Our students come to us from many different backgrounds, cultures and lived experiences that make up their cultural identities. As educators it is very important for us to recognize the diverse identities of our students, but with early learners, it can also be very challenging for them to express who they are and where they come from. For this reason, it is important to incorporate identity affirming activities into our lessons with our students.
Our identities include things like race, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and these things intersect with our lives and the world around us. In order to be effective teachers, we must examine our own identities in light of the identities of our students. It is important for us to reflect on our own identity and the identities of the students in our classrooms.
Stories and picture books are great way to teach students about their identities and the cultures and identities of others.
There are many activities that can be done with students where you are able to integrate the components of the Social Studies Ontario Curriculum and identity affirming activities. For early learners, understanding and even talking about their identities can be challenging for these children because they lack this type of self awareness. Here are some examples of activities.
A classroom needs to be a safe space where children feel valued, celebrated and cared for. It is a pillar that is imperative for any positive learning environment. As teachers we can learn about students and create an inclusive classroom environment that is a reflection of the students in the classroom. The beauty of each individual students will reflect the beautiful classroom environment.
References
Booklists. Social Justice Books. (2022, November 8). Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/
Happytoddlerplaytime. (2021, September 5). 30 anti-racism activities for Kids. Happy Toddler Playtime. Retrieved December 3, 2022, from https://happytoddlerplaytime.com/20-anti-racism-activities-for-kids/
Comments