A place for educators to find thought-provoking news, conversation and support for those who care about diversity, equal opportunity and respect for differences in schools
Have a Great Anti-Bias Classroom Activity?
Every teacher has that gem of an activity that's been perfected over the years—the one that always engages students and shows them a new perspective. Since you're part of the Teaching Tolerance community, there's a good chance that special activity might be about fighting bias in your classroom.
Students Get Real Insight Into Abilities
Growing up, I remember the children in “special ed” seemed to live in an alternate universe within our school. Regardless of the distinctions in their challenges, they all were placed together in one class, shuttled around as one throng, rarely included in the activities the rest of us took for granted.
Helping Boys Become Readers
Many boys at my school struggle with reading. Most are more interested in video games and outdoor activities than books. Our school is not an anomaly.
Addressing Bullying from the Inside Out
Middle school teachers struggle to find ways to respond to bullying, teasing, name-calling and exclusionary practices among students. We tread lightly sometimes, afraid of saying the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time thus making conditions worse for a bullied student. Being heavy-handed almost never works. Students also know how to say the right thing to adults and then act in a completely contrary way towards peers.
The Road to Disaster Recovery
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, many families were devastated. Schools were closed for a week or more. Children and adults were stranded.
Two Worlds Can Become One Universe
Okay, so we’re all still here.
That’s what I want us to remember following the presidential election. There’s been so much talk of the Big Divide, of two worlds within one country, of two opposing visions, sets of values and versions of our nation. We speak entirely different languages and literally, it seems, experience “the truth” as entirely different and, alas, incompatible truths.
After Election Day
Let’s talk about voting.
Yesterday, we asked our 65,000 Facebook followers if they had held mock elections in their schools. We heard from one lone voice that reported her middle school had 100 percent turnout.
Ethnicity Check Goes Outside the Box
I recently served as a reader of scholarship applications. The process included a complex algorithm for inclusion and took several criteria into account, like GPA, test scores, native languages, income level, assets, essays, parental education level and ethnicity. While providing this service, I came face-to-face with a misconception about race and ethnicity: Appearance predicts what language people speak.
Our new guide, 
