Queer Your Classroom! - Supporting Gender and Sexual Diversity in Early Learning and Care Environments

Intended For: All Professionals

Registration Closed

Date: Nov 15, 2023

Time: 06:00 PM - 08:30 PM

Fee: $39.20 (Plus HST)

Current Availability: 9

Description

It has long been acknowledged that support for diversity, equity and inclusion is necessary in order for children to learn and grow to their fullest potential (Best Start Expert Panel, 2007; OMEd, 2014).  For this reason, early childhood educators have been increasingly held responsible for honoring all forms of human difference in their practice (CECE, 2017; City of Toronto, 2014).  While these efforts frequently lead to support for children and families who are marginalized on the basis of their race, culture, language and/or ability attention to gender and sexuality remains noticeably rare (Pastel et al., 2019).  Consequently, this professional learning session was designed to address the omission of LGBTTIQQ2S+ issues from the early childhood classroom with a particular focus on key issues children and/or families who do not identify as cisgender and/or heterosexual are likely to face.  In addition, it will introduce strategies for inclusion that ensure that early childhood spaces become places in which all people feel a sense of safety and acceptance.

Session Objective

1. Articulate an understanding of “inclusive education/inclusive practice” in early and care environments that encompasses gender and sexual diversity

2. Identify key issues related to supporting gender and sexual diversity in early learning and care environments

3. Identify practical strategies for affirming LGBTTIQQ2S+ identities, through support for gender and sexual diversity in various early learning and care environments.

Location: Online

Standards of practice

• Caring and Responsive Relationships
• Curriculum and Pedagogy

Presented By: Ryan Gracie (BA (ECE), MA (ECS)), Danielle Pusateri (EdD)