Process Post 2: What Should We Do?

For this post, I wanted to dive deeper into what we as (future) educators should be doing to create an inclusive, integrated learning environment where all students feel welcome and represented. Specifically, I wanted to find a few resources that help inform us on what is missing within the classroom, and how we can implement them into our learning environment. This post connects quite a bit to my first process post, as many of the topics we explore will involve similar themes.

My Five Big Questions:

What are the common themes within the resources?

• Change is the responsibility of the staff and the school, to create ask the system to change is to create change within the system itself
• the importance of identity, using the students/families as experts on their cultures
• Having culture at the forefront of the classroom, creating a welcoming environment so students can be open to learning

What from these resources can we easily implement into classrooms today? 

• Guest speakers!
  • Invite community Elders, student’s family members, etc.
    • The Role of Equity and Diversity in Early Childhood Education – V. 1 – Open Textbook Library
• Including diverse text/media within the classroom
  • A lot of the time we think diversity needs to be all or nothing, implementing diversity just means making everyone feel seen, especially in literature
  • Provide students with educational videos about different cultures if you feel you are not well-informed, even if it is someone else bringing in the diversity, the change will still be felt
    • World Cultures Collection | PBS LearningMedia
• Making classroom connection/community building
  • Encourage students to share their cultural identity through activities such as:
    • Culture walks
    • Sharing food from their culture (being mindful of allergies)
    • Arts and crafts inspired by their culture (this can be as simple as including a flag on a nametage)
      • Art | World Cultures Collection | PBS LearningMedia

What do we already see examples of in classrooms today?

• We can already see educating students on different cultures within the learning environment, many classrooms celebrate and educate students on cultural holidays such as: Diwali, Holi, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Eid, and Lunar New Year
• In the last decade, we have also seen an increase in cultural diversity in school libraries. Below, I have linked the e-library of one of the classrooms I have volunteered at
  • Diversity: All About Us – e-Library 

How do you engage community members?

• Social media!
  • We live in a digital age, and using social media to build a connection with your community will keep members informed and engaged
• Newsletters
  • Instead of waiting for members of the community to come to you, bring the information to them!
• Art exhibits/cultural fairs
  • Create occasions to invite members of the community into your learning environment by displaying student work 

Why is this important?

• Learning and educational experiences are more impactful to students when it feels relational to their lives
  • If students don’t see themselves represented within the learning environment, how are they supposed to feel motivated to succeed?
• A culturally responsive learning environment that encourages deeper knowledge of students and their lived experiences encourages them to continue to learn and grow as empathetic citizens

Summary:

I found this part of the process to be very successful. I was able to find a wide range of resources that not only show how we can create an inclusive and integrated learning space, but also many of the resources found provided specific activities that can be easily adapted. This part of the process of my final project was isolating and breaking down the more important information to put on the final infographic, so as not to overwhelm viewers with too much content.