-"Rainbow Clubs" "Affinity Groups"
- Safe place to support identities
How to start a group:
- Find at least one ally in the community
- Principal, union rep, supportive family members,
- Who is supporting teachers? What are their views?
- How responsive would admin be? Who would I contact first?
- Admin would be generally supportive without getting involved
- I would connect with other queer teachers
- Decide who will plan, host and organize each meeting
- Works well in teams
- Planning meeting ahead of time
- Will you include families and siblings in meetings?
- At least one LGBTQIA+ member and one person of color
- Who would make good additions to the group?
- How can we prioritize black voices?
- Decide where and when your group will happen?
- Pick a space that won't change during the year
- Frequency?
- Consider accessibility (time, transportation, internet access)
- Where would be the best spaces for us to meet? (Neutral space--SEL room?)
- How often? What time of day? (Lunch clubs)
- Get the word out
- How can we reach most of the community? (Direct outreach usually more effective)
- Students, families, staff, allies
- Posters? Involve students with flyers? Morning meetings? Newsletters? Class notes?
- Host the first meeting
- Get the word out 1-2 wks before the first meeting
- Give reminders in the days leading up the meeting
- Check in with families so we know some ppl will be there
- Fams/sibs may be present
- Consider privacy (especially online)
- Make everyone feel welcome
- Take time to reflect and consider what went well
- What kinds of activities would we want to do? (choose a structure and a theme for each meeting)
- Start with play and chat--open activities for students
- Read a story aloud and discuss
- Make posters,
- Playing with pronouns cards, gender non-binary dolls
- Celebrate ally week, no name calling week
- Make buttons that show students' pronouns--or just getting creative
- Special considerations for online groups:
- Greater potential participation
- Challenges of coordinating schedules
- Find ways to be interactive (chat, breakout, "change one thing," treasure and scavenger hunts around the house
- Ensure access to tech
- Work time:
- Gender Inclusive Classroom's page about Rainbow Clubs
- GLSEN School Year Calendar with LGBTQ+ dates
- Bi-monthly themes for long term planning
- Sample letter to principal
- BLM @school coloring pages
- TIPS:
- Building a larger allies across schools
- Building identity maps, race, ethnicity, gender, religion
- Snacks, community, fun
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