1. When I was in Driver's Ed, my teacher referred to me and the other three girls in my assigned car as "Mary." We spent weeks with him saying, "Make a right, Mary. Pull over, Mary." The only differentiation was when we referred to us by our hair color or body type. When he said "It's your turn, Tall Mary," that's how I knew it was my turn to get behind the wheel. His open misogyny was so off putting. As students we felt we had little power to object. This teacher probably thought he was being funny, but his actions belittled us.
I think something important to keep in mind is honoring students' preferred pronouns and names other than the ones assigned at birth. So often students' preferred names do not match their documented information on Powerschool, even when the family has adopted the new name. I even make notes for the substitutes so they don't accidentally call a student his or her "dead name." It's a small thing we can do that goes a long way in making students (who are are already struggling with so much) feel valued and included.
I think something important to keep in mind is honoring students' preferred pronouns and names other than the ones assigned at birth. So often students' preferred names do not match their documented information on Powerschool, even when the family has adopted the new name. I even make notes for the substitutes so they don't accidentally call a student his or her "dead name." It's a small thing we can do that goes a long way in making students (who are are already struggling with so much) feel valued and included.