courses and workshops

The Contemporary Classroom

A HUB FOR LEARNING AND EDUCATION

classroom resources

an article from
The Contemporary Classroom's
professional journal

equality

what is EQUALITY?

Equality is ensuring everyone is treated the same no matter their background, age, gender, disability, race. 

It is applicable to anyone and everyone. 

benefits of equality in the classroom

Equality allows standards to be set. It enables baselines of quality to be set. 

It forms a sense of community where no one feels discriminated. For example, the standard that every child should have the opportunity to go to school to learn to read regardless of social standing, race, gender, etc increases the quality of life for those within that society because it makes communication easier. This impacts a society’s productivity and outlook.

how equality can look

ACADEMIC CONTENT AND SUPPORT

This can look like…

    – Providing whole group instruction to all students on the same concept

    – Providing the same assistance to all students. Examples include…reading the math assessment aloud to the entire class and/or if some students get small group help, then provide small group instruction to all students

    – Having the same expectations for all students. Examples include…setting clear rules for how to treat others, responding to all students answers in the same way, having all students complete the same lessons and activities such as everyone writes a 4 paragraph response, assigning the same homework to all students

    – Providing the same academic programs at every school for every student.

academic standards

This can look like…

    – Having the same academic standards for all students regardless of if they have a learning disability or not.

monetary resources

This can look like…

    – Providing all students will free lunches, breakfasts, and dinners. Providing all schools with basic supplies like paper towels, white boards, etc.

    – Students receiving the same amount of academic resources per tax dollars as every other student. Meaning a government spends $1500 on each & every student. No one gets more and no one gets less.

    – Parent Teacher Organizations/Associations reimbursing each teacher at the school the same amount spent on classroom supplies.

how to foster equality

in a school/state/district

 – Provide educators with the exact same professional learning opportunities.

    – Require all educators to hold certain credentials. 

    – Host school/district wide professional learning events regarding the same topics for all. Send home the same educational resources to all caregivers. Provide caregivers with the same newsletters. 

    – Read the same books to every class per grade level.

    – Only provide programs that lead to college. 

    – Establish and use universal policies/protocols to ensure there is a fair and objective way to determine student needs, monitor their academic progress, and implement support systems.

in classrooms

    – Provide the same learning opportunities for all in a whole group.

    – Provide every student with the exact same supplies.

   – Engage in professional learning opportunities that focus on whole group instruction.

    – Focus on the needs all students have. Provide them with the exact same resources and experiences to meet their universal needs. 

    – Strengthen the connection between school and home so all caregivers have the knowledge and resources to help all of the students learn. Host caregiver information meetings at the beginning of the year, send home educational resources to all caregivers, provide caregivers with newsletters of on going academic happenings and include ways to practice skills at home.

      -Require students to complete the same assignments, tests, lessons, activities.

    – Provide small group (or whole group or one-on-one) instruction to all students for the same amount of time on the same topics

    – Have the same expectations for assignments – everyone completes the same guidelines for all assignments

    – Provide students with resources in the same language and at the same reading level

    – Provide students the same materials: 1 book study for whole class, everyone uses the same type of writing paper, everyone sits in the same way (criss-cross at the carpet, in chairs at desks, etc). 

Engage in open conversations about equal expectations to foster clear expectations and an organized classroom environment!

Want to Earn
professional development credits
for reading this articlE?

You've already done the first step!

Next up, spend some time reflecting on your current classroom practices. Where do you see equality in your instruction and classroom practices?  How are your students impacted as a result of the ways you ensure equality is provided to them? Let us know your thoughts. 

Just be sure to officially sign up for our Equity, Equality, and Fairness professional development course so that we can keep track of the communication and send you a certificate for your hard work! 

We know for a teacher like you, someone who seeks out the best instructional strategies to use in their classroom – 

you’re already planning on doing these steps anyways, so you might as well earn some professional development credits for it!

There's More Waiting For You

Stay Up To Date

The Contemporary Classroom is a hub for learning & education. This is a place filled with conversations about education & child development and opportunities that foster learning.

© 2021

The Contemporary Classroom, LLC

ABOUT

CONTACT

COLLABORATE

Enroll!

Click on one of the below pricing options to enroll in this course. 

 

Single Course

$25.00
1 year of access
 
Enroll!
 

Full Access Membership

FREE
1 year of access
MEMBER PRICING
 
Enroll!