1. How can we support students in feeling secure in their racial identity?
One way to do this is to start having the conversations early. At 3 years old, children begin to categorize by race, and by 6 years old, children have developed prejudices by race. It is for this reason that children need to learn, address and understand race at an early age. Positive Racial Identity must be continually and continuously reinforced. As early as preschool, children begin to develop their own racial identity and through conversations we can support a positive image of oneself.
2. How can we foster trust amongst the racial boundaries?
Not all parents are comfortable with these types of conversations so it is our job as educators to have them with children. Children are already exposed to race and racist ideas in the news and media and we must counteract that early to help children develop positive racial identities through our teaching and conversations.
3. How can we prepare students to engage in conversations about racism in ways that prevent further trauma to students?
One way I prepare students is through community circles. Once students build relationship and engage with comfortable conversations they can more easily adapt to difficult topics of conversation. Inaddition making Restorative Language an every day aspect of my classroom and teaching. This builds the ground work for later conversations.
One way to do this is to start having the conversations early. At 3 years old, children begin to categorize by race, and by 6 years old, children have developed prejudices by race. It is for this reason that children need to learn, address and understand race at an early age. Positive Racial Identity must be continually and continuously reinforced. As early as preschool, children begin to develop their own racial identity and through conversations we can support a positive image of oneself.
2. How can we foster trust amongst the racial boundaries?
Not all parents are comfortable with these types of conversations so it is our job as educators to have them with children. Children are already exposed to race and racist ideas in the news and media and we must counteract that early to help children develop positive racial identities through our teaching and conversations.
3. How can we prepare students to engage in conversations about racism in ways that prevent further trauma to students?
One way I prepare students is through community circles. Once students build relationship and engage with comfortable conversations they can more easily adapt to difficult topics of conversation. Inaddition making Restorative Language an every day aspect of my classroom and teaching. This builds the ground work for later conversations.