Guidelines for Teachers Engaging in Black Lives Matter at School
Created by World of Inquiry Student Council Crew

Basic Understandings:

• Black Lives Matter.
• Affirmation and understanding should go beyond one day, one week, one month. It should be happening all of the time
• Center Black voices in your classroom.
• Recognize that if you are a white person you are limited in what you understand about being black.
• Focus on empowerment.
• Go beyond the everyday heroes.
• Don’t just focus on slavery.

Ideas for Lessons

• Black figures who contributed to the world
• Positive lessons about black people
• Last words- reflects on last words of blacks who were killed by police/ 41 bullets of broadway
• Art: Black lives matter art pieces/collages
• English: Poems

Movie excerpts from:

• I’m not racist movie
• 13th documentary
• A Raisin in the sun
• 42 – Jackie robinson movie
• Malcom X
• Selma
• The Color Purple
• The Help
• The Wiz

Ideas for Readings

• Poems about racism or written by African American
• Books or excerpts by African Americans
• March graphic novels by John Lewis
• Excerpts from the New Jim Crow
• Month book club with books written African Americans especially African American women

Ideas for People to study

• Colin Kaepernick
• Huey P. Newton
• Robert Dubois

Ideas for topics of discussion

• Try to do more group fish bowls and group discussions so kids can share their thoughts without feeling judged

T-Shirt orders will be open until Friday February 9th.

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We have designed this initiative to allow educators and students to participate, if they choose to, in a way that works best for them. There are many ways for everyone to engage and our ideas can be found on our how to participate page.

How to Participate

We suggest the you, your colleagues and your classes begin with the following lesson from the Morningside Center as a way to understand the origins and principles of the Black Lives Matter Movement.

BLM Lesson Series Part 1: An Introduction

You can also find many other resources for self study, lesson planning and professional development on our page of resources.

Resources

We would like to know how you, or your school, plans to participate. Please complete this form so we can get an idea of what understanding and affirming Black Lives Matter at School looks like in our community. We will share, with your permission what you have planned, with others to inspire and motivate.

All school communities in the Greater Rochester area are encouraged to participate in a day of understanding and affirming Black Lives Matter on February 16th, 2018. Last year’s initiative was an important catalyst that has lead to real change and we hope to expand the impact of this initiative in 2018.

It is understood that every community is at a different place in this journey and that there will be a different path for each and every school but we believe that schools are a place to practice equity and the active engagement of teachers and students in building understanding and affirming that Black lives matter will lead to sustainable progress towards freedom and justice for all people. We have designed things in a way that allows us all to share a vision and leadership, it is up to you how you engage in this initiative but we suggest you begin by educating yourself and enlisting collaborators.

Please reach out if you need support, want to share your plans or have resources that will help. We especially want to hear how last year’s event has lead to growth or change within your school community.

• More About This Event
• How to Participate
• Resources We Have Gathered
• Contact Us

Articles and Media About Last Year’s Initiative

• Open Mic Rochester: BLM @School: Reflecting on the Day and Moving Forward
• Teaching Tolerance: A District Profile: Black Lives Matter at School
• Hechinger Report: Using Black Lives Matter to Teach White Teachers

Additional Resources

• Black Lives Matter Home Page
• Rochester City School District: Black Lives Matter at School 2017
• Teaching For Change: #BlackLivesMatter Week of Action in Schools Nationwide
• Teaching Tolerance: Bringing Black Lives Matter Into the Classroom | Part II

The Black Lives Matter at School Reflection and Action Planning event has been rescheduled for April 29th from 9-12 at World of Inquiry School #58.

Please attend if you would like to share your experience, hear the experiences of others and want to add your ideas as we discuss what needs to happen next.

Please register with this form: Registration Form

Please share your experiences and reflections here: Feedback on Black Lives Matter@School 

Program:
9:00 – 9:15 – Registration / Breakfast
9:15 – 10:15 – Reflection Circles
(sharing experiences from February 17th, and identifying needs moving forward)
10:15 – 11:15 – Plenary Sessions:
11:15 – 11:50 – Next Steps: What work needs to be done? What are we missing? How do we keep moving forward?
11:50 – 12:00 – Closing

In order to capture the wide range of experiences behind the many events that took place across the Rochester Community on February 17th, 2017, we are offering an opportunity for structured conversation and collaborative reflection as a means of synthesizing experiences and making plans for future work in regards to Black Lives Matter at School.

To everyone who participated in BLM@school – or wished they had – or wants to in the future — this space is for you to debrief, celebrate and conspire for sustaining the movement.

WHAT: An opportunity for structured conversation and collaborative reflection as a means of synthesizing experiences and making plans for future work in regards to Black Lives Matter at School
WHERE: World of Inquiry School, 200 University Ave.
WHEN: Saturday, March 11, 9:00am – 12:00pm
WHY: To capture and build on the wide range of experiences that took place across RCSD on February 17th

*** IMPORTANT***
Please use this form to register for the Black Lives Matter at School Reflection and Action Planning Session:

This event is open to the public. We look forward to seeing you there. Please be sure to register ahead of time so we can order refreshments.

Parking available in the school lot on Scio Street. Additional parking is available in the Downstairs Cabaret parking lot on the corner of University Ave. and Scio St.

Please send any questions to blacklivesmatteratschool@gmail.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Join us on February 17^th, 2017 in Rochester, NY and around Monroe County for a day of understanding and affirmation of Black lives in our schools. This day and event is made possible by the collaboration of educators, parents, community members, and BLM local activists.

About This Event

Relationships begin with taking time to ask questions and listen to the stories others have to tell. We, as Americans, are grappling with the past, present and future status of Black lives in our nation and every member of our community has an obligation to understand how and why Black lives matter. We must have the courage to affirm that Black lives matter in all of our lives. This day of action has been organized by a group of educators and parents to be a starting point for some, a path to restoration for others and spark to action for all.

Mission

Schools are a place to practice equity and the active engagement of teachers and students in building understanding and affirming that Black lives matter will lead to sustainable progress towards freedom and justice for all people.

Vision

Diverse community partners will come together to create a day of education, dialogue and action that will actively engage a significant number of educational communities throughout Monroe County in activities that support understanding and affirming Black Lives Matter.

Please feel free to contact us via email blacklivesmatteratschool@gmail.com or visit our website at www.blacklivesmatteratschool.org.

Contact Information:

Black Lives Matter at School

blacklivesmatteratschools@gmail.com

This afternoon we facilitated our second professional learning workshop related to Black Lives Matter at School. The materials below are for educators that have participated in these workshops or would like to learn more on their own.

 A Day of Understanding to Affirm Black Lives Matter in Schools

Learning Targets:

• I can understand the origins and goals of the Black Lives Matter Movement.
• I can understand the purpose of having A Day of Understanding to Affirm that Black Lives Matter at School.
• I can create a plan for participating in Black Lives Matter in Schools.

Introduction

• Mission
  Schools are a place to practice equity and the active engagement of teachers and students in building understanding and affirming that Black lives matter will lead to sustainable progress towards freedom and justice for all people.
• Vision
  Diverse community partners will come together to create a day of education, dialogue and action that will actively engage a significant number of educational communities throughout Monroe County in activities that support understanding and affirming Black Lives Matter.

Teaching Tolerance: Let’s Talk about Black Lives Matter Webinar

• What is your comfort level in talking about Black Lives Matter?
• Do you agree with the position and tactics of Black Lives Matter?
• Are you associated with the Black Lives Matter Movement or Movement for Black Lives, or interested in being associated with them?

Discussion

• From the webinar how will it look, feel or sound in your practices as an educator?
• What are some roadblocks that you foresee about participating the Black Live Matters in School initiative?
• What will you need to help through this journey to engage in Black Lives Matter in Schools?
• Who can support you or collaborate with you to further your efforts in the Black Lives Matter in Schools initiative?

Action Planning Template

Additional Resources

• Participating Educator’s Guide
• Black Lives Matter At School Organizing Document
• Resource Library