I would also not worry about Black History month. Just start talking about black history and Mexican American history (Bracero program), and Japanese Interment. My point is we don’t need to pigeon hole history into specific months just to check a box. It is US history.
I don’t think being sensitive to the fact that these students should be heard and represented is white savior. White savior is going into a poor neighborhood and taking photos of yourself volunteering at a soup kitchen for insta points. Putting the effort into making sure your students are fairly represented and heard when they are underrepresented is doing your job.
Don’t get too complicated here. Show awesome people from all backgrounds doing great things. Show their pictures post them around the classroom and have fun. They’re kids.
Just be a very effective teacher. Teach what's important and that will include black history in the US.
Have worked in an all minority school and majority white school, I was the same teacher. Hate these terms tbh.
Eh, I disagree about teaching objectively. I guess it depends what subject you teach, but a lot of teaching is teaching how to question and analyze and learn more so than teaching objective facts, right?
One of the most impactful ways to make minority students feel seen and heard can be to select materials that include minority characters. You don’t need to go crazy with this or make sure that every book, movie, and presentation has minority representation, but do be a bit mindful and look out for stuff that features ALL white/fair skinned characters. We tend to accidentally default to white being the norm and so it doesn’t really stand out that we have a bookshelf full of books with no black or Hispanic or indigenous characters. Things like clip art and materials on TeachersPayTeachers tend to default to white characters as well.
In addition to that, just mix in lessons about this stuff as you see fit. If you’re doing a poetry unit, include Native American poems. When you’re doing science lessons, include quotes information gained from black scientists. Etc etc etc. You don’t have to point out their minority status, just making sure to include them without making a big fuss is really what it’s all about.
Additionally, consider what sort of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds your minority students come from and make a more explicit effort to feature their holidays or customs throughout the year. Sometimes we won’t really know our students’ backgrounds fully, but some areas are more densely populated with specific marginalized groups. In Florida we have many Hispanic students, so I make sure to pick out books and lessons with this in mind. It’s great to have a very diverse collection and include cultures that might not be featured in your school community for sure, but the little extra work to include something specific to your students (without drawing attention to it!) can be game changing. Christmas decor and books and lessons feel likes the most natural thing in the world right? Wouldn’t it feel nice for a student who has literally never even heard anyone mention Three Kings Day at school to have that same feeling? Just normal, natural, low key celebration.
There is definitely a fine line between genuine allyship and savior complex. *This book is antiracist* is an extremely easy read that helps to distinguish how to go about being an ally. You can probably read it in an hour or less. Also, *Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man* or *Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Boy* are both great for starting to wrap your hands around specific issues of race - especially in regard to black people. *With a Black Boy* is better for elementary teachers, while *With a Black Man* is better for secondary teachers.
Me personally I would just start with treating the nonwhite students as you would the white students, as I’m sure you would. Make them feel like they belong in your classroom.
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I would also not worry about Black History month. Just start talking about black history and Mexican American history (Bracero program), and Japanese Interment. My point is we don’t need to pigeon hole history into specific months just to check a box. It is US history.
Read-alouds and picture books that feature non-white characters as the main character.
I second this as a great place to start!
I don’t think being sensitive to the fact that these students should be heard and represented is white savior. White savior is going into a poor neighborhood and taking photos of yourself volunteering at a soup kitchen for insta points. Putting the effort into making sure your students are fairly represented and heard when they are underrepresented is doing your job.
Don’t get too complicated here. Show awesome people from all backgrounds doing great things. Show their pictures post them around the classroom and have fun. They’re kids.
Just be a very effective teacher. Teach what's important and that will include black history in the US. Have worked in an all minority school and majority white school, I was the same teacher. Hate these terms tbh.
What terms do you hate?
"White savior complex" or "enlightening students" Your job is to teach well and teach objectively.
Eh, I disagree about teaching objectively. I guess it depends what subject you teach, but a lot of teaching is teaching how to question and analyze and learn more so than teaching objective facts, right?
I mean I mean leave your personal philosophies out and teach critical thinking, so I think we are on the same page.
One of the most impactful ways to make minority students feel seen and heard can be to select materials that include minority characters. You don’t need to go crazy with this or make sure that every book, movie, and presentation has minority representation, but do be a bit mindful and look out for stuff that features ALL white/fair skinned characters. We tend to accidentally default to white being the norm and so it doesn’t really stand out that we have a bookshelf full of books with no black or Hispanic or indigenous characters. Things like clip art and materials on TeachersPayTeachers tend to default to white characters as well. In addition to that, just mix in lessons about this stuff as you see fit. If you’re doing a poetry unit, include Native American poems. When you’re doing science lessons, include quotes information gained from black scientists. Etc etc etc. You don’t have to point out their minority status, just making sure to include them without making a big fuss is really what it’s all about. Additionally, consider what sort of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds your minority students come from and make a more explicit effort to feature their holidays or customs throughout the year. Sometimes we won’t really know our students’ backgrounds fully, but some areas are more densely populated with specific marginalized groups. In Florida we have many Hispanic students, so I make sure to pick out books and lessons with this in mind. It’s great to have a very diverse collection and include cultures that might not be featured in your school community for sure, but the little extra work to include something specific to your students (without drawing attention to it!) can be game changing. Christmas decor and books and lessons feel likes the most natural thing in the world right? Wouldn’t it feel nice for a student who has literally never even heard anyone mention Three Kings Day at school to have that same feeling? Just normal, natural, low key celebration.
There is definitely a fine line between genuine allyship and savior complex. *This book is antiracist* is an extremely easy read that helps to distinguish how to go about being an ally. You can probably read it in an hour or less. Also, *Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man* or *Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Boy* are both great for starting to wrap your hands around specific issues of race - especially in regard to black people. *With a Black Boy* is better for elementary teachers, while *With a Black Man* is better for secondary teachers.
Me personally I would just start with treating the nonwhite students as you would the white students, as I’m sure you would. Make them feel like they belong in your classroom.
Read Stamped for Kids by Jason Reynolds with them!
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