Equitable Teaching
The Modern Classrooms Project is deeply committed to instruction that meets every student’s needs. Here are several resources we believe teachers can use to create classrooms that are equitable and inclusive.
Guide to Trauma-Informed Teaching: Learn more about the impacts of trauma on our students, and learn actionable strategies to support the students who need it most. See our webinar on trauma-informed teaching for more.
Accessibility Guide: Research-backed steps to make blended, self-paced, mastery-based learning for all students, with a focus on emergent bilinguals, students on the Autism spectrum, and other differently abled learners. See our one-page summary here.
Podcast episodes on co-teaching in inclusion settings, supporting emergent bilinguals, and reaching disengaged students.
Equitable Language Practices
The language we use can help every student feel included in our classrooms. Here are two practices we recommend.
1) Use Asset-Based Language
Asset-based language focuses on the strengths of the diverse students, educators, and communities we serve. We suggest:
Avoiding labeling students (explicitly or implicitly) as "at risk."
Capitalizing Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous.
Replacing potentially problematic language:
2) Practice Gender Inclusion
What Gender neutral language? Gender neutral language also referred to as gender inclusive language, means "speaking and writing in a way that does not discriminate against a particular sex, social gender or gender identity, and does not perpetuate gender stereotypes."
We suggest that educators:
Consider listing pronouns. Sharing your gender pronouns can help others feel comfortable sharing theirs. You are encouraged to list your pronouns (i.e. she/her/hers) after your name, but please do not ask or require others to list theirs.
Embrace the singular "they." Move past the gender binary by replacing “he or she” with the more neutral and inclusive “they.”
Swap out “male-specific” words for neutral alternatives. Use “chairperson” instead of “chairman,” “personnel” instead of “manpower,” etc.
Eliminate gender-biased expressions. Expressions such as “manly,” “like a girl,” etc. can reinforce harmful gender stereotypes. Avoid them.