Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1512793
Alma Galapon leads class. Tooley's walls inspire thought, learning, discussion. " A classroom should look like it belongs to the children. They need to feel like they are a part of the classroom and it's not just a place they go." — Alma Galapon, Elk Grove Education Association A flipchart in Tooley's classroom. Galapon says. "ey need to feel like they are a part of the classroom and it's not just a place they go." TIP: Tooley says centering students in the classroom helps develop community, where the students determine how they want to learn together, how they talk to each other and how they care for their community. Tooley, an out trans educator, celebrates their students through identity work, teaching language to describe themselves and help learn who they are right now. "We see how we are different, and we celebrate that," Tooley says. "I think it's important we see children as the intelligent human beings they are. ey understand concepts but don't always have the words." Working deliberately to ensure all students feel seen and valued isn't only for educators with diverse student populations, Tooley says — learning to empathize with each other is a skill everyone needs, especially in today's polarized and often acrimonious environment. "This curriculum is for all of our populations because we don't want to be tolerant of each other — we want to be inclusive of each other," they say. Tooley says any educator thinking about putting in the work to cre- ate a more inclusive classroom but waiting for the right time should take the plunge now. " You're never going to be 'ready' to do this work," they say. " You need to just start and if you make a mistake, that's ok." 24 cta.org Feature