Oscar 2024

Cultural competency is a buzzword that has been floating around in education for a few years. But what does this look like in our classrooms? We share best practices for creating an anti-bias classroom and work through case studies that will help put theory into practice. These case studies present instances of microaggressions in the classroom and participants learn and practice different strategies and language to address them.

Participants learn and apply best practices for establishing an LGBTQIA+-affirming German classroom environment. First, participants receive a foundation in orientation, gender identity, and expression, as well as a crosswalk between the ACTFL World Readiness and Learning for Justice Social Justice standards. Next, suggestions for using inclusive/affirming language and representative authentic resources, such as web shows and children's books, are shared. Following these examples, in small groups, participants workshop common lesson themes to be more inclusive. Finally, participants discuss challenges they still face in being inclusive. While examples are from the middle school German classroom, other languages and levels are welcome.

How can we move beyond sporadically teaching about culture and identity, and integrate these concepts into our lessons on a daily basis? This session will explore interculturality and identity in the language classroom and demonstrate some simple strategies for making important cultural connections and comparisons. We will also look at how EntreCulturas and EntreCultures from Wayside Publishing help teachers achieve their interculturality goals while also focusing on language acquisition.

Have you ever explored how your past, present, and future show up in the classroom? Do you wonder how you can uncover and examine the roots of your identidad in order to grow your competencia sociocultural alongside the students you serve? Through a Two-Way Immersion Lens, we will guide you to reflect on your past, present, and future, and how to apply these guided reflections in your Pre-K to 12th grade classrooms. A few of the tasks we will investigate together will be: memoirs, challenging games, how-tos, inspiring videos, and a map of dreams. Join us as we incorporate critical consciousness and social justice into our planning, collegial conversations, advocacy, and instructional practices.

During an unprecedented time in history, teachers have demonstrated unparalleled resiliency. Many have learned new technology and strategies almost overnight to best serve our students and have done so with grace. Going forward, what happens now? How can teachers apply newly acquired skills to enhance instruction and support all students? Teachers should not only reference Bloom’s Taxonomy for educational objectives but also reflect on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to support students’ social and emotional needs. Reimagine the framework and place importance on the intersection of culture and social emotional learning. Aim to reboot students’ learning experiences to include reflective practices, mindful activities and meaningful affirmations.