Overview

This four-part workshop explores the what, why, and how of culturally responsive and sustaining teaching (CRST) in the ESOL context, with an emphasis on the how. Teachers will leave with an understanding of CRST concepts, as well as practical tools and strategies for creating their own culturally responsive and sustaining teaching practice.

Please note: This course will take place in Blackboard where you will find all virtual session information, course materials, and additional resources. You cannot access the online course from the SABES website. You will receive a separate email one to two days before the course begins with instructions on how to access the Zoom session. If you do not receive these instructions, please check your Spam folder and/or send an email to nruskin@edc.org.

    Audience

    This professional development activity/course is designed for:

  • Teachers of adult English learners at any proficiency level
Description

This four-part series emphasizes the steps teachers can take to cultivate a culturally responsive and sustaining teaching (CRST) practice. We take a brief look at what CRST is and why it is important to learners and teachers. Most of the series is then devoted to exploring the elements that define CRST and ways to address each of the elements to create a culturally responsive and sustaining teaching practice.

Part one is a self-paced module that introduces CRST through a video and guided reading of ESOL Professional Standard Three: CRST. This module also includes a short, self-exploratory exercise. 

There are two facilitated webinars through which you will delve more deeply into the defining elements of CRST introduced in the self-directed module. You will explore practical applications of: 

  • Creating an inclusive, affirming, and equitable classroom environment
  • Recognizing students' diverse identities as assets
  • Providing instruction and materials from diverse perspectives
  • Fostering critical thinking, sociopolitical awareness, and academic achievement
  • Developing critical self-assessment

Between the two facilitated webinars, you will explore CRST resources for potential use with students, reflect on your learning, and contribute to an online discussion.

The presenter will share strategies and tools that teachers can immediately begin to apply in their classrooms. There will be time for discussion among participants to brainstorm individual applications because collaboration is a key part of this work.   

As with all SABES professional development offerings, follow-up coaching is available to support you in implementing what you've learned in these sessions. Please contact Dori McCormack at dmccormack@edc.org for more information.

    Learning Objectives

    Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:

  • Define culturally responsive and sustaining teaching (CRST)
  • Explain why CRST is important to learners
  • Take steps to create a more culturally responsive and sustaining teaching practice
Presenter(s) / Facilitator(s)
Prerequisites

We hope those participating in this series are open to our guiding assumptions:

  • Racism is systemic and is especially harmful to people of color and the English language learners we serve.
  • Identifying and addressing our own implicit biases is paramount to the work of CRST. It is a personal journey, and we all enter this work together from different places.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.pbs.org/education/blog/a-call-to-action-for-white-educators-who-seek-to-be-anti-racist

Date
05/31/2023 - 8:00 am
06/07/2023 - 1:00 pm to 06/07/2023 - 3:00 pm
06/14/2023 - 1:00 pm to 06/14/2023 - 3:00 pm
Location

United States

PD Team
SABES English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Curriculum & Instruction PD Team
Topic Area
Antiracism
Civics and Citizenship
Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Teaching
ADEI (anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion)
ADEI Professional Growth
ELA
ESOL/English Learners
New Staff
Professional Standards
Social Studies