Check out these resources below related to supporting educators, students, and staff who would like to reflect on the role that DEI and anti-bias works plays in their life both inside and outside of the classroom.
Personal Reflection and Engagement
PBS Learning Media: Deepening Your Understanding of Race & Racism - This one hour webinar from PBS can help educators better understand race and racism. It also provides tips and tools for teaching about race and racism. This is part one of a four part series called "Tools for Anti-Racist Teaching". Other videos in the series include:
PBS Learning Media: Talking to Children Authentically about Race and Racism - This PBS KIDS for Parents-hosted conversation features fellow parents, educators, child development and trauma experts who join us to share tips and resources for how to talk with young children about racial injustice and violence against Black people. Explore questions such as: How can parents of Black children continue to instill confidence and pride in young kids while also explaining the racial inequity and barriers that continue today? And, how can parents of non-Black children help young kids understand their role in confronting anti-Black racism? Hear questions from fellow parents and learn tips and resources you can use to continue to have these meaningful conversations now and into the future.
NMAAHC - Talking About Race: Being Anti-Racist - This is a great article to start learning about anti-racism. It breaks down the different types of racism and has a lot of great resources linked within the article to dig deeper.
ASCD - How to Be an Anti-Racist Educator - According to the author, educators have an obligation to confront the harm of racism. That is why we must commit to becoming anti-racist educators and to preparing our young people to be anti-racist, too. The article is a quick read and recommends five actions for teaching for an anti-racist future.
Culturally Responsive Teaching to Promote Anti-Racist Classroom - This website focuses on resources related to supporting anti-bias practices and culturally responsive teaching. Culturally responsive teaching can engage learners whose cultures and experiences are often excluded from the standard curriculum. Just like anti-racism work, culturally responsive teaching is action-oriented. Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) is a goal, a practice, a method, a value. It is not a checklist item or "program". Anti-racism is the process of unlearning racist ideas; co-learning new ways of seeing the world; engaging in the challenging work required to make meaningful change; enacting policies that manifest the changes needed to make our communities equitable for all. Culturally responsive classrooms are justice-oriented classrooms by default. In most cases, culturally responsive classrooms are part of the larger anti-racist effort to fight systematic oppression that shows up in the education system, the curriculum, and in the engagements between students, teachers, and the parent community.
"Not Racist" is Not Enough: Putting in the Work to be Anti-Racist - This episode of "Life Kit" from NPR explores racism and being anti-racist by providing some tips and resources to help educators better understand what it means to be "anti-racist".
Project Implicit at Harvard: Implicit Bias Test - This is a great website for anyone to use. It reveals a lot about bias and includes resources for how to learn more. It is a great tool for self reflection.
Center for Anti-racist Research - The mission of the Boston University Center for Anti-racist Research is to convene researchers and practitioners from various disciplines to figure out novel and practical ways to understand, explain, and solve seemingly intractable problems of racial inequity and injustice. We foster exhaustive racial research, research-based policy innovation, data-driven educational and advocacy campaigns, and narrative-change initiatives. We are working toward building an anti-racist society that ensures equity and justice for all. Their founder Ibram X. Kendi frequently gives speeches supporting the work of the center and his book "How to be an Anti-Racist". Below are some of his talks:
- How to be an Anti-Racist - Aspen Ideas Festival (One Hour)
- Belonging in Practice: How to be an Anti-Racist - UC Berkeley (Two Hours)
- A Conversation with Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi (One Hour)
Student Reflection and Engagement
PBS Learning Media: Amplify Student Voice - How can media be used as a tool to ignite action and change perspectives for your students? In this one-hour webinar, PBS Learning Media focuses on student voice and explore ways in which educators can use media to support and amplify students who are on their own anti-racist-learning journey.
Students and Anti-Bias Learning from Teaching Tolerance - Are you looking for entertaining and creative ways to engage your students in anti-bias learning? If you answered “yes,” then do we have the perfect resource for you: a new set of four videos featuring fun team-building activities that you can use in your classroom tomorrow. Created in partnership with The Origins Program, using the Developmental Designs approach, the exercises in the videos empower students to break down social barriers and improve classroom climate. They also help students learn the meaning and value of Identity, Diversity, Justice and Action, the four domains of the Teaching Tolerance Anti-bias Framework.
An Approach for Teaching Diversity - The article lists twelve suggestions that are supported by published literature on teaching for diversity and on effective teaching. You are encouraged to adopt those that fit with their discipline and teaching style, and adapt the exercises, simulations, and other materials on this website to your specific courses and students. The twelve suggestions are roughly sequential—starting with course planning and the start of a class, followed by ideas and approaches that can be used throughout a semester, ending with the importance of providing and receiving feedback.
26 Mini-Films for Exploring Race, Bias, and Identity with Students - How do we get students to consider perspectives different from their own? How do we get them to challenge their own biases and prejudices? If, as Atticus Finch famously said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it,” how do we get our students to do that? Teachers traditionally turn to literature, history and current events to open up these conversations, but it’s always helpful to have a bigger toolbox to tackle such important and difficult issues. That’s why the New York Times pulled together these 26 short documentaries that range in time from 1 to 7 minutes and tackle issues of race, bias and identity. To help teachers make the most of these films, they also provide several teaching ideas, related readings and student activities.
Race Talk: Engaging Young People in Conversations about Race and Racism - As a society, public discussions about race and racism have increased in volume and intensity. Educators feel a sense of responsibility to bring these topics into their classrooms—because young people want to be part of the conversation and should be. If handled effectively, these discussions provide opportunities for timely learning. From police-involved deaths of Black and Latinx men to everyday racism to Confederate flag controversy with sports figures and celebrities getting involved in the conversation, there is a lot to grapple with and discuss.
Staff Reflection and Engagement
Equity Literacy Institute: Read About Equity - The Equity Literacy Institute is among the national leaders in equity training. This part of their website provides books and articles for staff members to read while engaging in equity and anti-bias work. They also have online learning modules (some free, some for a cost) that can be used as part of the equity training in your district.
Avoiding Racial Equity Detours - Often, the educators most adamant about racial equity are cast to the margins of institutional culture. They are the ones feeling isolated, wondering whether they belong. Colleagues call them troublemakers for naming what others refuse to name. Some are shushed or encouraged to adopt a color-blind perspective by equity-skittish leaders. They are accused of being too “political” simply for pointing out conditions that harm families of color. Educators of color who raise these concerns tend to face even greater hostility. They often are labelled “militant” or “angry” for telling the racial equity truth. This is a failure of equity leadership. Learn more about how to change this in this article from Paul Gorski.
Anti-Racist Work in Schools: Are You in it for the Long Haul? - In the wake of Black Lives Matter protests, educators and schools across the nation are planning anti-racist work. How will you ensure your school isn’t just going through the motions? Teaching Tolerance gives you some questions to think about as your school approaches this work.
National Geographic: Race Discussion Guide - This guide is a useful collection of ten activities and additional resources to help guide discussions about race and is not intended for anyone to use every activity or resource.
UnboundEd: Disrupting Bias Toolkit - UnboundEd’s core value of equity calls us to action on the commitment to disrupting patterns of implicit bias, privilege, and racism in ourselves, our organization, and in the education field to contribute to equitable outcomes for all students. They recognize that without an intentional study of biases we as educators will continue, even if unintentionally, to create the barriers to learning despite our belief about educational equity. They hope this toolkit leads to brave conversations in school communities all over the country so we can listen, lead, and teach towards equity.
Common Beliefs Survey: Teaching Racially and Ethnically Diverse Students - Teachers want students to learn, and many make an effort to be particularly responsive to racially and ethnically diverse students. Many of the beliefs we hold and lessons we are taught about racially and ethnically diverse students and how best to facilitate their learning have positive effects. Others, however, while seemingly sensible and well intended, can have negative consequences. This in-service activity will help educators to examine commonly held beliefs about racially and ethnically diverse students, the kinds of things we may say in conversations about how to meet the learning needs of all students.
Maine Based Additional Resources
The Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine has two site where you can watch the different webinars and trainings that they have offered:
Book Lists & Compiled Resources
Racial Justice Resource Collection - As part of their commitment to anti-racism and non-discrimination, HRE USA has created a Racial Justice Resource Collection to help educators engage their students on issues of racism through a human rights lens. For educators, the classroom is a unique space where both racial justice education and human rights education can play a transformative role in reshaping young people’s minds and actions as engaged citizens.
Anti-Racism Reading Recommendations - The People’s School of DC is a community cooperative to organize and connect people to social justice education and resources. The goal of the People’s School of DC is to connect people to existing DC social justice initiatives and to develop new social justice resources and education opportunities, without traditional academic barriers, in the greater DC area. Their website contains a list of anti-racism and social justice books and reports categorized by the below book topics and is a work in progress.
University of Southern Maine: Anti-Racist Summer Reading List - Check out this list compiled by USM faculty as suggested readings for History Majors/Minors, incoming students, alumni, or anyone interested in the topics.
Building Anti-Racist White Educators (BARWE) Resources Document - This resource document was compiled in order to support the objectives laid out in the introduction of the document. We as educators, especially those of us who are white, have an ethical obligation to our students, their families, and society in general to fully embrace the deep and at times difficult work and the daily process of becoming anti-racist and fighting for racial justice. This work involves educating ourselves, reflecting on our own privileges, joining in the ongoing efforts fighting white supremacy, working towards Black liberation, and having these conversations with our families and friends.
As educators, along with the work of self-transformation, it is imperative that we take time to make space and offer support and love to our students during these nationwide uprisings. Regardless of a student’s age, they are aware in some way of what is occurring in society. Beverly Daniel Tatum writes, “Not talking about upsetting events only fuels fear, anxiety and uncertainty. Being able to talk about something with a supportive adult can reduce fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.”
This is a time to support students and center their voices and emotions, not to preach about how they “should” be reacting or feeling. It is okay to not have all of the right answers. It is okay to feel overwhelmed and unsure of exactly how to express your thoughts and emotions. What is important, is that you provide students a place to express their thoughts and feelings and let them know you are there for them.
Anti-Racism Resources - This document is intended to serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work. If you haven’t engaged in anti-racism work in the past, start now. Feel free to circulate this document on social media and with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Prince George's County Memorial Library System: Anti-Racism Page - Prince George’s County Memorial Library System celebrates and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. They pride themselves in creating and maintaining a safe environment that respects and is inclusive of diverse traditions, religions, ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientation, genders, ages, heritages, abilities and experiences. The resources, services, and programs offered by the Library aim to be racially diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Check out their website for resources that support their mission.
Anti-Racism Resources for All Ages - This padlet is a collection of resources compiled by Dr. Nicole A. Cooke, the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair (Diversity in Libraries Initiative) at the University of South Carolina.
Below are some books that might be of interest:
- Ronald Takaki - A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America
- Ronald Takaki - A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America For Young People
- James Lowen - Lies My Teacher Told Me
- James Lowen - Teaching What Really Happened
- Zaretta Hammond - Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain
- Ijeoma Oluo - So You Want To Talk About Race
- Jeffrey Kluger - Raise Your Voice
- Beverly Daniel Tatum - Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria
Continue the Work in the Classroom and in Your Curriculum:
Along with reflection and engaging in the work of being an anti-bias educator, it is important to take time to reflect and review not only your classroom curriculum, but to formally review the curriculum of your school and district and work to ensure that Diverse Books are being used. It is also important to make sure that quality and appropriate resources are being used in teaching about the topics of: