In recent years, conversations around gender and the discrimination of transgender people have received national attention. As awareness grows about this issue, transgender children and youth, as well as those whose identity challenges the gender binary, are gaining greater visibility in their communities and classrooms. As educators, it is our responsibility to create a welcoming space for all our students. The following tips and resources can serve as a starting point to help you achieve the goal of creating this safe space.
Set up Classroom Guidelines
When you first begin to introduce classroom guidelines, talk to your students about the importance of being respectful and inclusive of others. Introduce the concept of non-gender and gender pronouns, and create a standard that all students should be referred to by their preferred name and their preferred pronoun.
Looking for a useful tool to help define and practice the use of pronouns? Minus 18 - Australia’s largest youth-led organization for LGTBQ and Trans-youth – created a handy interactive app that’s a perfect tool to use and share with your students.
Invite Students to Choose their Names and Pronouns
During the beginning of class, invite your students to introduce themselves using their preferred pronouns. In allowing students to identify themselves, you avoid making assumptions and putting the responsibility on the student to correct you in front of their peers. If you are concerned about the comfort level of students identifying themselves aloud, allow students to fill out a sign-in sheet with their preferred name and pronoun.
Model the Right Behavior
For good or for bad, teachers act as role models for their students. Take advantage of this role by modeling the right behavior in the classroom and encourage students to emulate you. When introducing yourself to the class, say your name and the pronoun you prefer; you can invite your students to do the same when making their own introductions. Modeling the right behavior is especially important when you make a mistake. We are all bound to make errors, and in owning up to the mistake by apologizing and asking for a correction you are setting a good example for your students.
Additional Resources
There are many resources that will set you on the right path in creating a safe and welcoming space for your students. Below are links to just a few that can help.
Booklists:
- Perfect picture book booklist: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/20314.Transgender_Friendly_Young_Children_s_Books_
- This list has a focus on young adult literature: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/11446.Booklist_for_Trans_Youth
Classroom Resources:
- For elementary classrooms schools: http://www.welcomingschools.org/pages/gender-children-place-to-begin
- For middle and high school classrooms and schools: http://www.hrc.org/youth-report/supporting-and-caring-for-our-gender-expansive-youth#.VeBTDJdV1_C
______
Tim Croft is the Lower School Counselor at Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS) and member of the SSFS All School Diversity Committee. In his twelfth year at SSFS, Tim supports the social and emotional wellbeing of Lower School students through overseeing the Life Skills curriculum, individual and group counseling. As a parent resource, Tim provides information on topics ranging from child development, raising resilient children, executive functioning skills, and strategies for reducing anxiety. Tim has a keen interest in the promotion and development of safe classrooms and school community.