With
about 3 months and 3 days left in the 2020-2021 school year, I feel like I can
breathe a little bit better than I did on October 1st, 2020.
Since the last post, there have been many changes to my online classroom - more students and more IEPs. There are some students falling through the cracks no matter what I do or try to do. I could focus on that and be the tragic teacher, who has failed in spite of her best efforts given the circumstances, or focus on the small successes and be a triumphant teacher in spite of all the obstacles thrown in her way given the current circumstances.
I am choosing to go with the latter!
Last week, in Language, I decided to go with Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy. In that spirit, I introduced the concept of identity. It felt like I was going to get nothing from the students. These are the kids who chose to be not on camera - who would rather not let anyone see them. Why would they want to share anything about who they are?!
However, I was in for a surprise …
Student S: I am non binary lesbian
Student K: I'm actually really glad there's people in the lgbtq2+ community here
Student K: I identify as genderfluid, I'm also pansexual.. My parents don't know this, only my friends and you guys too now
Student S: my family doesn't know either
Student K: I don't really know how I express genderfluid.. I don't think I do but my friends do call me by different pronouns when the conversation come up. I express pansexual to my friends when I'm simping for fictional characters :3 … humans are complex, fictional characters can always live up to your expectations xD
The above was in response to one question a student had about “genderfluid”. I have kept the words as they were typed in the chat. For some reason, I copied and pasted them into a word document. I wanted to remember them. I may be failing some students. However, I have managed to create a safe space in the dark hole that is my classroom. Students read these revelations as they were being typed. No one said anything silly or rude in response. There were mostly questions about what it meant to be binary or genderfluid. Others were congratulatory comments.
I felt like I needed to congratulate myself as well. Teaching is not always about curriculum. It is empowering students with knowledge to take pride in who they are and not what they know.
