How to discuss tragedy with students...

With the wake of the events that took place in Paris last week, I thought to myself; "How would I discuss these events with my students?" Teaching high school you can have a more open conversation about all aspects of an event like this. But how do you tell a younger child why things like this happen? I feel that it is our job as teachers to be sensitive towards discussing these events with all ages. We have a responsibility to talk about them, because this is the world our students live in. They may not be directly impacted, but they have questions and you need to be prepared to answer them. 

I think the best thing that the events allow us to do as teachers is to open up the discussion about stereotypes and race. It allows us to debunk stereotypes about certain religions, ethnic groups, races, etc. The classroom is often the only platform that many students have to discuss these issues. Be the sounding board for them and be honest with your students. I don't hold my feelings back from my students-they can feel that I am genuinely interested in the discussions we are having and want to make them comfortable. Making your students feel safe to openly discuss these events can be a "teachable moment" in your classroom. 

Be honest with your students-if you don't know the answer tell them so, keep the conversation real.