Building Comunidad (Community)

Virtual Gallery Walk is an active learning strategy where students move in groups or individually through different stations where questions and prompts are posted for students to share knowledge and work collaboratively. This exercise, a “gallery walk” icebreaker, is called “Conocimiento” and is used in Catch the Next trainings and has its origins in the Chicano movement, where it was used as a way to foster dialogue and understanding among those gathered to work for the Movimiento. This activity also includes questions to facilitate setting norms in the classroom.

Methodologies

The primary objective of this module is to equip educators with a diverse range of teaching strategies and approaches that can be adapted to meet the needs of diverse learners. By providing a variety of techniques, such as strong lines, popcorn reading, free-writing prompts, quick writes, think-pair-share, jigsaw reading, gallery walks, exit tickets, and muddy paper, this module aims to increase student engagement, differentiate instruction, promote critical thinking and problem-solving, enhance communication skills, and build community.

An Asset Based Approach: Leveraging Cultural Capital in the Classroom

This session will explore an asset-based approach to education, focusing on recognizing and valuing students' cultural capital. We will delve into key theories and practices that can help educators create inclusive and empowering learning environments.

My Name

By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Reflect on the personal significance of their names. Analyze the cultural and historical context of names. Communicate their personal narratives related to their names in a written format. Appreciate the diversity of names and the stories behind them. Foster a sense of belonging and community by sharing personal experiences.

Spirit Crushers

By the end of the lesson participants will be able to: Analyze the concept of belonging, courage, and trust as presented in Brené Brown's speech. Reflect on their own experiences with belonging and identify personal "spirit crushers" and "spirit lifters." Communicate their reflections in writing and share them with peers to foster a sense of community and acceptance.

Dream Map

By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Apply the SMART goal criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to set personal and academic goals. Explore the concept of success and its various definitions. Analyze the participant's personal goals and dreams. Create a visual Dream Map using Padlet's Sandbox. Deliver effective presentations using the Sandbox presentation format.

Wrapping it Up & Next Steps

Objectives: By the end of this academy, participants will be able to: Reflect on their learning journey throughout the course. Identify key takeaways and insights gained from the sessions. Connect the course content to their teaching practices. Develop a personalized action plan to implement the learned strategies in their classrooms. Cultivate a sense of community and shared learning with fellow participants.