Top 10 Things You Can Do to Promote Gender Equity in Your Classroom

1. Call on girls and boys equally to answer questions.

2. Encourage girls to speak up in class.

3. Do not allow gender referencing in your class room. Comments like, "This is 'Sissy stuff'." or "Only boys play sports", have no place in the classroom.

4. Go out of your way to integrate women in history in your lesson plan.

5. Provide gender-fair materials.

6. Show your enthusiasm in all subject areas.

7. Educate yourself of the differences in learning styles.

8. Encourage girls at a young age to learn about non-traditional career areas such as math and science.

9. Educate yourself and peers on gender bias in the classroom.

10. Be a role model! Treat everyone with respect.

Being aware of classroom inequities is just the beginning.  The most important thing you can do for a child of any age is help them increase and maintain their self-esteem and self-confidence.   Do this by celebrating their individuality and what they add to the world. 

EducatingJane.com is a national site for girls, their parents and educators dedicated to helping girls grow with self-esteem, self-awareness, and involvement in the world.