Teachable Moments

Teachable moments are opportunities to move one step closer to creating welcoming schools for all children and families.  Imagine scenarios like these:

• A student walks by your classroom and says, “That’s so gay!” to her friends.
• You overhear one student say to another, “How can he be your father? The color of his skin is so different than yours!”
• Your son asks you “What does gay mean?” while you sit down for dinner.
• “How could a mother give up her child?” asks a student during a discussion about adoption.

Without forethought, these topics may catch us by surprise because they are not often discussed.  Practicing age-appropriate responses to students’ questions and reviewing the necessary terminology helps all of us take advantage of these teachable moments. With preparation, these moments can actually help us improve a school’s environment.