Updated March 28, 2024
(Previously Updated October 17, October 20, October 25, and November 20, 2023, and January 16 and March 12, 2024)
The terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel and the resulting war in the Gaza Strip has led to thousands of lives lost. Many NAIS community members are worrying about loved ones and mourning personal loss. The conflict is also spurring difficult but important conversations in schools. We hope some of the resources below, shared previously with heads of school, can help NAIS school leaders and educators as they support their communities; restore a sense of safety; guide students through understanding the conflict, the context, and its impact; and manage complex conversations in their communities.
NAIS Resources
- NAIS Webinar Recording: Navigating World Events and Institutional Statements
- NAIS Webinar Recording: Supporting Our Schools: A Conversation for Heads of NAIS Schools
- NAIS Webinar Recording: Supporting Students and Ourselves
- NAIS Webinar Recording: Supporting Students Amid Global Conflict: A Conversation with Leaders from the Field
- NAIS Webinar Recording: Understanding the Impact of Recent Global Events on School Safety
- Legal Tip of the Week: Understand the Impact of Recent Global Events on School Safety
- NAIS Webinar Recording: Understanding the Impact of Recent Global Events on School Safety
- Legal Tip of the Week: Safety and Civil Discourse
- NAIS Webinar: Learning to Challenge Antisemitism
- NAIS Webinar: Islamophobia and Its Impact
- NAIS Institute on Intercultural Dialogue in Partnership with the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG)
- NAIS Civil Discourse Lab in Partnership with Close Up Foundation
Teaching Resources
- How teachers can talk about the Israel-Hamas Conflict (The Hechinger Report)
- Israel’s War with Hamas: Resources for Students, Teachers, Parents and Families (Anti-Defamation League)
- How to talk to Kids About the Hamas-Israel War: Resources for Educators (We Are All Teachers)
- Teaching About the Israel-Hamas War (The New York Times)
- Teaching About Contemporary Antisemitism (Echoes and Reflections online course)
- Religious Diversity & Bridgebuilding (Interfaith America)
- Fostering Civil Discourse: How Do We Talk About Issues That Matter (Facing History and Ourselves)
- Conducting a Civil Conversation in the Classroom (Constitutional Rights Foundation)
- Israel-Hamas War: Updates, Tracking Misinformation, and More (AllSides, which shares how media sources from different political perspectives report the news)
- Conflict in the Middle East Following a Surprise Attack by Hamas Fighters on Israel (C-Span Classroom article)
- Hamas-Israel War: Resources (A series of short, animated videos from the Institute for Curriculum Services on the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict and peace process
- Historical Coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (PBS NewsHour Classroom)
- Teaching Islam: Deconstructing Myths and Clarifying Truths (PBS Education)
- What Is U.S. Policy on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict? (Council on Foreign Relations)
- The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Council on Foreign Relations)
Helping Children Cope with Upsetting News Events
- Explaining the News to Our Kids (Common Sense Media)
- Helping Children Cope with Frightening News (Child Mind Institute)
- How to Talk to Children about Difficult News (American Psychological Association)
- Helping Children Cope with Terrorism–Tips for Families and Educators (National Association of School Psychologists)
- Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- Talking to Children About Tragedies (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event (Child Mind Institute)
- Promoting Compassion and Acceptance in Crisis (National Association of School Psychologists)
- Resilience in a Time of War: Tips for Parents and Teachers of Elementary School Children (American Psychological Association)
Tips for Parents Talking to Children about the Israel-Hamas War
- Processing Attacks in Israel and the Outbreak of War in the Region (Facing History & Ourselves)
- Talking to Children and Teens About the Israel-Gaza War (National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement)
- How to Talk to Kids About the Israel-Hamas War (Boston University)
- How to Talk with Kids About the War in Gaza and Israel (Greater Good Magazine, Berkely.edu)
Addressing Intolerance and Bias at School
- FACT SHEET: The U.S. Department of Education Announces New Tools to Tackle Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Related Forms of Discrimination and Bias (U.S. Department of Education)
- Resources for Preventing and Addressing Antisemitism in Schools (U.S. Department of Education)
- Resources for Preventing and Addressing Islamophobia in Schools (U.S. Department of Education)
- Confronting Antisemitism in Our Schools: An Action Plan for Heads of Independent Schools (American Jewish Committee)
- Promoting Religious Inclusion in Schools (National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments)
- Webinars: Addressing Antisemitism (USC Shoah Foundation)
- Trend Lines: Tracking the Rise in Antisemitism (NAIS, Independent School magazine)
- Resources on Antisemitism and Islamophobia (Facing History & Ourselves)
- Preventing and Responding to Bias and Hate Incidents in K-12 Educational Settings: A Toolkit for School & Community Leaders (Department of Justice)
- Responding to Hate and Bias at School: A Guide for Administrators, Counselors and Teachers (Learning for Justice)
- School Response to Bullying, Intolerance, and Hate: A Quick Guide for Action (Not In Our Town)
- Managing Difficult Classroom Discussions (Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, Indiana University)
- Responding to Hate and Bias at School: A Guide for Administrators, Counselors and Teachers (Learning for Justice)
- Tools and Strategies: Antisemitism Today (ADL)
- Confronting Islamophobia (Facing History & Ourselves)
- Teaching Materials on Antisemitism and Racism (U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum)
- Structural Racism Explained (The Othering & Belonging Institute)
- How to Explain and Help Students Navigate Today’s Polarization (Edutopia)
- Promoting Fair and Just Schools (National Institutes of Health)
- Talk and Take Action: Parents' and Caregivers' Guide to Countering Antisemitism (Shoah Foundation and Nickelodeon)
Communicating with Your School Community
- Navigating the Middle East Conflict and Assessing Mission Success (ERB)
- Practice (and Preach) Civility in Public and Private Discourse (Beyond Intractability)
- When Should a School Issue an Official Statement? (NAIS, Independent School magazine)
- Getting to We: Communicating in the Age of Polarization (NAIS, Independent School magazine)
- The Internet, Free Speech, and Schools (NAIS, Independent School magazine)
- Revisiting Policies on Civil Discourse (NAIS, Independent School magazine)