Inclusive Classroom Practices

 Dear Inclusive Classroom Practitioners:


I am sending you all of my best midwinter wishes as the calendar turns to February, along with a reminder to hang in there, if you need one:


“Hang in there. Within four weeks, the maple sap will be flowing.

Within six weeks, the earliest migrating birds will begin to arrive in numbers.

Within eight weeks, the early spring wildflowers will emerge from the earth.

You will feel the warm sun on your face again.” – Nick Stow @stowecology


I want to offer a recap of our first in-service gathering as well as a preview of our second. Our October 7th session centered on two essential questions from Dr. Rosetta Lee’s Inclusive Classroom Practices framework:


Do you see me?
Representation in Curriculum 

Representation on the Walls 

Interest in Personal Story 

Interactions In and Out of the Classroom
Demonstration of Care

Do you hear me?
Incorporation of Prior Knowledge

Seeking and Responding to Student Feedback

Student Choice in Curriculum 

Empathy Reflex




Through group and solo learning, we explored:

  1. How our unconscious biases shape who and what we see (or don't see) in our classrooms

  2. Protocols and strategies for maximizing equitable student engagement

  3. Mechanisms for regularly listening to and integrating feedback from our students 

  4. The power of diverse curricular representation across many kinds of social experience


Here is our Google Classroom site if you’d like to get reacquainted with the resources, reflection prompts, and tools we used to thoughtfully dig into that work. 


Our March session will elevate the third and fourth questions students need to answer in the affirmative in order for them to experience belonging, well-being, and academic success at school:


Will you treat me fairly?
Clear and High Expectations 

Consistent and Predictable Assessment 

Different Kinds of Success 

Equal Discipline and rewards 

Support in Struggle and Push in Success


Will you protect me?
Understanding of Identity and Experience 

Interruption of Exclusive or Oppressive Behavior

Teaching and Discussing Cultural and Power Differences 

Encouragement of and Practice with Collaboration



I am really looking forward to coming together next time for more dialogue and learning. Please be in touch if you have any ideas or questions before we see each other in a little over a month.

Until then, take good care.

Susannah

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