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Welcoming, Inclusive, and Affirming Classrooms for English Learners

Creating and nurturing an inclusive, affirming classroom community is a central priority for educational equity and access for English Learners, made even more critical and urgent in a pandemic climate where social isolation, economic crisis and racial injustice have intensified. It is imperative that even from a distance teachers strengthen and maintain caring relationships, affirming virtual spaces that are proactively inclusive and welcoming, and that they utilize culturally sustaining pedagogy and curricula. In this webinar teachers will learn specific strategies that improve self and social awareness, create calming and affirming environments, and elicit student voice and family assets so that their intersectional identities are celebrated and valued.

Presenters: Charice Guerra, Jennifer Ancheta-Garcia,and Ashleigh Willams, SEAL

Materials & Handouts

Full Presentation

Critical Condition for English Learners in Distance Learning

Practices and Strategies

– Community Meetings

– T-Graph for Social Skills

– Promoting a Sense of Identity and Expression Activities

– Family Empathy Interview

– I Am Poem Template

– Mindfulness Activities

– TK-3rd Literature that Provides “Mirrors and Windows”

– 4th-6th Literature that Provides “Mirrors and Windows”

Social Awareness Teacher Reflection

Bibliography Teacher Reflection