Every student deserves to feel safe and respected at school. To feel that they belong. And yet, that isn't the reality for the LGBTQ+ students who run a much higher risk than their heterosexual, cisgender peers of feeling unsafe at school, being bullied or harassed, underperforming academically, facing mental health issues, not graduating, and more. The good news is that even one supportive adult can reduce these risks and make a lasting difference for LGBTQ+ students. You can be that adult.
Creating Safe and Welcoming Classrooms for LGBTQ+ Students offers practical strategies, reflective questions, real classroom examples, and insights from K-5 educators doing this work every day. Dr. Scott Sundstrom breaks down what this work looks like in real classrooms, with actionable steps you can take right away. Inside, you'll find:
- Small, meaningful shifts in language and daily routines
- Classroom practices that foster safety and belonging
- Ideas for representing diverse identities in age-appropriate ways
- Guidance for navigating challenging contexts and uncertainty
Grounded in the realities teachers face today, this book meets you where you are--whether you're just getting started or looking to deepen your practice. With concrete examples, reflective prompts, and a steady, supportive voice, Scott helps you turn intention into action. Every step you take to affirm LGBTQ+ students makes a difference. As an educator, you hold power--the power to shape a classroom where every child feels seen, valued, and safe. You have the agency to lead with compassion, to challenge injustice, and to build something better. This work has impacts beyond your classroom walls. When you affirm LGBTQ+ identities, you're teaching every student in that room how to be more empathetic and compassionate. Those students will carry what they learn from you into every space they enter. Whether you're shifting the way you speak to students, rethinking your seating arrangements and student groupings, updating how you organize classroom materials, or leaning into the pedagogical pathways--you
can do the work and make a difference. You don't have to do this alone; there's a community ready to support and do this vital work with you. Let's get to work, together.
