My Thoughts on Equity in the Classroom

I teach eager, happy, energetic and amazing five year old boys and girls!  It is a joy to see the excitement they get from being a part of a learning community or "family".  Unfortunetely we do not live in a community that offers much diversity in cultural backgrounds.  I feel that it is so important to expose my students to diversity through picture books, music, and thematic units in an effort to generate discussion and appreciation of different groups of people.  There are 17 children in my class, and although we are all caucasian and of similar socio-economic status we are very diverse in personality, strengths and weaknesses.  I strive each day to celebrate the unique make-up of each child, to celebrate the very strengths that make them the individuals they were created to be.  I encourage classmates to find the good in their friends and to compliment each-other often.  We have teachable moments each day, moments when one student for whatever reason, feels "entitled" to.. (have the first spot in line, to take the toy from another,  to be the only one talking).  It is in those moments the opportunity arises to remind my students that each one of us is precious and not one of us is more important than the other.  In my opinion, and in my small corner of the world, that is equity in the classroom.