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Professor Mara Sapon-Shevin has developed a new curriculum to address issues of bullying and to promote a positive social climate in schools. Using children’s literature as the foundation for dialogue, the “Peaceful at the Core” curriculum is divided developmentally into K-2, 3-5 and 6-8 grade levels and is aligned with the Common Core.

Mara Sapon-Shevin

Sapon-Shevin and Fayetteville-Manlius school counselor Kathryn Haley, co-creator of “Peaceful at the Core,” will present book selections from the curriculum and discuss best practices for classroom use at Barnes & Noble Dewitt, 3454 Erie Boulevard E., on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Sapon-Shevin says, “Peaceful at the Core is designed not to ‘stop bullying’ but to teach students how to be caring, responsible human beings, community-minded and committed to the growth and development of one another.”

“Peaceful at the Core” lessons are designed to be interdisciplinary and multilevel, involving a full range of teaching and learning strategies. With a particular focus on the language arts (reading, writing and speaking), these activities also use the arts (music, art and theater) to involve a wide-range of learners. In November 2014, Sapon-Shevin and Haley hosted a half-day workshop to train local school teams on how to implement these strategies. Classroom copies of children’s books related to the curriculum were provided to each participating educator.

Support for “Peaceful at the Core” has been provided by School of Education Board of Visitors member Diana Wege Sherogan and the Wege Foundation. For more information about “Peaceful at the Core,” contact Sapon-Shevin at msaponsh@syr.edu.