Bridging Gaps by Lexyngton Schoessler

Students deserve to be seen

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-06 16:27:22 UTC

When you have an un-inviting classroom it may feel difficult for students to feel like they belong there. Having an open concept classroom where any student could enter you classroom and find a seat is important. Placing a student in a wheel chair in the seat closest to the door may seem practical but if that's their spot in every classroom, it may make them feel unwelcome.

Using Inclusive Language

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-06 16:33:09 UTC

Not all students live with in a nuclear family. Saying phrases like "tell your parents or mom and dad" could make students who don't live with their parents feel excluded. Instead you can say thing's like "Tell your grown-up's or adults." This type of language applies to all students and fosters an inclusive environment.

Seeing yourself in the classroom

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-06 17:28:05 UTC

You may not know who your students are yet but you can find out. Asking students what their culture is can help you make sure they are represented in your classroom. You could make sure you have a flag from each culture to represent your students in the classroom.

Grown up and a Book

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:10:50 UTC

Asking families to pick a story that is important to them or their culture and then inviting them into the classroom to read the story to the class is a great way to get families involved.

Throwing a multicultural night

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:13:40 UTC

Coming together to show case and celebrate their culture is a great way to bring them close to the community. You could have families show something that's important to them and the finish off with a meal. Food bring people together and gives people a reason to show up.

Connect

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:16:31 UTC

The most important thing is connecting with your students. Take time each day to connect with your students. Students learn better from teachers they feel a connection with. (Positive Teacher-student Relationships Lead to Better Teaching – College of Education & Human Development, 2022)

News letter

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:18:03 UTC

Reaching out to your students families is one way to keep them connected. A monthly or weekly news letter with important updates or notes can help families feel like you care and want them to be connected to your classroom.

Volunteer

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:21:15 UTC

Ask parents to come into the school and assist your class in someway. They can practice math facts or have students read aloud to them. When you need them as much as they need you there can be a sense of balance in the relationship. (ParentSquare, 2023)

Art and Music

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:25:00 UTC

Show your students how native Americans wove baskets together for an art project or teach your students a song in another language and tell them the meaning of what they're singing.

Show and Tell

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:26:46 UTC

Have students bring something that is important to them or their culture and then have them explain the meaning. If students don't have any items, they could bring a food to share, a story or song to perform.

Variety of literature

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:28:16 UTC

Having a library full of books from different perspectives and cultures is one way to show your students the world. Try to have books from the point of view of someone their age to help them connect to the main character.

Say Hello

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:30:17 UTC

Teach your students to say hello and welcome in many languages. This way no matter who enters your classroom they will be met with a friendly face and a hello. You could extend this by teaching your students to write their name in a different language to spark their interest.

Their way

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:32:04 UTC

Something that really shows that you want your students to understand a content area is proving them the content in their native language. Also allowing them to use a translator app so they are able to get as much information as possible.

Ask them

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:34:11 UTC

One way to figure out what your students are interested in learning is to ask them. Ask them what cultures interest them and build off that. If you start with what their interested in you can add onto and branch off to many different cultures.

Meet them where they are

lexyschoessler — 2025-03-10 03:36:41 UTC

To ensure all students are able to grow and be successful in the classroom. We need to meet them where they are and not where they should be. If a student doesn't know their alphabet but because they're a 3rd grader we give them a book at a 3rd grade reading level doesn't help. We need to meet the student where they are.