Young people bear witness to challenging or traumatic events in current events, media, and our local communities. Their thoughts, feelings, and reactions enter school spaces whether we introduce conversations or not. We adults have a natural instinct to protect our children from harsh realities and yet prepare them to navigate this complex world - is it possible to do both? What are ways to talk about identity, difference, and justice in age appropriate ways? How do you reinforce school values without shutting down perspectives? How do you facilitate authentic and respectful dialogue across difference? Engage in these questions and more through this interactive session.
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION PRACTICES FOR TEACHERS AND TRAINERS.pptx
Generic Educators Talking To Youth (3 Hour Version)
1. Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
Seattle Girls’ School
Talking to Young People
About Sensitive, Complicated, and Heated Topics
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
3. Agenda
“Hard” Topics in General
What’s Developmentally Appropriate
Current Realities
Young People’s Experience
How to Talk to Youth
How to Facilitate Conversations
Questions and Answers
Resources
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
4. What Brings You Here?
Please introduce
yourselves.
What are some of the
challenges you face in your
environment?
What skills or tools are you
looking for in today’s
session?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
5. “Hard” Topics in General
Race
Gender
Class
Religion
Politics
Sex
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
7. Early Awareness of Difference
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Age Signs
6 months Can discern racial feature differences
3 years Awareness of own and others’ gender.
Beginning awareness of gender roles
5 years Desire to categorize – self, others
Curiosity about meaning of differences
Aware of biases
7 years Can regulate biases versus behaviors
Starting to parrot adult messages
3rd grade Are aware of societal stereotypes
cross group play can increase
5th grade Have internalized stereotypical messages
cross group play can decrease
8. When They’re Little
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Theme: Trying to Understand the World
Curiosity based questions about difference
“Blurting out” of current understanding
Find out what they’re actually saying/asking
Find out why they’re saying/asking
Answer their questions straightforwardly
Model and coach humility, delight, and
curiosity about difference
Be mindful of children’s media – it’s not
always good for kids
9. In the Middle Years
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Theme: Who Am I? How Do I Have Power?
“Friendship Extinction Event”
Identity search through grouping
Good and bad cliques
Open their horizons about identity
Be steady through their rollercoaster
Coach more, teach less
10. In the Later Years
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Theme: My Future Place in the World
Gender and sexuality stereotypes
Power play through social status
The role of inclusivity in their college,
professional, and personal lives
Charging them to “practice for the real thing”
Define values and boundaries, then accept
that they will push
Be their consultant
11. Reflection
What was useful or helpful
in how to talk with youth
about “hard” topics in
general?
What questions or
concerns still remain?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
12. Current Realities
Political Polarization
COVID-19
Black Lives Matter
Anti-Asian Violence
Immigration, Detention Centers, Etc.
Climate Change and Denial
Rise in Homelessness
Gun Violence
And More…
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
13. Young People’s Experience
Increase in Anti-Group Sentiment
Increased Uncivil Discourse
Rise in Sadness, Fear, and Anxiety
Increased Acting Out
And More…
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
14. How to Talk to Young People
About Current Events
What have you heard?
How do you feel?
What questions do you have?
How can I support you?
Here are the school’s values.
What positive action can you take?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
15. How to Talk to Young People
About Hate and Extremism
Prepare Yourself
Be Alert
Listen
Reassure
Be Honest
Share the School’s Values
Take Action
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
16. How to Talk to Young People After
Personal Incidents
“I want to help you feel strong.”
Affection, correction, protection
Emotions are always right; not all
action is always right
Avoid either/or thinking
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
17. Reflection
What was useful or helpful
in how to talk with youth
about current events, hate
and extremism, or personal
incidents?
What questions or
concerns still remain?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
18. Helping Young People Talk to One Another
Create Safety and Courage
Express Feelings
Generate Questions
Share Facts
Learn More
Complicate Thinking
Take Action
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
19. What About Group Conversations?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
20. Learning Zones
and Performing Zones
Learning Zone: You engage deeply in the areas of
weakness. You actively seek new information,
strategies, and feedback for adoption. You embrace
mistakes in this low-stakes environment.
Performing Zone: You showcase your areas of strength
(e.g. a competition routine). You engage in new
information, strategies, and feedback in relation to
your current thinking (e.g. PhD defense). You minimize
mistakes in this potentially high-stakes environment.
Make sure you know what zone you’re in SO THAT YOU
CAN MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF THAT SPACE.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
21. Comparing Dialogue and Debate
Dialogue is collaborative. Debate is oppositional.
In dialogue, one listens in order to understand and find
meaning. In debate, one listens in order to find flaws and
to counter arguments.
Dialogue reveals assumptions for reevaluation. Debate
defends assumptions as truth.
Dialogue calls for temporarily suspending one’s beliefs.
Debate calls for investing wholeheartedly into one’s
beliefs.
In dialogue, one searches for basic agreements. In
debate, one searches for glaring differences.
Dialogue remains open-ended. Debate implies a
conclusion.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Adapted from Shelley Bennan, Dialogue Group, Boston Chapter, Educators for Social Responsibility
23. Polarity Thinking
Cognition marked by flexibility and
elasticity that enables individuals to
recognize and navigate the countless
opposing yet interdependent energies
that manifest in all life. Polarity thinking
transforms ‘either/or’ contrasts into
‘both/and’ formulations that allow for
mutually-satisfying, stable, and
predictable gains in personal and
professional life.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Caroline Blackwell, National Association of Independent Schools
24. Polarities, Not Binaries
Equality and Equity
Free Speech and Inclusive Speech
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and Unity
Systems Work and Individual Work
Calling Out and Calling In
Heat (protests, disruption, opposition) and
Light (education, patience, collaboration)
Safety and Bravery
Accommodation and Assimilation
Change and Tradition
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
25. Polarity Mapping
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Caroline Blackwell, National Association of Independent Schools
26. Engaging Across Differences
Be willing to sit in the gray areas
Be willing to be uncomfortable
Be willing to be vulnerable
Be willing to extend trust and earn trust
Be willing to listen fully
Be willing to continue the conversation
Be willing to believe we need each other
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
27. Reflection
What was useful or helpful
in supporting young people
talk to one another?
What questions or
concerns still remain?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
28. Talking With Your Kids
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Be explicit about your values
Be open about your own
struggles
Don’t stay silent
100 1-Minute Conversations
Relationship Based
Interruption
30. Presenter Information
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
6th Faculty and
Professional Outreach
Seattle Girls’ School
2706 S Jackson Street
Seattle WA 98144
(206) 805-6562
rlee@seattlegirlsschool.org
tiny.cc/rosettalee
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)