Empowering Educators
Resources, guides, and videos to help educators have difficult conversations around race and racism.
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In 2019, First Book surveyed its network of educators, to provide resources that would help them proactively engage their students in conversations about race. Through the survey, 66% of educators stated they wanted to proactively discuss race and racism in their classroom; with 76% of educators requesting resources and tools to have effective, age-appropriate conversations with their students. Additional survey findings helped create a series of free resources that were informed by leading anti-bias and antiracist (ABAR) experts like Britt Hawthorne, Tiffany Jewell, Liz Kleinrock, Cornelius Minor, Catherine Wigginton Greene, and Christine Platt.
In 2020, First Book launched the first year of its Empowering Educators series, which included a Guidebook on Race & Racism, special edition paperback #OwnVoices stories, and the first part of a digital series on race and racism. In 2021, we have continued to expand the dialogue and provide educators with additional real-life resources and examples.
The program has continued to provide invaluable resources for difficult conversations and in 2021, First Book won a Gold Halo Award for the program from Engage for Good.
Explore our Empowering Educators resources designed to assist our Network of educators.
Our Toolbox to Help Build ABAR Classrooms
Have courageous conversations with students of any age.
How to Use This Toolbox
This Empowering Educators Toolbox provides resources designed to help educators help students develop understanding and respect for racial differences.
Best Practices for Building an ABAR Environment
Doing the work to uncover and understand our biases allows us to become aware of how they inform our thoughts and actions and impact others.
Guidebook on Race & Racism
This expert-informed, introductory guidebook is designed to help educators do the work needed to feel empowered and have courageous conversations with learners of all ages.
Challenging Conversations About Race & Racism
This guide explains how to facilitate productive, respectful conversations and includes scripts, conversation starters, and debriefing strategies.
Teaching Strategies & Lesson Plans
This resource offers best-practice guidance about using news articles and videos to spark and enhance race-related discussions. Writing prompts and lesson plans included.
Our Favorite Tools & Resources
We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite resources and influencers so you can stay current on ABAR strategies and issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A Convening on Racial Equity in Education
Presented in partnership with American University’s Antiracist Research and Policy Center (ARPC).
This live webcast, hosted in August 2020, reached over 7,000 educators globally to provide valuable insights and support for educators looking to have effective and courageous conversations on race and social justice in the classroom.
Part 1: Theory & Pedagogy
Part I of the series explores the theories and model examples of how to have a conversation around race within an educator’s classroom.
Let’s Create a Brave Space
In this segment, Britt helps educators support the positive racial identity development of students by modeling effective ways to start with the positive aspects of various cultures and races before i…
Using Books For Conversations About Race
In this segment, Cornelius models effective techniques educators can use with picture books to introduce and support conversations about race.
Foundation for Talking About Racism
In this segment, Tiffany discusses and models a popular activity she uses to help students explore their understanding of race and create an atmosphere of authentic community among her students.
Making Diverse and Inclusive Titles Accessible
As a companion to the Empowering Educators Collection, First Book have selected five of the most popular diverse titles on the First Book Marketplace and re-issued them in first-ever, affordable paperback editions.
The paperbacks selected for the inaugural launch are warm, affirming picture books that explore meaningful elements of identity that will be relatable to all readers. Pizza Hut selected these titles from First Book’s Stories for All Project™, which curates new, relevant, high-quality books representing diverse characters, voices, and life circumstances and makes them available and affordable to educators who support kids in need.
Part 2: ABAR Teaching in Action
The latest series provides examples of real educators and their students engaging in lessons or discussions about race, diversity, or inclusion.
Two Lessons on Creating Brave Space
Highlights First Book educators from around the country, showing how they incorporate anti-bias, antiracist practices in their classrooms.
Inquiry-Based Learning
Educators walk through their inquiry-based framework to lead a lesson on race, racism, difference, and equity.
The Power of Literature
Educators show how they use books to begin conversations about race with their students.
“From the neighborhood to the national level, America is on a critical journey: from identifying racism, to deeper understanding – and finally to dismantling systemic racism. To support this journey, First Book is excited to launch an unprecedented effort to empower educators – and the children they serve. These resources, and the important conversations they enable, will inspire and enlighten all of us as we work together with our educators to elevate equal opportunities for all of our children.”
Kyle Zimmer, president, CEO and Co-founder of First Book