Nothing excites us more than welcoming new teachers to the field. You are valued and needed. May you have a school year full of inspiration. May you challenge yourself and your students to reach their aspirations.
No matter the focus of your teacher training program- the number one priority of educators must be ensuring that all students have all the opportunities, tools, expert guidance and resources necessary to be successful academically and socially inside of and outside of their school communities. In short- the priority is advancing educational equity.
Below is a checklist of Mindset and Practice questions to consider as you begin your work of advancing equity.
Mindsets
How can I express my high expectations of all students?
How can I show all students care, concern and respect?
How can I honor and include families in my classroom?
In what ways can I challenge myself to interrogate my personal beliefs, experiences and identities to determine the ways that they impact how I show up for students?
How can I leverage critical consciousness to interrupt the practices and policies that lead to inequitable social or academic outcomes for students?
Practices
Is any aspect of my curriculum harmful to the identities of my students? How can I eliminate this harm?
What opportunities for student agency can I embed into my curriculum?
How can I learn more about my students and their interests in relation to the standards and content I teach?
What opportunities do I have to represent marginalized groups in uplifting ways?
What opportunities do I have to engage students in social justice and/or equity causes in my curriculum?
Even though we wanted to show some special love to aspiring teachers in this post- rest assured that this checklist grounds any educator looking to center equity in their practice!
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