This course is a book study involving ORLA staff.  We will be reading the book Blindspot and completing activities and discussions related to the reading.  

Participants include teachers, office professionals, and administrators. This opportunity is open to everyone in the building if they choose to participate. OEA members may use their self-directed staff development to be paid if they have not already used their allotted amount. 

AGENDA:

Meeting 1: 

March 19, 2018

Reading to be completed: Preface - Chapter 3

Discussion Questions:

1. Were there examples from the book where you shared a mindbug with the described situation?

2. What mindbugs do your students and families have regarding ORLA? Your class(es)?

3.  What gray, red, blue, & colorless lies do you encounter at ORLA? If so, are there consequences and/or benefits to these lies?

4. What was it like doing the Implicit Association Tests? 

Activities:

1. Go through Discussion Questions listed above as a group. 

2. 
   

   1. Have Parking Lot available for other issues/questions.

   2. Complete chart that lists mindbugs of students/families.

   3. Complete chart of the different colors of lies. 

Meeting 2:

March 26, 2018

Reading to be completed: Chapters 4 - 6

Discussion Questions & Activities: Specific questions to be developed after the 1st meeting.

• What about “innocent” jokes?

• Cognitive dissonance & confirmation bias

• Difference between categorizing & stereotyping

• Stereotypes - Everything you didn’t know

Meeting 3:

April 9, 2018

Reading to be completed: Chapters 7 - 8 

Discussion Questions & Activities: Specific questions to be developed after the 2nd meeting.

• What Stamping In occurs at ORLA? In your classroom?

• 
  

  • What parts help? What hinders? How?

• Us and Them - What are the Us and Them populations at ORLA as a whole? In your classroom?

• Outsmarting mindbugs

Meeting 4:

April 16, 2018

Reading to be completed: Appendix 1 & 2

Discussion Questions & Activities: Specific questions to be developed after the 3rd meeting.

• Appendix 1: Are American’s Racist?

• Appendix 2: Race, Disadvantage, and Discrimination

• ORLA & Classroom impacts

• Next steps for your practice