Blog Post #12

    The first thing that will stick with me throughout the rest of my life was the card game we played. Not only was that a super simple way to teach us about perspective, but it was also a super cool way to show the different reactions that people have when they're confused. This is something I will definitely carry with me, hopefully into my own future classroom

    Another thing that I felt was important was the Delpit reading. I think reading her work was really important because it helped me put a name to something I was already aware of. I felt that way about quite a few things we learned in this class, but this was definitely the most significant. I think it is super important to have explicit instructions in most places, and this really highlighted it. 

    Lastly, our Moo-In's will stick with me. They'll mainly stay with me because I know they won't happen in any of my future classes. I think this was a super good way to build community and learn our classmates' names. I can say with confidence, this is the only class where I truly felt connected with my peers, and I think that definitely helped. This is something I'd like to include in my future teaching. 

Blog Post #11

    Reading through the Rhode Island laws and policies feels kind of bittersweet. On one hand, it’s a relief to see our state taking gender identity and student safety seriously. But on the other hand, coming across lines like “School personnel should speak with the student first before discussing a student’s gender nonconformity or transgender status with the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s)” is a bit of a hard hitting line. One of the only reasons a guideline like that even has to exist is that too many kids can’t trust the people at home to accept them. And that’s genuinely frightening. How can some parents not love and accept their children, no matter who they are? 

    Another thing I liked was the emphasis on representation and gender-inclusive practices. Things such as not lining up boys and girls based on gender, providing gender neutral bathrooms, and having literature in the classroom that reflects different family structures and identities are super important for the development of our students. Being a student who doesn't fit into the "male" or "female" box would be very tough without these kinds of policies sticking up for them. However, I definitely don't see these things being practiced in my school. I more often than not see classroom lines separated by gender. While I understand why some teachers choose to do this, it is still a little disappointing to see. 

Everyone can be in the same line

    Finally, I think one of the most important things about these policies is their encouragement of teachers to be open with their classrooms. The document repeatedly highlights the need for teachers to be ready to discuss gender, sexuality, identity, and differences, despite being a potentially uncomfortable topic. I think it is important to teach students about things like this so they're not confused or apprehensive when they encounter someone different from them.