What strategies do you use to build a supportive classroom
community in order to discuss sensitive or controversial topics?
Consider how your class differs from Ms. Sinclair's. How would
you introduce stereotypes to your own class? What do you notice
about the ways Ms. Sinclair works with students to develop and
use criteria for the letter writing assignment? How can you work
with students to: develop criteria for one of your own
assignments? encourage ongoing reference to the criteria as
students refine their work? Taking It Back to Your Classroom Ask
your students to add to the checklist on stereotypes included as
background for this lesson. Bring in several age-appropriate
news articles. Divide the class into groups, and give each group
two or three articles to analyze, using the checklist. Ask
students to bring in product packages or other marketing items
that promote stereotypes (e.g., sports team logos, food
packaging, etc.). Have students research the origins of the
logos and/or look at some of the pro