The Institute for Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching at Whittier held its third annual conference where educators from across the country learned how to enhance their instructional effectiveness with children who are learning English.
More than 120 participants spent two days building a foundation to help close achievement gaps, create an equal learning environment, and help find their place in the global community. The conference, which as co-sponsored by Corwin Press, provided a space for educators to learn from experts and each other on how to approach their students.
The highlight of the conference included students who are English language learners (ELL) from Santa Fe High School, who worked with spoken word artists throughout the two days and presented their poetry at the end.
"This year's conference was especially important due to the hostile climate of race relations going on in the United States right now,” said Associate Professor of Education and Education Co-Chair Ivannia Soto. “Educators were able to focus two days at the beginning of the school year around language and cultural/racial equity, and they were able to come away with key strategies to implement throughout the year."
The mission of the Institute for Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching is to promote relevant research and develop academic resources for ELLs and diverse student populations via linguistically and culturally responsive teaching practices.
