Creating an Inclusive Classroom Environment for ALL Students

10/17/23 • 40 min

With a student population that is more diverse than ever, educators often face the exciting yet challenging task of creating learning environments that not only accommodate but celebrate the rich differences in backgrounds, experiences and identities of their students.

In this episode of the Educator's Playbook, host Kimberly McGlonn discusses the intricacies and importance of inclusivity and diversity in K-12 classrooms with two Penn GSE experts. She's joined first by Maria Cioè-Peña, a respected education researcher focusing on bilingual and disabled students. Maria's insights, enriched by her extensive research and experience, shed light on adaptive strategies teachers can use to transform their classrooms into supportive spaces where every student's story is acknowledged and valued. Then, licensed clinical psychologist Kyle Schultz shares effective and empathetic tactics that are easy to implement. For example, he explains how teachers can subtly create nurturing, safe spaces by incorporating different signifiers of queer experience around the classroom. Whether it's a pride flag, equality sticker, books, or magazines, the items reinforce that the class is a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students and allies.

For more tips on related topics, check out the links to our Playbook story archives below.

GUESTS:

Maria Cioè-Peña, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
Kyle Schultz, Lecturer in Educational Practice and Director, Counseling and Mental Health Services Program, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Educator's Playbook newsletter for ongoing resources and content

RELATED PLAYBOOKS:

No. 73: Tips to make your classroom more welcoming for all learners
No. 64: How to be a good parent and a good ally
No. 63: How to get even better at supporting your LGBTQ+ students
No. 40: Bringing Restorative Justice into Your Classroom
No. 39: Putting Black history lessons into action
No. 27: Respecting pronouns in the classroom
No. 24: Bringing Gender Consciousness into the Classroom
No. 21: Creating meaningful classroom discussions
No. 17: How to confront hate speech at school
No. 7: Responding to anti-Muslim rhetoric
No. 5: Treating racial competence as a skill to be learned

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES & RESOURCES:

For more tips on related topics, check out the links to our Playbook story archives below.

GUESTS:

Maria Cioè-Peña, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
Kyle Schultz, Lecturer in Educational Practice and Director, Counseling and Mental Health Services Program, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Educator's Playbook newsletter for ongoing resources and content

RELATED PLAYBOOKS:

No. 73: Tips to make your classroom more welcoming for all learners
No. 64: How to be a good parent and a good ally
No. 63: How to get even better at supporting your LGBTQ+ students
No. 40: Bringing Restorative Justice into Your Classroom
No. 39: Putting Black history lessons into action
No. 27: Respecting pronouns in the classroom
No. 24: Bringing Gender Consciousness into the Classroom
No. 21: Creating meaningful classroom discussions
No. 17: How to confront hate speech at school
No. 7: Responding to anti-Muslim rhetoric
No. 5: Treating racial competence as a skill to be learned

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES & RESOURCES:

Previous Episode

Culture Wars: Politicization and Polarization in the Classroom

Hosted by seasoned educator Kimberly McGlonn, this episode takes a deep dive into the widening ideological and cultural divides impacting K-12 education. As schools find themselves at the epicenter of debates surrounding issues like race, gender and sexual orientation, educators must grapple with the challenges of a rapidly politicized classroom environment. We're joined by leading education historian and Penn GSE professor Jonathan Zimmerman, author of "Whose America?: Culture Wars in the Public Classroom." He provides valuable insights into the shifting ideological landscape since the book's first publication in 2002 and gives us some historical context for censorship, politicization and polarization. Then, professor of practice and former superintendent Andrea Kane sheds further light on the real-life implications of these culture wars for educators, students and communities, sharing some of her experiences on the front lines over the years. Tune in for a candid discussion on navigating these complex issues in today's educational setting.

FEATURING:

Jonathan Zimmerman, Professor, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
Andrea Kane, Professor of Practice, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education

NEWSLETTER:

Subscribe to the Educator's Playbook newsletter for ongoing resources and content

RELATED PLAYBOOKS:

No. 69: Explaining war to children: 6 tips from a Penn GSE expert (02-25-22)
No. 64: How to be a good parent and a good ally (06-10-21)
No. 63: How to get even better at supporting your LGBTQ+ students (06-08-21)
No. 58: How teachers can talk about violence at the Capitol (01-07-21)
No. 39: Putting Black history lessons into action (02-05-20)
No. 17: How to confront hate speech at school (11-17-16)
No. 7: Responding to anti-Muslim rhetoric (02-04-16)
No. 5: Treating racial competence as a skill to be learned (02-03-16)

OTHER RESOURCES:

New books from Penn GSE professors focus on free speech on campus (02-15-23)
School censorship is not democratic. Speaking up is the solution from the Philadelphia Inquirer (05-30-23)
Jonathan Zimmerman: Do we really want discussion in our schools? Book censorship indicates otherwise from the Chicago Tribune (05-15-23)
Penn GSE alumni event focuses on free speech in education (12-13-22)

Educator's Playbook - Creating an Inclusive Classroom Environment for ALL Students

Transcript

María Cioè-Peña (00:00):

There's so many different ways that diversity comes into play.

Kimberly McGlonn (00:06):

This is the Educator's Playbook from the Penn Graduate School of Education. Hi, I'm Kimberly McGlonn. I taught high school English for 20 years in very different districts, one suburban and one urban. However, in that time there was one constant. Each and every student that came into my classroom had their own unique story. Yes, there were things in our back