Global Voices conference equips area teachers to make literacy instruction culturally, linguistically inclusive
Kasie Corley |
Lipscomb University’s College of Education held the 2018 Global Voices Conference on April 14 with 120 local area teachers, future teachers and community members in the Ezell center on Lipscomb’s campus.
One hundred and twenty teachers spent their Saturday learning about how to positively impact their students regarding literacy instruction that is culturally and linguistically inclusive.
The conference is a professional development experience that offers teachers, future teachers and community members space to critically think about global voices within literacy.
“"It was exciting to see so many people engaged in developing an understanding both of global voices in literacy and also culturally responsive teaching practices,” said Deborah Boyd, dean of the College of Education.
The 2018 theme, “Reading and Writing in our World,” echoes the discussion from April 10 when Jason Reynolds, Parnassus Books, the Project LIT community and around 600 area middle school and high school students gathered on the Lipscomb campus to engage in conversation on the importance of reading, writing and telling our stories.
Discussion at the conference included topics such as how to select current linguistically and culturally diverse books in the K-12 classroom, family literacy resources from the Nashville Public Library, creating a culturally responsive classroom, information regarding the Americas Award and critical conversations around current events.
Lipscomb’s Pionero Scholars shared their expertise with literature in small group book discussions. In addition, Humphrey Scholars discussed international perspectives of educations with the participants. Parnassus Bookmobile was present to assist teachers in finding books that were discussed at the conference.
“It is critical for all students to see themselves in the classroom curriculum,” said Professor Jeanne Gilliam Fain. “As educators, we need to find concrete ways to honor the linguistic and cultural voices of all of our learners. Our teaching practice in literacy should powerfully reflect our students’ background knowledge and we need to continually reflect upon our teacher practice as we seek excellence in education.”
Want to know more about Lipscomb's College of Education? Visit education.lipscomb.edu.