Social Emotional Learning

Teaching and learning about the Holocaust and other Genocides with students can bring up a range of emotions both in students and in educators. The following considerations are offered when engaging in these conversations in order to build a safe and supportive space during class lessons and discussions on this topic:
- Establish norms regarding respectful discissions including active listening, turn taking, and ensuring respectful verbal and nonverbal reactions when peers are sharing
- Acknowledge and validate that students may have emotional reactions and/or experience feelings of discomfort during conversations, and that individuals may respond differently when processing new information about this topic
- Communicate to students that everyone, including teachers and administrators, are learners about these topics
- Discuss with students the importance of assuming positive intent in students’ comments, while also being clear about what respectful language looks and sounds like
- Focus on the importance of empathy when listening to individuals who may be directly affected by antisemitism
- Ground conversations in reliable and credible information sources, encouraging students to become aware of organizations and resources that are considered to have expert knowledge of the topic area
- Ensure that discussions are closed with next steps for learning and supportive actions