Best of ESD: Creating Inclusive Environments and Curricula for LGBTQ+ Youth, with Marc Lewis (R.J. Grey Junior High, Acton MA)

How can educators create inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ youth? To explore this question, Brett speaks to a veteran middle school social studies teacher in Massachusetts, Marc Lewis, who has been enacting and experimenting with strategies and curricula to help all of his students feel welcome in his classroom – and to help them understand the complexity and truth of our world and its history.

In our conversation, Marc describes how he builds a trusting classroom community, how he physically designs his classroom, how he integrates LGBTQ+ history into his curriculum, how he shares his own identity as an openly gay man, and how he has responded to challenges related to these practices. Marc also describes a variety of resources (links below) that listeners can check out if they want to learn more about this type of work.

Marc Lewis holds a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has taught social studies at R.J. Grey Junior High School in Acton, Massachusetts, for over twenty years.

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This episode originally aired in February of 2022.


LGBTQ+ Teaching Resources

We the Future Posters & Images

Learning for Justice Resources on Gender & Sexual Identity

Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Educator Network (GLSEN) Site

LGBTQ+ History Timeline (GLSEN)

Lesson Plan for LGBTQ+ History Timeline

Other Lesson Plans on LGBTQ+ Issues (GLSEN)

Inclusive Curriculum Guide (GLSEN)


ESD Podcast Resources:

Education for Sustainable Democracy Site

Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles

Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)

ESD YouTube Channel (Please subscribe!)