You are unique. There has never been and will never be anyone exactly like you. You're going to learn, talk, love, laugh, and do everything else that you will ever do in your own way. Many of you worked really hard to even get here, overcoming a lot of challenges. I hope that you'll bring all of yourself to our class.
In this class we'll explore our differences with respect and curiosity. They're sources of knowledge and power. Did you know that being part of a diverse group makes you smarter? Oh yeah! Let's get smarter together!
Whether we identify as BIPOC, of color, white, mixed, or in some other way, we're going to recognize, honor, and support our individual abilities, strengths, and challenges. We're going to respect everyone's gender identification and pronouns. Love expressions? You bet! LGBTQIA, straight, gender non-conforming, cis, male, female, trans, questioning, something else - or still learning what those words mean - you're welcome here. Documented, DACAmented, or undocumented, we're going to create space to understand our unique and collective experiences. Muslim, Jewish, Christian, something else, not sure, or none of these, we're educators who speak English, Somali, Spanish, Arabic, Vietnamese, and many other languages. Let's leverage these skills and experiences to become stronger, together. How you speak at home, at work or school, whether it’s one language or two, or if you’re code shifting, or using your language skills in some other way, it's welcome here. You belong if you were the first person in your family to go to college or if you grew up with parents who had “Dr.” in front of their names.
There are a multitude of ways that we experience the world - too many to identify here - that can lend to the creation of (and strengthen) our learning community. Our full selves are necessary to create classrooms where all of our babies, their families, and educators thrive!
If you have questions about this statement, or feel like someone in our community (even me!) isn’t living up to this rewarding and challenging work, please contact me right away.
That in all circumstances I'll treat you with dignity, respect, flexibility, and grace.
My understanding that you're a human being with other commitments - family, friends, work - and that this class may not always (or ever) be the most important thing in your life.
My attention to your progress and help if you need it.
My active presence online.
My active facilitation of an environment that promotes inclusivity, equity, and intellectual curiosity.
A clear, organized course designed for you to meet the learning outcomes.
A variety of assignments so you have choice and agency in how you show what you know.
Mistakes. I'm not perfect. If you see something that I did wrong, I want to hear from you. Errors are opportunities to learn and grow.
That I'll add to this list if there's something else that you expect from me as your instructor.
That you'll treat everyone - including me! - with dignity, respect, flexibility, and grace.
That you will be generous and kind to yourself. Expect to make mistakes. You are a human with an entire life happening.
Your best efforts to be active in class and to complete the learning activities and assignments. You signed up and made it here - you can do this!
That you'll reach out to me if something's happening that's hurting your progress so I can work with you.
Your contribution to discussions and group activities and that you'll negotiate labor equitably and offer support and encouragement to your classmates. This is not a competition.
Your patience with technology. There'll be hiccups on both of our ends so expect them! We'll get through it together.
That you'll tell me if you have expectations for our class that need added to this list.