Making Continued Moves Towards Anti-Racist Classroom Policies
Start Date
8-17-2022 12:00 AM
Description
During the past two years, I have recognized the importance of implementing Pedagogies of Care into my classroom. Students are going through a lot, and it is important for me as their instructor to develop a classroom that allows them many opportunities to be successful. In order to do so, I have learned about the importance of implementing more anti-racist policies. Not only have anti-racist policies helped me become a more caring instructor, but they have also helped me better assert my authority as an instructor of color in a classroom filled with students who have (most-likely) never had a Black female instructor before. During this time, I have learned that in order to be a more anti-racist and caring teacher, I needed to modify my attendance, grading, and late work policies. Originally, I felt strict policies garnered me respect I felt I had to take from students. I have found, however, that modifying these policies has increased student responsibility for learning and alleviated the stress I feel when "awarding" grades to students. I am also a more anti-racist, equitable, and caring instructor. These practices will continue to shape my classroom moving forward as I continue to implement, learn, and grow. My current pedagogical practices are the result of serious reflection, research, student surveys, and conversations with colleagues. This presentation will engage presenters in conversation and reflection about attendance, grading, and late work, and invite them to imagine making continued moves towards a more anti-racist classroom.
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Making Continued Moves Towards Anti-Racist Classroom Policies
During the past two years, I have recognized the importance of implementing Pedagogies of Care into my classroom. Students are going through a lot, and it is important for me as their instructor to develop a classroom that allows them many opportunities to be successful. In order to do so, I have learned about the importance of implementing more anti-racist policies. Not only have anti-racist policies helped me become a more caring instructor, but they have also helped me better assert my authority as an instructor of color in a classroom filled with students who have (most-likely) never had a Black female instructor before. During this time, I have learned that in order to be a more anti-racist and caring teacher, I needed to modify my attendance, grading, and late work policies. Originally, I felt strict policies garnered me respect I felt I had to take from students. I have found, however, that modifying these policies has increased student responsibility for learning and alleviated the stress I feel when "awarding" grades to students. I am also a more anti-racist, equitable, and caring instructor. These practices will continue to shape my classroom moving forward as I continue to implement, learn, and grow. My current pedagogical practices are the result of serious reflection, research, student surveys, and conversations with colleagues. This presentation will engage presenters in conversation and reflection about attendance, grading, and late work, and invite them to imagine making continued moves towards a more anti-racist classroom.