Here are some of the Podcasts I have listened to as a way of enriching my knowledge and understanding of a variety of topics!
EdWeb: Building an Inclusive Podcasts
This podcast discussed some of the ways educators can create an inclusive classroom, relate to all students, and prepare for discussions on controversial topics.
Takeaway 1: “Students are recognizing that there are the in-the-moment, one-to-one interactions that need to be acknowledged… and there are a lot of infrastructural components around who has access and what barriers exist to access success.” While it would be amazing if one day every student had equal access to a quality education, we have not yet reached that day. In my Intro to the Teaching Profession class, we have been discussing different challenges that we may face in the classroom. Many of those challenges revolve around situations that our students may be going through such as dealing with learning disabilities, poverty, and racial issues. As a teacher, it is easy to notice that not all schools are the same, and there are some big flaws in the education system. However, we also need to be aware that our students are often just as conscious about the different issues going on in the world as we are, and some of them will want to talk about those issues. There are barriers that society has set in place that prevent certain populations from some opportunities, or at least make success much harder. While we may not have all the answers, teachers should be prepared to address some of these issues and make an effort to make the classroom a safe and welcoming environment. Since our students are exposed to these different issues outside of the classroom, and may be facing prejudice themselves, it is extremely important to promote diversity and inclusion. In one survey, 84% of teachers said that teaching students respect, character, and inclusion is a top school priority. However, 87% of those educators said that they felt unprepared to teach those topics to their students. As a preservice teacher, I am learning that it is just as important to teach relevant topics and relate to your students as it is to get through the textbook material. Students are ready to discuss some of the harder topics if teachers are ready to let them. Takeaway 2: “[Empathy] is about noticing where and how you are interacting and responding to young people in ways that continue to center them and not center you.” As an educator, it is extremely important to connect with your students. As Dr. Chapman puts it, “Your students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Sometimes, one of the most powerful things you can do for a student may be to just listen to them. I was blessed to grow up in a good neighborhood and go to a good private school, so I may not fully understand circumstances that my students are going through. Part of relating to your students, however, does not necessarily mean experiencing the exact same things as them. It means being able to connect with them as people and show them that while you may not be exactly like them, you have faced your own set of challenges. As their teacher, one way that I can show empathy is by acknowledging a student’s challenges and hard work but then encouraging them and showing them that they are capable and cared about. One question that I can think about is, “How can I bring my students’ experiences into the classroom?” By showing your students that no matter what they are going through, you are there to help them reach their goals, you are giving them courage and motivation to persevere through challenges. If you see students through a positive lens, they may begin to see themselves and their capabilities as something positive as well. Sometimes it may seem that we are not making a big difference on our students, but we can use even the little things (such as respecting all students) to greatly influence our students and their perspectives on diversity and inclusion.