Current Course Schedule

Creating Classrooms That Embrace Difference (Grades Prek - 2)

We will explore how power and knowledge can be shared with students by allowing them to weave their own stories into the curriculum. Starting from this place, we will be better positioned to understand how classrooms can become educational spaces where students' identities, interests, skills, and expertise are honored. We will examine how storytelling, language, literature, and project-based making can support multiple funds of knowledge and ways of knowing.
  • Course Number
    TEWS850N
  • Focus On
    Pre-k - 2nd Grade
  • Category
    Childhood / Elementary School, Online
  • Registration Options and Cost
    $295 5.0 CTLE or 0.5 CEU

Sections

Summer 2 2024

  • Section 1:
    Date(s)
    July 24 I Online
    Day and Time
    Wednesday, 10:30 AM-4:00 PM ET
    Registration Deadline
    Jul 17, 2024
    Register
    • Kelly Bird
      Kelly Bird
      Dr. Kelly Bird is the Director of the Beginning School at Renbrook School in West Hartford, CT. In addition, she serves on the faculty of ISM and teaches a continuing education course at Bank Street College of Education in NYC called "Creating Classrooms that Embrace Difference". Previously, she served as a Coach for Teaching Apprentices in the Urban Teaching Apprenticeship Program at UPenn. She has also worked as a teacher (Packer Collegiate, Little Red School House, the Town School, NYC), Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid  (The Hewitt School, NYC), and Division Director (Friends’ Central School, PA). While working at Friends’ Central, Bird founded their innovative “Light Lab” a 2600 sq ft building that housed a comprehensive maker program and placed children at the center of their learning. She also has extensive experience facilitating diversity and inclusion conversations, reflecting her belief that children thrive in an environment in which they feel they belong. This fall she graduated from UPenn's Graduate School of Education with her EdD in Educational Leadership. Her dissertation focused on teachers' perception of choice and participation in maker education in independent schools. Bird earned a MSEd from Bank Street College of Education in elementary education and a BA in psychology/sociology from Wesleyan University. She is the President of Making Space, LLC and consults with schools on creating more equitable and interdisciplinary learning environments that promote student choice and participation.
"A great many ideas were shared about how to create inclusive settings through maker education, I like the idea of a loose parts dress-up area."

I took away "Ideas on how to frame and design maker spaces as places for individualized learning. Using loose parts and how to involve children in their organization and set-up, and how to introduce new materials periodically to invite deep exploration and experimentation. I also loved the idea of having children contribute agenda items for group meetings/circle times. I also loved the resources shared, and am excited about reading more from Gloria Ladson-Billings and Howard Stevenson."

"I very much appreciated the pacing of the class and how accessible the information was."