Inclusive Teaching Toolkit

Prepare - Getting Ready for Inclusive & Multicultural Teaching

Approaches to Inclusive & Multicultural Teaching

• Inclusive Course Checklist — University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
• Culturally Inclusive Practice — Teaching Gateway, University of New South Wales Sydney
• Diversity and Complexity in the Classroom: Considerations of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender — Barbara Gross Davis, Tools for Teaching
• Inclusive Teaching — University of California, Los Angeles
• 5 Principles as Pathways to Inclusive Teaching — Inside Higher Ed

Challenging Assumptions about Students and Self

Power Dynamics

• Reframing Power Relationships Between Undergraduates and Academics in the Current University Climate — Eloise Symonds, British Journal of Sociology of Education 
• Understanding & Navigating Power Dynamics in Learning Environments — Martínez et al., University of New Mexico
• Calling All Authoritarians: How to Shift the Power Dynamic in Your Classes — Catherine Whaley and Jon McNaughtan, Times Higher Education

Self Examination

• Creating Inclusive College Classrooms (Increasing Awareness of Problematic Assumptions) — University of Michigan
• Faculty Self-Assessment on Awareness of Identities and Comfort Levels — University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
• Achieving a Culture of Inclusion: A Self-Assessment Tool — University of California, Los Angeles 
• Circles of My Multicultural Self — Paul C. Gorski, EdChange 

Stereotypes

• Culture in the Classroom — Teaching Tolerance
• Reducing Stereotype Threat in the Classroom — Todd K. Platts and Kim Hoosier, Inquiry: The Journal of Virginia Community Colleges
• Study on Language and Stereotypes Suggests Ways to Reduce Prejudice — New York University

Cultural Awareness

• Multiculturalism’s Five Dimensions — Dr. James A. Banks
• Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice — Geneva Gay, University of Washington
• 5 Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies — Northeastern University 
• Unlocking the Power of Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Guide for College Professors — Faulkner University 

Program-level

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion — Chemistry Department, University of Colorado Boulder 
• How Multicultural Centers Make College Feel Like Home — Herzing University
• Setting a Higher Bar for Multicultural Inclusion in Higher Education — Higher Education Today 

Social Justice Focus

• Collection of Resources for Teaching Social Justice — Cult of Pedagogy
• Creating Classrooms for Social Justice — Edutopia

Understand - Getting to Know Your Students

Connecting with Students

• Connecting with Your Students — Cornell University
• Heuristic for Inclusive Instructional Design — Teaching and Learning Co-op

Welcoming Differences

Age & Returning/Adult Students

• 15 Proven Strategies for Teaching Adult Learners Effectively — University of San Diego
• Teaching Adult Students — Center for Faculty Evaluation and Development

Disabilities

• Creating Accessible Classrooms — Indiana University Bloomington 
• Faculty Guide: Teaching & Interacting with Students with Disabilities — Texas A&M University 
• What is Inclusive Higher Education? — The Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at Syracuse University
• Best Practices for Working with Disabled Students — Rutgers University

Ethnicity & Race

• Closing the Racial/Ethnic Gap Between Students of Color and Their Teachers: An Elusive Goal — Montclair State University
• Preparing Teachers for Multicultural Classrooms, Educational Technology Policy — Research and Outreach

First-Year Students

• First-Year Student Support — Western Washington University
• Best Practices for Teaching First Year Undergraduates — Carnegie Mellon University
• How to Be Empathetic When Teaching First-Year Students — Times Higher Education 

Gender and Sexuality

• Glossary — Michigan State University 
• Actions to Foster Inclusive Learning Environments for LGBTQ+ Students — L.K. Langley, Western Washington University
• Gender-Inclusive/Non-Sexist Language Guidelines and Resources — University of Pittsburgh
• For Educators — Glisten 
• How the Education System Constructs Gender Inequalities — Solomon Admissions Consulting 
• Black Women in Higher Education: A Reflection on Inequity and Injustice — Leah Woldai, The Emory Wheel
• Creating an LGBTQ-Inclusive Classroom — University of Arizona 
• Utilizing Gender Inclusive Language — Human Resources, Princeton

International Students (see also Non-Native Speakers)

• 10 Ways to Support Students Facing Immigration Crises — Inside Higher Ed
• Key Insights: Best Practices for Teaching International Students — University of California, Berkeley 
• International and Multilingual Students — University of Washington
• Teaching International Students: Six Ways to Smooth the Transition — Faculty Focus 
• Supporting Students from Immigrant Families — Southern Poverty Law Center
• Teaching International Students: Pedagogical Issues and Strategies — University of Michigan
• Teaching International Students: Strategies to Enhance Learning — University of Melbourne
• Tips for Teaching International Students — Johns Hopkins University 

Learning Ability Differences

• Accommodating College Students with Learning Disabilities: ADD, ADHD, and Dyslexia — Melana Zyla Vickers, John W. Pope Center for Higher Education Policy
• Accommodating Diverse Learning Styles in an Online Environment — Lori Arp & Beth S. Woodard, Information Literacy and Instruction
• Accommodating Students' Learning Needs — Mars Hill University 
• Teaching Students with Different Levels of Preparation — Yale University

Mental Health

• Academic Accommodations for Students with Psychiatric Disabilities — DO-IT
• Teaching Students with Mental Health Disabilities — Accessible Campus

Non-Native Speakers of English

• Teaching Nonnative Speakers — Baruch College
• Teaching Non-Native English Speakers: Tips for Making Your Teaching More Accessible — George Fox University
• Teaching Non-Native English Speaking Students — University of Connecticut

Race (see Ethnicity & Race above)

Religion & Politics

• Politics in the Classroom: How Much is Too Much? — nprEd: How Learning Happens
• Religion in the University Classroom — University of the Sunshine Coast
• Six Guidelines for Teaching About Religion — Education Week.
• Teaching Students with Diverse Religious Backgrounds — Yale University

Socio-Economic Class

• Effective Teaching and Support of Students from Low Socioeconomic Status Backgrounds: Resources for Australian Higher Education — Devlin et al. 
• Low Socioeconomic Status Students — Deakin University Australia

STEM-Related Fields

• Culturally Responsive STEM Education — Amy Wilson-Lopez, Utah State University
• The STEM Gap — AAWU
• Supporting STEM students with dyslexia — Institute of Physics
• Teaching for Diversity and Inclusiveness in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) — Vanderbilt University

Undocumented Students

• UndocuStudents: Our Untold Stories — Blue Group of Western Washington University, WWU Cedar
• Keeping the Dream Alive: A Resource Guide for Undocumented Students — National Council of La Raza
• United We Dream — Immigrant youth building a movement for justice
• Local Resources:
  • Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
  • Resources for Undocumented Students — Western Washington University 
  • President Randhawa's Statement Regarding the Decision to End DACA

Design - Designing Inclusive Courses

Climate

• Classroom Climate: Creating a Supportive Classroom Environment — Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University
  • Importance of a proper learning climate and strategies to create one with
• Designing Inclusive Environments — Teaching Gateway, University of New South Wales Sydney
• Five Ways to Promote a More Inclusive Classroom — Kathleen F. Gabriel, EdD, Faculty Focus, Magna
• Teaching Beyond the Gender Binary in the University Classroom — Vanderbilt University
  • Terms and topics to help create a safe space and teach in a gender-inclusive way
• Heuristic for Inclusive Instructional Design — Inclusive Teaching Toolkit, Teaching and Learning Cooperative, WWU
• See also: Teach: Classroom Management

Curricular Choices

• Infusing Diversity into the College/University Curriculum — John Quincy Adams, Western Illinois University
• Considering Diversity: A Self-Reflection Tool for Psychology Teachers — American Psychological Association

Designing Content that Represents and Includes Diverse Perspectives

• Assessing Diversity Courses: Tips and Tools — Diversity Digest
• Diversity and Complexity in the Classroom: Considerations of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender — Barbara Gross Davis, Tools for Teaching
• Infusing Diversity and Inclusion Related Content — University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
• Teaching for Equity and Inclusion — Elon University

Syllabus Statements

Standards for Discourse and Participation

• Establishing Community Agreements and Classroom Norms — Cornell University 

Special Statements

• Accommodation Statement (Syllabus Guidelines) — Teaching Handbook, WWU
  • Sample wording for writing a syllabus statement
• Suggested Practices for Syllabus Accessibility Statements — Praxis Wiki
• Required & Suggested Syllabi Service Statements — University of Washington 
• Statements — Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Central Florida
• Syllabus Statement — Cornell University

Religious and Cultural Holidays

• WWU Academic and Religious Observance Calendar — 2026-2027
• Policy on Academic Accommodations for Religious Observance — Northwestern University

Universal Design for Instruction

• The Nine Principles of UDI — University of Wisconsin
• UDI: Definition, Principles, Guidelines, and Examples — DO-IT
• Knowledge Base — DO-IT
  • Collection of case studies, promising practices, and Q&As regarding accessibility
• Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education — University of Calgary

Teach - Curricular Materials & Activities

Classroom Management

• Guidelines for Discussion of Racial Conflict and the Language of Hate, Bias, and Discrimination — University of Michigan
• Inclusive Teaching:  Managing Hot Moments in the Classroom; —Elon University
• Tool: Interrupting Microaggressions — University of California, Berkeley 
• Managing Hot Moments in the Classroom — Harvard
• Managing Issues — Teaching Gateway, University of New South Wales, Sydney
• Obstacles to Open Discussion and Critical Thinking: The Grinnell College Study — Change, Carol Trosset
• Microaggressions — University of Arizona 
• How to Promote Inclusion in the Classroom — Drexel University 

Bias and Stereotyping

• Generalizations: How Accurate Are They? — Peace Corps
• Common Racist Attitudes and Behaviors That Indicate a Detour or Wrong Turn Into White Guilt, Denial or Defensiveness — Community Anti-Racism Education Initiative
• An Interactive Teaching Plan to Further the Understanding and Experience of Stereotypes in Groups — Institute of Education, Singapore 
  • Instructions for the Stereotyping Headbands Activity 
• Test Yourself for Hidden Bias — Southern Poverty Law Center

Equity & Diversity

• Can You Avoid Segregation? — Understanding Prejudice: Exercises and Demonstrations
• 7 Easy Activities That Encourage Students to Open Up About Identity and Privilege — Modern Campus 
• Diversity Takes More Than an Open Door [Video] — TEDxMadison
• Diversity Awareness Quizzes — EdChange.org
• Equity Literacy for Educators: Definition and Abilities — EdChange.org
• Understanding Prejudice — supplement to Understanding Prejudice and Discrimination by McGraw Hill
• We Need to Talk About an Injustice [Video] — Bryan Stevenson, TED

Exploring Cultural Difference

• "A Single Lucid Moment" Lesson — Peace Corps
• Barnga — University of Michigan 
• The Beauty of Peace Corps — The Beauty of Peace Corps 
  • Peace Corp members describe their experiences with beauty standards around the world

Gender & Sexuality

• Ambivalent Sexism Inventory — Understanding Prejudice: Exercises and Demonstrations
• Writing About Gender and Sexuality — Hamilton College 

Identities

• Have Fun with DEI: Five Team-Building Activities — Dima Ghawi 
• Multiple Identity Exercise — adapted from Ximena Zúñiga, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Luis Sfeir-Younis and Hellen Weingarten, University of Michigan
• Navigating Social Identity in the Classroom — University of Illinois Chicago

Power & Privilege

• Understanding Social Class as Culture — Andrea Dittmann, Behavioral Scientist 
• "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" and "Some Notes for Facilitators" — Peggy McIntosh, Southeast Seattle Education Coalition 
• The Power of Privilege [Video] — Tiffany Jana, TEDxRVAWomen

Racism

• Race and Advertising Interview — Social Psychology Network eInterview
• Race and Ethnicity Free Activities — Sage College Publishing 
• Test Your Native IQ — Understanding Prejudice: Exercises and Demonstrations
• The Gardener: The 3 Levels of Racism (video) — Camara Jones 
  • See also: Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener's Tale — Camara Jones
• White People — MTV 
  • Documentary with footage from Whatcom Community College & Whatcom County

Curricular examples from the Innovative Teaching Showcase

Infusing Multicultural Perspectives into the Curriculum, 2014-2015 Innovative Teaching Showcase, Introduction written by Dr. Karen B. McLean Dade, Woodring College of Education, WWU

• Incorporating Inclusivity in Music Education — Amber Sudduth Bone (Music)
• The Empathy Emphasis: Communicating Connectedness — Heather Davidson (Communication Studies)
• Exploring Differences through Writing and Literature — Lysa Rivera (English)

Teaching for Tolerance, 2010-2011 Innovative Teaching Showcase, Introduction written by Dr. Jeff King, Director, Center for Cross-Cultural Research, Department of Psychology, WWU

• Conceptualizing Diversity in Applied Learning — Carolyn Nielsen (Journalism)
• Teaching Beyond Tolerance — Jill Heckathorn (Physical Education, Health & Recreation)
• Writing for Discovery and Change — Nicole R. Brown (English)

Books

Both CII and CEED have books available for check-out at WWU; also catalogued in Western Libraries. See also Journal of Educational Controversy in Western Cedar.

Multicultural Education

• Affirming Diversity: The Sociopolitical Context of Multicultural Education, Bode, Patty and Nieto, Sonia. Allyn & Bacon, 2007.
• Becoming Multiculturally Responsible on Campus: From Awareness to Action, Parker, Max and Sager, Jennifer. Continuum, 2007.
• Critical Multiculturalism: Rethinking Multicultural and Antiracist Education, May, Stephen. Routledge, 1998.
• Diversity's Promise for Higher Education: Making It Work (Fourth Edition), Smith, Daryl G. John Hopkins University, 2024.
• Power, Meaning, and Identity: Essays in Critical Educational Studies (Counterpoints) (2nd ed.), Apple, Michael. Peter Lang International Academic Publishers, 2002.
• Race, Identity, and Representation in Education (Critical Social Thought) (2nd ed.), McCarthy, Crichlow, Dimitriadis, & Dolby (eds.). Routledge, 2005.
• Rethinking Multicultural Education: Teaching for Racial and Cultural Justice, Au, Wayne. Rethinking Schools, 2014. 

Social Justice

• Can Education Change Society?, Apple, Michael. Routledge, 2012.
• Is Everyone Really Equal? An Introduction to Key Concepts in Social Justice Education, Sensoy, Özlem and DiAngelo, Robin. Teachers College Press, 2011. 
• Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Freire, Paulo. Continuum, 2000.
• Sentipensante (Sensing/Thinking) Pedagogy: Educating for Wholeness, Social Justice and Liberation. Rendón, Laura I. Stylus Publishing, 2014.
• Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice, Adams, Maurianne, et al. Routledge, 2007. 
• Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom, hooks, bell. Routledge, 1994.

Teaching

• 147 Practical Tips For Teaching Diversity (Second Edition), Timpson, William, et al. Atwood, 2019. 
• Diversity and Citizenship Education: Global Perspectives, Banks, James A. Jossey-Bass, 2006. 
• Getting Culture: Incorporating Diversity Across the Curriculum, Gurung, Regan A. R. and Prieto, Loreto R. Stylus, 2009. 
• How to Talk About Hot Topics on Campus: From Polarization to Moral Conversation, Nash, Robert, et al. Jossey-Bass, 2008. 
• Race to Equity: Disrupting Educational Inequality, McCaskell, Tim. Between the Lines, 2005.
• Tools for Teaching, Davis, Barbara Gross. Jossey-Bass, 2009. 

Texts & Readers

• Affirming Diversity: The Sociopolitical Context of Multicultural Education (6th ed.), Nieto, Sonia and Bode, Patty (eds.). Pearson, 2019.
• Diversity and Multiculturalism: A Reader, Steinberg, Shirley R. (ed.). Peter Lang International Academic Publishers, 2009.
• Readings for Diversity and Social Justice, Adams, Maurianne et al., 2013.
• Talking About Identity: Encounters in Race, Ethnicity, and Language (2nd Ed.), James, Carl E.  and Shadd, Adrienne. Between the Lines (Canadian Publisher), 2001.
• What Does It Mean To Be White?: Developing White Racial Literacy, DiAngelo, Robin. Peter Lang International Academic Publishers, 2012.

Articles

Cultural Issues in Education

• Milem, J.F., Chang, M.J., & Antonio, A.L. 2005. "Making Diversity Work on Campus: A Research-Based Perspective," Making Excellence Inclusive, AACU.
• Tuck, Eve, and K. Wayne Yang, 2012. "Decolonization is Not a Metaphor," Decolonization:  Indigeneity, Education & Society, 1(1),  1-40.

Equity Literacy

• Gorski, P. 2014. "Equity Literacy for Educators: Definition and Abilities," EdChange (Nov. 2017).
• Gorski, P. 2016. "Equity Literacy: More Than Celebrating Diversity," Diversity in Education, (Spring), 12-14.
• Gorski, P. & Swalwell, K. 2015. "Equity Literacy for All," Educational Leadership, (March), 34-40.

Racism, Power & Privilege

• Kivel, P. 2004. "The Culture of Power," Conflict Management in Higher Education Report, (5)1, September.

Teaching Diversity

• Chaisson, R.L. 2004. "A Crack in the Door: Critical Race Theory in Practice at a Predominantly White Institution," Teaching Sociology, (32), October: 345-357.
• Hedley, M. & Markowitz, L. 2001. "Avoiding Moral Dichotomies: Teaching Controversial Topics to Resistant Students," Teaching Sociology, (29)2, April, 195-208.
• Moore, H.A. 2007. "Student Resistance in Sociology Classrooms: Tools for Learning and Teaching," Sociology Department, Faculty Publications (88).

Videos

Inclusive Teaching Overview

Videos providing an overview of inclusive teaching and teacher experiences

• Equity and Inclusion at Western — Western Washington University
• Perspectives on Inclusive Teaching — WWU Center for Instructional Innovation
• Inclusion and Differentiated Instruction: Teachers in the Movies Do It Too — Taylor Hansen 
  • Examples of movie teachers practicing inclusion and differentiated instruction
• Inclusive Teaching 2 — Susanne Seinader, OCAD University
• Fostering Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments — Dana Kroh, University of Groningen
• What Does Inclusive Teaching Mean to You? — Columbia University
• What Is Your Experience with Inclusive Teaching? — Columbia University

Considerations

• Supporting Undocumented Students — Roberto Gonzalez, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Teaching International Students — Nithyanantha Sevanthinathan, Lone Star College
• Cultures of Learning - Vital Feature of International Education — British Council
  • Discusses different learning cultures and different approaches to teaching and learning

Designing Inclusive Courses

• STEM Stories: Designing an Inclusive Course — University of Michigan Inclusive Teaching
  • Focus on course materials and syllabus
• Inclusive Classroom Design — Virginia Tech
• Inclusive Assessment: Don't Be Afraid to Start Small — University of Alberta
• Inclusive Education Video Series — Alberta Education, includes Video Discussion Guides for each video in the series
• Creating Inclusive Learning Opportunities in Higher Education — Harvard Graduate School of Education 
• Videos — STEM Stories
  • YouTube Channel with videos pertaining to many topics in inclusive teaching

Student Perspectives

Student voices sharing details about how educators can support students using inclusive teaching practices

• Inclusive Teaching In Higher Education: Students' Stories video series, University of Wollongong
  • Abdul's Story — Muslim student, UOW
  • Chloe's Story — student with a traumatic brain injury, UOW
  • Kylie's Story — student with children, UOW
  • Pamela's Story — student who works and commutes, UOW
  • Disability Services - Student Story 1 — legally blind student, UOW
• Jennine Capó Crucet's Story — first-generation college student
• Teaching International Students — stories from many international students about their challenges studying in the United States
• Undocumented Students in the United States — short film with stories from many undocumented college students

TED Talks

• Practical Diversity: Taking Inclusion from Theory to Practice — Dawn Bennett-Alexander, TEDxUGA
• Multiculturalism in the Modern World — Jen Holladay, TEDxDenverTeachers
• Reimagining Classrooms: Teachers as Learners and Students as Leaders — Kayla Delzer, TEDxFargo
• Learning Disability in Higher Education — Lexie Garrity, TEDxVanderbiltUniversity
• Reimagining Disability & Inclusive Education — Jan Wilson, TEDxUniversityofTulsa
• The Boost Students Need to Overcome Obstacles — Anindya Kundu
• How Students of Color Confront Impostor Syndrome — Dena Simmons

WWU Resources

Accessibility and Inclusion Resources

• Accessible Instruction
• Report a Bias Incident 
• Office of Equity 
• DACA Statement - President Randhawa's Statement Regarding the Decision to End DACA (Article, 2017)
• Diversity at Western
• Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance
• Equity & Diversity Committee — Woodring College of Education
• LGBTQ+ Advocacy Council
• Faculty and Staff of Color Council 
• President's Taskforce on Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Quietly Effective (Article, 2017)
• Social Justice and Equity Committee — Faculty Senate
• STEM Clubs & Organizations 
• The Centers for Student Access, Community, and Intercultural Engagement 
  • Multicultural Center
  • Disability Access Center
  • Multicultural Student Services
  • LGBTQ+ Western

Associated Students

• Club Hub
• Disability Outreach Center
• Veteran Services Office

Centers and Offices

• Center for Education, Equity, and Diversity (CEED)
• StudyGroup: Western Washington University (International Studies)
• Center for Law, Diversity, and Justice
• Center for Community Learning
• Counseling and Wellness Center
• The Red Folder Project, WWU 
  • Recognize, Respond, and Refer students experiencing a mental health crisis
• Disability Access Center
• Education Abroad
• Ershig Assistive Technology Resource Center
• Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (CRTC)
• Ethnic Student Center
• Institute for Global Engagement
• International Student and Scholar Services
• Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center 

Demographics

• Quick Facts about Western
• Data 

Libraries

• Western Libraries Inclusive Language Guide
• LGBTQ+ Resources, Western Libraries (older)

Programs

• Education and Social Justice Minor
• Law, Diversity & Justice Minor — Fairhaven College
• Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor