Books/Films
Becki is co-author of four books about identity safety. She has also published lesson guides on the topic of bullying and numerous articles and blogs. Please contact Becki to contract for additional educational publications
Identity Safe Spaces at Home and School
This book provides the most up-to-date research on identity safe practices and how to ensure that they occur both at home and at school. Today’s schools serve students and families with a diversity of identities. To mitigate the negative impacts of oppression on marginalized identities, this book shows educators how they can work together with parents and guardians to support all students’ well-being and success. Each chapter covers a core practice of identity safe classrooms, explains how to extend the practices schoolwide with ways to share these practices with families to implement at home. Purchase here
Belonging and Inclusion in Identity Safe Schools
Lead an identity safe learning community where students thrive
Students of all backgrounds reach their full potential when they feel a sense of belonging and inclusion. When their social identities are valued as assets rather than barriers to learning, they flourish. This guide provides evidence-based strategies that support you as a leader in creating an environment that promotes identity safe students, who experience a challenging curriculum that respects their diverse social identities. Purchase here
Identity Safe Classrooms Grades 6-12
In identity safe classrooms, students facing negative stereotypes or viewed as different are “seen,” accepted, and valued for who and what they are. Their identity is embraced as an asset not a barrier for school success. Identity safety is a research-based set of practices that counter the harmful effects of stereotype threat and allow our students to reach their full capacity for learning, foster positive relationships, and better appreciate the full spectrum of human differences. Identity Safe Classrooms, Grades 6-12, is a call for educators to come together and realize a vision of schools as transformative places of opportunity and equity for all students. Inside you’ll find: Design principles and pragmatic strategies for promoting belonging and a welcoming classroom environment; Compelling evidence from identity safety research on ways to mitigate stereotype threat along with counter-narratives that challenge societal biases about gender, race, and other differences. Purchase here
Identity Safe Classrooms: Places to Belong and Learn
This bestselling book is focused on a set of strategies that have a positive effect on student learning and attachment to schooling, in spite of real and powerful social inequalities. This evidence-based book is drawn from research showing that students from all backgrounds in identity safe classrooms learn better and like school more than their peers in other classrooms.
In identity safe classrooms, teachers strive to ensure that students feel their identity is an asset rather than a barrier to success at school. Elementary teachers will learn the importance of teaching pro-social skills and cooperative learning in the context of high expectations and challenging curriculum.
Our Family, a Film About Family Diversity
With over 137 thousand views, in this free short film and lesson guide, children share stories about all kinds of families. Today's children come from families living in one home or two, some are being raised by one mom or one dad, or they might have two parents/caregivers or live with grandparents or other family members. Others have parents/caregivers of different ethnic backgrounds, or who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. And some children are adopted or live in blended families. It gives children the opportunity to appreciate their own families, and to be open and respectful to those who are different from them.
“It is important to have diverse children, to have diverse families in a school so you know how to include everyone… you don’t just go to the people who are like you, you reach out and embrace everyone.” Nathan, student, Peralta Elementary School, Oakland,
Click here Watch the free film and access the Lesson Guide
Our Family Educator Guide: https://www.niot.org/sites/default/files/Family%20Guide%20highres.pdf
The Guide for White Women who Teach Black Boys
Schools that routinely fail Black boys are not extraordinary. In fact, they are all-too ordinary. If we are to succeed in positively shifting outcomes for Black boys and young men, we must first change the way school is "done." That’s where the eight in ten teachers who are White women fit in... and this urgently needed resource is written specifically for them as a way to help them understand, respect and connect with all of their students.
The Guide for White Women Who Teach Black Boys brings together research, activities, personal stories, and video interviews to help us all embrace the deep realities and thrilling potential of this crucial American task. Dr. Cohn-Vargas wrote Chapter 11: "Identity Safety as the Antidote to Stereotype Threat."
Parent Guide: Preventing and Addressing Bullying and Intolerance
In this guide, we first define bullying and intolerance. Next, we offer you concrete ways you can support your child to prevent or respond to bullying and as well as steps to get help from the school staff. We conclude with ways you can make a difference in your community to address and prevent incidents of bullying and intolerance.
A Guide for Law Enforcement: Preventing and Addressing Bullying and Intolerance
This guide is intended to be a primary resource for law enforcement officers who play a large role in helping educate children and adults about the problems resulting from bullying and ways to prevent and intervene in bullying incidents. Officers can also help targets of bullying break a cycle by being a trusted and safe adult to whom children can turn. They can help bystanders learn to speak up to stop bullying, and they can help children who bully transform their behavior and break out of patterns of behavior that lead to further harm.
Not In Our School Video Action Kit
This comprehensive toolkit features 20 films, lessons, and resources designed to motivate students to speak out against bullying, and create new ways to make their schools safe for everyone.
Not In Our School Identity Safe and Inclusive
School Program
The NIOS Program Guide is designed to help transform campuses into places where students of all backgrounds and identities feel valued and appreciated.
The Main Program Guide, with research on bullying, intolerance, identity safety, and ideas for getting the whole community involved with 27 writable surveys and planning forms.
● The NIOS Staff and Parent Professional Development Guide, with workshop agendas and 8 PowerPoints on training topics.
● The NIOS Classroom Lessons Guide, with lesson plans on equity, bullying, and intolerance, how to be an upstander,
and 13 films.
● The NIOS Student-led Campaign Guide, with step-by-step instructions for your campaign.