A1 I’m Karen Nemeth, co-host of #ELLCHAT I am an author/consultant/keynote speaker focusing on early education for children who are DLLs - from eastern PA!
A1. Louise El Yaafouri, author and refugee/immigrant consultant. Have taught at most grade levels for students from more than 70 countries. So happy to be here! :) #ellchat
A1. Louise El Yaafouri, author and refugee/immigrant consultant. Have taught at most grade levels for students from more than 70 countries. So happy to be here! :) #ellchat
A2) One key step is to recognize that everyone "has" a culture or multiple cultural identities. I love this activity that Colorado #ELL teacher Becky Corr describes where teachers find their common touchpoints: https://t.co/aFnpSojwiw#ellchat
A.2. Cultural awareness is a willingness to maintain awareness and open-mindedness in culturally divergent settings in the aim of promoting positive exchange and individual growth. #ellchat
A2) ELLs need to feel safe and supported in order to succeed in school. Without a culturally responsive classroom environment, ELLs will not do as well in school. #ELLchat
A2)Is when we are mindful that today’s society and schools are made up of diverse cultures. As Ts we need to create and promote an environment that respects and admires the cultures of our Ss. #Ellchat
A2. To be culturally aware teachers need to learn about students, their families, their backgrounds. Then, apply what is learned to teaching practice so that students can connect with content and teachers can in turn connect with students. #ellchat
A2.cont. When we engage with students from a lens of respect, tolerance, and attempted understanding, we foster reciprocation of these traits back onto ourselves and toward peers. Our behaviors will be modeled long before, and long after, our words make any impression. #ellchat
A2 Seemingly simple question, yet not so simple. Choice of words is so important here. I don’t like tolerance “Welcome, New Student - I promise to “tolerate” you” #ELLCHAT
A2 But also - I don’t like to say “cultural competence” as if there’s an end to that learning like “Learn these 12 cultural things and you will get a sticker declaring you are totally culturally competent!” #ELLCHAT
A2.cont. When we engage with students from a lens of respect, tolerance, and attempted understanding, we foster reciprocation of these traits back onto ourselves and toward peers. Our behaviors will be modeled long before, and long after, our words make any impression. #ellchat
A2. To be culturally aware teachers need to learn about students, their families, their backgrounds. Then, apply what is learned to teaching practice so that students can connect with content and teachers can in turn connect with students. #ellchat
A2)Culturall awareness also helps us Ts when building our Ss’ background knowledge. The more we know about our Ss’ cultures, the better we can serve them. #Ellchat
A.2. Cultural awareness is a willingness to maintain awareness and open-mindedness in culturally divergent settings in the aim of promoting positive exchange and individual growth. #ellchat
A2 I do like the implied openness of “cultural humility”. Like, “I can’t promise to know everything about every culture, but I can promise to always be humble and open to learn about other cultures” #ELLCHAThttps://t.co/n86K7lH9Am
A2. Cultural Awareness begins within yourself.... a deep understanding of your own culture and identity....then the ability to understand and appreciate other’s beliefs and backgrounds. #ELLCHAT
A2 Cultural humility Hook, Davis, Owen, Worthington & Utsey (2013) “ability to maintain an interpersonal stance that is other-oriented (or open to the other) in relation to aspects of cultural identity that are most important to the [person]” #ELLCHAT That plus awareness?
A2) Also it's an understanding that some student behaviors may be "cultural"....and that effective instruction, assessment, and parent engagement (esp. around issues of special education where questions of behavior come up) will be culturally responsive #ellchat
Q3) What can teachers do to provide a culturally responsive environment when news stories, and local or national events may highlight intolerant attitudes or actions? #ellchat
A2. Cultural awareness needs to extend beyond the classroom walls. If we want Ss to feel connected, their families need to feel connected. Send info home in L1 for parents to read #ellchat
A2 - #ELLCHAT is the perfect place to open up about the different terms we use and the different ways we feel about those terms! We all come from such different parts of the field - that’s what make #ELLCHAT great!
Day 1: I have accepted a challenge from @PeledgeJay to post covers of 7 books I love: no explanations, no reviews - just the cover. Each time I post a cover, I’ll ask someone else to take the challenge. 1 cover a day for a week. Day 1 Nomination: @Judyliteracyldy
Well beyond the walls! Educators need to go out into the community. Visiting the places our immigrant students and families spend their time is so important. This is actually the whole reason behind the cultural immersion course I teach! #ellchat
A2 - #ELLCHAT is the perfect place to open up about the different terms we use and the different ways we feel about those terms! We all come from such different parts of the field - that’s what make #ELLCHAT great!
A2) Exactly! As Ts we need to be aware that not everyone is part of the “middle-class, white suburban society” that is continually portrayed in books, media, and even on standardized tests. #ELLChat
We have a question pending everyone.
Q3) What can teachers do to provide a culturally responsive environment when news stories, and local or national events may highlight intolerant attitudes or actions? #ellchat
A3: In this climate, I think being hyper-vigilant to let students know through our actions that they are welcome in our classrooms irrespective of their background or status. #ELLChat
A3) I try to do my job--EDUCATE. My Ss know that things are ugly now. But they don't know the history of how we got here--how fights for rights have evolved and morphed over the years, or how gov't is supposed to work. I try to teach all that. (1/2) #ellchat
Q3) What can teachers do to provide a culturally responsive environment when news stories, and local or national events may highlight intolerant attitudes or actions? #ellchat
A.3.This is such an important question that I'm not sure there's any optimal answer to...yet.(But I am ready to learn from all of you!) We CAN be diligent in sorting fact from fiction and making school a safe space to talk about real-world issues in productive ways. #ellchat
I can’t change the world for my kids. (Though I use my voice the best I can!) But I can help them gain the knowledge and power they need to navigate it. (2/2) #ellchat
Q3) In order to provide culturally responsive environment: 1) Prof Dev for staff on ways to be culturally responsive 2) Educate staff of the backgrounds of students and explore their culture
3) Collaborate with diverse professionals to include alternate view points #ellchat
A3. In school/classroom, you can keep trying to create a welcoming environment, but it's like being a hamster on a wheel in this political environment. Bigger picture: vote. Become active in politics as well as local immigrant community organizations. #ellchat
Q3) What can teachers do to provide a culturally responsive environment when news stories, and local or national events may highlight intolerant attitudes or actions? #ellchat
A3) Dr. Sarah Gallo suggests: "Include undocumented status as a form of difference that merits equitable treatment in your classroom. Any time you engage in conversations with students that it is not okay to discriminate against others, include immigration status." #ellchat
A3 One way the news/politics affects #earlyed is that we might be less confident about funding for preschool programs that boast about serving ELs/DLLs #ELLCHAT :( In past years, describing your wonderful services for immigrants gave funding advantage
Hypervigilant is an excellent word. We need to bend over backwards and do cartwheels to make sure students and families know we are welcoming. #ellchat
A.3.This is such an important question that I'm not sure there's any optimal answer to...yet.(But I am ready to learn from all of you!) We CAN be diligent in sorting fact from fiction and making school a safe space to talk about real-world issues in productive ways. #ellchat
A3)We need to create a classroom culture of respect and understanding. As Ts we need to have an open mind and promote conversations with our Ss and between themselves in which this type of challenging cultural discussions can happen. #Ellchat
A2) Culturally Responsive Teaching does so much for the brain! Building connection and belonging, creating a sense of safety...and those have big benefits in our classrooms and schools #ELLchat@Ready4rigor
A.3 cont. Also... authentic tolerance (meaning that we have identified and made peace with our own intolerances) is a powerful platform from which to advocate for our students needs, rights and integrity- especially when we are doing so as antidote to biased thinking. #ellchat
A3) Dr. Sarah Gallo suggests: "Include undocumented status as a form of difference that merits equitable treatment in your classroom. Any time you engage in conversations with students that it is not okay to discriminate against others, include immigration status." #ellchat
A3 I once talked to a student teacher who said her students asked about a news story - so she pulled down the world map to show them where things were happening - and principal called her out “This isn’t map week! We do maps in March!” oy. #ELLCHAT
““When we are able to recognize and name a student’s learning moves and not mistake culturally different ways of learning and making meaning for intellectual deficits, we are better able to match those moves with a powerful teaching response.” @Ready4rigor#ELLchat -CRT & the 🧠
A3) That’s so wrong. Student inquiries should be promoted, more so if it relates to current events. And even more so if it comes from one of our ELs. #ELLChat
It's a weird place to be in, right? It's generally accepted that we shouldn't bring politics into the classroom. But it's "good" to teach current events, and to engage with what's happening in students' personal lives... For many of us/them, that's all the same thing! #ellchat
A.3.This is such an important question that I'm not sure there's any optimal answer to...yet.(But I am ready to learn from all of you!) We CAN be diligent in sorting fact from fiction and making school a safe space to talk about real-world issues in productive ways. #ellchat
A2) Culturally Responsive Teaching does so much for the brain! Building connection and belonging, creating a sense of safety...and those impact our students, classrooms, schools #ELLchat@Ready4rigor#ELLchat
A4: It starts by recognizing that curricular materials must be assessed for cultural relevance. Haven't seen many tools that support this in curriculum reviews. #ELLChat
A3 Educators should read this position statement of Council for Exceptional Children Division for Early Childhood: Responsiveness to ALL Children, Families, & Professionals: Integrating Cultural and Linguistic Diversity into Policy & Practice https://t.co/JJKGYZJb3u#ELLCHAT
A4) It is strange. I guess the key is not to insert our own opinions. It's hard to stick to the facts when we often don't know what the facts are. #ellchat
It's a weird place to be in, right? It's generally accepted that we shouldn't bring politics into the classroom. But it's "good" to teach current events, and to engage with what's happening in students' personal lives... For many of us/them, that's all the same thing! #ellchat
A.3.This is such an important question that I'm not sure there's any optimal answer to...yet.(But I am ready to learn from all of you!) We CAN be diligent in sorting fact from fiction and making school a safe space to talk about real-world issues in productive ways. #ellchat
Yes, but there are many resources ( culturgrams,comisceo global ) which can help educators learn more about other cultures so they can be prepared when a student from a new country arrives. #ELLChat
Good question! It has been a talking point in classrooms across grade levels here. But "here" is Denver, where the thinking from the city & district administrations with regard to the political situation is quite spirited & transparent. I'm curious to here about other regions.
A3 “Naming the New, Inclusive Early Childhood Education: All Teachers Ready for DECAL!” (diverse experiences, cultures, abilities, & languages) https://t.co/cSqgoDaTKs#ELLCHAT
A4. Lots if thoughts on this one. Something I would like to see more of in this area is the genuine solicitation of parent and student voice in this process. After all, they are are truest "experts" on cultural relevancy. #ellchat
A2 And just good ol' curiosity--rooted in connection--helps us when students arrive. So much of cultural responsiveness is about relationships with our students and their families. #ELLchat
Q5) I feel if we don't share our outrage, we are complicit. But during the election, #ellchat participants were telling us that they weren't allowed to share their politics.
The political is personal. The personal is political. I don't share opinions of pure politics. But when we see people suffering, especially when our Ss are connected to the suffering, I feel ok about sharing my own outrage/pain. There's politics, & then there's just humanity!
A5. Books are one of my absolute favorite ways to give students opportunities to see themselves, as well as learn about others who may be different from them. #ellchat
A3) Our new guide on supporting immigrant families includes strategies for creating a welcoming environment, celebrating families' cultures, and identifying student/family strengths: https://t.co/Dpk8vgZERU#ellchat
Here's a fun chart that lends itself to tonight's chat! Thanks for the great discussion tonight, all. My wheels are turning. :) #ellchat#culture#ELL#DiversityandInclusion
A5. Books are one of my absolute favorite ways to give students opportunities to see themselves, as well as learn about others who may be different from them. #ellchat
