Topic review

Supportive classrooms

Windows and mirrors is an analogy which helps educators from the dominant culture to view how curriculum resources such as books and texts can work to exclude and/or portray negative and even racist cultural stereotypes.

The understanding that the social and cultural contexts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners may be different to the social and cultural contexts of the teacher is addressed in this topic through exploring stereotypes and forms of discrimination that are based on erroneous beliefs and attitudes.

The potential for the curriculum to value diversity and difference and challenge stereotypes and racism to ensure classrooms are supportive of the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is also considered.

Questions for review:

• Has your view of the importance of curriculum and the resources been extended? If so, in what way/s?
• What do you see is the relationship between providing a supportive school classroom and a curriculum that values diversity and, difference and challenges stereotypes and racism?
• Imagine an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student flourishing in his or her classroom: what would this look like? What do you think it is about his/her classroom that would cultivate this?

Choose one Focus Area of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers where you could apply the knowledge and skills you have gained from Topic 2, such as: 

1.5 Differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies for differentiating teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities. (Graduate level)

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate teachers)

« Return to Topic 2: Supportive classrooms

» Continue to Topic 3: Inclusive pedagogies