The concepts of mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors are those that continue to support teachers, students, and families with having culturally responsive, diverse, equitable, and inclusive conversations and experiences. Through our research, we learned about the disparities in texts that reflect students in diverse backgrounds and the impact that can have in the classroom and school setting. The three concepts chosen allow individuals and students to make connections, think critically, reflect on their own beliefs, and challenge the way we see the world around them. The three activities provided in this lesson plan, each specifically focusing on each concept, will allow students to dive into a world where their identities and perspectives are honored, while allowing them to see into the world of others. In addition to that, it also allows teachers and staff to consider the importance of texts, resources, and experiences that reflect the students they serve daily. Lastly, the implications of this work can create lasting connections for all students and truly provide a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning environment.
A mirror, a window, and a doorway. This metaphor embodies the principles of culturally sustaining and academically rigorous classrooms. Effective classrooms provide all students with a mirror in which they can see themselves. The books, topics, and issues they encounter foster insights into their own personal and cultural experiences. But simply knowing themselves is inadequate. Students also need a window to understand the perspectives of others, especially those whose experiences differ from their own. There is a reciprocal relationship between these first two principles. Knowledge of others deepens self-knowledge, and self-knowledge in turn fosters a desire to know more about others. Yet this is not enough. Schools must provide a doorway for students to enter new realms of possibility. Hope-filled schools ensure that every student sees promising paths, and that each student is equipped with the skills to complete the journey. (Frey, 2017)
We invite you to further consider how we might reimagine and redesign schools and education addressing issues related to Diversity and Inclusion below.
Thank you for your time and 
consideration,
Finae Rent, Andrew Smeathers, Megan Ruder, Melony Boyd
Butler EPPSP Group 39 & 40
