October is National Bullying Prevention Month
National Bullying Prevention Month is an opportunity to reflect on the classroom and school culture and assess the extent to which bullying is part of that culture. It is a time to examine best practices when it comes to creating respectful school environments that foster inclusion and respect. The large body of research on effective responses to name-calling and bullying concurs that schools and other educational institutions can best…
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The back to school time of year can bring a sense of excitement about fresh beginnings and new ideas. Below are 11 ways to bring anti-bias practices into schools and classrooms.
Consider how to use anti-bias teaching tools and strategies including Just Joking: How to How to Respond When Students' "Jokes" are Biased or Offensive, Race Talk: Engaging Young People in Conversations about Race and Racism, Centering Youth Voices: Addressing Identity-Based Bullying and more. …
Rosalind's Classroom Conversations, July/August 2014 By Rosalind Wiseman
I was in the middle of a presentation to three hundred middle schoolers when a boy’s arm shot straight up so desperately that I thought it would separate from his body. I stopped, midsentence. Clearly this child had something incredibly important to ask and I just couldn’t ignore him.
Me: What’s your question?
Boy: Are you Xbox or Playstation? (I froze, realizing the magnitude of the…
For educators, summer can be a time for reflection, relaxation and rejuvenation. The summer also provides the time and space to learn something new, read articles and review curricula that you haven’t had time to do during the school year and to connect with other educators without the pressure of time. Below are 11 ways for educators, and others who work with young people, to take advantage of new resources and brush up on their anti-bias education practices.
Consider how to…
Rosalind’s Classroom Conversations, June 2014 For Educators By Rosalind Wiseman
Apologies require the highest level of human capacity—mindful self-reflection and the ability to acknowledge another person’s experience. If that isn’t hard enough, it often requires putting ourselves in a position of vulnerability—often to the person to whom we are apologizing.
That’s why no one has ever woken up in the morning excited because they have to…
For Educators Holiday celebrations are an excellent opportunity to provide a window into a culture or understand more about a group of people, as well as reinforce the diversity of all people’s experiences. Students can engage in rich educational experiences by reading about, researching and experiencing holidays.
In order to ensure that holidays and observances are truly educational, they also need to be inclusive and respectful. Below is an abbreviated version of …
Teach and commemorate the culture, traditions and history of Asian American and Pacific Islander people in the United States in school, communities and at home.
Use these resources to honor women around the world, explore women’s achievements and struggles throughout history, and acknowledge women’s contributions to our society.
The A CAMPUS OF DIFFERENCE™ program offers some suggestions for creating and maintaining a productive, positive, open and respectful college and university campus environment:
Develop and enhance diversity skills by seeking out new information about cultures and communities with which you may lack in-depth experience. Whether you conduct internet research on your own or host a lunchtime panel or dialogue session, there is always something new to learn.
Treat all people…
For Educators
In many of ADL’s lesson plans and activities, students are challenged to explore and articulate their personal feelings about sensitive topics including segregation, discrimination, and the value of diverse school communities. Talking about themes related to diversity requires that students demonstrate maturity and compassion for others. In conjunction with social justice curricula, it is therefore recommended that teachers use service learning, conflict resolution,…
Literature is a powerful vehicle for helping children understand their homes, communities and the world. Even before young children can read, family members, childcare providers and teachers read them stories about people in faraway places, sometimes from the distant past and sometimes about people whose lives are similar to their own. The impressions and messages contained in these stories can last a lifetime.
Books, at their best, invite children to use their imaginations, expand their…
For Educators | For Parents, Families, and Caregivers Exploring the Roots of PrejudiceBullying & Bias PreventionFostering Respect & Discussing DifferencesModeling Fair & Inclusive BehaviorBooks, Media & EnvironmentHolidays & Celebrations
For Educators
Teaching about the Holocaust goes beyond understanding the historical fact that six million Jews and other innocent victims of the Germans and their collaborators were brutally murdered in Nazi-occupied Europe. It can help students think about the use and abuse of power and the roles and responsibilites of individuals, organizations, and nations when confronted with human rights violations. As students gain insight into the many facets that resulted in the Holocaust, they…
For Educators | For Parents, Families, and Caregivers Treat all children's questions with respect and seriousness; do not "shush," ignore, or dismiss children.
Children are aware of what is happening in the world around them. Family members and educators cannot assume that children are unaffected by global events. When frightening and violent incidents occur, both children and adults may experience a range of emotions including fear, confusion, sadness and anger.
To counteract…
Use our elementary, middle and high school curriculum guides to promote safe, respectful and inclusive classroom environments.
Anti-bias curriculum guides have been prepared for educators to use as supplementary materials for students. The guides are available for elementary through high school students. The lesson plans assist students in creating environments of mutual respect and inclusiveness, and promoting justice for all. Curriculum Professional Development
When ADL Education…
For Educators Anti-bias: An active commitment to challenging prejudice, stereotyping and all forms of discrimination.
Bias: An inclination or preference either for or against an individual or group that interferes with impartial judgment.
Bullying: Repeated actions or threats of action directed toward a person by one or more people who have (or are perceived to have) more power or status than their target in order to cause fear, distress or harm. Bullying can be physical, verbal,…
For Parents, Families, and Caregivers
Place computers and tablets in shared family rooms. Establish a consistent, helpful presence when monitoring children’s and teen’s technology use that discourages the perception that adults are violating children's and teen's privacy.
Be aware of children's/teen's digital activities. Initiate discussions about their online experiences.
Discuss with children/teens the dangers of sharing personal information with others online and…
For Educators
Take the issue of name-calling, teasing and bullying seriously. Rethink statements like, “Kids will be kids…” or “He didn’t mean anything by that comment; he was just kidding.”
Let students know that you are available to talk to them. If possible, set aside ten minutes of class time each week to discuss issues that students want to bring up. Get to know students as individuals.
Take time to listen. Don’t try to “fix…
For Educators In recent years, increasing numbers of educators, health professionals, family members and other adults who interact with children and youth have begun to realize the seriousness of bullying. A number of proven and promising prevention and intervention strategies have been developed. Unfortunately, a number of misdirected prevention and intervention strategies have also emerged.
Zero Tolerance Policies
A number of schools have adopted “zero tolerance” or &ldquo…