Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is the difference between “gender” and “biological sex”? Why is it important that we understand the distinction between the two? How would you define the terms “agender” and “transgender”? Consider the places and ways in which the gender binary affects our everyday lives.

Teaching Suggestion: New York University offers  these guidelines for trans inclusive practices in the classroom as you engage students in discussions around The Importance of Gender Identity. Some students may be unfamiliar with topics related to gender identity; meanwhile, others may be well-versed in the concepts and/or identify as transgender and/or non-binary themselves. As students embark on these important discussions concerning gender identity, maintaining an inclusive, supportive environment for all perspectives on the subject will lay effective groundwork for reading The 57 Bus.

• So that students may learn more about transgender teens’ experiences, they might watch this TODAY Show clip, “Five Transgender Teens on the GenderCool Project and How Important Support Is.”
• Additional educational resources can be found at
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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