Blog

Having a supporting role in equity, inclusion and anti-racism, I am often involved in supporting anti-bias conversations. Working with kindergarten teachers this year, was such a joyful learning experience. Using picture books, we decided that we want to make space to challenge biases and stereotypes while also remembering that students are children. Their views and thoughts are shaped by the world around them, including systems of oppression that they can’t yet recognize through their daily interactions with media, social media, conversations, books, and even the way the clothing section is organized where they shop. Our goal in having these conversations isn’t to create discomfort, it is to create a safe space where we can learn about and celebrate all identities in a respectful way.

I’ve learned through this process that things don’t always go as planned. At times, even as young as kindergarten, we have to have some difficult conversations with students. As educators and adults in the room, our responses to these difficult conversations and statements can set the tone of safety in the classroom. It’s challenging!

Spending time with teachers anticipating and preparing for these conversations was helpful. We anticipated what might be said and just as importantly we prepared our responses. We recognized how we feel in the moment and reminded ourselves the intention is to maintain the safety and integrity of the space. It’s important to interrupt harmful language and statements – every time we see or hear them – both for those who are saying hurtful things and for those affected or hurt by them. However, we also want to make sure that we don’t leave it at interrupting or correction. Ideally, we want to engage in conversation with the children, explicitly equip them with skills on how to come back from mistakes, and help to explain why it was harmful. A tall order for early learners!

A resource we found that was really helpful is a text named Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work In Your School Community by Liz Kleinrock. This text addresses many of the questions and challenges educators have about getting started with antibias and antiracist work, using a framework for tackling perceived barriers from a proactive stance and was invaluable in helping us to frame our response to difficult conversations.

On pages 44-45, Kleinrock addresses the question, “How can I hold space for difficult conversations in my class?” She describes three possible ways the educator could react when engaged in difficult conversations, a knee jerk reaction, an interrupting strategy, or a call in conversation. A knee jerk reaction is the reaction we first give from a place of shock or emotion while an interrupting strategy stops the harm from happening in the moment. A call-in conversation is one that invites students to reflect on the impact of their words and works collaboratively to determine how to do better. As an educator, I could relate to all three of these reactions and reflecting on these possible ways to respond really helped us to centre ourselves in the intention of the moment.

For example, one of our conversations was about the story “The Sandwich Swap.**” When planning with this book, we anticipated that students might say something like, “Ew! I hate stinky foods, too!” In fact, we acknowledged that we had heard students saying something similar at the nutrition table in the past. How were we preparing to respond? How did those types of comments make us feel and make the other children in the class feel? How did the other students in the class react – did anyone join in and agree or empower those comments or did someone call out those comments? And we had to acknowledge how we’ve already responded to those types of comments in the learning space.

Using Kleinrock’s framework, we recognized the following types of possible reactions:

Knee jerk reaction: “Don’t say that! That’s mean!”
Interrupting strategy: “Lots of people like different foods. It’s not okay to put down what other people enjoy.”
Call in conversation: “I understand that people like different things. When we say things like “Ew! Or Gross!” It’s hurtful to others and can make them feel sad or embarrassed about foods that are special to them. What is something we can do or say that can help to lift people up instead of putting people down?”

This framework helped us to determine which of these responses made most sense for us. We could feel more confident entering that conversation understanding our purpose: making space for students to learn how to navigate their emotions, words, and impact on others.

My biggest learning from this experience was how valuable it is to prepare for conversations. Taking the time to think about what to say in the moment helped me to feel ready to engage in “call in conversations” rather than be overwhelmed and unprepared resulting in a knee jerk reaction. While it’s hard to find the time to prepare for every conversation, remember the necessity of interrupting in the moment. Revisiting conversations later with the individual or as a whole class can re-open that call-in conversation in a meaningful way.

**The Sandwich Swap by Rania Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio. In this story, best friends Lily and Salma always eat lunch together; Lily eats peanut butter and Salma eats hummus. After saying some hurtful things about each others’ lunches that were lovingly made by their parents, their friendship is at risk.

Our days are filled with chatter. I know mine is. And it begins the moment I open my eyes … all the usual half-awake exchanges as the kids get ready for school and dawdle through breakfast, my words becoming more alert and urgent as I shoo them out the door to catch the school bus. Then it’s the radio host spieling off the hourly news as I drive to my first school, words coming out at a clip. And when I arrive for yard duty, welcoming students and families, their greetings are morning-bright and plentiful. As the day progresses, multiple text-to-speech messages to beloved colleagues usually occur, about an unexpected event, confirming a procedure, or maybe just seeing how they are doing … and in return characters pop up on my screen, gifts of script that are my support and comfort as I navigate my role.  And finally, the classroom itself, filled to the brim and bustling with nearly six and half hours of language each day.

Our world and our classrooms can be predominantly verbal linguistic in nature. Life is encoded in language, and as an ESL teacher, I have become acutely aware of the isolation and exhaustion that can occur if a student is just beginning to learn that language. Everything is a challenge, everything takes time. As peers effortlessly receive and toss back messages, multilingual language learners continually try to deduce meaning, search for context, and cross-translate in order to understand and respond.

As I have noted many times in this blog, I know countless teachers who are exceptional at making the language of instruction accessible to MLLs.  They use visuals as they speak during lessons, they pre-teach vocabulary before tasks, they provide sentence stems before speaking in groups, they activate prior knowledge in first language … again, I could fill a page with the strategies I have seen.

But sometimes, sometimes there is a time for quiet. Where we remove words and language from the learning task altogether. And in these moments, when I observe MLLs, I see the tense expression slowly ebb from their faces, worry dissolving. Suddenly, everyone is on an even playing field. Suddenly the labour of navigating English gives way to flowing visual creations, construction, movement, silent collaboration.

Here are a few of my favorites …

Sequencing games in which students must line up in a particular order (by birthday month starting at January, for example) but must figure out the order silently, using nonverbal cues to convey information.

Tableaux and interpretive movement, in which students explore character and emotion and story development through motion and physicality. No one speaks. The room is simply filled with still-life scenes, expression, and silent, unified observation.

Math games with pattern blocks, in which one student at a time views a secret shape constructed by the teacher, and then returns to their table group to try to recreate that multicoloured shape from memory with their own set of blocks. As students each take a turn viewing the teacher’s shape, one by one, they return to their group members and help each other adjust and finish the shape accurately. The catch? No talking.

These are just a couple of options, but there are countless ways to engage students in rich learning, in momentary quiet. Just a little bit of time, for the cognitive load to ease.  And I suspect it is not only MLLs that benefit from the occasional learning task in which language is removed. The introverted child, who prefers to contemplate before speaking, has ample time to do so during silent drama tableaux. The student with language output challenges, their sharp minds usually frustrated by the inability to pull words out quickly … suddenly their insights and ideas flow unimpeded. And sometimes … sometimes everyone benefits from a little solitude, a slowing of the day’s frenetic pace into soundlessness.

Hoping you and your students, from time to time, find togetherness in this most wonderful kind of quiet.

Writing has become a hot topic for Ontario educators, with the new language curriculum emphasizing the importance of explicitly teaching specific language conventions to boost the written communication skills of students.

What I fear that has been lost in the race toward implementing structured literacy is the joy that comes with writing creatively. While it is undeniably important to know morphology, complex sentences, conjunctions, and all the different conventions of writing, what has always “hooked” me and many students I have taught is the ways in which we can use writing for artistic self expression.

The team of ESL/ELD educators I work with decided to plan a writing project that would explore the possibilities written expression across languages. Funded by the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE), we selected several classes across the board to participate in a learning cycle that would culminate in an exhibition of student work. For the purpose of gauging impact and effect, we chose middle school classes from French Immersion, mainstream, and English language learner contexts. One group was exclusively students in English language development programs, meaning that they had significant interruptions to their formal schooling.

Learning and Working with Living Hyphen

To lead the workshops, we brought in Living Hyphen, a Toronto-based arts organization dedicated to empowering the voices of diverse communities through writing. Living Hyphen’s website is an exciting place, filled with dates of upcoming sessions and opportunities to purchase their books and magazines.

I first learned about Living Hyphen with the provincial group of educators I work with in the field of language acquisition,  ESL/ELD Resource Group of Ontario (ERGO). At a meeting last year, Justine Abigail Yu, the founder, delivered a presentation and writing workshop on supporting multilingual students in sharing their own lived experiences through creative writing.

We invited her to lead workshops for a project we wanted to organize for several classes in my board. In her relaxed, engaging, and unique workshops, students explored multiple writing prompts that brought out the nuances of their home language, the complexity of their identities, and their personal connections with place.

Some of the writing prompts included:

Tell me where you’re from without telling me where you’re from.

What brings you comfort?

While these prompts seem simple, they were powerful ways to get kids writing. I was actually surprised how engaged kids could be with just a pen and a notebook – a radical shift from the world of technological tools, graphic organizers, and multi-step activities we often work so hard to plan for classes.

Perhaps most importantly, students were excited to write and engaged with the work. While it does always help to have someone new in your classroom, Justine brought her skills of relationship building and her unique perspective as a writer and activist to motivate students toward producing amazing ideas to build upon later.

And yes, every student in the class could participate and find their entry point into the writing. Of course, you may need to provide scaffolds for students – translators, scribing, and additional prompting – but by the end every student produced something new.

By the end of the workshop, students had a notebook full of brainstorms and ideas they could evolve into longer, polished pieces.

After the Workshop

When the workshops were finished, we were tasked with the very “teacherly” task of motivating students to develop their brainstorms into a polished piece of written work and a piece of art. To add a sense of purpose, we decided to create an anthology of student writing just as Living Hyphen had done with their writers.

We also teamed up with our Empowering Modern Learners team, who went to each class and provided a workshop on how to use different tech tools to create video and digital art to compliment their writing. Students were excited to learn about the features of Adobe Express: students can easily make narrated videos with their slides.

Finally, we brought in a variety of art supplies for students to experiment with. Students created paintings and sculptures to display alongside their poems.

The final and most exciting step is to take the students to the Peel Archive and Museum of Art to exhibit their work to their families. There is an existing exhibit that parallels the student’s work, done by adults, so we will be contributing art and work across generations.

In the bustling halls of Maple Sugar Intermediate School, Justin often felt like he was on the outside looking in. As one of the few Black students in his grade, he sometimes struggled to find friends who shared his interests. But Justin had a passion for science that burned brightly within him, transporting him to a world where possibilities were endless.

One day, Ms. Thompson, the new science teacher, arrived at Maple Sugar. With her warm smile, bantu knots, effervescent energy, and genuine interest in her student’s success, she immediately noticed Justin’s enthusiasm for science. She did not tuck this aside as other educators sometimes did but instead encouraged him to join the Science Club she was starting, where Justin met Maya, another Black student who loved chemistry. Maya and Jamal quickly began to challenge each other as they deepened their knowledge and explored new understandings as study partners

Under Ms. Thompson’s mentorship, the Science Club flourished. She included diverse perspectives in their discussions and experiments, highlighting the contributions of Black Canadian scientists like Dr. Clotilda Douglas-Yakimchuk, Elijah McCoy, Dr. Charles Lightfoot Roman, and Maydianne Andrade. Justin and Maya felt proud to learn about these trailblazers who looked like them.

As the school year progressed, Justin and Maya’s confidence soared. They participated in science programs and events, where their projects on renewable energy and eco-friendly innovations impressed educators and peers alike. Their successes didn’t just stop there; they inspired other students, including those who had previously felt left out, to pursue their own passions.

At their graduation, Justin and Maya stood proudly on stage as valedictorian and salutatorian, surrounded by cheering classmates and supportive teachers. Justin received the Science Excellence Award for his dedication and innovative ideas. Maya, too, was recognized for her creative ideas in Science, leadership in the Science Club and her role in fostering a culture of inclusion and excellence.

Looking out at their fellow graduates, Justin and Maya knew their journey was just beginning. They had learned that representation and inclusion weren’t just important values—they were the keys to unlocking holistic potentials and making a difference in the world.

In the years that followed, Justin and Maya continued to excel in their studies, driven by the belief that everyone can succeed. They became advocates for diverse representation in education, ensuring that every student, regardless of background, had the opportunity to shine brightly, just as they had at Maple Sugar Intermediate School.

Their story became a beacon of hope and inspiration, showing others that anything is possible with supportive educators and a welcoming community. As they looked back on their time at Maple Sugar, they knew their journey was not just about personal achievement—it was a testament to the transformative power of representation, being seen, belonging, and the limitless potential of student excellence.

Talking about mathematics is one of my favourite things to do with my class. I think it’s such an important way to build community amongst students and it gives them an opportunity to articulate their thinking and to engage in wondering together. When the class engages in discussion with one another it also means that the space is theirs. I’m not the sole knowledge holder; the students have the space as mathematicians.

I tend to think intentionally about the space when we engage in math talks. Sometimes I’m recording their ideas and standing at the easel with chart paper and markers. Other times we are walking around the room and looking at different representations of math. My preferred way to engage in math talk, though, is by sitting together in a circle. I find this way, the space is changed and we’re all positioned as learners in conversation with each other.

There’s a few different resources to use for math talks and they build different skills, however, the essence is the same: I want to get the children to talk about math! It’s important that I don’t always give them the ‘right answer’ and it’s important for them to hear ideas from their peers. The children might be building connections and strategies during discussion. They might be predicting and anticipating or they might simply be wondering about a problem.

I would often pose a question featuring my colleague, ‘Mr B’ and it would look something like: Mr B thought the following equation was true: 4 x 5 = 25. Do you think he is correct? How can you prove your thinking?

I intentionally gave an incorrect equation here and I’m hoping that the students, through thinking and learning together, will discover that the equation is incorrect. However, what I’m most interested in is how they can prove their thinking. I want them to speak about and explain their ideas, I listen to learn more about them as learners and mathematicians:

What do they see in their minds?
What are the strategies they can use to check and double check what they think might be true or mathematically possible?
Can they apply what they understand to different situations?
Can they use what they know to understand errors?

So much information can come from talking about math. What I love about these kinds of questions is that it doesn’t just ask students to give an answer, it allows the opportunity to wonder and engage in the thinking over the product. Listening to student thinking and conversations also gives space for me to intentionally assess while we’re learning. I can think about who is speaking and who isn’t sharing at all. I can scaffold some of those connections and processes to build student confidence with mathematics. .

If you’re looking for some online resources to support math talk, check out some of these cool sites:

Stevewy Borney: https://stevewyborney.com/

Math for Love: https://mathforlove.com/lessons/openers/

Estimation 180: https://estimation180.com/

Number Talk Images: https://ntimages.weebly.com/photos.html

I see you, educators, during these stressful days. Working hours on report cards, planning engaging lessons, thinking about graduations, end of year celebrations, and maintaining all of this with a smile each day.

I feel your joyful moments, educators, during these sunny days. Finding moments of shared humour with students, laughing with them during classes and letting them know how much you care. Cultivating relationships with your colleagues where you can support one another through this last month of the school year.

I know it’s hard, educators, during these demanding days. It’s hard to imagine the work will ever be done, deadlines will ever be met, and that in a few short weeks we will be saying good-bye to students who occupy a space in our hearts and lives.

I share your excitement, educators, during these inspiring days. Reflecting on how far the students have come, their growth, and their friendships. Seeing the difference you have made this school year as you have worked shoulder to shoulder with children to help them realize their potential.

I understand your wonder, educators, during these evolving days. Some of us are taking on new roles or challenges in your school board or union and wondering what the next year will bring. Some of us are retiring and wondering about what life will be like in September without school bells and announcements to guide our days. Some of us are moving to a new school with curiosity and excitement about what change will bring. Some of us are in the same positions and already reflecting and planning ahead about what we’ll do differently next year.

I recognize myself in each of us, educators, during these very full days. I, too, am making lists so I don’t forget anything. I’m writing notes and sticky notes and putting them in places to remind myself of things I want to think about when I have some time later. I’m using my timer to make sure I schedule in enough work time – but also enough break time – and stocking up on soooo many snacks and caffeine and sparkling water to get me through the next few weeks.

I’m embracing emotions with you, educators, during these June days. Embracing all of the range of emotions we both feel, similarly and differently, each June. I’m holding space for the messiness, for the chaos, for the joy, and for every beautiful moment while knowing that it’s all just a few weeks before it ends.