Teach

Supplementing my coursework with a more global perspective has made learning a language more  engaging and more authentic! Students and parents have written me stating how much they enjoyed interacting with students in Senegal, learning about other school systems around the world, and taking action in our community to enhance literacy and school policies.

Some of the ways I've incorporated global awareness and citizenry in my classroom:

1. Emphasizing the skills needed for student success in class: Communication and Global Citizenry.

2. Allowing speakers to talk to the class where ever the opportunity arises. Some examples I've been able to bring to my classroom include:

a. Families who have lived abroad or who have immigrated from other places made videos to share with the class about their experiences.

b. A family friend of one of my students worked for the UN in Senegal and she visited my classroom via Zoom. Students were given opportunity to ask questions about working internationally as well as some of what her work entails. Previewing the questions in advance gave the presenter a heads-up on what to talk to about.

c. One of my administrators had a coworker in the National Guard who came in and shared stories and food with one of my classes.

3. Giving opportunities for cultural exchange through email and/ or exchanging packages. I've had classrooms abroad who weren't interested in connecting except through old-fashioned mail and students exchanged greetings and gifts. This can be expensive, however!  Email and Zoom calls are ideal and there are many non-profits who can help you arrange and find each other. The GCP with my district helped us connect and also engage in action together through a safe firewall in Google.

4. Integrating compare/contrast lessons to the curriculum. It's important that students understand their own culture as well as others' and these types of communication forces  more advanced and authentic language use. Using Harvard's Project Zero thinking routines help students to talk about how they are the same and different than others and how they can engage with society at large.

5. Students reflect on their growth as global citizens. I use portfolio assessments where students must show their growth both as communicators and as global citizens. They are motivated by sharing the portfolios with an authentic audience. In my classroom, parents, administrators, and community members are invited in to celebrate their growth through a gallery-style walk where students can share the content of their portfolios.

Below is a Project-based lesson which allows students to compare their school with schools around the world then encourages them to take action with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal SDG 4 (literacy) in mind. The first plan is the lesson formulated for Fulbright, and the second shows how I implemented the lesson with a school in France, and then with Senegal  through a Global Classroom Project (an FCPS initiative).