In the article Queering Our Schools it starts off by discussing the unfortunate incident that occurred to Sasha Fleischman.  Sasha is an agender 16-year-old whose skirt was set on fire by another student while riding the bus.  This incident mobilized support for Sasha in the community while her family stressed the need for education.  Sasha's dad, who is a teacher focused on how to talk to students about LGBTQ topics.  It is important for educators to have open discussions with children at a young age because it allows the children to understand and also promote acceptance and respect for everyone regardless of their gender or sexuality.  I know there is a lot of reluctance amongst educators and administrators due to worries about backlash from parents, but it is crucial to have these open discussions with students in order to build a school community where all kids feel safe.  

    The big question is "How do we create classrooms and schools where each child, parent, and staff member's unique, beautiful self is appreciated and nurtured?"  While it may entail many challenges it can be can done.  First step is preparing educators on how to talk with students about LGBTQ topics and invite them to talk openly about gender and sexuality.  Educators need to expect the unexpected and be prepared to answer questions that might be tricky to answer. There are books and documentaries with age-appropriate teaching about LGBTQ issues that can be used in the classroom.  There can also be open discussions about the diversity of family structures and encouraging discussions around diversity and respect.  Avoiding using gender to separate students in lines or seating arrangement.  These are just some examples of starting a LGBTQ inclusive classroom, there are many other ways to support student's abilities to connect, collaborate and respect a diverse group of peers in the classroom. 

    The read along video of the book They, She, He Easy as ABC was a great addition to this topic, I enjoyed how enthusiastic and playful Ki is while reading the book.  This book is a great way to introduce younger readers to the idea of gender and pronouns.  The book explored each letter with a different character and each character is introduced through different pronouns and gender.  The reader Ki talks about how important it is to respect people's names and pronouns.  I thought it was great when she paused the video and explained how she mispronounced a name in the book.  She felt the need to stop and apologize for the mispronunciation.  This shows the readers how important it is to call a person by the correct name and pronoun they want to be called.  Names and pronouns are very personal and by using them correctly you are showing that person that you care and respect them for who they are.  

    The key takeaway from both the reading and the video is that we need to educate students about gender and sexuality from a young age, emphasizing the importance of respecting everyone, regardless of their chosen gender or pronouns. We need to prioritize providing a respectful safe school environment for all of our students.  By creating a more positive environment it will help reduce the risk of mental health issues amongst children and young adults and they will be more likely to develop stronger self-esteem, empathy, and confidence.  The goal is to have all students respect each other and should feel safe and happy with their identities and know they are represented and welcomed in the education setting.