Thread by @SharlaFalodi, THREAD:In today's class discussion, I asked students to come prepared to share [...]

THREAD:

In today's class discussion, I asked students to come prepared to share a response to:

What does it mean to feel safe?

Here is what my grade 2/3 students said:

"When I feel calm like when I am sleeping."

"When I am protected."

"When I can do what I want without being judged."

"When you are not scared of anything and you can feel free."

"When you feel comfortable."

"When you are loved and cared for."

"When you are not in danger."

Following this discussion, students watched @AkieaG's 60 second text titled "Safe".

https://www.wokekindergarten.org/60secondtexts

I then shared, "Safe means when you are free from harm or hurt to your mind, body, and heart. It is when you can be who you are, your whole self, without fear."

I continued, "Not everyone gets to feel safe automatically."

I asked the question at the end of @AkieaG's text,

"Why do some people feel safe with police and others don't?"

Students responded:

"Because- racism."

"Police don't protect everyone the same way."

"Some people can be friends with police and others can't because they have been hurt by police or know someone who has been hurt by police."

"Some police use their power to do bad things, like hurt and kill Black people. I used to think all police officers were good."

We talked about broken trust between police and communities.

We talked about everyone having the right to feel safe.

In the 60 second text, @AkieaG shares personal images of people/animals/things that make them feel safe. This is a brilliant way to connect with students.

I did the same by "presenting" a slideshow with images of myself with different animals/people/things that make me feel safe. Some images included students and things they had done throughout the school year that helped to make me feel safe.

The students loved this.

Then, I asked students, "Complete this sentence. I feel safe when..."

Students responded:

"...I'm with my family."

"...I'm home."

"...I'm with my friends."

"...I'm drawing and can let my imagination flow."

We talked about the importance of feeling safe.

Then, I asked another @AkieaG question, "What can you do to make other people feel safe."

Students responded:

"You can ask them what makes them feel safe to remind them."

"You can include them and protect them."

"You can talk to the person or people who are making them feel unsafe."

"You can do the things that make them feel safe with them so they don't feel alone."

I shared a personal story. It involved me facing racism as a child, from a teacher. I shared how unsafe it made me feel.

The story illustrated how children can be wrongfully consequenced by teachers based on who the student is (their race, the way they speak, the family they belong to etc.).

Students were livid and wanted to know where to locate the people involved who had hurt me.

I told them the story to illustrate that educators can cause harm too. Educators can treat students differently, or believe one student over the other because of who they are. I shared that educators are working hard to learn about the ways they harm students so they can stop.

I continued, "There are more students than teachers. Students hold a lot of power and sharing the truth is very important. If you witness a whole situation and the wrong student, or not all students involved get in trouble, you can speak up against injustice."

I shared, "When you speak up in these moments, you help to make that targetted student or group of students feel safe. Educators have a responsibility to make sure students feel safe, and if they really mean it, they will listen to what you have to say."

We ended with the common understanding that we are ALL responsible for making sure everyone feels safe.

I firmly believe children are born woke.
I'm here to try to maintain that.

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