Set Your Students Up for Success

Creating a classroom with the goal of including everyone is a vital step in ensuring all students feel valued and have equal opportunities to succeed. 

Anti-racist teaching is a vital component of education that equips students with the skills to create a more equitable and inclusive society.

Take the Steps Early and Often

Schools are more than just institutions for academic learning; they play a vital role in shaping the minds and values of future generations. But you already knew that, didn’t you? One of the most pressing issues in education today is the need for inclusive classrooms. Racial inequality is something that must be addressed in school if we want students to grow up in a more just and equitable society.

Educators who incorporate anti-racist teaching into their curriculum encourage students to ask difficult questions, engage in thoughtful discussions, and reflect on their own beliefs and behaviors.

Anti-racist teaching is not about guilt or shame. It’s about recognizing the inherent racism embedded in our social systems and taking action to prevent it from continuing. For students, encountering racism in various forms—from microaggressions throughout the day to more overt acts of discrimination—can significantly impact their mental and emotional well-being. If left unaddressed, these experiences can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and create divisions among students. Therefore, it is crucial that schools take an active role in confronting racism and teaching students how to recognize, understand, and resist it.

Here are five simple steps that educators can take:

1. Know Your Students' Needs

Get to know the diverse backgrounds, abilities, and learning styles of your students. This includes understanding their special educational or cultural differences. Tailoring your approach helps you plan lessons that ensure all students can succeed.

2. Use Everyday Moments
Reading, writing, games on the playground ... any instance and  is a teachable opportunity. The blog "Little Readers, Big Lessons: Top Picks for Exploring Diversity in Children's Literature" will help you get started.

 3. Adapt Instructional Methods

Use a variety of teaching strategies such as differentiated instruction, cooperative learning, and hands-on activities. Incorporate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning options to cater to different learning styles. 

4. Create a Safe and Respectful Environment
Foster an atmosphere where all students feel respected and safe. Address bullying, promote kindness, and ensure your classroom is physically and emotionally accessible to everyone.

 5. Use Flexible Grouping

Regularly mix up groups for activities to encourage peer collaboration. This helps students learn from each other, builds social skills, and ensures no student feels isolated or left out.

6. Provide Multiple Means of Assessment

Allow students to demonstrate their understanding in different ways, such as through written assignments, presentations, or projects. This accommodates various strengths and abilities, making assessment more inclusive.

All students should feel valued and have equal opportunities to succeed.

Teaching with the goal of acknowledging and combating racism helps students develop skills in empathy, critical thinking, and social responsibility alongside language arts and geometry. By exploring the history and impact of racism, students gain a deeper understanding of how systemic oppression works and how it has shaped society. This knowledge empowers them to challenge prejudices and biases that may otherwise go unexamined.

Final Word

Creating an inclusive society starts with education, and it is up to educators and administrators to ensure that every student, regardless of race, has the opportunity to thrive in a world that values their humanity.

Want to learn more? Check out Anti-Racist Teaching: 8 Steps to Build a Framework for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Your School by Symone James Abiola or Hacking Culturally Inclusive Teaching by Kendra Nalubega-Booker. 

Read More

• “3 Culturally Inclusive Skills That All Students and Teachers Should Have.” X10 Publications blog. May 23, 2023.
•  Álvarez, Brenda. “Teaching with an Anti-Racist Lens.” neaToday. September 21, 2021.
•  “Cultivating Inclusive Classrooms Begins with You and Me.” X10 Publications Educator’s Edge. November 21, 2024.
•  Kendi, Ibram X. 2019. How to Be an Antiracist. One World.
•  “The Role of Education in Anti-Racism: Creating a More Inclusive Future.” OhanaHC. October 21, 2024.

Resources

• Quote by Symone James Abiola, Anti-Racist Teaching: 8 Steps to Build a Framework for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Your School
• Campers playing with parachute image by RDNE Stock project from Pexels.
• Girls painting image by Artem Podrez from Pexels.