Educator Resources
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HOTYM | Guiding Principles – Empowering Students through Lisa's Story
Hold On To Your Music’s educational approach is built on core guiding principles that shape meaningful connections to Lisa Jura’s powerful story. Through intentional storytelling, inclusive practices, and arts-based learning, we empower students to explore identity, build empathy, dismantle stereotypes, and inspire action within compassionate communities.
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HOTYM | Pathways To Engage Students In Lisa’s Story
Our educational resources offer developmentally aligned pathways for both K–5 and 6–12 educators to bring students into Lisa Jura’s inspiring story. Designed to meet learners where they are, these thematic entry points—ranging from family bonds and memory to identity, resilience, and artistic expression—invite age-appropriate exploration while fostering empathy, critical thinking, and connection. Whether through storytelling circles in the early grades or testimony-driven inquiry in secondary classrooms, each pathway opens space for students to reflect deeply on their own lives and the lives of others.
Community Resources for a Willesden READ
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HOTYM | Facilitator Guide to Community Conversations after viewing The Children of Willesden Lane
A HOTYM resource to support conversations and building bridges between school and home and between communities using CASEL framework for Civil Discourse
• Conversation #1: Listening, Bearing Witness, and Storytelling
• Conversation #2: Understanding Opportunity, Resilience, and Overcoming Barriers
• Conversation #3: Challenging Barriers and Building Resilient Communities
A Story Worth Sharing
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HOTYM | Why this Story? – A Case for Engagement
Explore how Hold On To Your Music Foundation’s educational resources align with educational standards, enrich learning environments, and foster a culture of empathy, resilience, and historical awareness in classrooms worldwide. Featuring extensive collaborations with distinguished educational and cultural partners, our programs have reached countless students across school districts in the U.S. and around the globe. This resource highlights the academic and social-emotional benefits of incorporating The Children of Willesden Lane and The Willesden Project into curricula, providing educators with strong evidence to support their teaching choices.
Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission
The Children of Willesden Lane books are Approved for Holocaust Remembrance Week
Echoes & Reflections
The Children of Willesden Lane books are Recommended for Upper Elementary and Middle School Classrooms
Pedagogical Frameworks from our Partner in PD
FROM OUR PARTNER IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ECHOES & REFLECTIONS
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Pedagogical Principles for Effective Holocaust Instruction
In order for students to understand the importance of the Holocaust as a historical event and as part of our shared human story, it is critical for teachers to have a sound pedagogy for instruction.
Echoes & Reflections recommends the following guidelines for teachers to apply to their planning and implementation of a comprehensive Holocaust education program.
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Guidelines for Upper Elementary Classrooms
Echoes & Reflections recognizes the growing need to support upper elementary educators to introduce this history in a safe and supportive way. The guidelines and resources below are intended to provide educators of students in grades 3-6 with the framework and guidance to deliver appropriate and impactful instruction on the Holocaust.
Professional Development
As part of teacher engagement with Hold On To Your Music’s educational resources found in The Willesden Project, there are numerous professional learning opportunities for K-12 educators. These include programs designed to support best practices to teach and learn about the history of the Holocaust, teaching The Children of Willesden Lane books, and effective practices to engage students with thematic digital and testimony-based classroom resources.
Professional development programs are delivered by Echoes & Reflections, with multiple opportunities for educators to participate in live or on-demand sessions of various lengths. All programs are supported by digital and downloadable resources found in Echoes & Reflections and The Willesden Project.
Offerings include:
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Teaching The Children of Willesden Lane with Testimony-Based Resources:
This program prepares educators participating in the Willesden READS program with a unique and flexible approach for teaching this text with students. Teachers explore key historical events leading up to the Kindertransport -rising antisemitism, Nazism and the Kristallnacht Pogrom - to build professional confidence and awareness. The content is designed to foster cognitive skills, music appreciation, digital skills, SEL aptitudes and to broaden student perspective.
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Foundations of Teaching the Holocaust: History and Pedagogy:
These programs are designed to enhance teachers’ knowledge, capacity, and confidence to teach about the Holocaust. Educators are introduced to pedagogical principles and explore classroom lessons, visual history testimonies and other resources that examine aspects of the history and its continued relevance today. Programs can provide a broad historical overview grounded in effective instructional strategies or focus on specific themes aligned with Echoes & Reflections Units.
Recommended Companion Program: Rescue & Righteous Among the Nations
To tailor a program to your community’s needs, please reach out to Echoes & Reflections: info@echoesandreflections.org.