Connections to the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Guidance for Rhode Island Schools on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students

Hannah Kennedy | FNED546 | Link to Article: RIDE Guidance | Link to Video: Video/Aeticle

I am really glad we had to read this article because, as future teachers, I feel like it is important to know and understand these guidance rules to help us truly understand our students. As someone who has been working in an elementary school, I definitely made some connections while reading this. First, overall, this article taught me how to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students in the classroom. It has been evident to me in my time in an elementary school that the teachers around me have worked super hard to create this type of environment. I have also witnessed teachers discipline students for being discriminatory. For example, I heard a student call another student "gay" in a derogatory way, and the teacher used it as a class lesson on discrimination. Secondly, the article really focused on respecting students' identities. I have seen this in classrooms, especially in college, where students are asked about their pronouns to ensure people respect their identity. Third, the article explains that students should have access to facilities and activities that align with their gender identity. I have seen gender neutral bathrooms in most schools, which is a great step for those who need them. It is also important that teachers create activities that students of every gender identity can participate in. This allows for everyone to be included in school. One thing the article also mentioned was that teachers need to ensure confidentiality when it comes to a student's transgender or gender conforming status. I am so glad the article talked about this, because this is something I will need to know in the future when I am a teacher. Lastly, I really liked that this mentioned that teachers need to attend professional development and be aware of policies pertaining to transgender and gender conforming students. It is so important that teachers stay up to date in order to enhance their ability to support and understand all of their students. This article is extremely helpful to those who are studying to be teachers!

Notes on A Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth by The Trevor Project

I really enjoyed reading this article by The Trevor Project, and I thought it was super informative and helpful to those looking to become a teacher one day. I wanted to mention that this article talked about how teachers are in a unique position to make a positive impact on their students. This means that as a teachers, we should be creating safe spaces for our students and enforcing non-discriminatory practices in our schools. Teachers have the ability to create an equitable environment for all of their students, and need to take a proactive approach to ensure students are supported and feel seen during their journey through education. Overall, I love how this article really gave me an idea of how I can be proactive as a teacher and how I can make my students feel supported.