Americans will never forget the events of September 11, 2001. In our schools one of the primary aims of teachers is to help students cope with the sadness, fear and anxiety they are experiencing. The unprecedented acts of terrorism leaves many of us unsure of how to help our students. ESL professionals have an additional mission. We need to be a resource to our colleagues so that the hate and anger students may be feeling does not turn to aggression toward all members of a particular ethnic or religious group. We need to continue discussions about respect for different cultures and religions.

Guidelines for talking to children about terrorism

Educate yourself about how to help your students deal with their anxieties. Here are some good sources:

• Find tips for parents and teachers from the National Association of School Psychologists. Go to "The National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope."
• Read Dr. Richard Gallagher's article "Attack on the U.S: Guidelines for Teachers in the Classroom."
• Talking to Kids about Terrorism or Acts of War is designed to help teachers talk to their students.
• Visit the excellent web resource page at TeachersFirst.
• Visit the site for NOVA (National Organization for Victim Assistance)
• Read about helping children and adolescents cope with violence at NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)

Activities for Helping Students Cope

1. Stress the positive. Have students do what they can to help. A class or school can raise money to help other children or send supplies to rescue workers. The Save the Children Donation Fund, for example, will promote healing and recovery by providing critical services to children and families in New York City, neighboring communities and across the country in this time of crisis. Visit their site at Save the Children.

2. Inspire feelings of patriotism. Decorate your school with student-made flags or flag-related activities. Download a flag pattern from abcteach for students to color and cut out. Older students can learn about the U.S. flag. Make a flag booklet from Enchanted Learning. Although this is a July 4th activity, many of the pages can be adapted.

3. Have students make friendship or remembrance bracelets which can be exchanged or worn within a school or sent to students in another school. Directions for this activity can be found at Remembrance Bracelets

4. Ask students what they think "United We Stand" means. Have them draw examples of people standing together and write a short paragraph to go with it.

5. Brainstorm ideas with your students about helping the families of victims or those firemen, policemen and rescue workers who are at the scene of these disasters. Ask students what could they do to help? Have each student make a "Helping Hand" by tracing their hand on a sheet of construction paper or download our PDF file Helping Hand. Ask students to write a brief idea on their hand. Cut out hands and display them in the hallway.

6. Discuss with students what a hero is. Have students draw pictures and write about a present day hero. They could also send letters of thanks to fire fighters, police officers, and rescue workers.

7. Have students in your school join a national online quilt project. Each child designs a 6" x 6" quilting square to express their feelings about recent terrorist activities. These squares are put together at each school and photographed for a National Online display. More about this project can be found at Children Covering America Project.

7. Help reduce prejudice.

• Read Assistant Attorney General Boyd's Statement regarding the treatment of Arab, Muslim Americans or Americans of South Asian Descent. Ask students to discuss why our Department of Justice issued this statedment.
• Aid students to channel their hurt and anger appropriately. This is especially important with pre-teens and teens. Using Judith Viorst's "If I Were in Charge of the World" as a model, ask students what they would do it they were in charge. What would they change? What would they keep? Make your own frame for students to fill in. There is an example of this activity on TeachersFirst. Have younger students brainstorm ideas before writing. Do a simplified version of this poem as a group. See our PDF "If I Were Boss of the World."
• Help students understand Muslim beliefs. Read this article for teachers about The Muslim Student in the American Classroom.
• Have teens explore YouthNOISE which is a site for teens to communicate with others and to find productive outlets for their feelings. They can email the President, donate money to legitimate organizations or join an online memorial.

Other Resources

Disaster Mental Health Services Includes articles on "How to Help Children After a Disaster," "After a Disaster: What Teens Can Do" and "After a Disaster: A Guide for Parents and Teachers."

National Education Associaltion(NEA)provides a guide for educators on one way to structure the first day back at school following a tragedy.

Speaking to Children After a Disaster by Judith A. Myers-Walls of Purdue University.

Talking to Children About Violence and Other Sensitive and Complex Issues in the World Tips from "Discussion Guide for Parents and Educators" published by Educators for Social Responsibility.

Helping Children Deal With Scary News -- Thoughts from Fred Rogers of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.

Helping Children and Adolescents After a Disaster is a resource from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

How to Help Children After a Disaster: A Teacher's Guidebook is a resource from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).