Chapter 1. Blurry days

 Chapter 1. Blurry days

  Today, my post will focus on the first Zoom session of the English Methodologies class.

  Among other topics we discussed in this lesson, this picture stood out to me the most. In a way, it opened my eyes to the perspective teachers get when going for the first time into the classroom environment.

    As the start of a new school year approaches, teachers must face that one of their responsibilities as mentors is to understand the uniqueness and respective potential of each member of their new crowd of students instead of making the mistake of blending all of them into one blurred, homogenous group and not listening to their individual voices. Thus, by encouraging the acceptance and embracement of diversity and inclusion, each learner should feel comfortable with one another and the learning process, regardless of gender, race, cultural background, sexuality, or social class.

    This case can happen with the creation of a safe and positive atmosphere, promoting, this way, a dynamic and cheerful environment where good communication and respect are the keys to a much more productive and fulfilling learning experience for students. Therefore, we shouldn't hide their different colors; instead, they should be allowed to be shown and shine.

     New beginnings can be challenging, particularly for young kids whose entire reality depends on how people see them in that relatively small space, where they so quickly get either judged and excluded or embraced and loved.

   Can you imagine how many things students are going through that they don't tell their parents or teachers?

  This is why I believe it to be so crucial to make learners aware of diversity. Educators should teach that respecting differences, instead of judging them, is a healthy and positive attitude, not only between classmates but with humanity in general. As mentioned in the Portuguese document Decreto-Lei n.ºs 55 e 54/2018, relating to "Educação Inclusiva" it is crucial to acknowledge each student's individualities and correctly respond to them, by articulating and adapting the curriculum and activities to them, resulting in inclusive learning and interactions between students.

  One of the goals of schooling is to prepare kids for their future as adults, and that doesn't only refer to knowledge but also human relationships. Therefore, teachers should contribute towards a safe and bright future, where differences are not enclosed walls but tiles to an extended, beautiful multicolored mosaic.

    References

• Decreto-Lei n.º 54/2018. Diário Da República, 1.a Série - N.º 129, 2918–2928.
• Decreto-Lei n.º 55/2018, de 6 de julho.