Sex and Gender-based Systems

Sex and Gender-based systems

Reflection:

After reading the RI Laws and Policies & Queering Our Schools and watching Woke Read Alouds:They,She,He Easy as ABC  I was able to learn more ways to ensure that my classroom is inclusive to every student no matter their gender or sexuality etc. Ensuring that we have this inclusive environment in our classrooms is extremely important in making sure every student has a supportive accepting environment that they can come to each day. Having this strong supportive accepting environment improves the students academic success and their mental and physical health. In Rhode Island there are some specific laws that are set in place to prevent discrimination to these students. Some of these laws include Title IX which ensures that there is no sex-based discrimination. Additionally there is the Equal Access Act and FERPA which makes sure that every student has equal access to through their education and protection of the students privacy. As a teacher it is our responsibility to ensure we are making our students feel welcome. We can do this by using the students preferred pronouns and names and allowing access to the bathrooms and locker rooms based on their gender identity. In addition to this we should have open conversations on gender and how to respect everyone. The video of the read aloud really stuck out to me because I am interested in teaching younger kids. Having this book that discusses different gender identities and pronouns through the ABCs would be an easy way to introduce this inclusive environment into the classroom. 

Questions/Comments/Thoughts to Share:

What are other ways that we can promote inclusion of different gender identities and pronouns in our classrooms? Especially in young classrooms, discussing this topic may be hard for them to grasp and fully understand. However, it is extremely important to start discussing at a young age. What are ways you would incorporate these conversations into your younger classrooms?  https://library.cod.edu/guide_inclusive/pronouns 

What is Neurodiversity? By: Caroline Miller

 What is Neurodiversity? By: Caroline Miller 

Reflection: 

After reading What is Neurodiversity? By Caroline Miller I can make many connections to what she was discussing in my life. My sister has both ADHD and dyslexia and she is one of the most creative people I have ever met. My sister may typically struggle with aspects such as schoolwork yet she has so many other strengths that need to be focused on. Instead of individuals seeing her differences as a problem individuals need to see the strengths that come along with it. My sister is able to do impressive hairstyles, makeup, nail designs, art projects etc. Me and my family see her differences as strengths that we may not have that we wish we could have. I personally always have typically not struggled in aspects such as schoolwork however when it comes to anything creative I struggle extremely and wish I had those strengths that she has. I love that Judy Singer was able to come up with the term Neurodiversity because it was able to show many individuals that everyone's brain works differently. In addition to this it got rid of the stigma in society that these differences need to be fixed and are an issue. Instead we can use these differences to our strengths and everyone can use their strength to contribute to society. Caroline Miller also discussed the importance of making the classroom into an inclusive environment that promotes everyone's differences and makes it easier for all students to learn in their own ways. I agree with this statement immensely because before getting to High School my sister struggled with the classroom settings she was put in to learn. However, now that she is in High School she has been able to be a lot more successful in the aspect of her grades because of the teachers and the environment that she was put in. The teachers at the High School my sister goes to allow for all her accommodations to be met with ease so that she is able to use her strengths to her ability and do well on her school work.    

Questions/Comments to Share/Reflection: 

Once I become a teacher I am ensuring that I have an inclusive classroom that exemplifies every child's strengths. I will not see these student differences as deficits that are in the classroom but assets that are added to the classroom. Here is another article from the same website that discusses how to support neurodiversity in the school.