Teacher-training Workshops in Ukraine Use Kuryliw’s latest book – and love the methodology in it

Teachers who received training at the last Verba Magistri Summer School for Educators are now teaching Valentina Kuryliw’s The Historian’s Craft Lesson on Human Rights and the Holodomor to their colleagues in their respective regions of Ukraine. One such workshop took place this month in Yavoriv led by historian and educator Mykhaylo Zavadka, inspired by his summer school training. The book is printed by HREC Press in Ukraine in the Ukrainian language, under the direction of HREC in Ukraine’s Liudmyla Hrynevych. It will soon also be available in English and later in French. Developed by leading educator and HREC director of education Valentina Kuryliw, the book is an excellent resource that supports human rights education across many grade levels and teaching contexts, delivering well-laid-out strategies and clear content that teachers can apply directly in their classrooms.

Working collaboratively in groups with their peers, the lesson engages student interests in social justice and world events. It offers experiential learning opportunities that motivate students to problem solve and think critically. The lesson design encourages students to learn about human rights and the Holodomor by looking at a variety of primary sources and seeking their own answers, much like historical detectives. It encourages students to think creatively about actions they can take to create and sustain a safe and just world and advance the cause of human rights in the present and future.

Comments from the teachers learning the lesson in Yavoriv include

“This treasure – is a book that collects and structures all the necessary material about the terrible tragedy of the Holodomor. Thank you for such a valuable gift.” –Yavoriv City Library, teacher training host

“It is difficult to tell children about the Holodomor. I know this from my experiences communicating with my son. It is more difficult to do this with those who are not your own children, and even more difficult with those who are a little older, who need more information, details, and answers to questions. Therefore, this book is simply a treasure for the teacher. There is a methodological part for educators, excerpts from eyewitness accounts, archival documents, maps, a glossary, photos, QR-codes to online videos, a Powerpoint for classroom use, and testimonies. Many thanks to Valentina Kuryliw for this work, HREC Education and HREC in Ukraine for its publication in Ukraine.”      – Volodymyr Viatrovych, People’s Deputy at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, former head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, and former Visiting Scholar at Harvard University

“Today I participated in the training session “Human Rights and the Holodomor: Teaching history in the XXI century,” organized by the Yavoriv City Library. The training was very interesting and intense. The storytelling and practical tasks in the lesson are accessible and informative. Thank you so much for the opportunity.” –Teacher participant, Yavoriv, Ukraine