Thought Jar Tidbit 2

Tidbit # 2: Teaching Diverse Populations

I recently heard author Tim Wise give a talk about strategies to improve equitable student treatment. I want to share some main points that came from a discussion afterwards with my colleagues:

1. Teach racial conflict from a point of strength, resilience and allies. - This avoids producing the guilt or fear that often comes when teaching from a point of victimization.

2. Children are not colorblind.Talk about race, ethnicity and culture openly, regularly, but not all the time.

3. Admit to your own embedded biases, so you can start to overcome them.

4. Be mindful of the images and messages embedded in your lesson plans. Provide role models for your children. (i.e. Black History Month is not the only time to have a black protagonist in your literature)

It's blunt. It's obvious. It's important to talk about.