DEI is an absolute must for me in my classrooms and should be a must in all other classrooms. Before reading my DEI statement and my philosophy on DEI you should know my definition of each of the three terms:
Diversity
Diversity in the classroom is the fact that classes will be comprised of students of all different genders, religions, intelligences, learning styles, and educational backgrounds. All of which should always be recognized and respected when organizing and designing a class.
Equity
Equity is the recognition and support of the fact students will require different tools and means to succeed. This means that as teachers we have to personalize those tools and means to give every student the same chance for success as everyone else.
Inclusiveness
Inclusiveness is the action that follows diversity. It is the action of designing and changing the classroom environment to make all students feel more comfortable about their individual backgrounds and that they have the same worth and support as others. Diversity should always be supported through inclusiveness but, diversity can exist without inclusiveness so we have to actively put effort into making our classrooms a better place.
DEI support is something that can be so easy to implement in any classroom. Even the smallest effort can make the difference for students. I get into some of these strategies in my DEI statement so please take a look if you wish to know more about my support and thoughts on DEI.