I wrote this thread in June for teaching into, as opposed to around, trauma & crisis.

It might be helpful for tomorrow's classes as the shreds of democracy play out and kids will have witness an attempted coup.

This thread has been edited, it was written in a different time.

I'll be with kids tomorrow. This is all I got for tonight

A NOTE ON TEACHING DURING PUBLIC CRISIS & COLLECTIVE TRAUMA WITH ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN. A NOTE ON TEACHING DURING PUBLIC CRISIS & COLLECTIVE TRAUMA WITH ELEMENTARY AGED CHILDREN. #PULSEMASSACRE #BLACKLIVESMATTER

I TAUGHT 4TH AND 5TH GRADERS DURING THE #PULSEMASSACRE.

#BLM

THE DAY AFTER THE SHOOTING HAPPENED, THE KIDS CAME IN, AND BEFORE WE EVEN SAT DOWN FOR MORNING CIRCLE, I HEARD THE TRANSLANGUAGING ABOUT THE SHOOTING HAPPEN: "LAS ARMA DE FUEGO"“同性恋的 #PULSEMASSACRE

When kids come in talking and saying phrases that include "gay", "guns", and "killing". you do not shut down the converation. This is a crisis, a tragedy, and students need help processing.

It's June. So my kids know that in this class, we talk about things.

When kids come in talking and saying phrases that include "gay", "guns", and "killing", you do not shut down the converation. This is a crisis, a tragedy, and students need help processing.

Step 1. Create space for kids to tell you what they know. We did our morning greeting, and sat in our circle like every other day of the week, but this time, we included an additional spot in the schedule, named "TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW"

This is what you do: Get out the chart paper, use your system for sharing, listen. and document. Write down and/or record what your kids say they know.

Step 2.

Clarify terms. Kids will name language they hear on the news or what they hear their families and friends say.

Our job as educators is to educate. I defined "queer" "nightclub" and "massacre."

Step 3. Time for Questions. Kids want to know more. They are worried, they are wondering. The Queer Community has been marginalized since the beginning of life on earth. Cis het people have a special job to normalize talking about queer life in their classrooms.

Write down the kids' questions. Help them know that it takes time to understand. Help them know that you need time to help them find answers.

Step 4. Treat working through public crisis and collective trauma as you would any other literacy inquiry. Invite community members in, watch videos, read together. Document your path to understanding on the classroom wall, or in a public digital space.

Equip your kids with a process for truth and understanding. As educators , it's our job.

I am so, so, so tired of people saying that "xyz" is not appropriate for kids to talk about in school, or ever.

Not talking about crisis and tragedy is teaching kids to walk right on by when people are in pain.

And it is one of the primary reasons we live in a cultivated "fact free" America.