Syllabus: Empowering & Protecting Uniqueness

Course Overview:

This professional development series is designed to equip educators with tools to support and protect students who feel different or marginalized. The sessions focus on building confidence, fostering inclusion, addressing bullying, and celebrating individuality. The series culminates in a school-wide event where students showcase their talents, ideas, and creativity while fostering a sense of pride and community.

Session 1: Embracing and Valuing Differences

Objective: Cultivate a classroom environment that celebrates individuality and diversity.

Topics:

Understanding the strengths in being different

Promoting inclusive classroom practices

Encouraging self-expression and valuing student uniqueness

Activities:

Group discussions on diversity and inclusion

Icebreaker activities highlighting personal strengths

Reflective journaling on uniqueness

Deliverables: Educators design an inclusive classroom activity that celebrates differences

Session 2: Building Confidence and Self-Worth in Students

Objective: Equip students with tools to build confidence and resilience.

Topics:

The importance of self-esteem in academic and social success

Activities that foster self-worth and identity

Developing growth mindsets in students

Activities:

Confidence-building workshops

Small group mentoring sessions

Visualization and goal-setting exercises

Deliverables: Educators create a weekly confidence-building activity for students

Session 3: Addressing and Replacing Bullying with Inclusion

Objective: Identify, address, and transform bullying behaviors into inclusive actions.

Topics:

Recognizing signs of bullying and exclusion

Teaching empathy, compassion, and kindness

Building a culture of upstanders, not bystanders

Activities:

Role-playing and empathy exercises

Group discussions on real-life scenarios

Developing classroom anti-bullying pledges

Deliverables: Classroom anti-bullying action plan

Session 4: Empowering Student Voices

Objective: Help students express their ideas and visions confidently.

Topics:

Public speaking and storytelling skills

Creating safe spaces for sharing ideas

Encouraging leadership and student-led initiatives

Activities:

Student storytelling workshops

Peer feedback and collaborative projects

Group presentations

Deliverables: Educators guide students in creating personal presentations or stories

Session 5: Creative Expression and Innovation event

Objective: Showcase creativity, innovation and difference in many forms while including the larger community

Topics:

Encouraging artistic, musical, and literary expression

Supporting invention and problem-solving skills

Creating platforms for showcasing student work

Activities:

Hands-on creative workshops (art, music, writing, etc.)

Group brainstorming and invention challenges

Collaborative art or project displays of visual art, music, poetry and more

Deliverables: Educators develop a plan to integrate more creative outlets into their curriculum as well as ongoing strategies

for helping kids who's differences can sometimes hold them apart from "accepted" culture feel included and empowered.

Create a survey that students can use to help us see if our efforts are having positive impacts.

Session 6: Culminating Celebration of Student Uniqueness

Objective: Organize and facilitate a school-wide talent and ideas showcase.

Topics:

Planning and promoting the event

Engaging families and the community

Supporting students in final preparations

Activities:

Student-led performances and presentations

Showcasing student inventions, music, art, and writing

Community involvement and celebration

Deliverables: Comprehensive event plan and checklist for a school-wide talent and ideas showcase

Assessment and Evaluation:

Participants will develop and implement inclusive practices throughout the school year, culminating in the final event. Reflection, student feedback, and community engagement will guide ongoing improvement.

Resources:

Zoom calls with experts

Presentations from Kevin Honeycutt

Books: BLEAK by Ben Honeycutt

"Mind Shifting" by Mitch Weisburgh

Study examples of "different" people through history tht has huge, positive impacts on the world.