Ensuring that everyone is welcome and represented
Everyone is Welcome. What does this statement look like in your classroom? Do you have equal representation of all races? Does you classroom library include books about diversity? Do you provide coloring materials that allow your students to ACCURATELY draw their families? Do you facilitate conversations about cultural and racial differences?
Representation matters. This message is not only important for our students to hear, but to also FEEL. They need to truly feel as though they are welcome. A child will be more willing to learning and receptive to what you are teaching, if they feel accepted.
Here are a few other ways that I support the “everyone is welcome” message in my classroom. In my supply bins, I include Lakeshore’s People Colors. Lakeshore has created an entire line of coloring materials that allow students to accurately draw a self-portrait. My students’ faces light up knowing that they are not limited to the black, brown and peach crayons.
I also make sure that my classroom library includes books that are representative of all races and abilities. Here are a few of my favorites.
The Day You Begin– Jacqueline Woodson
Mixed Me– Taye Diggs
All Are Welcome– Alexandra Penfold
Alma and How She Got Her Name– Juana Martinez-Neal
Word Collector– Peter Reynolds
Last Stop on Market Street– Matt de la Pena
The Water Princess– Susan Verde
Chocolate Milk, Por Favor– Maria Dismondy
Say Something– Peter Reynolds (Released February 26, 2019)
Hello School– Priscilla Burris
Jabari Jumps- Gala Cornwall
Another way I support the “everyone is welcome” message is through this doodle font. With this font, I am able to customize my student’s name tags, folder labels, etc. You can see how I customize this font for my students here.
These ideas are simple to implement into your classroom, but the conversations need to happen daily. These conversations can be tough and even uncomfortable, but they need to happen. Representation matters.
