"How Identity is Formed" Conversation Guide

After watching "How Identity is Formed," discuss with your students using these prompts:

First memory of identity

  • What is your first memory of realizing your own identity? Is it different if you do not have a “starkly different” identity?
  • What is your oldest memory of realizing you were different? Or your oldest memory of witnessing bias/racism?
  • What is the impact of those memories on you today? How have you grown from those memories?

Conversation starters after Graci’s story (at 3 minutes):

  • What is your overall reaction after watching the video?
  • What could Graci’s teacher have done differently? And why?
  • What are your wonderings/first reactions after listening to Graci’s story?
  • What were the missed opportunities here?

How children understand differences - racial and other, how they act on those understandings:

  • What opportunities do we have as educators to teach children about differences among their peers?
  • What opportunities do we have as educators to promote the important understanding of differences to children, parents?
  • What action can you take after watching the video?

How constructs of difference can become negative, and how children can find pride in their heritage to combat that negativity:

  • What sorts of things can we do to support children as they’re exploring their social identity?
  • What can happen if we don’t talk to children about the differences they’re noticing?
  • What do you think the red flags would be if someone is being unsupportive during this time in a child’s development?
  • What are ways that we can break down those barriers as we work with/relate to the adults in our lives - Family, colleagues, teacher prep institutions, Early Childhood Education at the system level?

How teachers can approach uncomfortable or even harmful situations involving racism and use them to truly teach and lift affected students:

  • Imagine you were this brand-new teacher. How would you react to a similar situation? Who in your circle will you debrief the experience with and why?
  • Can you think of a time when you’ve said the “wrong thing”? How did you recover? What could you have done differently? And why?
  • How can teachers and parents open their eyes to these “teachable moments” when it comes to race?
  • What opportunities do we have as educators to promote understanding of differences?
  • What opportunities do we have as educators to promote the important understanding of differences to children, parents?
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