Acceptance is the Key

Bias is something a teacher has to be aware of, almost constantly. When instructing students in the classroom, the teacher's main job is to reveal different perspectives and ideas about a variety of subjects. When a teacher presents ideas in this way, students hear and understand a number of different sides to every story, rather than one.

Children are egocentric in nature. When students enter the classroom the teacher must offer support and scaffolding in order to help students reach a more multi-dimensional perspective on the world and the people around them. Presenting a variety of different perspectives on tough issues in the classroom allows students to consider others' feelings and opinions about the same topic. It's also great to expose students to controversial topics. Students learn to acknowledge and discuss a variety of different opinions in a non-threatening, accepting environment, which becomes your classroom. Students learn the idea of acceptance of others even when they have a differing opinion from a peer or classmate. Furthermore, they learn to understand each other and may even become friends in the process. Activities that expose students to a variety of opinions about different topics initiate this kind of environment where students can freely share their opinions.

So, what should a teacher do in the classroom to encourage an environment that accepts everyone's opinion?

1. Students should be exposed to a variety of sources for information. The textbook should not be the sole source of information in the classroom. Allowing students to explore other primary and secondary sources is a great way to help them come to their own conclusions about complex current events and issues. This also helps students connect to the real world.
   
2. The teacher should create a classroom environment where students can openly express their opinions. Students should feel free to discuss their thoughts on different issues without feeling judged by the teacher or by their peers.
   
3. There's more than one answer to every question. This statement should be posted in every teacher's classroom. Students need to understand that there aren't dumb questions, but more importantly, they should know that every response and answer to a question is worthy of acknowledgment. The answer may not be something we thought of, but it definitely will send discussion into a different direction and should be addressed all the same.
4. The teacher should work to bring current events into the classroom whenever he/she can. By exposing students to these types of real world events, we're helping them make connections to concepts they're learning in every subject taught in school.
5. Learning becomes a fun process when more than one perspective is explored and discussed. Students have the power to transform the learning environment they're in, depending on the opinion or perspective they take on a subject. That's the best part!

Creating this type of environment makes students more aware of their surroundings. They can easily imagine themselves in someone else's shoes when they read a book about a soldier or talk about a controversial event that's currently in the news. Students are creative and can immediately picture themselves in the situation if they're provided the right kind of scaffolding from an early age. These types of experiences are essential and follow us as we move into middle and high school, college, and on into adulthood. This is the formative stage where students need to be given the opportunity to share in a supportive, accepting environment.

In my opinion, when we create this type of environment in the classroom, everyone is free to share. Children from diverse backgrounds will bring unique experiences to the table, which should be welcomed. Family life, culture, and home life can all affect the perspectives students have on different issues. I look forward to creating this type of environment in my classroom because where students feel accepted, they are more ready and willing to share on a variety issues. Acceptance is the key!

And a wordle on the topic of diversity and acceptance in the classroom.