Plenary Presentation
by Julia Sarris
Teaching in K-12 Multicultural Classrooms: Challenges and Opportunities
We are living in an era of increasing globalization and migration. People around the world are moving to places where they can experience a better life for themselves and their families. Globalization and migration bring vibrancy to a community. But they also bring challenges to our classrooms, which have become increasingly multilingual and multicultural. It is now imperative that every student possess language skills, including bilingualism, that will enable them to move and work in multicultural environments. Additionally, it has become imperative that every student possess the understanding, empathy, and acceptance of other people and cultures with whom they will now interact on a daily basis.
In this plenary session, Dr. Julia Sarris will discuss the challenges and opportunities that globalization and multiculturalism bring to our classrooms. The session is grounded in her teaching philosophy that every teacher teach every child every day, regardless of their culture, religion, or social class. Dr. Sarris will outline the need for teachers to be better supported in teaching in multicultural and multilingual classrooms so that teachers and students can thrive in their multicultural classrooms. She will discuss approaches to teaching that include students from diverse backgrounds, enhance student engagement and motivation, and prepare all students for an increasingly globalized society.
Short Bio:
Dr. Sarris holds a PhD in Education, Social, Multicultural and Bilingual Foundations from the University of Colorado - Boulder. She also holds an MA in Linguistics/TESOL. She has taught English as an additional language in the US for many years, with students from more than 50 different countries. She currently teaches K12 teachers through the Universities of Colorado - Boulder and Denver. Dr. Sarris' teaching philosophy surrounds her students, and she believes in teaching every student, every day such that all students can reach their potential. She feels that to reach that goal teachers need the best training and support possible, particularly for teachers working in multicultural and multilingual classrooms. Dr. Sarris and her husband live in Boulder, and enjoy hiking, camping, and being outdoors in Colorado's mountains.
We are living in an era of increasing globalization and migration. People around the world are moving to places where they can experience a better life for themselves and their families. Globalization and migration bring vibrancy to a community. But they also bring challenges to our classrooms, which have become increasingly multilingual and multicultural. It is now imperative that every student possess language skills, including bilingualism, that will enable them to move and work in multicultural environments. Additionally, it has become imperative that every student possess the understanding, empathy, and acceptance of other people and cultures with whom they will now interact on a daily basis.
In this plenary session, Dr. Julia Sarris will discuss the challenges and opportunities that globalization and multiculturalism bring to our classrooms. The session is grounded in her teaching philosophy that every teacher teach every child every day, regardless of their culture, religion, or social class. Dr. Sarris will outline the need for teachers to be better supported in teaching in multicultural and multilingual classrooms so that teachers and students can thrive in their multicultural classrooms. She will discuss approaches to teaching that include students from diverse backgrounds, enhance student engagement and motivation, and prepare all students for an increasingly globalized society.
Short Bio:
Dr. Sarris holds a PhD in Education, Social, Multicultural and Bilingual Foundations from the University of Colorado - Boulder. She also holds an MA in Linguistics/TESOL. She has taught English as an additional language in the US for many years, with students from more than 50 different countries. She currently teaches K12 teachers through the Universities of Colorado - Boulder and Denver. Dr. Sarris' teaching philosophy surrounds her students, and she believes in teaching every student, every day such that all students can reach their potential. She feels that to reach that goal teachers need the best training and support possible, particularly for teachers working in multicultural and multilingual classrooms. Dr. Sarris and her husband live in Boulder, and enjoy hiking, camping, and being outdoors in Colorado's mountains.
