I believe it is a teacher’s duty to make sure that their classroom is an accepting and inclusive environment for every student, regardless of their identity. In order to make my classroom an accepting and inclusive environment I will keep up to date on the current news, make sure to have knowledge of all gender identities, sexualities, cultures, economic status, and other important aspects of a students identity. I will achieve this by keeping up with the current news, by checking in on how my students are doing, and by making sure to build strong relationships with students so they feel they have a safe adult to go to. 

    I plan on being the teacher that any student, even those not in music, can talk to if they need a supportive adult in their life. There are too many students who don’t receive the support that they need from an adult. It is important for all students, especially ones with diverse identities to have a strong support system. 

    In order to create strong and positive teacher-student relationships I will create “getting to know you forms” which will give me more information on my students. I will also make sure to ask students about their days, remember important information they have discussed with me, and give them room to talk about any issues they have going on in their lives. It is important for teachers to make sure their students feel seen and heard. By knowing important information about them and asking how they are doing it shows there is an adult in their life that cares about them, even if that adult isn’t one that they have at home.

    In my school and community I want to make sure the standard is that every student feels accepted and heard no matter their background/identity. I want myself as well as other teachers to have the proper training and knowledge of all walks of life students can come from. By making sure teachers have the education of their students, it will create a safe space in every classroom.