Daily Reflection

Sunday, October 13th:

Today was our first day of the course.  I signed up to take this class as the idea of peace education is one that resonates with me given my background and personal experiences.  I was also hoping that through this course, I will walk away with practical strategies for fostering peace in various contexts, but especially at our school here in Qatar.  
Cameron created a very welcoming environment for us and it was clear that I was surrounded by fellow educators who care about peace education and believe it is an important topic in the field of education.  The material that was shared with us and the discussions we began to have, will help us understand the complexities of peace education. 

Overall, the first day left me feeling motivated about the experiences and learning that lie ahead.  I am excited to explore the various themes within this field and to learn how I can successfully integrate peace education into my practice, my classroom, and my school community.  

 

Monday, October 14th:

During the class today, we were paired up with a partner to have a conversation about one of the slides.  My partner, a teacher from South Africa, shared with me her experiences growing up during the apartheid era, and the struggles the community faced in their fight for freedom.  Listening to her story moved me, as I immediately thought about the situation in Palestine and the struggle the native people to the land go through in order to be treated with dignity and respect.  Listening to her also gave me hope as she shared stories about the resilience of her people as they fought a corrupt system of oppression.   Even when I shared stories about what I saw in Palestine on my recent trip there, my colleague tried to comfort me by saying there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Truth and justice will prevail at the end.  And I know she is right.  Just as apartheid ended in South Africa, Palestine too will find its path to freedom, justice and peace.  The conversation reminded me of the importance of having hope in the midst of adversity and destruction.  It is through that little glimmer of hope that movements for change can continue to happen.  As I continue my peace education journey, I carry with me the hope and belief that systems of oppression can be overcome, and we can help contribute to a better future for the generations to come. 

 

Tuesday, October 15th:

Today in class we were shown the picture book, "The Story of Ferdinand."  This was a powerful book that teaches several lessons including self-acceptance and staying true to oneself.  In the story, Ferdinand the bull chose to do what he wanted and not copy what everyone else around him was doing.  Instead of bull fighting, he chose to sit under a tree and smell the flowers in the meadow.  An important lesson here is strength doesn't have to come from fighting in physical fights.  Strength can also take the form of nonviolent acts of resistance.  
I believe this is an excellent book to be read aloud in the classroom where a discussion can then take place about the importance of kindness, the courage to be "you", and the courage needed in order to stand up for what one believes in.  

Wednesday, October 16th:

Today we were introduced to 6 principles in which three of them I couldn't help but think of the children in Gaza and their current reality living through a genocide.  The relationship-based principle stresses the importance of strong and healthy relationships for children to grow up to be healthy individuals.  In Gaza, a number of children have lost the adults who provide them emotional support.   The destruction of these bonds, whether it be with parents, extended family, teachers and community members, leave children without the connections that are key to their growth. 
The trauma informed principle reminds us that trauma has long lasting effects, sometimes lasting generations.  The trauma the children in Gaza are enduring, watching their family members killed in front of them, their houses demolished, their communities falling apart, will undoubtedly leave emotional scars that will take years to overcome.  
Finally, the family involved principle show how integral and important families are to a child's emotional, physical and social development.  For the children in Gaza, family life and structure has been completely torn apart.  Without the support and guidance of one's parents, the children of Gaza are left to navigate this world alone.  
We need to remind ourselves it isn't just about the present; this genocide will have long lasting effects in shaping the future of an entire generation in ways we have yet to see.  

Thursday, October 17th:

As I reflect on the course so far, I've come to realize that peace education is not just about addressing global conflicts, but it also includes cultivating a sense of respect, empathy, and understanding in everyday situations, both in and out of the classroom.  One key takeaway has been the importance of starting small, within my little community, in my classroom.  It begins with modeling peace building behaviors in my interactions with both my students and fellow colleagues.  By practicing empathy and conflict resolution, I can help create a school environment where peace is not simply a topic of discussion, but instead is a lived experience.  

The other thing that has been on my mind lately is how to incorporate more discussions about global peace and justice within our school, especially with the current events impacting the region and also due to Qatar's role in being a neutral negotiating force.  I feel a need and responsibility to equip my students with the skills and tools they need to engage in meaningful conversations about peace in their own lives and on a bigger scale.  

I want to be more intentional about integrating peace education within my classroom and within the school community as I help plan future events and projects for the school. 

 

Friday, October 18th:

Today, we explored the concept of relationship building responses which are availability, acceptance, investment and sensitivity and empathy.  As we went into more detail what each one of these means, I thought about my role as a teacher.  Being available means more than just being present in the classroom.  It is more about truly engaging with my students, getting to know them more on a personal level, understanding their strengths and challenges and showing that I am there for them.   Acceptance encourages me to embrace my students for who they are and recognizing their individuality.  I think as investment as an intentional effort to meet their individual needs and going above and beyond for them.  Finally, sensitivity and empathy remind me to stay in check with their emotions and experiences and always responding in a respectful and compassionate way.  

It is important that I keep these responses on my mind as they are foundational principles that nurture trust and create a safe space for students.  Though the demands of the curriculum sometimes force us to worry only about content, we need to continually reminds ourselves the importance of establishing and fostering meaningful, caring relationships with our students.  This is what impacts them the most. 

Saturday, October 19th:  

We were shown a video about a woman who has autism and has now become a researcher in her field.  She spoke about her experiences with autism and how, rather than being labeled as the issue, the focus being towards changing her environment in such a way that supports her needs.  This reminded me of the children in my reading groups at school.  There are some children who catch on quite quickly while others take a much longer time to learn the skills needed in order to read.   Just like the woman in the video talked about adapting the environment, I began to think how I could do the same in order for my students to be more successful.  I thought about how I could create a more supportive and flexible learning environment for my students.  Instead of focusing on what they cannot do, I should think more about how the environment, resources and expectations can be adjusted in order to help them be successful.  

Daily Peace Action

Daily Peace Action 

Monday, October 14th: Kind Words

As a school we are implementing a social emotional curriculum aimed at addressing students' needs and promoting positive behavior.  One action we are focusing on this week is using kind words with one another.   During each one of my reading groups, I set aside 2-3 minutes of the session to have each child say something kind to two other students in the group. The students loved hearing and sharing kind words with one another!  Even though this activity didn't take long to implement, I can already see the lasting impact it will bring to the group if we practice it regularly.  

Tuesday, October 15th: Practicing active listening during family time 

Today's peace action is one that I tried with my own children.  I tried my best to practice active listening with my children, allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings without any interruptions from my side.  I have a bad habit of interjecting at times, wanting to question more or offer advice.  I held myself back and allowed them to share whatever was on their mind.  I saw they were more open to sharing their feelings.  This is something that I want to make an effort in continuing to do every single day.  

Wednesday, October 16th: Complimenting my colleagues 

At my school we are planning a school wide event in order to educate our students about conflict, war and the events happening in the Middle East.  I am one of the leaders of this planning group.  As we met today to review our plan for the event, I made it a point to compliment the great ideas that I heard.  A statement which may seem so simple actually changed the demeanor of the people in the room. Incorporating more verbal appreciation in my interactions with my colleagues can foster a more peaceful and happier workplace. 

Thursday, October 16th: Praise

I have a student in one of my reading groups who is constantly zoned out, unfocused and seems to be uninterested in learning how to read.  Today during our reading groups, I made sure to acknowledge the little effort he made and made his actions into a big deal.  I repeated phrases like "I can see how hard you're working" or "Wow! Look at you today!"   His face lit up and I could see he started to become more interested in the lesson.  I made it a point to mention his effort to his classroom teacher in front of him.  The amount of excitement he showed blew me away.   Once again I am reminded of the profound impact of positive reinforcement.  A little recognition can surely go a long way.  

Sunday, October 20th: Positive Affirmations 

A classmate of mine shared that she tried doing positive affirmations and noticed a difference in the way she thought about herself. I decided to make this my challenge for today.  As I repeated to myself statements of my positive traits, I noticed a slight shift in my mindset.  Instead of letting doubts or negative thoughts dominate my mind space, focusing on the positive had a positive effect on my thinking.  It wasn't always easy to silence those negative thoughts, nor can I confidently say that my whole day was filled with positive thinking, but my consistently repeating about my resilience and worth, I could feel things began to slowly change for the better.  I remember taking a workshop a few years ago where the presenter shared a quote that struck me; "Your mind is a garden; your thoughts are the seeds.  You can grow flowers, or you can grow weeds."  

That is the power of the mind. 

Monday, October 21st: Notes of encouragement

For today's action, I focused on writing little notes for my children and placing them in their lunchboxes.  Each one of the notes I wrote contained an inspirational quote or a positive message unique to my child's circumstances.  These notes were meant to be a reminder of my love and support, offering them some positive energy throughout their day.  Even though it may be a small act, I do believe it is a way to keep connected with them even when they are away.  

Tuesday, October 22nd: Expressing Gratitude

The last peace action to be done is expressing gratitude to those around me.  Throughout the day, I will make it a point to express thanks to the people I interact with.  It could take on the form of a written note or a simple "thank you."  I will apply this both at school and at home; with my colleagues, students and my own family members.  
In Islam we have a saying of the Prophet where he said, "Those who don't recognize and thank people, don't show gratitude to God."  I try to always try to remind myself of this teaching, as it is shows how our connections with humans are also tied to our connection with God. By recognizing the kindness and efforts of those around us, we are expressing our gratitude to God for the blessings he has given us. 

Peace Quotes Assignment

 

1- “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” — Desmond Tutu

This quote resonates with me because it discusses the power of small actions that when combined, result in something grand.  As an educator, the idea of doing “little bits of good” whether it be with my students, my colleagues, my students’ parents, contribute to a larger change within our school community and that can help foster a more peaceful world. 

I’m also reminded of a principle in our religion of being at the service of your community and helping those who need it.  Something as simple as putting a smile on one's face or helping someone during their time of need, has great reward.  

We don't live in this world in isolation; rather we are all interconnected. This is an important point to keep in mind as it should foster a sense of shared responsibility which will result in supporting one another. When we all contribute to making this world a better place, even with small acts, we will help create a more peaceful and compassionate reality for future generations to come.

2 - “Most of us have been conditioned…since armies are legal, we feel war is acceptable; in general, nobody feels war is criminal or that accepting it is criminal attitude. In fact, we have been brainwashed. War is monstrous. It’s very nature is one of tragedy and suffering.- Dali Lama

Today, more than ever, I feel the meaning of this quote! We see the atrocities being committed every single day in Palestine and this has resulted in society almost normalizing war, death and destruction. People justify and even accept its existence, instead of challenging and finding alternative ways to deal with conflicts!   

Honestly, I feel an overwhelming sense of sadness and frustration at the world's indifference to the suffering that is taking place across the world. Now, more than ever, I feel a sense of urgency to be an advocate for peace education. It is imperative we teach our youth to question the status quo and resist this notion that war and conflicts are 'acceptable.' Given my personal connection to Palestine, the impact of this current genocide feels deeply personal as I watch the horrors and daily toll it takes on lives and communities in Palestine and Lebanon.

3- “Peace comes from within.  Do not seek it without.” ― Siddhārtha Gautama

This quote reminds us that peace comes from within and if we want to cultivate it we need to do deep reflection within ourselves rather than seeking peace from outside sources. It is easy to believe peace will happen in outside circumstances - believing that if situations improve, peace will follow. However this quote challenges that idea and instead teaches us that inner peace must be developed within ourselves first through mindfulness, reflection and compassion.

I think this quote is especially important and should be taught to our youth. Many young people of today face lots of external pressures, from social media, academic expectations or even global issues that are taking place around them. These pressures may have a very negative impact on them causing them to feel anxious. This quote teaches a valuable lesson in that peace isn't found in material success or in pleasing others, but rather must be cultivated from within.

Definition of Peace

Peace is not simply the absence of war or conflict, but something far deeper—it is being in the state of unity, cooperation, and the ability to live together despite our differences. True peace requires an effort to respect others and build relationships based on trust, understanding and empathy. Peace is also a state of calm where people work together to embrace diversity while working toward a common goal. Peace is a powerful force.

Reflective Response Assignment

 

Day 1:

Assignment: Reflective Response Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to examine the experiences that have shaped participants’ views of the world, peace, and peace education.  

 

I grew up in a devout Muslim family where Islamic principles were deeply emphasized, especially values like forgiveness, respect, and understanding. Being raised in a small city with very few non-white Americans, I was also the only Muslim girl in my school. I made it my mission, both within my close circle of friends and the wider school community, to embody the peaceful and respectful teachings of my parents and my religion. I worked to show others what it truly meant to be Muslim, countering the often inaccurate portrayals and misconceptions seen on TV. 

 

I am also a Palestinian whose father grew up in Palestine. The events of the first intifada in 1987 deeply impacted me. At just eight years old, I witnessed images of the conflict in Israel on TV and radio, which conflicted with the values of peace and respect I had been taught. It was challenging as a child to reconcile these two realities—what I was learning at home and the violence I saw in the media.

 

Then, after September 11, 2001, my beliefs were once again tested. Living in a small city where most people had no personal experience with Muslims, I was labeled a "terrorist" and told to "go back to my home country" as I walked down the street. By this time, I had just graduated from college, earned my teaching certificate, and started my first teaching job. I felt a strong responsibility to incorporate peace education into my classroom, especially teaching students the importance of living alongside others who may different than ourselves. I made a conscious effort to address conflict and conflict resolution, helping students understand the importance of peaceful solutions to issues, starting at a personal level and then branching out to global events.

 

These life situations have significantly shaped how I interact with peace education in schools by making it a personal mission to promote understanding and emphasize the importance of conflict resolution.  Peace education is not an abstract ideal but rather it should be a lived reality that we all need to apply in whatever setting we are in.