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We need to embrace our differences, our similarities, and our gifts. We all work together as separate organs in one body,

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what is my blindspot? Who am I leaving out? How can STEM help to include, limit blindspots?

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“People do see color. What we have to do is say it's all right to see color, just don't see it as a negative. Give up that part of your psychology or your philosophy or your education.”

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I created an after school STEM club for middle school students. At one point participants were using a 3D printer. Several students were drawn to it that hadn't joined the group. I learned they wanted to join - it was my lack of understanding how to connect with parents that held them back. I also was thrilled girls joined. But quickly observed many had a lack of confidence, and willingness to explore without guidance. I knew at that point I needed to provide more opportunities and encourage my students to find their voices through STEM programs.

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I went to the same high school that I teach at. It helps to say - I sat where you sat - I grew up here where you are - I am a first generation college graduate. I was a minority in computer science classes and the military. Letting them know my identity and that may be how I can understand them better.

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We instinctively, defensively draw attention to what we have done to support students, but what can we do to get to the next level? Doing one or two things is not enough. Don't stay comfortable!

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Acknowledge that we all have blindspots and that we can make incremental improvements to do better by our students over time.

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STEM gives a voice! We all can use our voice.

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Many of your students of color may be coming into the classroom feeling like they are not good enough or capable of succeeding.

Impostor syndrome (also known as impostor phenomenon, impostorism, fraud syndrome or the impostor experience) is a psychological pattern in which one doubts one's accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud".

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Yes identity plays a role, I agree with others that have stated it should. Differences in individuals makes everyone unique, differences should be celebrated

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Yes identity plays a role, I agree with others that have stated it should. Differences in individuals makes everyone unique, differences should be celebrated

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Thinking STEM, if we go to remote learning, what about the families that don't have the funds to provide the tools they need to continue STEM and STEAM learning at home. What if they don't have the money to buy the ingredients needed for an FCS project, they don't have the LEGO sets, KiNEX, or robotics tools at home, they don't have "adult" guidance to run power tools, etc. This is where that 4% or more can be negatively affected because of identity (socio-economic) and STEM-

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Is Iowa the culture black and brown people want- what would drive people here to enculturate

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Think about Ruby Bridges and what she was able to accomplish by being the first African American to attend a white school.  I often wonder if kids feel like this when they attend a school or coming into another school where they might not be treated equally.

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Diversity is also political status of the instructors. In A&S tends to be left wing and Tech tends to be right. This can impact the political atmosphere on campus.

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We are all unique and beautiful in our own ways.  Building a relationship with each individual student and encouraging his/her  maximum growth through academics and socially/emotionally is my goal!

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Student's ask why to school counselors not look like me.

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Student's ask why to school counselors not look like me.

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I do not have a good answers for her. The only thing I could come up with is say that it is hard to candidates to apply for positions. We did have a black female school counselor for one year but she left for a larger district...closer to family after starting a family. This question could be asked about all staff positions.

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Yes, and it should - identity is important to each of us as individuals and should be celebrated.

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We can make it political. We have a tendency to divide ourselves into groups. It is easy to fall into "Us Vs Them culture." You see it in the classroom.

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It sounds like most commonly, we struggle to reach students who look different from us. Is this because the teacher's and student's biases push against each other? Students may assume "my teacher doesn't understand me". As teachers, we may be intimidated by teaching a student who has different experiences and perspectives than our own.

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It sounds like most commonly, we struggle to reach students who look different from us. Is this because the teacher's and student's biases push against each other? Students may assume "my teacher doesn't understand me". As teachers, we may be intimidated by teaching a student who has different experiences and perspectives than our own.

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Identity has to play a role, right? We are human. If we want to engage all kids in STEM we have to respond to their identities, deal with our baggage, and do more with it!

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Identity issues in Iowa also include who are their parents, how much involvement does the family have with the school, is the kid an over performer (grades, athletics, etc)

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Identity issues in Iowa also include who are their parents, how much involvement does the family have with the school, is the kid an over performer (grades, athletics, etc)

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Yes, identity plays a role in the classroom. Female pursuit of sciences often drops at the middle level as female students see themselves as having a future in science less and less. MANY marginalized students have spent years figuring out that the education system doesn't work for them in the way it works for others.

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So as a teacher, identity plays a role in my classroom from my perspectives to how the class lists are arranged.

However my 5 year olds tend not to pay attention much to identity beyond  boy or girl.

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Unfortunately it does...but building relationships with individual students and their families helps...when personal connections are made the visible differences are less important

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Every child should be able to be identified and accepted for who they are no matter race, socioeconomic status, gender, religion, etc. Identity is huge in the classroom and no person should ever feel ashamed for who they are.

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Identity plays a huge role in the classroom. We all have different background, thus forming our identify. In my classroom, last name, farm size, and athletics are huge factors.

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Identity plays a huge role in the classroom. We all have different background, thus forming our identify. In my classroom, last name, farm size, and athletics are huge factors.

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They many times are the leaders in the classroom. Positive and negative. Many times it doesn't have to do with STEM so this would be a way to bring the rest of the students into discussions. Yes I believe that athletics can be political.

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Every student in my room has an identity.  I have an identity.  We all come from different backgrounds.  We have to meet the students where they are at, just like they have to meet us where we are at.  We have to challenge the way we think about our identity all the time as well as challenge the way we think about other's identity.  How we use the identities of people is dependent upon the relationships developed.

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Identity plays a huge role in the classroom... there are so many generalizations out there.

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Identity definitely plays a role in the classroom. Students are separated by address vs ability as students are separated from each other. Honors classes do not reflect the populations in our buildings. I have heard parents say, " I do not want my children near them."

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I was only female in college STEM class, i still dont feel like I belong. 

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I was only female in college STEM class, i still dont feel like I belong. 

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Would like to say NO but I KNOW it does!

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I think we have identities as educators...we think we are fair and equitable...but each of us have notions or bias' about our students and ourselves that we need to be open and fair about each child. We are all alike...we have hair, eyes, ears, skin, and we are all different...some have light hair, dark hair, no hair, long hair, etc. some of us have freckles, tan skin, dark skin, sunburns, etc....

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I think we have identities as educators...we think we are fair and equitable...but each of us have notions or bias' about our students and ourselves that we need to be open and fair about each child. We are all alike...we have hair, eyes, ears, skin, and we are all different...some have light hair, dark hair, no hair, long hair, etc. some of us have freckles, tan skin, dark skin, sunburns, etc....

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It does play a role. It is based on personal bias and implicit bias. It is up to us to address our personal bias and implicit bias to see past our assumptions and actually get to know our students and their backgrounds. As teachers we need to understand where students are coming from and be an ally for them. It's not just about content, it is about seeing them as a person.

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Identity totally impacts students in our school:  Mainly in three ways- 1) Your last name, 2) Your athletic ability, and 3) Money

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yes, I am a female in a traditional male dominated teaching area. I have more females involved in my program after teaching for 18 years than I have ever had....but now where are the males...

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yes, I am a female in a traditional male dominated teaching area. I have more females involved in my program after teaching for 18 years than I have ever had....but now where are the males...

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Generalizations that students who are people of color, female, and/or have a low socio-economic status can''t or shouldn't be encouraged to be in STEM careers. Too often STEM opportunities are after school and require transportation or funds to participate which supports mainly white middle class students.

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Absolutely. . . I am a Black woman in Iowa. The color of my skin effects how people at my school see me and how my students of color relate to me.

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It is not political for us to challenge ourselves to see others for who they truly are

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It is not political for us to challenge ourselves to see others for who they truly are

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Struggling with the whole concept of Gender Identity  and changing pronouns.  May just be too old for my brain to digest this,  this is an issue I am working on.  This class is part of that.

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Struggling with the whole concept of Gender Identity  and changing pronouns.  May just be too old for my brain to digest this,  this is an issue I am working on.  This class is part of that.

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Identity plays a huge role in the classroom. It is so much easier for me to connect to white female students and then other female students before I can connect with male students of any race but the more differences the harder it becomes to relate.

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Yes - it plays a role within the classroom and within society. Once you get to know a person for who they are - no matter their color, economic status, religion, etc. - it makes a huge difference! Growing up in small town Iowa - moved to Houston, Texas to teach having various students from various backgrounds. Getting to know those children and loving them for who they were. It was a learning experience for me coming from a white community. I loved those two years that I was there and will always remember those children and the wonderful experience they gave me.

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It is the question we all ask ourselves...our students too. We tie Identity with our purpose, with our being, with how we fit in the big picture...our place in the world.

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Yes, it does, whether we want to admit it or not.  

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Yes, it does, whether we want to admit it or not.  

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We need to make sure that all races and genders are represented
I know within the gifted community we are constantly looking at whether different races and genders are represented in our gifted classes.  We have to watch for bias in our testing and identifying.  It is not something we can stop watching for...it is an ongoing, everyday problem.

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Yes it does.

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Identity plays a huge role.  We have a lot to learn from each student in the classroom.

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Identity plays a huge role.  We have a lot to learn from each student in the classroom.

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Yes, it does. I think each student needs to know their identity. I need to know my identity as a teacher, and as a mom, and as a wife. I also know that I am a female in a STEM profession so therefore my male students think they don't have to listen to me as much. However, then my female students know that it is possible for a female to succeed in a math classroom.

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Yes, identity plays a role in my classroom. I absolutely connect with students who struggle academically, economically, and socially. I feel that those are the students that need more more than those that come from a 2 parent, well off household. This has been my jam my entire teaching career. I want to "save" or help those that need me more. I want to make connections to those students who struggle and want them to learn to love math and science the way I love math and science. I try to get them involved in my STEM program at school, I encourage them to join m homeroom for extra help, I reach out to them after a long weekend knowing their weekend might have been a long one without food or family support.

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My identity as a parent affects how I see my students. Now that I have kids, it helps me realize that my students are someone else's precious children and they love their child as much as I love mine. This perspective is encouraging me to push my boundaries as a teacher to help these students to the best of my ability. It is encouraging me to start up a STEM program to benefit them all.

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long standing stereotypes exist and there's so much implicit bias...girls not being good at math...girls mature faster than boys...Asians are great at STEM...fat people are lazy.

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long standing stereotypes exist and there's so much implicit bias...girls not being good at math...girls mature faster than boys...Asians are great at STEM...fat people are lazy.

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Identity should play a role in the classroom.  We can't leave everything at the door when we come in.  We need to own our identities and make it work in the classroom environment.
How can we as the teacher take advantages of these differences and make the learning meaningful.

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I don't think it does, but I bet after thinking more,  I would have to admit it does.

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I don't think it does, but I bet after thinking more,  I would have to admit it does.

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Our field focuses on processes.  Sometimes while focusing on the process, we can lose identity to an extent.  As opposed to the arts or the languages where things can be interpreted differently.  When practicing Engineering, Math and Science maybe the identity can be lost.

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Yes it helps us connect to students & understand what they are going through.

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Identity plays a rolls in all classrooms. Each person's unique identity provides so many different perspectives on how to solve problems which is such a big part of STEM.

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Identity plays a rolls in all classrooms. Each person's unique identity provides so many different perspectives on how to solve problems which is such a big part of STEM.

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Stop and ask yourself: Is what I see the accurate picture of who this student is?

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Stop and ask yourself: Is what I see the accurate picture of who this student is?

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Consider external factors, environment, things out of their control, poverty, food insecurity, etc etc.

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Yes it plays a huge roll. Since I am

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Identity plays a huge role in the classroom. My Iowa experience is not so much skin color but rather economic status and poverty stricken families struggling to survive. Engaging in higher level thinking is far more difficult when a person is trying to just survive from one day to the next with food and security. My role as a teacher is to acknowledge each student for the VALUE they each have to contribute

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Identity plays a huge role. It can point out a vulnerability, it can point out a strength, it can be positive, it can be negative. Allowing students to showcase themselves allows for all to be included and may give a voice to the voiceless.

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Part of the reason I love STEM activities is because it allows students the opportunity to connect to the challenge in a way that works best for them. There are so many opportunities for students and teachers to learn from each other and see things through a different lens.

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STEM is another branch of learning and needs to be treated with the same equity and differentiation as the other classroom settings.

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boy/girl ratio
age

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I 100% connect more with students who I identify more with (white, female, lower economic status).  This means it is more likely for me to overlook when students who I don't identify with are struggling, it is harder for me to connect with their struggle

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Yes identity does play a role in the classroom. All individuals have emotions that effect learning. Building relationships/connections with students and understanding each individual will help students reach their potential. Getting to know students as unique individuals isn't political, it's a foundation for relationships.

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Identity in my classroom is individual, as each student comes to me with their own unique background good or bad, it is my responsibility to make them feel safe and heard.

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Everything is getting too political these days.  In turn, everyone thinks they're right and relationships are being lost.

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In my classroom, each lesson is there for all students, but the students with extreme learning disabilities have a guided option. I guess I was thinking in terms of equity for those students with special needs.

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I am afraid of how my unintended biases have driven my students the wrong way, away from learning and feeling inspired and supported.

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STEM is not only an area where adults box students in stereotypes but students do as well.  We need to be mindful how we help our students provide equity for their peers.  Students need to see students who don't look like them, talk like them or think like them be successful in STEM

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Identity plays a role in the classroom. It is part of who we are as humans! It does play a part in the STEM work based on how a person comes at a problem or the struggle of learning. We do well to accept that this plays a role and address it and open a dialog about it. It is not political-it is part of the human experience.

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Identity plays a role in the classroom. It is part of who we are as humans! It does play a part in the STEM work based on how a person comes at a problem or the struggle of learning. We do well to accept that this plays a role and address it and open a dialog about it. It is not political-it is part of the human experience.

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Yes, we might bring our perception of a student's identity into our decision of what student's interests and capabilities are. Some is based on their past, and some is based on what we see and interpret of them in the classroom.

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Yes, we might bring our perception of a student's identity into our decision of what student's interests and capabilities are. Some is based on their past, and some is based on what we see and interpret of them in the classroom.

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Hold up examples of STEM professionals with a range of identity and expression can help counteract the stereotyping .

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I am a strong female leader that identity is a huge impact on my classroom. Females have more impact for me because it is my identity. I am learning more balance and that my qualities can be for males as well.

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Yes- Each student brings something different to the "team." Students have different backgrounds, religious beliefs, traditions, POV, etc. When we can be open about these differences great learning as a human being can happen.

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How I see myself in other peoples' eyes.

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Not every students comes from the same background and experiences. Respect.

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Not every students comes from the same background and experiences. Respect.

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Identity does play a role in the classroom.  What each person brings to the learning community is unique.  The challenge is to work  together despite our different identities.  

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Identity does play a role in the classroom.  What each person brings to the learning community is unique.  The challenge is to work  together despite our different identities.  

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Yes, it does. Who we are, our background, family history, how we are raised and the struggles we come across in life and in the classroom. But we need this diversity as we can learn from each other, grow together and see new perspectives.

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Yes, it does. Who we are, our background, family history, how we are raised and the struggles we come across in life and in the classroom. But we need this diversity as we can learn from each other, grow together and see new perspectives.

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I am much easier on under-represented populations in STEM and I make a much greater effort to engage our under-rep pops. I may be doing these students a disservice. 

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I am much easier on under-represented populations in STEM and I make a much greater effort to engage our under-rep pops. I may be doing these students a disservice. 

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I think identity is really important. It is important to me for students to be able to see themselves in the history of Science - what better way to connect and think, "I can do that too!". Unfortunately, there's a lot of straight, white men in the history of Science and this is frustrating.

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Yes. . . we begin the year understanding "place" which often leads to identity. Where we live. Connects to STEM particularly when we use technology (Google Earth) to map.  

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Yes. . . we begin the year understanding "place" which often leads to identity. Where we live. Connects to STEM particularly when we use technology (Google Earth) to map.  

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We are unable to build relationships if we do not value, recognize and embrace individual identities!

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Students have identity among themselves. They can be mean.

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Yes, each student's identities brings with them different backgrounds and perspectives. They play out in the classroom whether we realize it or not.

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How did Pamela, Aris and Dwight find their STEM identity when others didn't see them that way. Or were they the token "genius" black and brown kid teacher held up to class as a..."be like Aris" "be like Pamela" as in :be like Mike" Michael Jordan- the hero..or nowadays.. be like Obama

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How did Pamela, Aris and Dwight find their STEM identity when others didn't see them that way. Or were they the token "genius" black and brown kid teacher held up to class as a..."be like Aris" "be like Pamela" as in :be like Mike" Michael Jordan- the hero..or nowadays.. be like Obama

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How do we help build our students identity as a powerful needed piece of our STEM community

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I think that identity definitely plays a role in the classroom. First of all, I believe that how the student perceives themself affects how they will interact in the class in general. If a student thinks they are "smart", they will be more likely to speak up. Other students will defer to the "smart" students in discussions. I strive to turn those tables with questions that expose the "simple answer" as the "right" answer. It is amazing how it equalizes the classroom when those students who were so sure of the answer have to go back to the drawing board and others who thought a different answer are now willing to speak up. 

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I think that identity definitely plays a role in the classroom. First of all, I believe that how the student perceives themself affects how they will interact in the class in general. If a student thinks they are "smart", they will be more likely to speak up. Other students will defer to the "smart" students in discussions. I strive to turn those tables with questions that expose the "simple answer" as the "right" answer. It is amazing how it equalizes the classroom when those students who were so sure of the answer have to go back to the drawing board and others who thought a different answer are now willing to speak up. 

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Identity always plays a role in the classroom.  We each come with a past and experiences and  they shape our identity.  Our family dynamics, race, religion, sex all create our identities and who we identify with.  This affects STEM because teachers and students all come with preconceived beliefs and that has the potential to create unintended biases and preferences.    We need to expand our relationships with people and build bridges.  My husband and I are white and have black, asian and hispanics and gay children in our family.   To see the differences in how we are each treated because of our color or sexual orientation breaks my heart.  There has to be a positive way to move beyond this. We need one identity: human.

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Yes.

I struggle at times to connect with my students are different from me.

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The classroom would be boring if students were not themselves. There must be variety and different learning experiences.

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I'm starting to see that it does.  Need to make sure my materials I'm using are representative of my students.

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I find it important to find out how each student identifies, whether racially, through religion or their sexuality etc.  It is important to not assume identity, but let a person share that with you.

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Yes and sometimes it is hard to get to true identity w/o prying to hard

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Yes and sometimes it is hard to get to true identity w/o prying to hard

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Absolutely! Everyone has their own identity and story that represents who they are. Understanding and learning about one another helps us grow together as a community of learners.

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When I first got into teaching- I would say I didn't allow for identity. But as I learn and grow, I am striving to allow for more identity. Letting students learn and grow in their own way, in their chosen location, in a style they like. But as I sit here and reflect- I wonder if I have the same mindset as I work with adults in my building. Am I allowing for each individual identity?

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I think we need to value identity more in STEM classrooms. No, it is not getting too political. Change is needed -- we need to do better for many of our students.

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yes...The students have a concept of each student as well.  I think it is hard to change their minds about themselves and other students around them.  I hear all the time...I want to be partnered with so and so because they are good at math...building...coding...etc.