How can understanding the term "identity" enhance your students' connection to their learning? Identity plays a critical role in shaping students' self-perception and engagement with learning materials, making it essential for fostering meaningful educational experiences. Join Natalie Mitchell for this hands-on, interactive workshop as we dive into the concept of identity mapping, using insights from Sara K Ahmed’s “Being the Change” and Liz Kleinrock’s “Start Here, Start Now” to explore how to elevate identity work in your classroom. Prepare to unlock the power of identity mapping and create tools that support identity work all year long! Natalie’s expertise as a literacy consultant will equip you with the skills and resources to effectively use identity webs for self-discovery in book selection, writing tasks, and classroom partnerships, fostering a deeper exploration of students' identities. Key Takeaways Explore identity webs as tools for self-discovery and student empowerment. Learn how to integrate identity mapping into book selection, writing tasks, and classroom collaborations. Understand how to build an inclusive classroom environment that supports continuous identity work throughout the school year. Discover insights from “Being the Change” and “Start Here, Start Now” to elevate identity work in your teaching practice. Presented by Natalie Mitchell Natalie Mitchell is a literacy consultant who has worked as a staff development expert and literacy coach for over a decade. With her foundational roots in elementary education, she helps educators develop powerful teaching practices while growing a love for literacy in their classrooms. Natalie holds a master's degree in educational leadership, and she works alongside literacy coaches, campus leadership teams, and program directors to strengthen community and school culture.

Are you fully leveraging the benefits of diversity in your classroom? Diversity in education enriches the learning experience by exposing students to multiple perspectives, fostering critical thinking, and preparing them for a global society. Join Michelle Dragalin for this timesaving, to the point session as we explore five key benefits of creating a classroom that embraces diversity, including students with physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive differences. We will also address the challenges and barriers faced by students from diverse backgrounds and offer strategies for fostering an inclusive learning space. Get ready to transform your classroom into a vibrant, learning space that supports and celebrates every student’s unique background and potential! Michelle’s expertise in special education will provide you with the knowledge and tools to foster an inclusive educational environment while embracing and celebrating the richness that diversity brings to your classroom. Key Takeaways Explore the profound impact of diversity on student engagement and learning outcomes. Gain insight into the barriers and challenges faced by students from diverse backgrounds and how they affect academic achievement. Learn practical strategies to foster inclusivity and create a welcoming classroom environment for all students. Discover how to enhance your curriculum by incorporating diverse perspectives and materials that reflect your students' varied experiences. Presented by Michelle Dragalin Michelle Dragalin is a versatile online freelance writer, curriculum developer, adjunct professor, and instructional designer. With a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, as well as a specialist’s degree in educational technology, Michelle brings a wealth of expertise to the field. Her background includes roles as a paraprofessional and head start teacher, along with extensive experience in catering to diverse learners across Pre-K to tenth grades.

Are you eager to incorporate indigenous perspectives into your teaching practice and curriculum, honoring the diverse histories and experiences of Native American peoples? Indigenous peoples’ cultural traditions, customs, and contributions continue to shape and enrich the cultural landscape of Minnesota and beyond. Join Naomi Louise for this hands-on, interactive workshop as we synthesize the knowledge gained from the previous workshops and deepen our understanding of Minnesota Tribal Nations' cultural heritage and contemporary contributions. Get ready to embark on a journey to explore of the rich history, traditions, and contemporary impact of indigenous communities in Minnesota! Naomi’s expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion will provide you with resources you need to reflect on your personal and professional growth in understanding Indigenous perspectives and develop strategies for integrating these perspectives into your curriculum and classroom practices. This is workshop six of six for the series titled “Honoring Our Roots: Exploring the Cultural Heritage and Contributions of Minnesota Tribal Nations.” Key Takeaways Gain insights into the cultural legacy and traditions of Minnesota Tribal Nations, including their resilience, creativity, and spiritual connection to the land. Learn about the contemporary impact of Minnesota Tribal Nations in areas such as environmental conservation, economic development, education, healthcare, and cultural revitalization. Explore strategies for incorporating indigenous perspectives and knowledge into your teaching practice and curriculum, fostering cultural competence, empathy, and understanding among students. Reflect on your role as an educator and ally in supporting Minnesota Tribal Nations and identify concrete actions you can take to promote equity, justice, and respect for indigenous peoples. Presented by Naomi Louise Naomi Louise is a seasoned education professional with over two decades of experience and is the driving force and CEO of Innovative Educator Consulting. Renowned as an EdTech influencer and women in leadership strategist, she has held prestigious roles such as ISTE Faculty Instructional Coach, Google Certified Innovator, and National Intel Senior Trainer. Naomi’s expertise in brain-based instructional methods makes her a sought-after keynote speaker at education conferences around the globe. As a published author and empathetic educator, she is passionate about integrating STEM creativity into her teacher training programs.

Are you seeking practical strategies to promote cultural competence and support the academic success and well-being of Native American students? Culturally responsive teaching involves recognizing and honoring the diverse cultural backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of students, including those of Native American heritage. Join Naomi Louise for this hands-on, interactive workshop as we explore strategies for integrating culturally responsive teaching practices and developing culturally relevant curriculum to better serve Native American students. Get ready to embark on a journey to effectively integrate indigenous perspectives and culture into your teaching practice and curriculum! Naomi’s expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion will provide you with resources you need to incorporate indigenous perspectives into lesson plans, brainstorm on how to adapt existing curriculum to be more culturally relevant, role-play scenarios to practice responding to culturally sensitive situations in the classroom and design a STEM curriculum unit integrating traditional ecological knowledge and practices. This is workshop five of six for the series titled “Honoring Our Roots: Exploring the Cultural Heritage and Contributions of Minnesota Tribal Nations.” Key Takeaways Gain insights into the principles and practices of culturally responsive teaching, including building relationships, incorporating indigenous perspectives, and promoting student voice and agency. Learn strategies for developing culturally relevant curriculum that reflects the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American peoples, while also meeting academic standards and learning objectives. Explore resources and tools for incorporating indigenous perspectives and culture into various subject areas, including language arts, social studies, science, and mathematics. Reflect on your own cultural biases and assumptions and consider how to approach teaching and curriculum development in a way that honors and respects the cultural identities and backgrounds of Native American students. Presented by Naomi Louise Naomi Louise is a seasoned education professional with over two decades of experience and is the driving force and CEO of Innovative Educator Consulting. Renowned as an EdTech influencer and women in leadership strategist, she has held prestigious roles such as ISTE Faculty Instructional Coach, Google Certified Innovator, and National Intel Senior Trainer. Naomi’s expertise in brain-based instructional methods makes her a sought-after keynote speaker at education conferences around the globe. As a published author and empathetic educator, she is passionate about integrating STEM creativity into her teacher training programs.

Are you interested on learning about actionable steps you can take to support indigenous communities and amplify their voices in the fight for justice and equality? Contemporary issues facing Minnesota Tribal Nations include challenges such as land rights, environmental justice, healthcare disparities, educational inequities, and cultural preservation. Join Naomi Louise for this hands-on, interactive workshop and examine the struggles facing Minnesota Tribal Nations and explore avenues for advocacy and support. Get ready to embark on a journey to explore obstacles facing Minnesota Tribal Nations today, and how educators can play a role in advocating for positive change! Naomi’s expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion will provide you with resources you need to analyze a case study of historical and ongoing issues for Native American rights, develop an action plan for advocating for Indigenous rights within educational institutions, and create a multimedia campaign raising awareness about environmental issues affecting Minnesota Tribal Nations. This is workshop four of six for the series titled “Honoring Our Roots: Exploring the Cultural Heritage and Contributions of Minnesota Tribal Nations.” Key Takeaways Gain a deeper understanding of the contemporary issues facing Minnesota Tribal Nations, including their root causes, impacts, and implications for indigenous communities' well-being and sovereignty. Learn about effective strategies for advocacy and support, including ways to amplify indigenous voices, advocate for policy change, and address systemic injustices and disparities. Explore resources and tools for educators to engage in meaningful advocacy and allyship, including curriculum resources, professional development opportunities, and community partnerships. Reflect on your role as an educator and ally in supporting indigenous communities and identify concrete actions you can take to advocate for positive change and promote equity and justice. Presented by Naomi Louise Naomi Louise is a seasoned education professional with over two decades of experience and is the driving force and CEO of Innovative Educator Consulting. Renowned as an EdTech influencer and women in leadership strategist, she has held prestigious roles such as ISTE Faculty Instructional Coach, Google Certified Innovator, and National Intel Senior Trainer. Naomi’s expertise in brain-based instructional methods makes her a sought-after keynote speaker at education conferences around the globe. As a published author and empathetic educator, she is passionate about integrating STEM creativity into her teacher training programs.

Are you eager to learn how to support and participate in initiatives that promote cultural resilience and strengthen indigenous identities? Cultural revitalization initiatives within Minnesota Tribal Nations encompass a wide range of activities, including language revitalization, traditional arts and crafts revival, cultural education programs, and intergenerational knowledge transmission. Join Naomi Louise for this hands-on, interactive workshop and examine efforts towards cultural revitalization within Minnesota Tribal Nations and strategies for community engagement and collaboration. Get ready to embark on a journey to discover the transformative initiatives and partnerships driving cultural renewal and empowerment in indigenous communities! Naomi’s expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion will provide you with resources you need to explore how educational podcasting can preserve one's oral language and revitalization efforts, discuss the importance of cultural sensitivity in educational settings, brainstorm potential partnership projects between schools and Tribal Nations, and develop a community-based STEM program that incorporates traditional knowledge and practices. This is workshop three of six for the series titled “Honoring Our Roots: Exploring the Cultural Heritage and Contributions of Minnesota Tribal Nations.” Key Takeaways Gain insights into the cultural revitalization efforts underway within Minnesota Tribal Nations, including their goals, challenges, and impact on community well-being and resilience. Learn about effective strategies for community engagement and collaboration in cultural revitalization initiatives, drawing upon successful case studies and best practices from indigenous communities. Explore resources and tools for supporting cultural revitalization efforts within your own community or educational context, including ways to integrate indigenous perspectives into your teaching practice and curriculum. Reflect on your role as an educator and ally in supporting cultural revitalization and community empowerment and identify concrete actions you can take to contribute to positive change. Presented by Naomi Louise Naomi Louise is a seasoned education professional with over two decades of experience and is the driving force and CEO of Innovative Educator Consulting. Renowned as an EdTech influencer and women in leadership strategist, she has held prestigious roles such as ISTE Faculty Instructional Coach, Google Certified Innovator, and National Intel Senior Trainer. Naomi’s expertise in brain-based instructional methods makes her a sought-after keynote speaker at education conferences around the globe. As a published author and empathetic educator, she is passionate about integrating STEM creativity into her teacher training programs.

Are you seeking to deepen your understanding of indigenous perspectives and incorporate them into your teaching routines and curriculum? Traditional practices such as ceremonies, drumming, dance, and art play a vital role in Native American communities, fostering spiritual connection, healing, and cultural revitalization. Join Naomi Louise for this hands-on, interactive workshop and discover the traditions, lifeways and cultural significance of various aspects of Native American life in Minnesota and beyond. Get ready to embark on a journey to uncover the timeless wisdom of Native American communities! Naomi’s expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion will provide you with the resources you need to engage in traditional crafts or cooking, share traditional stories and their cultural significance, explore an online exhibit highlighting traditional practices and artifacts, and design a sustainable agriculture project inspired by traditional farming methods. This is workshop two of six for the series titled “Honoring Our Roots: Exploring the Cultural Heritage and Contributions of Minnesota Tribal Nations.” Key Takeaways Gain insights into the traditional practices and lifeways of Native American communities in Minnesota and surrounding regions, including their cultural significance and contemporary relevance. Learn strategies for respectfully integrating indigenous perspectives into your teaching practice and curriculum, honoring the wisdom and resilience of Native American peoples. Explore resources and partnerships for collaborating with local tribal communities to incorporate authentic cultural experiences and perspectives into your classroom instruction. Reflect on your own cultural biases and assumptions and consider how to approach teaching about Native American lifeways in a respectful, accurate, and meaningful way. Presented by Naomi Louise Naomi Louise is a seasoned education professional with over two decades of experience and is the driving force and CEO of Innovative Educator Consulting. Renowned as an EdTech influencer and women in leadership strategist, she has held prestigious roles such as ISTE Faculty Instructional Coach, Google Certified Innovator, and National Intel Senior Trainer. Naomi’s expertise in brain-based instructional methods makes her a sought-after keynote speaker at education conferences around the globe. As a published author and empathetic educator, she is passionate about integrating STEM creativity into her teacher training programs.

Are you interested in learning how to respectfully integrate indigenous perspectives into your teaching practice and curriculum? Minnesota is home to eleven federally recognized Native American tribes, each with its own distinct languages, traditions, and histories spanning thousands of years. Join Naomi Louise for this hands-on, interactive workshop and discover the rich cultural heritage of Native American tribes in Minnesota, highlighting their historical significance and contemporary contributions to society. Get ready to embark on a journey to discover the vibrant traditions, customs, and contributions of Minnesota Tribal Nations! Naomi’s expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion will provide you with the resources you need to experience virtual tours of significant cultural sites, discuss of the impact of colonization on indigenous communities, explore the importance of interactive storytelling, and create a digital map displaying important landmarks and cultural sites using geographic information systems (GIS). This is workshop one of six for the series titled “Honoring Our Roots: Exploring the Cultural Heritage and Contributions of Minnesota Tribal Nations.” Key Takeaways Gain a deeper understanding of the cultural diversity and resilience of Minnesota Tribal Nations, including their languages, traditions, and contemporary contributions. Learn strategies for integrating indigenous perspectives and knowledge into your teaching practice and curriculum, fostering a more inclusive and culturally responsive learning environment. Explore resources and partnerships for collaborating with local tribal communities to enrich students' understanding of indigenous histories and contemporary issues. Reflect on your own cultural biases and assumptions and consider how to approach teaching about Native American tribes in a respectful, accurate, and meaningful way. Presented by Naomi Louise Naomi Louise is a seasoned education professional with over two decades of experience and is the driving force and CEO of Innovative Educator Consulting. Renowned as an EdTech influencer and women in leadership strategist, she has held prestigious roles such as ISTE Faculty Instructional Coach, Google Certified Innovator, and National Intel Senior Trainer. Naomi’s expertise in brain-based instructional methods makes her a sought-after keynote speaker at education conferences around the globe. As a published author and empathetic educator, she is passionate about integrating STEM creativity into her teacher training programs.

Session Description: Diversity is what makes each of us unique and includes many aspects: race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, medical beliefs, age, gender, religious beliefs, and even political convictions. All these components come together to inform how we, and our students, encounter the world. Join Michelle Dragalin as she shares strategies that will help promote diversity in the classroom, honor each child's individuality, promote acceptance as a group, and enrich the learning experience for our students. You will also walk away with a checklist of items to look for in your curriculum materials as well as the language used in instructional delivery. Assessment: Participants will join a collaborative backchannel chat and discuss strategies to support diversity in the classroom to demonstrate their understanding of the session objective and reflect on their learning.

Presented by: Courtney Teague Session Description: Join Dr. Courtney Teague, a global education leadership trainer, for this learning experience where teachers will engage in deep reflection about how race impacts teachers perceptions of students of color. The participants will examine implicit biases, and learn strategies to advance equity within their teaching practices.

Have you ever wondered how to create a classroom where every student's culture is not just acknowledged, but woven into the very fabric of learning? In today's exceptionally diverse classrooms, embracing cultural relevance is more than just a choice – it is imperative. Join Michelle Dragalin as she takes you on an inspiring journey, uncovering strategies that will transform your curriculum from one that is standardized to genuinely reflective of your students' lives. Get ready to unlock the artistry of crafting lessons that truly resonate with your diverse learners. Michelle’s expertise will empower you to create a classroom where cultural relevance is not just a concept, but a thriving reality! Key Takeaways Understand why culturally relevant curriculum choices are a cornerstone in fostering an environment where every student feels valued and represented. Learn actionable techniques to seamlessly infuse your curriculum with diverse perspectives, boosting engagement and comprehension. Gain access to a curated collection of resources that will become your toolkit for creating culturally resonant lesson plans. Discover how culturally relevant curriculum choices can rejuvenate your teaching, bringing enthusiasm and motivation to your students. Presented by Michelle Dragalin Michelle Dragalin is a versatile online freelance writer, curriculum developer, adjunct professor, and instructional designer. With a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, as well as a specialist’s degree in educational technology, Michelle brings a wealth of expertise to the field. Her background includes roles as a paraprofessional and head start teacher, along with extensive experience in catering to diverse learners across Pre-K to tenth grades.

If you are a general education teacher looking for ways to connect with your English Language Learners (ELLs), you are not alone! Join Mariel Gomez de la Torre for this time-saving, to the point session as she shares strategies for building and maintaining positive relationships with Latino families that will improve student learning. You will also walk away with a list of resources and activities to create an environment that is welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for English Language Learners and their families. Presented by Mariel Gomez de la Torre

Culturally responsive teaching is a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students’ cultural references in all aspects of learning. Join Michelle Dragalin as she shares four benefits of culturally responsive teaching and how it can build a classroom environment that encourages students to be active participants in their learning. You will also walk away with strategies to encourage knowledge-sharing about diverse cultures amongst the children in your classroom, promote student engagement and increase academic performance. Presented by: Michelle Dragalin