The terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel and the resulting war in the Gaza Strip has led to thousands of lives lost. Many NAIS community members are worrying about loved ones and mourning personal loss. The conflict is also likely spurring difficult but important conversations in schools. We hope some of the resources below, shared previously with heads of school, can help NAIS school leaders and educators as they support their communities; restore a sense of safety; guide students through understanding the conflict, the context, and its impact; and manage complex conversations in their communities.
Helping Children Cope with Upsetting News Events
- Explaining the News to Our Kids (Common Sense Media)
- Helping Children Cope with Frightening News (Child Mind Institute)
- How to Talk to Children about Difficult News (American Psychological Association)
- Talking with Children and Teens about the Israel-Gaza War (National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement)
- Helping Children Cope with Terrorism–Tips for Families and Educators (National Association of School Psychologists)
- Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- Talking to Children About Tragedies (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event (Child Mind Institute)
- Promoting Compassion and Acceptance in Crisis (National Association of School Psychologists)
- Resilience in a Time of War: Tips for Parents and Teachers of Elementary School Children (American Psychological Association)
Communicating with Your Community
- When Should a School Issue an Official Statement? (NAIS, Independent School magazine)
- Getting to We: Communicating in the Age of Polarization (NAIS, Independent School magazine)
- The Internet, Free Speech, and Schools (NAIS, Independent School magazine)
- Revisiting Policies on Civil Discourse (NAIS, Independent School magazine)
Addressing Intolerance and Bias at School
- Preventing and Responding to Bias and Hate Incidents in K-12 Educational Settings: A Toolkit for School & Community Leaders (Department of Justice)
- Responding to Hate and Bias at School: A Guide for Administrators, Counselors and Teachers (Learning for Justice)
- School Response to Bullying, Intolerance, and Hate: A Quick Guide for Action (Not In Our Town)
- Managing Difficult Classroom Discussions (Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, Indiana University)
- Responding to Hate and Bias at School: A Guide for Administrators, Counselors and Teachers (Learning for Justice)
- Tools and Strategies: Antisemitism Today (ADL)
- Confronting Islamophobia (Facing History & Ourselves)
- Teaching Materials on Antisemitism and Racism (U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum)
- Teaching Islam: Deconstructing Myths and Clarifying Truths (PBS Education)
- Structural Racism Explained (The Othering & Belonging Institute_High School)
- How to Explain and Help Students Navigate Today’s Polarization (Edutopia)
- Promoting Fair and Just Schools (National Institutes of Health)
Teaching Resources
The San Diego County Office of Education has compiled a comprehensive list of Resources for Educators and Families, including the following:
- Facing History and Ourselves—Fostering Civil Discourse: How Do We Talk About Issues That Matter
- Constitutional Rights Foundation—Conducting a Civil Conversation in the Classroom
- AllSides shares how media sources from different political perspectives report the news
- C-Span Classroom article: Conflict in the Middle East Following a Surprise Attack by Hamas Fighters on Israel
- Institute for Curriculum Services has a series of short, animated videos on the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict and peace process
- PBS Kids offers historical coverage of Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- Council on Foreign Relations article: What Is U.S. Policy on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?