As many of us know, the curriculum does not talk about the 2SLGBTQ+ community at all. This is a huge problem because many of our students may be wondering about such things or may be part of this community. We as teachers should include teaching about this community within our teaching so that our students feel more comfortable, safe, and included. When children feel better in the classroom, they also learn better because they are not distracted.
There are multiple ways we can include the 2SLGBTQ+ community into our teaching. We can include it into health to meet the outcomes about self-expression for example. We can include it in social studies by including different perspectives on important aspects of history as well as considering intersectionalities. We can read texts written by authors who are a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in English language arts. I think the easiest and most effective way to make our students feel included in our classrooms and during our teaching is to not use gendered language when addressing the class. This can look like saying “okay friends” instead of “okay boys and girls”. In doing these things, we are also fighting against the hidden curriculum teaching homophobia and transphobia. There is so much we can do within our teaching that does not require much more planning, so lets do it!
This is wonderful. I never learned about the hidden gender greetings we must address in a classroom. In this day an age, lots of kids are learning who they are, and instead of shutting these questions down, we should be bale to talk about them and discuss them. Never force them to become these things or to not be these things, just being a helpful hand and supporter in the classroom. The wonderful idea of using different phrasing, like ‘hello friends’.
I really enjoy that you connected your response to the ideas from lecture. Using neutral phrasing to address students is a simple act that can help develop a comfortable and safe environment for students. One of our main focuses should be to create a welcoming environment for all students. Starting small with acts like these are the first steps towards addressing the larger issues weaved into the education system.
I found it baffling when we found out there was really not mention on 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in the curriculum. In the second assignment I found references on dealing with racist comments, but nothing about homophobic comments! My question is why is our curriculum so outdated? Why does it take so long for our curriculum to catch up to our society? I found it really helpful that you included ways on implementing their perspectives into the classroom!
Hi Zoe
I loved how you broke up the examples of including 2SLGBTQIA+ into subjects as well as general adjustments. I feel that the way you broke up shows us how adjustments to our curriculum and styles of teaching can make a world of a difference. I would have loved to hear more about why you believe this. Your points were insightful, extremely valuable, and important. We do need to adjust our planning as well as our non-planning behaviours/styles!
Hi Sarah! The hidden curriculum is very evident within every subject. We can see homophobia presented through the hidden curriculum in all subjects, including math, We can see it in math through the textbooks in that none of the word problems include people who are non-binary or use they/them pronouns. We can see it in physical education when the teacher makes a game boys vs girls. Because we can see it in every subject, this is why I believe it is important to address it within every subject. Thank you for your comment!
Hey Zoe
I enjoyed your response this week. As I found it to be short, sweet and straight to the point. I thought it was lovely to hear of ways that you as a teacher would incorporate more inclusive teaching ideas into the classroom. Especially as some of the ideas I have never thought of utilizing before, so thank you for the ideas. I also thought it was neat how you touched it back to the idea of the hidden curriculum, as in my blog post I did not make that connection. All in all I loved reading your blog post for this week!
Thank you for your kind words Emmalea! I’m glad I could provide you with inspiration for teaching strategies once you get to your future classroom!