Preparing to Handle LGBTQ Issues in Your Classroom
CategoriesAs an educator, do I have a personal agenda in addressing the LGBTQ issues in our classrooms and lives?
Yes.
Let me share the “why” of my answer.
I have two brothers. We three siblings grew up in the same Judeo-Christian family. Today one brother lives with his wife and has raised his kids. The other brother lives with his partner and has raised his kids.
As a sibling in my family, I get to choose how to love and respect and value each brother because of who each adult is.
In my career, I have worked with some truly gifted and brilliant people. On teams I have had the privilege of leading, the LGBTQ or straight “label” team members choose to identify or label themselves as, is part of the tapestry of who they are. Just as various celebrations, religions, ethnic culture, beliefs, and other categories of diversity come with us to work and our classrooms everyday across our world, to what degree are we equipped to respect and provide a learning environment to support everyone?
To what degree are we educated in how to best support and value every individual we work with and teach – regardless of their perspectives on LGBTQ issues in our society today? What does that perspective of respect look, sound, and feel like in a K-12 classroom?
Today as educators, regardless of our personal beliefs, how and where we were raised, and how we choose to live our lives, we share one common need. We must ensure we model and foster demonstrating authentic respect and value for each individual person we get to work with and teach.
Supporting human beings, or students, in the classroom regarding issues related to the LGBTQ aspects represented in our world is something we must do. Providing an optimal learning environment for ALL students, and building a classroom and school culture upon the foundational block of respect is a priority.
The Connecting Link’s course – LGBTQ Students: Meeting Academic, Social, and Emotional Needs, is one I’m excited to share with educators. The course was developed by educators for educators, through the lens of learning strategies to apply in the classroom to promote student learning for all. Check it out!
Here are a few classes related to this topic:
ADHD: Teaching and Learning Strategies
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in Education
Anxiety Awareness: Strategies to Improve Student Well-being and Performance