Transforming Practices for the Elementary Classroom

Practice has long been informed by research, but what happens when practitioners and researchers actually work together in an elementary classroom setting? Discover the power of using engaging and informative lesson plans, developed in elementary classrooms across the United States and backed by current research. Hear from both sides of the profession and understand how they come together for the benefit of the student. Discover the relationships children have with each other and the importance of culturally responsive instruction. Learn how to include empathy and a global outlook into curriculum without sacrificing state standards. Design engaging, interactive lessons that help students understand and produce complex academic texts. Understand the importance of helping students access the content and concepts of mainstream curriculum.

Judy Sharkey, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Education at the University of New Hampshire, USA. Her research focuses on teacher learning and development in plurilingual/immigrant communities and is informed by critical social justice teacher education. She values collaborative research and curriculum development projects with teachers, students, and community members. Holly Hansen-Thomas is Professor of ESL and Bilingual Education at Texas Woman’s University. A two-time Fulbright Scholar, and successful grant writer/manager of approximately 7 million dollars in federal funding, she has worked with EL educators for decades. Her research interests include language awareness, ESL training for content area teachers, and academic language development.