A “Perspectives Consciousness” Approach to Discussing Race & Current Issues (middle & high school teachers): Thurs., February 11th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern

This workshop will be held by Ayo Magwood, founder of Uprooting Inequity. Her platform is dedicated to sharing resources, curriculum & instructional strategies for teaching about systemic racism & social justice through historical and civics education frameworks.  In this workshop, several strategies will be discussed for developing a classroom culture conducive to productive classroom discussions about race and racism. Here are a few of the strategies/lessons that will be discussed:

1. Blind Men & The Elephant simulation (a lesson on positionality). This simulation/lesson teaches students to construct a more complete understanding of complex issues by seeking out, assessing and comparing perspectives of various stakeholder groups, rather than universalizing their personal perspective;
2. Deliberation rather than Debate — Developing the skills and habits necessary to participate in a deliberative democracy where citizens engage in deliberations (vs. debates) to better understand differing perspectives and find policy solutions that promote the common good;
3. Opportunities for “Perspectives-Taking” – e.g. parent-student discussions, cross school programs, historical and literary narratives;
4. Changing students’ conception of what it means to be a “good person” from “Not Racist” to “Continually working on one‘s natural implicit biases” (a growth mindset), teaching students strategies for reducing our natural implicit biases, and providing opportunities to practice them;
5. Erect “safety guardrails” on classroom discussions.1.5 CEU’s will be awarded for participating in this workshop. Graduate credit may also be purchased.

Link to Join the Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81794188998?pwd=WjE3Zk8vUmZNVEZBT0hWQ05zQ2lFdz09