Developing a Multi-District Culturally & Linguistically Responsive Teaching Initiative

Presented by Wisconsin expert educators Michelle Belnavis and Andreal Davis
Sponsored by Ventris Learning

WATCH THE WEBINAR RECORDING

Within 24 hours after the live event, a CE certificate is emailed to live attendees who logged in online with their email address. To get your CE certificate for logging in live by phone, or for watching the recording, join the Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching community and go to the Webinar Archives folder to take the CE quiz. As a member of the community, you’ll also have access to additional resources and online discussions. 

Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching (CLRT) strives to help today’s teachers to meet the unique instructional needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students.

Experience how two expert teachers helped develop, nurture and grow seeds of best CLRT practices with five years of action research. Learn how this work led to the creation and implementation of a statewide initiative that is transforming hundreds of educators throughout the state of Wisconsin. The presenters demonstrated how book studies, articles, guest speakers, conferences/workshops, community site visits, school visits, coaching and modeling have been used to breathe new life into educators’ instructional practices.

The presenters framed their CLRT overview with:

• Cultural practices that are relevant
• A professional development component that entails 7 Experiences that fill educators’ hearts and minds with background knowledge about the cultures of students and families
• Read Your Heart Out, a literacy and family engagement component

Andreal and Michelle also discussed CLRT outcomes and how data has been used to inform future programming and identify areas needing continued improvement, specifically in literacy.
 

Michelle Belnavis, Culturally Responsive Technical Assistance Coordinator at the Wisconsin Response to Intervention Center (RtI), taught elementary school for 25 years, as a classroom teacher and reading specialist before working in several district level positions at Madison MSD. In her current role, Michelle develops and provides content and evaluation related to culturally responsive practices designed to lead to behavior and academic student success for all students. Michelle holds BS and Masters degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Andreal De-Ette Davis, Culturally Responsive Practices Coordinator for the Wisconsin Response to Intervention Center (RtI), is a former elementary teacher, reading specialist, and district administrator who co-founded a weekend/summer academic and cultural enrichment program, and developed a multicultural reading curriculum. Andreal trains practitioners across the state in culturally responsive practices. Recipient of a Milken National Educator Award in 2004, Andreal holds BS and Masters Degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a second Masters degree from Edgewood College.

 
WATCH THE WEBINAR RECORDING
 

Created by leading experts, our language & literacy innovations enable teachers to meet the unique instructional needs of linguistically diverse students. We believe language development support helps all children succeed academically. Our programs are infused with Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching practices, with strategies that respect, affirm, and build upon differing languages, varieties and cultures. We aspire to enhance educator’s awareness and understanding of unbiased teaching practices, and to help educators realize the faulty nature of deficit-based thinking.