Name
Culturally-Sustaining Practices for Native American Learners and Beyond: Indigenous Pedagogy
Description

In this session, participants will engage in an interactive exploration of culturally-sustaining and culturally-revitalizing practices that honor Native American perspectives in education. Through a combination of presentation, discussion, and hands-on activities, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how these practices can be integrated into their teaching methodologies to create inclusive and empowering learning environments. The presentation will begin with an overview of the key principles underlying culturally-sustaining and culturally-revitalizing pedagogies, emphasizing the importance of centering Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in educational settings. We will then explore specific practices, such as place-based learning, which grounds education in local landscapes and communities, and storytelling, which preserves cultural traditions and fosters connection and empathy. Furthermore, we will examine the role of all-senses experiential learning in engaging learners on a deeper level, trust building as a foundation for meaningful relationships between educators, families, and students, and affirming Native American students to validate their identities and experiences. Finally, we will discuss the importance of recognizing Indigenous ways of knowing, which acknowledges diverse ways of understanding the world and promotes critical thinking and cultural resilience. In the second part of the presentation, the presenter will demonstrate how these practices can be applied across diverse content areas, using a practical example to illustrate their implementation in real-world educational contexts. Attendees will have the opportunity to collaborate and brainstorm ways to adapt these practices to their own teaching environments, ensuring that all students feel seen, heard, and valued in the classroom.

Track
GENERAL
Date
Friday, October 18, 2024
Time
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Professional Development (Renewal) Units
2
Type of Session
Session - In-Person
This sectional targets grade level(s):
All
Handout
Handout II
Handout III
Capacity
31