Welcome to the 2019 Alaska Cross Content Conference at West High School in Anchorage, AK, October 25th and 26th with follow up activities at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sunday, October 27th.
Presenter will share proven research-based strategies for being a culturally-responsive K-12 teacher. Take part in hands-on activities and share/gain ideas for creating a safe classroom environment and respectful climate where students are engaged and want to learn.Teaching Through Culture is all about respect, relationship-building, and knowing your students.
Teachers will learn activities and tools from the Arctic and Earth STEM Integrating GLOBE and NASA Assets project, which engages learners in climate change research and action from local to global scales. This hands-on session will model activities to develop a scientific investigation and stewardship action project that aligns with changes elders and community leaders have identified as important, student observations and interests, curriculum standards, and data needs in climate science at larger scales.
Co-Presenters: Elena Sparrow (UAF International Arctic Research Center), Greg Kahoe (UAF School of Education)
How can environmental educators build bridges between schools and rural and Indigenous communities to engage youth in efforts to respond and adapt to environmental change? Learn about training and supporting teachers to build community connections and engage students in community problem-solving with the support of a toolkit on AdaptAlaska.org.
In this interactive session, educators will discuss how they teach with a global and geographic perspective, reflecting on their teaching missions and collaborating to build upon one another’s best project ideas. They’ll also be introduced to National Geographic’s Learning Framework, which is a set of attitudes, skills, and knowledge areas that embody the attributes of an explorer—one who seeks solutions to our world’s most pressing problems.
This session counts as Phase 1 of the free professional learning program known as the National Geographic Educator Certification Program. As educators go on to complete Phases 2 and 3, they will have the opportunity to try out new lessons and activities that challenge students to solve real-world problems. National Geographic Certified Educators also receive special access to National Geographic education resources and an online community of like-minded peers.
Alexandra (she/her/hers) serves as Director of Educator Network at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. Each and every day she has the pleasure of working with young people and educators who are addressing the planet's most pressing problems. Previously, Alexandra... Read More →
Alaska schools represent great student diversity, and classroom teachers must create learning environments where all students experience success. This session will explore the importance of culturally relevant pedagogy and describe specific classroom practices that promote educational equity.
I have 15 years of broad experiences in PreK–12 public schools and higher education as a classroom teacher and teacher educator. I am passionate about advocating for high-quality literacy teaching and learning among learners of all levels. As an ILA Board Member, I am honored to... Read More →
It's a misconception that culturally responsive instruction has to mention race. There is so much more! Culturally responsive instruction involves getting to know your students' values, interests, and ultimately helping them find their identity and navigate the world through their identity. Educators have to talk openly about bias and become aware of their own implict biases to create healthy student-teacher relationships and narrow interpretations of learning that ignore the incredible cultural tools that students bring to class. Let's utilize active learning strategies, personal stories and practices to engage all learners. In this session we will be positively open about who we are and how we can form meaningful relationships to foster academic success.
Teaching in rural Alaska for seven years is where I learned the value of culturally responsive teaching and the incorporation of indigenous knowledge. I worked with community members to develop a successful reading program that included Yup’ik elders telling traditional oral stories... Read More →
Teachers will learn about the components of a math trail, including how to lead students in creating a math trail in their own communities. Examples of existing math trails will be shared, and time to develop a plan to engage students in creating a math trail will be given. Let’s share ideas about math trails and how we can leverage a trail to bring the math practices alive!
We will walk you through the process of how to intertwine Indigenous knowledge and western science (GLOBE, observations and measurements) in investigating our changing environment through hands on activities and group discussions.
This session will help you and your students think critically and holistically, and consider the importance of multiple knowledge systems in STEM teaching and learning.
You will walk away with ready-to-use lesson plans.
Co-Presenters/Co-Contributors: Malinda Chase, Marie Dayton, Nicole James (Association of Interior Native Educators), Elena Sparrow, Katie Spellman, Christi Buffington (UAF International Arctic Research Center)