Despite many changes happening in education today, some for the benefit of students and others less so beneficial, it’s undeniable that our PE classrooms are becoming more diverse and facing increasing challenges. Let’s take a moment and picture our own classrooms. Although each PE class is unique, across the nation diversity has increased. Many of us have students who may not even speak English as the primary language at home, many of our students come from different cultural backgrounds, and within our classes we teach students who present with a variety of abilities and identities.
For that reason, it is our job as educators to build a more culturally inclusive and safe environment for all students. We must create environments that meet each student where they are in their journey of learning. Doing so requires educators to recognize and appreciate every student by making them feel respected, safe, seen and valued. It also challenges us to lead and motivate students to be willing to take risks to improve their physical, mental and emotional and social health.
Here are some steps to build a more culturally inclusive and safe PE environment for ALL students:
1. Teach Empathy:
It is important to take the time to teach and model empathy to our students, they will be able to learn and experience what inclusion really looks like because they will be able to understand and walk in the shoes of other students who are different than themselves.
Example: A simple strategy that I use in class is to have students reflect on questions such as “How would you feel if your teammates did not include you in the activity?” or “Why is it important and how can we include everyone in this game?”
2. Promote Culture, Inclusion, and Social Groups:
We need to understand that our classroom and teaching practices need to mirror the students’ cultures and social groups that we teach. We need to find ways to get to know our students, to build relationships, and to celebrate their diversity and uniqueness so students are excited to come to class and learn our content.
Example: One strategy that I use to promote inclusion is to survey all my students at the beginning of the school year. Some questions I use are as follows: “What are your favorite activities in PE?”, “What are your least favorite activities in PE?”, and “What are some activities that your PE teacher should offer to make this school year more special for you?”
3. Create a Welcoming Environment for ALL:
It is our job to create and foster an environment that allows all students to feel safe, heard, and included. An environment that celebrates students of all abilities, ages, races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and religions as well. One strategy that I use to make a welcome space for all students in my classroom is to create a diversity calendar that I display in my classroom.
Example: I have our soccer unit in the month of September because we celebrate Hispanic month. Before introducing the unit, I show a short video to students that demonstrates the positive impact that Hispanic people have in our country. After that I show the students some balls made of socks, then I pose the question “What is the connection to the balls made of socks, Hispanic heritage month, and the sport unit (soccer) we are starting in PE today? After discussing and reflecting, students conclude that soccer is the most played sport in the whole world and one of the reasons for this is that it does not need any expensive or specialized equipment to be played. Students conclude that soccer is also very inclusive and people of all abilities can participate as well.
4. Preparing Students for the Future:
Finally, when we are exposing students to a more culturally inclusive classroom. We are enabling students to work and collaborate together with students from other races, cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, etc. This environment helps students to get out of their own comfort zone and challenge their own views. This approach helps students to understand each other better. It builds social awareness which is also an important life-long skill. Another strategy that I like to use is the “Physical Activity Journals”. At the end of each class, students login to their chromebooks and answer some questions about the class. Two of those questions are: “How did you contribute to the success of your peers today?” and “How can you apply what you learned in class outside the real world?”
As an educator, despite all the challenges and barriers in education today, it is crucial to provide an environment where students feel safe, cared for, respected, and valued. Building a positive and inclusive environment for all students does not happen overnight. It might take days, weeks or even months to achieve. However, if we are intentional with the strategies that we use in class and we also take the time to know our students, they will feel a sense of belonging which will increase their motivation and lead to their success inside and outside the school setting.
