Creating Safe Spaces: Supporting Students of All Cultures & Talking About Racism in the Classroom with Provisional Psychologist Noreen Sibanda

Talking about racism can feel intimidating, but avoiding the conversation can prevent us from better supporting all our students. In this episode of The Balanced Educator Podcast, we’re joined by Noreen Sibanda, a Provisional Psychologist, to discuss how we can create safe, inclusive spaces where children from all cultures feel seen and valued.

Kailey and Noreen dive deep into crucial topics, like how to support immigrant students in our classrooms, and how language and cultural differences in mental health and spirituality shape student experiences. Noreen shares how we can approach sensitive topics such as systemic racism and white privilege, offering practical advice on how to be more inclusive when discussing mental health and encouraging curiosity about other cultures.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to support immigrant students and create inclusive classrooms.

The importance of understanding systemic racism and white privilege in education.

How to discuss mental health inclusively across cultures.

Why it’s crucial to ask questions and learn about our students' diverse lived experiences.