Quick Thoughts: How to Make Students Feel Welcomed

I think that in order to make all students feel welcome in a subject area there are several things you need. First, you need to make it clear that students from all different backgrounds and experiences are valued and can succeed at the subject. I think this must be done both explicitly and implicitly. Explicitly, you can go over class expectations and rules and ensure that everyone is treating themselves and each other with respect. And implicitly, you need to embed this welcoming atmosphere into your teaching. This might include presenting views from scholars of different backgrounds (ie. not just dead white guys), and presenting different ways of solving problems. It should also be made clear that students with different levels of success are all welcome in the classroom - not just those that excel at the subject. I think focusing on students' growth instead of students' achievement could help achieve this goal.

In a math class, I think it's important to fight the idea that boys are better at math, and it's important to instil confidence in students who have struggled with math in the past. In English, I think it's important to teach texts from different canons, and from outside the canon, and provide texts at different reading levels for those who struggle.