Open each class period, meeting, or professional learning experience with an inclusive welcome that is culturally and linguistically respectful, builds community, and connects to the work ahead.
When planning and facilitating activities educators are always thinking, “What’s my purpose?” The inclusive welcome is an opportunity to bring that purpose to life. What to a casual observer might appear to be an icebreaker or time-filler can be an intentional, effective educational strategy.
An inclusive welcome can be:
- An activity to foster whole-group connection.
- A routine, such as a morning circle.
- A ritual, such as warmly greeting every student or meeting participant at the door.
Examples
Express feelings or opinions in response to a prompt, using fingers to show response. The facilitator, as well as the whole group, gets input from all participants simultaneously.
Read moreParticipants reflect on a piece of text, image, or prompt and then move to an area of the room or "corner" that matches their choice, to share their thinking in a small group. “Corners” is helpful for promoting the importance of divergent perspectives and the value of having all voices heard while maintaining a sense of belonging.
Read moreAn opportunity for each person in the room to make a brief connection with many participants. It lifts the energy and helps make connections between participants who are meeting for the first time or reconnecting.
Read morePeople move around the room and share ideas with a partner or small group. Mix and Mingle starts with curiosity and builds a sense of belonging and agency by encouraging participants to interact with each other while valuing everyone’s thinking and voice.
Read moreParticipants form a circle and interact verbally and non-verbally to learn each other’s names and favorite activities.
Read moreBrainstorming and metaphorical thinking invites a high level of inclusion and encourages the expression of culturally relevant, divergent, and novel ideas.
Read moreThis is a quick welcoming activity in which everyone’s name and voice are heard. Each person is asked to share their ‘news’—something that is on their mind that they are open to sharing either with a partner or in a small group.
Read moreParticipants write down three topics on an index card that they would be glad to talk about. Moving around to meet others in the room, they show their index cards and their partner chooses 1 of the 3 topics to ask about.
Read moreParticipants will connect with each other 1:1 to ask and answer questions, getting to know one another and feel known, and lowering any initial barriers to participation and discussion.
Read moreParticipants look through their phone to find photos that match categories on a card, and mix with a variety of partners or small groups to share photos and write names of peers/colleagues on their card.
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