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=Expectations for a Respectful Classroom =



Parent Resource Page
Welcome and thank you for visiting my website which will inform you about the atmosphere of mutual respect that I hope to achieve in your child’s class. I encourage you to read over the information I have provided and to review it with your child to be sure they have understood it all when it was presented in class.

In today’s society, we hear the terms ‘equity’, ‘diversity’ and ‘inclusion’ thrown around, but what do these terms really mean and what kind of impact do they have? Equity is not treating every person the same without regard for individual differences. It is the fair, inclusive, and respectful treatment of all people (Education,   Ontario Ministry of, 2010). Diversity encompasses a wide range of human qualities and attributes within the classroom (Education, Ontario Ministry of, 2010). This is not limited to gender or race. It includes many other dimensions such as ancestry, culture, ethnicity, gender identity, language, physical and intellectual ability, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic status as well as many more (Education, Ontario Ministry of, 2010). In education, inclusion is based on acceptance and including all students so that they see themselves reflected in their education and their school surroundings (Education, Ontario Ministry of, 2010). All these terms, especially when spoken about together, to me form respect. Respect for one another, and respect for oneself. In the first week of school, I work with the students to define these terms and create a community where all students feel safe and welcome; where every student can be themselves and be accepted by myself, their peers and the school community.

I am not alone in this quest to have this mutual respect within the classroom. The Ontario Ministry of Education has taken on a number of initiatives to ensure equity, inclusion and safety for all students within the classroom. There are two documents in particular that I would like to introduce to you. The first is ‘Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy’ document. This document highlights information about diversity and how the ministry is working directly with school boards to implement strategies so that there is equity between all students and all faculty. It also outlines steps the ministry is taking to further ensure that equity is upheld as our province becomes increasingly diverse (Education, Ontario Ministry of, 2010). The second is the ‘Caring and Safe Schools in Ontario’ document. This document focuses on initiatives to ensure students are safe at school. It explains methods put in place by the government concerning progressive discipline so that students and teachers can solve problems rationally without relying only on suspensions and/or expulsions. In the second chapter of this document are the guiding principles of caring and safe schools which states that “the focus on ensuring a caring and safe school culture is based on the belief that all students deserve a learning environment in which they are safe – and feel safe – and in which they feel welcomed, respected, and inspired to meet high expectations for learning” (Education, Ontario Ministry of, 2010). To find out more about The Ontario Ministry of Education’s equity and safe school initiatives, please click on the picture of the document to be directed to the online PDF:


 * Steps my class and I are taking to an equitable, diverse and inclusive classroom: **

1) I believe in creating a community within the classroom where students feel safe and respected. During the first week of school, the students work through a number of TRIBES strategies. These are strategies designed to bond students and have them find respect for themselves and for all others in the classroom. With my help, students came up with class rules which we classified into the following TRIBES class agreements: (Gibbs & Ushijima, 2008)    2) LGBTS(lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender, straight) alliance club supervised by Miss Kelland
 * Listen attentively – Others will listen to you if they know you are listening to them
 * Appreciations/No Put-Downs – treat others kindly, bullying and put-downs will not be tolerated
 * Right to Pass/Right to Participate – everyone has the right to choose to what extent to participate in group activities
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Mutual Respect – to affirm the value and uniqueness of each person
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Students decide together on initiatives they would like to work on that would benefit the school and the community
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Students come together to find their commonalities and discuss their differences
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Students help to educate others about the diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity to promote equity within the school
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Students work with youth organizations in the city to raise awareness within their community

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">3) Open Communications Box
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">A locked drop-box is located in my classroom where students are free to leave me notes with any questions, comments, concerns or appreciations
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Students may leave notes based on class work they need help on or questions or concerns they are having socially
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Once a week, I ask students to submit a note as they leave the class as a “ticket out of class”. If they have nothing to report about school or concerns, they can simply write me a note that says “Hello Miss Kelland”, this allows students who have concerns a reason to drop a note in the box without suspicion
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Through this box, I hope that students will feel that they can address things that are bothering them without feeling judged by the class
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">The students are of course encouraged to write their names on the notes, but it is not a requirement. Students are also encouraged to come to me in person with issues they are having instead of contributing to the drop-box

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> We must remember that these students, your children, are our future and with our help, they can grow together and work together to achieve great things. It is this essential mutual respect they must find for one another in order to help each other and our world move forward.

===**<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Please feel free to call me at my school extension: 905-555-8293 ext. 523 should you require any more information or clarification. **===

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">For **more information** on Ontario's Safe Schools Act and other related Websites, please click on the following links:
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Ontario's Safe Schools Act]
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Ontario Ministry of Education]
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Example of a LGBTS coalition called Rainbow Youth Coalition]
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Kids Help Phone]
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Multicultural Canada]
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Languages Canada]
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Ministry of Tourism and Culture]
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Canadian Mental Health Association]
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario]
 * <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">[|Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance]

===<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Works Cited ** ===

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Education, Ontario Ministry of. (2010). Caring and Safe Schools in Ontario. Queen's Printer for Ontario. <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Education, Ontario Ministry of. (2009). Ontario Equity and Inclusion Strategy. Queen's Printer for Ontario. <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Gibbs, J., & Ushijima, T. (2008). Engaging All by Creating High School Learning Communities.Windsor: CenterSource Systems, LLC.