Ashley M

When people talk about a “safe classroom,” I feel like most of us picture the basics. A nice setup, maybe some flexible seating, a teacher who’s kind, and a space that looks organized and welcoming. The classroom in the video definitely gives that vibe. It feels calm, structured, and like the teacher has everything under control in a good way. Students seem comfortable, and you can tell there’s a system in place that works. But after reading the Rhode Island guidance on supporting transgender and gender nonconforming students, it made me realize that a classroom can look safe without actually being safe for everyone. That’s the part that stuck with me. The guidance makes it really clear that safety isn’t just about the environment, it’s about how students are treated and whether they feel like they belong. A classroom should be a place where students don’t have to worry about being judged, excluded, or disrespected just for being who they are. And for a lot of students, especially tra...

  “Troublemakers”… or just kids like me? When I read the preface of Troublemakers by Carla Shalaby , it didn’t feel like one of those readings you just skim and forget. It actually made me stop and think about my own experience in school. Shalaby talks about kids who get labeled as “troublemakers,” but instead of treating them like they’re the problem, she tries to understand them. She follows a few elementary school students and shows how they’re constantly getting singled out, disciplined more, and pushed away from everyone else. It’s not just about behavior as much as how everyone reacts to them. And she even connects it to bigger issues, like how early those patterns can start shaping a kid’s future. Reading that, I kept thinking… yeah, I’ve seen that. I’ve felt that. Growing up, school was always hard for me. I have ADHD and other learning difficulties, and even though I had an IEP and was in resource classes, it still felt like I was behind no matter what I did. Like eve...