Three of Hedreich Nichols’ reflective questions that really made me think were #3, #5, and #8. For #3, “How often do you use generalizations?”, I realized that I sometimes lump my classes together when I talk or plan, like saying “my 3rd period always…” instead of recognizing the variety of personalities, strengths, and needs within each group. I tend to give certain groups a bad rap and that might not be fair to the individuals in that class. #5, “Do you consider the integration of diverse historical perspectives best practice or divisive politics?”, stood out because I do believe it’s best practice. When we include diverse perspectives in our teaching, we’re helping students and ourselves see a fuller, more accurate picture of the world and give our students opportunities to see representation of their own identities. Lastly, #8, “How much cross-cultural literature, TV, and movies do you consume?”, made me think about my own media habits. I do try to engage with different perspectives, like watching Black-ish, Bridgerton, or even following creators on TikTok who share different cultural viewpoints. Social media alone has broadened my horizons to the immense diversity of culture that exists around the world. I know there’s always room to broaden that exposure even more. Each of these questions helps me slow down and think about how the small choices I make reflect the biases I’m still learning to recognize.
