Before You Teach: Creating Inclusive Classrooms

Gender non-conforming students can be of any sexual orientation and are at particular risk for teasing, bullying, and/or social isolation.  They are also often rendered invisible by a curriculum, and rarely see themselves or people like them in the lessons and teachers’ examples throughout the curriculum.  Teachers are encouraged to work actively against stereotyped assumptions of how their students should behave based on gender.  By offering students the widest possible opportunities for self-expression, teachers can help all students develop more complex and nuanced ways of understanding gender.  Additional information and research related to the importance of expanding concepts of gender expression for all students is available from Gender Spectrums.

The lessons in this curriculum are specifically written to challenge the gender binary and to be inclusive, respectful and supportive of all gender identities and expressions. Great resources that offer additional ways for teachers to support this effort and model district policy are GLSEN and The Teaching Transgender Toolkit available for purchase at www.TeachingTransgender.com

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