The Center, in the context of the General Pact of Collaboration for the promotion and protection of the LGBTQIA+ community in Bologna 2022-26, proposes three formation courses for the staff of 0-6 educational and scholastic services’ Integrated Formation System (education staff of services 0-3, education and teaching staff in kindergartens, partnered staff of 0-6 services, pedagogical coordinators). All coursers are realized in partnership with the Office for Equal Opportunities, Protection of Differences, and Fight against Gender-Based Violence of Bologna Municipality.

 

Diversity as a resource for an inclusive school and a stereotype-free education

 

The course, organized in partnership with Associazione Famiglie Arcobaleno (Association Rainbow Families) and Associazione APS Frame, is made of six encounters and its goal is educating to respect of every diversity, by suggesting actions and good practices to valorize difference as a resource, developing inclusive and welcoming school and educational contexts for every child and family. The course proposes tools to recognize and deconstruct gender stereotypes in cultural and educational models, educate to difference, respect, and critical thinking, encouraging freedom of expression through activities, exercises, and also reading stories and pictures as a favored tool in the growth of children, the creation of their identity and their relationship with reality. A particular focus will be given to the work of the educational team, in order to create a shared and collegial planning of intervention and school activities, granting the involvement of families, and adapting the activities to the special needs of each participant to remove obstacles in attendance and learning.

 

Identity and narration in children’s literature

 

The educational offer, proposed by Cassero since 2018, is based on three encounters, and its aim is highlighting the potential of stories and narration on the construction of a child’s identity, and their relationship to reality; a special focus is given to the theme of gender expression, ever since the first steps of childhood. Developed from bibliographical research and the experience behind the Center, the course wants to analyze the educational and formational functions of good children’s literature, in order to reflect on the mediation role teachers or adult caretakers are supposed to fulfill. General competence on the fundaments of reading education is given, as a necessary tool to educate to difference and respecting diversity in an intersectional way, learning how to recognize and deconstruct gendered stereotypes in children’s books and textbooks. Educational activities aim to promote, through narration, school and educational contexts that are inclusive for everyone, using reading stories and pictures as a favored tool in the growth of children, the creation of their identity and their relationship with reality.

 

From Family to Families: knowing and welcoming same-sex families

 

The course, organized in partnership with Associazione Famiglie Arcobaleno and Associazione APS FRAME, is made up of five encounters, aims to increase the knowledge of its participants on the themes of homosexuality, homophobia, and same-sex parenthood, in order to contrast the prejudice in our society, offer the chance of sharing reflections, and tools to make daily educational action effective when it comes to the subject of difference and multiple familiar models. The educational offer gives tools and good practices to create a serene, and inclusive climate in scholastic contexts, to activate empathy and the ability to put oneself in other people’s shoes, learn how to welcome the children of same-sex couples, preventing possible discrimination acts due to the related stigma, and to learn an appropriate language in order to communicate the themes with children and families. A dynamic, practical, and interactive approach will be used, with theorical research, group activities, educational material to recognize familiar stereotypes in children’s books, and also direct and indirect experiences from same-sex families in scholastic contexts.

 

You can consult the complete sheets and sign up for the scheduled courses on the page dedicated to SFI – Sistema Formativo Integrato dei servizi educativi e scolastici 0-6 di Bologna (Bologna’s Integrated Formational System of 0-6 educational and scholastic services).