When we talk about "Diversity" and "Diverse spaces", what do we really mean? Do we mean to include some people, and not others? Of course, we don't mean to do that! After all, who intentionally goes out of their way to be exclusive? In today's political climate, we can't afford to think about what … Continue reading Intersectionality: What “Diversity” Really Means
Category: diversity
Meet @BlairImani the activist fighting for intersectionality and rights for those on the femme spectrum
This interview was published originally on The Tempest. Blair’s activism and presence on social media and in real life has been an inspiration to many women of color everywhere. I connected with social justice activist Blair Imani after we both tweeted using the hashtag #CanYouHearUsNow, which was created by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, after Donald … Continue reading Meet @BlairImani the activist fighting for intersectionality and rights for those on the femme spectrum
Community Initiative: Solidarity Ribbon Campaign
One morning, after I dropped off the kids at work, I noticed a few white ribbons were tied around my neighbours' trees and a couple of other neighbouring houses. On the ribbon it had three words "All Faiths Welcome". This was a couple of days after the Quebec shooting. It was also a couple of … Continue reading Community Initiative: Solidarity Ribbon Campaign
3 Diverse Children’s Books My Kids are Reading
For me, as a mom, it's so important that my kids read diverse books in school and at home. Diverse books allows children to see that there is not one variation of what it means to be human. We're all different, and representing that really well in books helps children to develop an understanding, empathy, … Continue reading 3 Diverse Children’s Books My Kids are Reading
Global Storytelling: How it can impact students
When I was in grade 6, we had a social justice activist visit our classroom from South Africa. He shared his story of being part of the movement against the apartheid, how he was imprisoned, and the massive impact the apartheid had on his family, his country, his people. I remember listening very intently to … Continue reading Global Storytelling: How it can impact students
Three lesson ideas for teaching your class about Eid al-Fitr
This blog was originally published on The Guardian. While Eid al-Fitr was last week, these activities can work well with another upcoming Eid al-adha to help cultivate a feeling of belonging and safety for Muslim students and students of colour in the classroom. As fasting in the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, … Continue reading Three lesson ideas for teaching your class about Eid al-Fitr
Debunking the Myths of English Language Learners
This post was originally published on Edutopia. Myths in the education system are important to debunk in order to build a better support system for students. The future of education depends on looking at past failures, and not just learning from them to move forward, but to rise upwards. There are several myths in English … Continue reading Debunking the Myths of English Language Learners
Building Relationships With Families of ELLs
This post was originally published on Education Week. One of the hardest thing to go through as a parent is to watch your child struggle to learn a new language, as well as try to fit in socially at school. Building a relationship with parents and guardians of English language learners can help to alleviate … Continue reading Building Relationships With Families of ELLs
On Being Mindful of Cultural Differences
This post was originally published on Edutopia. When teaching a diverse group of students, whether they are English language learners or English speakers but have a different cultural background, it’s important to be mindful of the cultural differences in students’ behaviour. Recognizing and being able to distinguish these cultural differences allows the teacher to form … Continue reading On Being Mindful of Cultural Differences
Challenges Faced By Women Teachers & Ways To Respond To Them
Being a woman teacher has had its many challenges for me, but the great thing about these challenges is that I always had a strategy to deal with them. That is not to say that women should learn to deal with these challenges as a normal part of teaching. In fact, I hope by discussing … Continue reading Challenges Faced By Women Teachers & Ways To Respond To Them