Star
Summer
The BSAP Summer Institute’s
Howard County Public School System, MD
July 2022
BSAP Summer Institute makes students feel included Ella Wang, Rising 9th Grader
Teachers play a key role in helping students feel they “belong” at school. In my experience, students who feel they are being included in their classroom are more likely to see the value of the work they are given. They will have higher self-confidence and better chances to thrive in their classes. This has been especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone has been struck in one way or another. More students than before may be feeling anxious, lost, or lonely. According to the National Geographic Magazine, therapist Sarit Fassazadeh says, “Isolation is a huge component in mental health issues.” Ever since lockdown, students were stuck at home and were isolated from their friends for a long time and they started feeling lonely. Greater Good Magazine explains that students who feel a strong sense of belonging are more engaged in school. They are more likely to join school organizations, take on research opportunities, and make connections with peers and staff. Helping students feel included in school can make students feel safer after doing school from home – it can help create a brighter community. In my opinion, this BSAP Summer Institute provides students a great community. Being included in a classroom is always important. Rising 6th grader Paige Magee agreed that the BSAP staff and volunteers make students feel included in their classrooms. “I think my teachers are doing a good job at making me and my classmates feel included.” Students can also play a big role in helping others feel included. In fact, many BSAP SI students say they would worry about a student if they saw that they were not included. Brooklyn Byrd, a rising 5th grader, said, “Maybe some people don’t have friends
photo by Mr. Ben Townsend
Students worked together to create set designs for the drama with Ms. Farolyn Taylor. and they should at least feel included in one spot.” Magee agreed, “Students would feel bad about themselves if they weren’t included.” Byrd suggested a way that teachers can help. “Making students get to know other students could help students feel more included in their classrooms,” she explained. Ms. Harriet Beckham Lee, Volunteer Coordinator of BSAP Summer Institute, said that inclusion and relationships are a big part of the program. “As I go in and out of the classrooms, I see the social emotional learning lessons that are being done. I certainly see all those teachers who have incorporated those lessons into their morning sessions and are building a classroom
community.” Mr. Jansen (Jay) McMillan, a special education teacher at BSAP Summer Institute, agreed, “Inclusion is very important because we need to make sure everyone feels comfortable regardless of their background.” To help students feel included, he suggests that teachers understand their students’ strengths and weaknesses, their likes and dislikes, and incorporate those things into the classroom so that everyone feels confident in their abilities to participate and grow. According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education Magazine, research has shown that when teachers build a good
bond with their students, students are more motivated to do well in school. Dr. Christina Hinton says that making room to provide students extra emotional support is important. Creating additional opportunities, like through office hours, can make a big difference for students and teachers to build relationships. So, how else should teachers, volunteers, and students help other students feel more included in their classrooms at the BSAP Summer Institute? One of the logical ways is having teachers show interest in their students. Teachers should keep their ears open and be emotionally available for their students. Teachers don’t necessarily have to be your therapist, but they should be supportive. Since the pandemic hit, many students’ mental health has gone down. Teachers can play a big role in helping to raise it back up. Volunteers can also help encourage students or talk to students who are not raising their hands. Some students might be afraid to raise their hand or feel unsure of themselves. Sometimes they just need a little encouragement. Teachers and volunteers can also interact with students to help each student be actively involved in the class activities. When there is group participation, volunteers should make sure to check in with each group to ask what they are talking about and what their idea on the topic is. For students, sometimes building inclusion can be as simple as waving “hello” or smiling at your peers. Try giving a nice greeting or asking other students how their weekend or day was. It is very beneficial to connect with other students and build a supportive classroom. In conclusion, it is very important to make students feel included in their classrooms. BSAP Summer Institute is trying to help create a better community for everyone. When you go back to school this fall, think about how you can be more inclusive to everyone. Especially in stressful times, it is important for all of us to think about how to include each other emotionally as well as academically, and find ways to bring each other joy in our education.
Students get hooked on the BSAP SI enrichments get to go to other people’s classrooms to take photos.” Kyra Alexandre, a rising 6th grader, is also enjoying the BSAP Summer Institute experience, especially her enrichment class. She said, “I like BSAP because I have more to do in the summer, and I Many students love BSAP really like the drama enrichment Summer Institute for its friendly because I enjoy doing set design!” The enrichments also give teachers, students, and its lively BSAP Summer community, but Institute a chance it also can be of bringing in a hard to go to lot of new stuschool during the dents in the upsummer. BSAP coming years. SI has a way to The students hook you into who are at BSAP its very diverse SI this summer school and can will probably also entertain spread the word you during your about their enexperience. richments and Most students get more stuagree that their –Kyra Alexandre, dents interested favorite part of the BSAP Sumrising 6th grader in BSAP SI. “I have been mer Institute is working at BSAP the enrichment SI since 2005,” said Mr. Eugene program. Keenan Quarles, a rising 6th Rose, the BSAP principal, “It is grader, is currently in the photog- great for young people!” The BSAP SI students this raphy enrichment. He explained, “I enjoy photography because I summer seem happy about the Zachary Smith, Rising 8th Grader
“I really like the drama enrichment because I enjoy doing set design!”
photo by Victoria Reynolds, rising 7th grader
Students practice step and hip-hop dance in one of the many enrichments at BSAP Summer Institute. program and their enrichments are keeping them smiling. Hope-
fully, this will give BSAP SI a great reputation and bring more
attention to the public eye about this program.