Thoughts and big takeaways:

Worry about the students you think you don’t need to worry about… they are probably struggling and you just can’t see it. 

People are more diverse than we expect them to be, and that’s not a bad thing.  They can even be the heroes in the story

LGBTQ2 perspectives are left out of curriculum in many schools and “catch-all” anti- bullying policies are ineffective at protecting LGBTQ2 students. Furthermore, while 85% of Canadian educators support LGBTQ2-inclusive classrooms, 37% don’t know how to create a supportive learning environment. As well, in schools without a GSA, LGBTQ2 students report feeling more socially isolated and having fewer friendships…… be the safe person as a teacher, make people feel as though they can talk to you. Start a GSA, and if one is already made, be a part of it. Support the community as best you can.

some questions to think about:

As an educator, what kinds of words or phrases are best to use? How can we use our vocabulary to promote acceptance and advocacy?

Some useful resources:

https://www.edcan.ca/articles/gender-friendly-classroom/

Videos to better understand Gender-Inclusive classrooms: