Teachers, we know that words are insufficient in the face of the violence and devastating loss of life at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. 

Showing up for your school community in a moment like this is incredibly difficult, and you may feel like there is nothing you can say or do to make a difference in the face of another senseless tragedy. 

We’ve gathered a handful of resources that may support your teaching in the days ahead – but first, we want to remind you that just your presence makes such a difference for your students, especially now. We hope that even as you work to take care of your students, you will take care of yourself too.

Here are five resources your fellow educators have been finding helpful in this painful moment. In the links below, you’ll find ways to approach tough conversations, identify students’ needs and offer learning opportunities. 

1. Tweet thread: An activity that helps calm students (Via @psych_k8)
   A therapist who worked in a Connecticut elementary school after the Sandy Hook shooting describes how drawing calming scenes to help “other kids who were scared” offered students both comfort and purpose.
2. PDF: Talking to children about terrorist attacks and school and community shootings in the news (Via Children’s Hospital Los Angeles)
   This digestible two-page guide walks through 10 questions you and your students might be grappling with, including, “Is this going to change my life?” and “Should I bring it up even if they don’t ask questions?”
3. Article: 15 Tips for Talking with Children about School Violence (Via Colorín Colorado)
   With advice tailored to elementary, middle and high school students, this collection of strategies includes practical guidance for approaching classroom conversations and links to youth-friendly news sources.
4. Lesson/Discussion Guide: Daily News Lesson on Uvalde Shooting (Via PBS NewsHour)
   If you teach older students who are drawn to watching news coverage of the shooting, this PBS NewsHour resource shares media literacy strategies for engaging students in discussion and inviting them to take an analytical look at stories.
5. Resource Roundup: Learning Network Resources for Talking and Teaching About the School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas (Via The New York Times)
   The New York Times’ Learning Network draws on the Times’ reporting to offer teaching tools including writing prompts and discussion questions, all aimed at students age 13 and older. Whether your students are looking for ways to take action, to learn more or to express their feelings, you’ll find actionable strategies here.