroom discussions focused on building empathy."

8. Learn From Other Teachers

If you've been in the classroom for any length of time, you already know your fellow teachers are a wealth of information. Undoubtedly, you've sought to find the best tips for workbooks and room decor. Why not do the same for diversity issues?

There are many incredible teachers of color out there creating content for this very reason. Whether it's tackling a difficult situation in the classroom or learning to recognize oppressive policies on an administrative level, there are blogs, Instagram accounts, and YouTube channels where these incredible educators are sharing their experience.

Grab a cup of coffee and sit down to read Tamara Russell's " Why Teachers Are Silent on Race Relations " and " The Lie I Refuse to Teach ." Open your heart as Jose Vilson reflects on segregation and why we don't see more teachers of color . If you see a way to sign up for newsletters, do it. It's an excellent way to stay engaged.

Finally, find ways to work with other teachers within your school. Regularly set aside time to critically and constructively review curricular materials. Visit each other's classrooms. And, share assignment ideas to ensure that you're all working towards the same goal.

9. Get Involved

When we're disconnected from something, it's much easier to dismiss it. You might scroll right by a story that has no impact on your life while it tears up people of color in your community. That's one of the reasons why racism continues to be so pervasive. Some people don't even recognize it. Do not miss opportunities to get involved.

10. Donate

Year after year, protests erupt across this country as human beings fight for their constitutional right to live. That shouldn't be necessary in 2020. We know that teachers are incredibly underpaid, which is why a donation is such a meaningful gesture.

Of course, you should always verify that you're donating to a legitimate source. But providing monetary support to a victim's family or organizations that provide legal services can go a long way towards confronting the devastation of systemic racism.
For more ways for teachers to fight racism and teach tolerance in your classroom, read our articles " White Teachers Need to See Color. Here's Why" and "6 Ways to Advocate for Underrepresented Students Headed to College."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Ways Teachers Can Fight Racism and Teach Tolerance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Teachers can fight racism in their classrooms by educating themselves, leading by example, conducting a diversity audit, and more.

# data[].attributes.body
It discusses not only racism in general but institutional and racism in everyday life. This allows kids to see how racism is apparent in everyday life as well as how to be an anti-racist.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Arthur | Arthur on Racism: Talk, Listen, and Act | PBS KIDS

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uz5BcMzqZs. This video explains to young children what Racism is in a kid-friendly way by still making the message clear.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Is Racism? | Anti-Racism | CBC Kids

# data[].attributes.body
This article talks about what age to start the conversations about race and racial injustices. It also includes different ways educators can foster these conversations and incorporate inclusive behavior in the classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Culturally Responsive Teaching

Young kids are curious about what's going on in the world right now, and teachers can help correct misinformation and provide context.

Experts agree that while children shouldn't be exposed to graphic or otherwise inappropriate information, parents and teachers should discuss race and racism openly and early. That's because beginning in preschool, research shows, kids begin sorting people by race. By age 6, "children can be conscious of social stereotypes," and "naturally attribute positive traits to their own ethnic or racial groups," Taylor writes.

The goal, says psychologist and educator Beverly Daniel Tatum, author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, is "to talk in a warm and inclusive way about differences that exist in different people." Avoiding these conversations-for fear of saying the wrong thing, or under the guise of colorblindness -is a missed opportunity. "If you can't talk about [race], you can't understand it, much less fix the racial problems that plague our society," says Monnica T. Williams, a clinical psychologist.

There are several steps teachers can take to foster substantive conversations.

Curate Diverse Books and Content

Educators can start with the classroom bookshelf and aim to develop a collection of diverse books that teach "age-appropriate lessons on racial injustice and history, and that do not gloss over painful truths," Taylor writes. But diverse book collections should do more than portray the oppression of people of color, says clinical psychologist Ann Hazzard, coauthor of the children's book Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story About Racial Injustice. These collections should be rich and varied and include books about "diverse individuals having typical childhood experiences," Hazzard says.

In English, math, science, social studies, art, and music, examine the contributions of diverse cultures. Writing specifically about the contributions of Black people in these areas, former teacher Rann Miller calls this "infusing Black history into the curriculum year-round." Black History Month, notes Miller, isn't a "gimmick meant for one month out of the year, with a student assembly or a potluck dinner with traditional Black foods. Black history is American history. Students should learn through the year and throughout all disciplines about the accomplishments, experiences, and perspectives of Black people."

Build in Anti-Bias Lessons

Teaching kids about race and racism, says Hazzard, is a process: "Addressing bias takes openness and courage.... It's not just one conversation." Because kids' social and emotional development is a central piece of the elementary curriculum, it's important to teach lessons about bias, diversity, and social justice, says Jinnie Spiegler, director of curriculum for the National Education Division of the Anti-Defamation League. "Social and emotional skill development lessons are the foundation, and then teachers can move to lessons on identity, differences, bias, and how bias and bullying can be addressed individually and institutionally," she advises.

Model Action

What adults do-far more than what they say-can have a big impact on kids. "Adults who actively engage in cycles of learning, listening, and talking about antiracism may be more effective at teaching children to be antiracist," Taylor writes. For teachers, this may mean joining "school and district policy reform efforts to reduce racial disparities in educational opportunities and school discipline," says Hazzard, the psychologist. And beyond curating rich and diverse book collections and hosting book talks featuring a broad range of voices and experiences, school librarians can "advocate for local equity initiatives or support scholarship fundraisers for diverse organizations," Taylor writes.

Taking on the sensitive topics of race and racism in the classroom is important work that requires "self-reflection and humility," says Janet R. Damon, library services specialist for Denver Public Schools: "We all bring fear, childhood trauma, and trepidation to these conversations." But to better understand the damaging influences of systemic racism, privilege, and unconscious bias in education, "educators must reflect on their own (sometimes painful) race-related experiences," writes Taylor. "The resulting awareness can make them more powerful role models for children."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Start Talking About Race in the Early Elementary Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Culturally Responsive Teaching Young kids are curious about what's going on in the world right now, and teachers can help correct misinformation and provide context. Experts agree that while children shouldn't be exposed to graphic or otherwise inappropriate information, parents and teachers should discuss race and racism openly and early.

# data[].attributes.body
The book Our Skin A First Conversation About Race can be a helpful tool to introduce race into a classroom. This book can be told to any age students so they can learn about diversity in an easier way for a younger age.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Our Skin: A First Conversation About Race - Read Aloud with the Author | Brightly Storytime

# data[].attributes.body
This article is an important resource teaching racism in elementary classrooms by sharing multiple videos that can be shown in the classroom to help students understand disparities. I chose this because there are short descriptions for each video, and each all of the videos mentioned focus on creating an environment where all students, regardless of their background, feel supported and represented. The article having multiple video options allows the teacher to choose which video, based on the description, will be the best fit for their class.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The United States has a racism problem. The idea of tackling such complicated and hurtful topics in our homes and classrooms is daunting, but we can't look away. We MUST face it. Fortunately, we live in a time when technology provides resources, such as the anti-racism videos below, designed to support us as we navigate these difficult and painful conversations.

For Parents and Educators

It's crucial that you feel confident and prepared to lead important discussions about what it means to be not only "not racist," but resolutely anti-racist. Here are some resources to help you get ready.

Be Boldly Anti-Racist

Elementary school educator, Naomi O'Brien, asks: "How did I become boldly anti-racist? By following my mom's example. How can you be bold and set an example for your kids and students?"

How to Talk to Kids About Race

In a new episode of Home School, The Atlantic's animated series about parenting, author Jeremy Tisby offers advice on how to have a conversation with children about race, from experiential learning to watching classic animated films.

How I Teach Kids About Racism (Kindergarten and 1st Grade)

This video is about elementary school teachers sharing the lessons they teach each year to introduce the topic of racism to their kindergarten and first grade students.

How Parents Can Help Kids Understand the Protests and Fight Racism

Dr. Janet Taylor shares advice with parents who may be struggling to talk about racism and the unrest that has erupted after the death of George Floyd.

For Kids and Students

Whether you're curled up with your kids at home or leading a group of students, here are some educational anti-racism videos to help get the conversation started.

Let's Talk About Race

The Tutu Teacher made this video for kindergarten students. In the video, she discusses what racism is and how it's impacted the lives of Black and Brown people. She also reads aloud the story Let's Talk about Race.

Sesame Street: Color of Me Song

Sesame Street explores: "What is the color of 'you?' Is your skin color tan, light brown, milky white, or dark dark brown? Whatever color you are, be proud and sing along."

Sesame Street: Song: I Love My Hair

Sesame Street invites children to "...sing along and make the world aware that YOU love your hair!"

Systemic Racism Explained

Systemic racism affects every area of life in the U.S., from incarceration rates to predatory loans, and trying to solve these problems requires changes in major parts of our system. This video offers a closer look at what systemic racism is, and how we can solve it.

Discrimination Explained for Kids

In this video, Pop'n'Olly discover what discrimination means and provide a few examples. They also talk about discrimination and the law.

Sesame Street Explains Racism and Protesting

Sesame Street and CNN worked together to create the "Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism" town hall for kids and families.

Woke Read Alouds: Wings

In this video, Ki reads the story Wings by author/illustrator Christopher Myers. They take readers on a fun, animated, and thoughtful journey through the book, leaving time for think alouds and responses from kids. They also include reading strategies, resources, and tips for parents throughout. This resource serves as a full academic read aloud.

Kids Talk About Segregation

It's been 62 years since Brown v. Board of Education, but the percentage of racially segregated schools in the United States has been growing steadily over the past 15 years. New York has the most segregated schools in the country. This video talks to Bronx 5th graders about what segregation looks like today.

A Kids Book About Racism

This read aloud is, as the title suggests, a kids' book about racism. Inside, you'll find a clear description of what racism is, how it makes people feel when they experience it, and how to spot it when it happens.

A Kids Book About Belonging

This read aloud tackles what it's like when you feel like you belong to a group or family or team and what it's like when you don't. It addresses what it feels like when you don't fit in, or when others don't want you around. This book teaches kids how to belong to themselves and how that helps them belong anywhere.

SAY SOMETHING Read Aloud

This read aloud of SAY SOMETHING helps explain race to kids as well as the importance of speaking up.

Students Learn A Powerful Lesson About Privilege

Using a recycling bin and some scrap paper, this video showcases a powerful exercise about privilege. Do all students have the same opportunities?

Black Parents Explain How to Deal with the Police

Brave parents and their curious kids confront some of life's biggest and most uncomfortable lessons.

Film Kits for Classrooms

These classroom-friendly films and user guides will help you bring social justice topics to life. Incredibly, Teaching Tolerance offers these film kits for FREE for use in K-12 schools, public libraries, schools of education, houses of worship, and youth-serving nonprofit organizations.

Designed for in-service programs, this training tool for early grades educators profiles classrooms in which peace, equity, and justice are guiding themes. (Available for order.)

This film takes viewers to the very communities where heinous acts of violence took place, offering a painful look back at lives lost to lynching and a critical look forward. (Available for streaming only.)

The film tells the story of a courageous group of students and teachers who, along with other activists, fought a nonviolent battle to win voting rights for African Americans in the South. (Available for order.)

This special teachers' edition of the Oscar-winning documentary film tells the heroic story of the young people in Birmingham, Alabama, who brought segregation to its knees. (Available for order.)

A Time for Justice, an Oscar-winning documentary, captures the spirit of the civil rights movement through historical footage and the voices of activists who sat, sang, and marched. (Available for order.)
What anti-racism videos do you feel are important to education? Share in the comments below. Also, 19 Black Teachers on Instagram to Listen To and Learn From.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
21 Anti-Racism Videos To Share With Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The United States has a racism problem. The idea of tackling such complicated and hurtful topics in our homes and classrooms is daunting, but we can't look away. We MUST face it. Fortunately, we live in a time when technology provides resources, such as the anti-racism videos below, designed to support us as we navigate these difficult and painful conversations.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a link to a book called "Antiracist Baby Board Book". I feel like a great way to teach things is through literature. One of the reviews on the book said "The timely and relevant anti-racist message so excellently delivered in this book makes it worthy of a place on all library shelves."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Antiracist Baby: Ibram X. Kendi: Other: 9780593110416: Powell’s Books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi available in Other on Powells.com, also read synopsis and reviews. From the National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning and How to Be an…

# data[].attributes.body
In this article it talks about what racism is and how teachers can address racism in the classroom. It also includes how to teach without using a racist curriculm that focuses on prodomintley white students. This article also includes even more resources educators can use.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Resources for Teaching About Racism in the Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Educators who want to teach anti-racism principles and lessons may wonder where to start. Explore these resources for teaching students about race and racism.

# data[].attributes.headline
Responding to Student Conversations Regarding Race

# data[].attributes.subject
Responding to Student Conversations Regarding Race

# data[].attributes.body
The article I found touches on what we just talked about and how children begin to perceive race from as early as pre-school. The article gives insight on how we as teachers can go about navigating these conversations in a way that sheds light on important issues regarding racism, how to make a safe space for students, and how to properly redirect students if they potentially share a belief that may be racist or harmful.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By the time children enter kindergarten, they're already perceiving and talking about race. But there's little guidance for how teachers should address this natural curiosity-and many, in fact, see it as a sensitive subject.

This tension, and how to address it, were themes that ran through several of the panels and workshops at the National Council for the Social Studies' recent conference in Philadelphia.

Studies have shown that young kids notice race, try to make sense of it, and talk about it. Babies use race to categorize faces before their first birthday. Preschool age children have already learned and internalized racial stereotypes: research has found that 3-year-olds in the United States associate Black faces with negative traits. Young children also experience racism, which can affect their physical and mental health.

Ethnographic studies of early childhood and early elementary classrooms have shown that kids discuss race and separate themselves into racial categories -whether their teachers bring the subject up or not.

And then there's connections to classroom content. Many elementary school state standards require that students learn about Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, or Martin Luther King, Jr., in grades K-5. Race is key to understanding the lives and significance of these historical figures.

Even so, many teachers say they're avoiding issues that could be considered controversial-including race-in the current political landscape.

A recent EdWeek Research Center poll of about 1,000 educators in September and October 2022 found that 56 percent of the teachers said they haven't discussed any potentially controversial topics with their students this year, including politics, slavery, gender, religion, ethnicity and race, sexual orientation, the Holocaust, and sexual education.

And children's age is a factor in that pattern: Of those teachers, 21 percent said they didn't think their students were old enough to talk about any of these topics.

What elementary students discuss and question

"A lot of the recommendations for how we should teach about race, or shouldn't, are based on studies that are done with older kids," Anna Falkner, an assistant professor at the University of Memphis, said during a session at NCSS.

Falkner, whose dissertation on the strategies that young children use to learn about race won a 2020 award from NCSS, shared findings from her ethnographic study of two classrooms: one majority-white kindergarten class and one majority-Black 1st grade class.

The students in the study were interested in talking about race: They paid close attention when their peers brought up the subject, they asked questions, tried out theories, and told their own stories about experiences with racism. Kids were trying to define their own racial identities-something that they did by comparing themselves to people in their families, their classmates, or others in their communities.

Falkner highlighted takeaways for classroom teachers, based on the two she observed for her study. Those teachers allowed students to discuss, to try out ideas, and to ask questions. They didn't shut down conversations about race by saying they were inappropriate or off-topic.

Teachers can help students navigate the topic by giving children space to talk and reflect across the curriculum and the school year-not just during Black History Month, Falkner said.

Making this space also requires teachers to practice and become comfortable redirecting students if they say something racist or hurtful. Teachers need to know "which students to protect, which to correct, and which subjects to center," said Hasan Kwame Jeffries, an associate professor of history at the Ohio State University, in a keynote presentation at the conference.

How can teachers know what to center?

In the elementary social studies classroom, race often comes up in the context of early lessons on slavery or the civil rights movement. In these topics, Jeffries said, it's important that teachers center the voices of enslaved people and resistors. These sources should be considered essential parts of the historical record, rather than additions or alternatives, he said.

But slavery shouldn't be the only-or the first-context in which students learn about Black history or the histories of other people of color, said Gholdy Muhammad, an associate professor of literacy, language, and culture at the University of Illinois at Chicago, during a different keynote presentation at NCSS.

"We don't start anybody's history with what oppressors have done to a group of people," Muhammad said. "We start with their genius."

Dawnavyn James, a doctoral student at the University of Buffalo, drew on her past experience teaching elementary school in Missouri to show one example of how to do this.

James had integrated history with math, designing a lesson on data analysis around George Crum, a Black chef who is one of the men credited with inventing the potato chip.

She read a picture book about Crum with the kids. Then, they did a taste test of several different chips, collected the data on their favorites, and plotted the data on a bar chart.

Teachers also sparked in-depth discussions when they introduced stories about kids.

In Falkner's research, the kindergartners and 1st graders were especially interested in histories and stories about how race and racism affected children.

"I watched kids toss aside a book about Martin Luther King, Jr. in favor of books about Ruby Bridges over and over again," Falkner said. "I think there's something important there in what kind of content we provide to children."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Young Children Think and Talk About Race. How Should Teachers Respond?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By the time children enter kindergarten, they're already perceiving and talking about race. But there's little guidance for how teachers should address this natural curiosity-and many, in fact, see it as a sensitive subject. This tension, and how to address it, were themes that ran through several of the panels and workshops at the National Council for the Social Studies' recent conference in Philadelphia.

# data[].attributes.headline
Children's Books We Use to Teach Young Kids to be Anti-Racist

# data[].attributes.subject
Children's Books We Use to Teach Young Kids to be Anti-Racist

# data[].attributes.body
This is a resource that provides a list of books for teaching anti-racism in elementary classrooms. It organizes book recommendations by grade level (Pre-K, 1st–2nd, and 3rd–5th) and includes a take-home book for parents and guardians to continue the conversation at home.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our Durham-based organization, we are (working to extend anti-racism education), has been running anti-racist summer camp programs for early and middle elementary students for four years. What follows is the current list of books we're using (as of October 2020). To learn more about the camp or adult facing trainings we offer, visit us on our site.

For parents/guardians:

Racism Explained to My Daughter by Tahar Ben Jelloun - Out of their frank discussion comes this book, an international bestseller translated into twenty languages. Ben Jelloun has created a unique and compelling dialogue in which he explains difficult concepts from ghettos and genocide to slavery and anti-Semitism in language we can all understand

For students in Pre-K to Kindergarten

The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler and David Lee Csicsko - With the ease and simplicity of a nursery rhyme, this lively story delivers an important message of social acceptance to young readers.

We're Different, We're the Same by Bobbi Kates and Joe Mathieu - Muppets, monsters, and humans compare noses, hair, and skin and realize how different we all are. But as they look
further, they also discover how much we are alike.

Jalani and the Lock by Lorenzo Pace - In this story based on true events, the fictional Jalani, a freed slave, gives the lock that held him in chains to his eldest child as a symbol of his enslavement.

For students in 1st - 2nd grade:

My Name is Sangoel by Karen Williams and Khadra Mohammed - Sangoel is a refugee. Leaving behind his homeland of Sudan, where his father died in the war, he has little to call his own other than his name, a Dinka name handed down proudly from his father and grandfather before him. When Sangoel and his mother and sister arrive in the United States, everything seems very strange and unlike home.

Ruby Bridges Goes to School: My True Story by Ruby Bridges - This is the true story of an extraordinary little girl who helped shape our country when she became the first African-American to attend an all-white school in New Orleans.

Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney (works for 3rd-5th grade children, too) - A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the momentous Woolworth's lunch counter sit-in, when four college students staged a peaceful protest that became a defining moment in the struggle for racial equality and the growing civil rights movement.

Si, Se Puede! Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A. by Diana Cohn - Carlitos' mother is a janitor. Every night, he sleeps while his mother cleans in one of the skyscrapers in downtown L.A. When she comes home, she waves Carlitos off to school before she goes to sleep. One night, his mamá explains that she can't make enough money to support him and his abuelita the way they need unless she makes more money as a janitor. She and the other janitors have decided to go on strike.

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi - Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name?

I Am Mixed by Garcelle Beauvais - Jay and Nia are the children of two worlds, and as they'll discover, they can enjoy the best of both.

All the Colors We Are by Katie Kissinger - This bilingual (English/Spanish) book offers children a simple, scientifically accurate explanation about how our skin color is determined by our ancestors, the sun, and melanin.

These Hands by Margaret H. Mason - In this powerful intergenerational story, Joseph learns that people joined their hands together to fight discrimination so that one day, their hands--Joseph's hands--could do anything at all in this whole wide world.

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman - Grace loves stories, whether they're from books, movies, or the kind her grandmother tells. So when she gets a chance to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows exactly who she wants to be.

The Streets are Free by Kurusa - This inspiring book is based on the true story of the children of the barrio of San Jose de la Urbina in Caracas, Venezuela. There are no parks where they live, and the children must play in the streets.

I'm New Here by Anne Sibley O'Brian - Young readers from all backgrounds will appreciate this touching story about the assimilation of three immigrant students in a supportive school community.

The Youngest Marcher: The story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson - Meet the youngest known child to be arrested for a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963, in this moving picture book that proves you're never too little to make a difference.

My Name Is Jorge: On Both Sides of the River by Jane Medina - Jorge is trying to learn the ways of his new country. He wants to fit in at school, but he doesn't want to forget his homeland, Mexico. His family is still doing things like they're in the old country, but Jorge wants to find out everything he can about his new country--on the other side of the river.

Teach Us Your Name by Huda Essa - This fun yet meaningful story was created to empower children to teach others how to pronounce their names correctly.

IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All by LaToya Council & Carolyn Choi - A welcoming resource for conversations about equality and social justice that shows readers how identities are made up of myriad influences.

For students in 3rd-5th grade:

Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey - Ruth's story is fiction, but The Green Book and its role in helping a generation of African American travelers avoid some of the indignities of Jim Crow are historical fact.

Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz - Malcolm X grew to be one of America's most influential figures. But first, he was a boy named Malcolm Little.

Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-ins by Carole Boston Weatherford - There were signs all throughout town telling eight-year-old Connie where she could and could not go. But when Connie sees four young men take a stand for equal rights at a Woolworthas lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, she realizes that things may soon change.

We are Like the Clouds by Jorge Argueta and Alfonso Ruano - Why are young people leaving their country to walk to the United States to seek a new, safe home? Over 100,000 such children have left Central America. This book of poetry helps us to understand why and what it is like to be them.

Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester** - This stunning picture book introduces race as just one of many chapters in a person's story.

Remember: The Journey to School Integration by Toni Morrison - Morrison has collected a treasure chest of archival photographs that depict the historical events surrounding school desegregation.

Something Happened in Our Town by Ann Hazzard, Marianne Celano, and Marietta Collins - This book follows two families -- one White, one Black -- as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community. The story aims to answer children's questions about such traumatic events, and to help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives.

Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh - When her family moved to the town of Westminster, California, young Sylvia Mendez was excited about enrolling in her neighborhood school. But she and her brothers were turned away and told they had to attend the Mexican school instead.

The Streets are Free by Kurusa - This inspiring book is based on the true story of the children of the barrio of San Jose de la Urbina in Caracas, Venezuela. There are no parks where they live, and the children must play in the streets.

Malala, a Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal, a Brave Boy from Pakistan: Two Stories of Bravery by Jeanette Winter - One country: Pakistan. Two children: Iqbal Masih and Malala Yousafzai. Each was unafraid to speak out.

Xochitl and the Flowers by Jorge Argueta - A tender, poetic, and moving story about a family's determination to set down roots and about their child's blooming among friends and neighbors.

Malala's Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai - As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. She would use it to make everyone happy, to erase the smell of garbage from her city, to sleep an extra hour in the morning. But as she grew older, Malala saw that there were more important things to wish for. She saw a world that needed fixing.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson - There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.

Undocumented: A Worker's Fight by Duncan Tonatiuh - The story of immigrant workers who have come to the United States without papers. Every day, these men and women join the work force and contribute positively to society.

Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! By Marley Dias - Marley Dias, the powerhouse girl-wonder who started the #1000blackgirlbooks campaign, speaks to kids about her passion for making our world a better place, and how to make their dreams come true!

This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell - Learn about social identities, the history of racism and resistance against it, and how you can use your anti-racist lens and voice to move the world toward equity and liberation.

Mama's Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation by Edwidge Danticat - This tender tale shows the human side of immigration and imprisonment--and shows how every child has the power to make a difference.

** Choosing books that teach about race in a way that children can learn is difficult. We like Let's Talk About Race for the explicit ways it helps children to think about skin color. However, we do not agree with the "colorblind" language used at the end of the book. We want to see & appreciate our racial differences, not remove them. We address this with students. No book is perfect, and this one makes for great discussion.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Children's Books We Use to Teach Young Kids to be Anti-Racist

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our Durham-based organization, we are (working to extend anti-racism education), has been running anti-racist summer camp programs for early and middle elementary students for four years. What follows is the current list of books we're using (as of October 2020). To learn more about the camp or adult facing trainings we offer, visit us on our site.