Tailored to fit each school district’s unique initiatives, HHC’s meaningful in-person or virtual on-site professional development are created to develop students’ critical thinking, literacy, and leadership skills utilizing Holocaust and Humanity education. Below is a sampling of the professional development opportunities the Holocaust & Humanity Center can provide to school districts:
Developing Empathy & Critical Thinking through Holocaust Education
RESEARCH shows that students who are exposed to high quality Holocaust education exhibit more tolerance, higher critical thinking skills, and a strong sense of civic engagement and social responsibility. In this dynamic workshop, educators will be presented with best practices in Holocaust education from contextualizing the Holocaust for adolescent learners to harnessing the power of survivor testimonies and primary sources. Teachers from across content areas will leave with creative, Common Core-aligned strategies to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today.
From Bystander to Upstander: Harnessing Character Strengths to Take Action
What does it mean to be an Upstander? Upstanders are individuals who use their CHARACTER STRENGTHS to stand up for others, fight against injustice in both big and small ways, and inspire action. In this interactive workshop, educators will identify their own character strengths and reflect on how best to leverage them in a classroom setting. Workshop participants will also glean strategies for guiding students in activating their unique character strengths to become upstanders in their communities. School districts with equity and inclusion, service learning, or youth leadership initiatives will find this workshop especially applicable.
Stemming the Tide of Hate: How to Respond
With hate crimes in the United States soaring to record highs, educators may find themselves ill-equipped to unpack these unsettling statistics with students. Whether it is effectively addressing antisemitism, xenophobia, or racism in your school community, or on the national stage, HHC staff are here to support school personnel. Using research-driven strategies, this workshop provides educators with a framework for navigating these difficult conversations with students and preparing students to take informed action against hate at home.
Email Lauren Karas, Education Outreach Manager, at [email protected], for more information.
It’s never too early to start making summer PD plans. Pre-register for HHC’s summer Institute on Teaching the Holocaust, which melds scholarship with practical, classroom-based strategies for teaching this complex time period. You will leave with a pacing framework that meets your needs and curricular strategies that connect historical content with the vital literacy skills students need to succeed.