On May 24th, 2022, a school shooting took the lives of 19 children and 2 adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. This tragedy joins Parkland and Sandy Hook on the list of horrific school shootings that have taken place in the United States in the last 10 years. Along with the rest of the country, the team at Listenwise is devastated by the news of every life lost to senseless violence at our schools. Our hearts go out to all those affected by the Uvalde shooting, and it is our hope that one day these events will be a thing of the past.
We know many teachers are struggling with how to process and address these kinds of events with their students. Our friends at Facing History have an excellent handout, “Fostering Civil Discourse: How Do We Talk About Issues That Matter,” that we highly recommend. We also hope that you find moments to take care of yourself during these traumatic times. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s “Self Care for Educators” handout is another helpful resource.
There are many great organizations with thoughtful content, but we know that it can be especially difficult to look for resources when the grief feels so overwhelming. In an effort to support our community, we have gathered podcast lessons from our library and teaching resources for discussing school shootings written by trusted collaborators. As educators, you know your students and how to approach sensitive topics with them best. Our thoughts are with you— be well, be safe, and take care.
Listenwise Podcast Lessons About School Shootings
This will be updated regularly to include all future podcast releases on this subject
Parkland Students: A Year in Activism (February 2019)
Sandy Hook Parents Promote App for Reporting School Threats (January 2019)
How Rare Are School Shootings? (October 2018)
Students Adjusting After Texas School Shooting (May 2018)
Students March Against Gun Violence (April 2018)
Debate: Should Teachers Carry Guns? (March 2018)
Students Walk Out Over Guns (March 2018)
Student Activism Over Gun Violence (February 2018)
Related Listenwise Podcast Lessons
Interpreting the Second Amendment
Debate: Should Congress Restrict Gun Purchases?
Debate: Is Public Safety More Important Than Civil Liberties?
Gen Z Rises to the Challenges of the Times
Shoe Memorial Honors Victims of Gun Violence
Debate: Does the Right to Bear Arms Extend Beyond Home?
Debate: Should We Have Stricter Gun Control Laws?
Debate: Should Student Communication Be Monitored?
Debate: Do Police in Schools Make It Safer?
Debate: Should Schools Refuse Money from the NRA?
Listenwise Blog Posts
Discussing Current Events in the Classroom
5 Ways to Integrate Current Events into Instruction
Using Current Events Podcasts in the Classroom
Teaching Current Events in the Wake of Violence
Additional Teaching Resources for Discussing School Shootings
PBS.org : Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News
NPR: Talking to Kids After a School Shooting
Colorín Colorado: 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence
Facing History: Teaching in the Wake of Violence
Facing History: Teaching Strategies – Head Heart Conscience
National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children about Violence
National Association of School Psychologists: Helping Children Cope with Terrorism
National Council for Social Studies: A Response to Mass Shootings
Sandy Hook Promise: Gun Violence Facts
Share My Lesson: Supporting Safe Schools – Resources for Gun Violence Prevention
Common Sense Media: How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War
Common Sense Media: Talking with Students About Shocking or Disturbing News
Learning for Justice: A Love Letter to Teachers After Yet Another School Shooting
Learning for Justice: When Bad Things Happen
Learning for Justice: Trauma-responsive Education: Supporting Students and Yourself – Webinar
