Equity in lesson planning
Universal Design for learning is deeply entwined with equity. UDL allows educators to plan lessons that are fair, inclusive, and respectful of individual student strengths and needs. However, these lessons are not necessarily equal.
Pourtant, ils ne le sont pas. L’égalité implique que les élèves soient traités de la même manière et que les différences soient ignorées. L’équité, quant à elle, vise à s'assurer que tous les élèves aient les mêmes chances de réussite en dépit de leurs différences. L'inclusion va encore plus loin. Elle vise à ce que tout le monde ait sa place.
Ce concept exige l’établissement d’une atmosphère où chaque élève se sent bien accueilli, respecté et apprécié à sa juste valeur pour pouvoir participer pleinement à son apprentissage au mieux de ses capacités et de ses aptitudes. Cela nécessite aussi que les besoins de chaque élève soient reconnus et que les conditions adéquates soient établies pour que chaque élève ait la possibilité d’affirmer sa personnalité et de faire profiter de ses idées, de ses expériences et de ses talents à ses pairs et à sa communauté.
Small, simple actions can make your classroom a safe space for all your students, including those who have learning disabilities (LDs) or who come from historically marginalized communities. Over time, many small actions will add up to significant results.
To help promote equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEI) in your classroom, focus on:
Belonging:
Students need to feel that they belong to their school community. They need to see similarities between themselves and their peers, and a connection with the content that they are learning.
Creativity:
Enabling students to share their life experiences promotes a better understanding of the world in which they live. In this way, students can learn to appreciate the different experiences and perspectives of their peers.
Your own attitudes:
Anchor your teaching practices in the belief that every child has the ability to learn. Teachers can ensure that they maintain a developmental mindset by continually striving to bridge gaps in school success and access among minority and marginalized groups.
Knowing your students:
Teachers can design their classroom space so that students feel at home by displaying their work and by welcoming students into this space. Teachers must know their students, where they come from and what their areas of interest are in order to select rich mathematical tasks that they enjoy.
To learn more click here to view CAST’s “UDL to reduce stereotype threat”