Category Archives: Teaching Tolerance

Teaching about tolerance and race

Teaching Tolerance
As we return to school, some teachers have shared with us that they are having conversations about race and tolerance with their students. These conversations are difficult, but so important. On August 22 there will be a webinar on the topic of “When Hate is in the Headlines” with American Federation of Teachers, the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance project, the Anti-Defamation League and Facing History and Ourselves (all linked below, too).

​If you can’t make it to the webinar, here are some resources for learning more about these topics and for having conversations with students about inclusion, acceptance, and community. At the bottom of the post, there are links to people who facilitate these conversations professionally. You can find tips, advice, and more resources on their websites. What resources do you use?  What activities have worked for you in your classroom?

Resources for learning more:

TED Talk: Verna Myers: How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them
TED Talk: Bryan Stevenson: We need to talk about an injustice
Debby Irving’s Recommended Resources
Book: Hidden Biases of Good People
and
Project Implicit

Resources for talking with students:

The Essentials of Dialogue: Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Book: The Hate U Give By Angie Thomas (and Discussion Guide)
Classroom Lessons from Teaching Tolerance
Resources from Teaching Tolerance around School Climate
SEED: “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” and “Some Notes for Facilitators”
Anti-Defamation League
Facing History and Ourselves
PBS Resources 
Project Cornerstone (elementary schools)

People who can help:

Debby Irving: Racial Justice Educator and Writer
Liza Talusan: facilitator in conversations about diversity, racism, unconscious bias, privilege and power
Alison Park: Critically Rethinking Diversity