The most important
thing I can do as an educator to help support LGBTQ students is to create a
classroom environment that feels safe and comfortable for all students,
regardless of their unique, individual differences. I will demand that students
treat each other with respect and explicitly discuss how to treat fellow
students with equity, tolerance, acceptance, and respect. I will also discuss
what terms or scenarios are unacceptable, and grounds for immediate
disciplinary action. I will model how to treat all students, including LGBTQ
students, fairly, respecting their differences. Finally, I will teach that differences
between us creates a diverse and interesting classroom, opening students to
different points of view, opinions, and ideas. Creating a diverse class
community of students who value each other’s differences, is something we can
celebrate.
Students who are
homeless are often embarrassed to reveal their situation to others. Therefore,
peers and teachers may be unaware of their struggles. By creating a safe
classroom environment, as discussed above, homeless students may feel more
comfortable talking about their problems with me or their peers. Students with
issues like homelessness need to find people they can trust to talk to and help
them. As a teacher, I can reach out to students who appear to be struggling,
talking with them in private to try and identify their problems. I want to try
to make students to feel comfortable talking candidly with me about their lives
outside of class. Finally, for students who I suspect are dealing with
homelessness, I plan on reaching out other teachers and counselors who interact
with that student regularly to meet and try to develop intervention strategies
to help support that student. For instance, although many schools offer
reduced-lunch programs for low-income students, they may feel embarrassed to
accept it because they are ashamed of their situation and don’t want others to
find out. At my site, I know some of the counselors will sometimes buy such
students lunch and give it to them privately so they can get food without
feeling embarrassed.
LGBT Resources
· Ten Things Educators Can Do to
Ensure their Classrooms are Safe For All Students
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network (GLSEN), National Website
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Educators Network (GLSEN), National Website
Homeless Youth Resources
TPE 8, 9, 15
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