Latin America and North Carolina

2017 Seminar

Schedule | Sessions | Pre-program Materials | Speakers

Schedule

Sessions

Concurrent Sessions I: Understanding and Teaching Latin America

K-12 and Community College

1. Costa Rica: Latin America Migrant Crisis

*Required for Costa Rica/Nicaragua study visit participants
Fabiola Salas Villalobos, Middle School Faculty, Department of Foreign Language, Durham Academy

In April 2016 7,000 Cubans entered Costa Rica. In May, an estimated 9,000 Africans entered Costa Rica. And in June, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that more than 20,000 Africans were in transit to the United States and would pass through Costa Rica on the way. Each of these migrant groups has a different journey and migrants have different experiences as they travel toward their final destination, the United States. This session presents media narratives, government approaches, solutions and the current state of this migrant crisis, with close attention to its multiple layers of complexity affecting migrants, host countries and the region.

2. Migration of Mexicans to the United States

Remedios Gómez Arnau, Consul General, Consulate General of Mexico in Raleigh, North Carolina

The Consul General will provide a broad overview of the origin of Mexican migration to the United States and how it has impacted the bilateral relation between Mexico and the United States throughout the years.

3. Health Issues in Latin America

Raúl Necochea, Associate Professor, Department of Social Medicine and Department of History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

This session will address attendees’ questions about health topics in Latin America, including forms of health services available, main health concerns for Latin Americans and emerging health issues for Latin American migrants in the United States.

K-12

4. Américas Award Books: Resources on Latin America, the Caribbean and Latinx Communities

Emily Chávez, Outreach Coordinator, UNC-Duke Consortium in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Francis Curiel, Student, Department of English, Duke University
Daniela López, Student, Department of Global Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

This session will introduce teachers to the Américas Award books. The Américas Award was founded in 1993 to encourage and commend authors, illustrators and publishers who produce quality children’s and young adult books that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean or Latinos in the United States and provide teachers with recommendations for classroom use. We will discuss the importance of culturally relevant and diverse literature in the classroom, expose teachers to some of the award-winning titles and corresponding curriculum guides and share the UNC-Duke Consortium’s initiatives to support schools and teachers in accessing and utilizing these materials.

K-12 and Community College

5. Education and Opportunities for Brazilian Youth

Frederico L. Castellões, Lecturer, Department of Romance Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Patricia Fuentes Lima, Lecturer, Department of Romance Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

This session will explore the new Brazilian National Education Plan, the Plano Nacional de Educação (PNE, 2014) and reflect on its 20 benchmarks for the public schools of Rio de Janeiro. These targets have a 10-year timeframe and cover all aspects, from preschool to professional training. We’ll also look at the transculturation of the old education system into the new objectives of the PNE and its implementation.

Concurrent Sessions II: Teaching Latin America and Latinx Students

K-12 and Community College

6. Teatro del Oprimido: Using Latin American Theatre Practices to Empower Youth and Educators’ Collective Problem Solving

Michael Domínguez, Assistant Professor, School of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Alexa Schleien, Student, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

This highly interactive session will introduce participants to the Latin American theatre practice of teatro del oprimido (theater of the oppressed). Teatro seeks to create space for participants to learn and grow by actively confronting the challenges in their lives and worlds, creating community dialogues and space for collective problem solving. For historically marginalized youth (and their teachers), the practices of teatro can help develop an ability to confront, and disrupt, the challenges they face daily, and connect to Latin American history and practices. During our session, we will explore the roots of this practice in Latin America and show how teatro can be used in a range of classroom settings and for a range of educative purposes by actively participating in activities ourselves to “rehearse the revolution.” Participants can expect to leave this session having learned a new pedagogical tool that will help them and their students reflect on ways they might actively disrupt the everyday oppressions that exist in classrooms, schools and our own actions.

7. Integrating Latin American Art into the Classroom

Lisandra Estevez, Assistant Professor, Department of Art and Visual Studies, Winston-Salem State University

This session focuses on how teachers and instructors can incorporate Latin American art and history into their K-12 and community college classes. It will provide a general overview of educational materials and resources relevant to the rich and diverse art, history and geography of Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Part of this session’s discussion will address a racially and ethnically diverse group of artists, as well as the many women who made extraordinary contributions to the region’s visual culture. Hands-on, interactive activities will support high-touch, high-impact practices so that educators can creatively implement this material in their curricula.

8. Technology for ELs: Engage and Empower!

Anabel Gonzalez, Secondary ESL teacher, Iredell-Statesville Schools, and Trainer, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction English Learner Support Team
Karen Solis, Elementary ESL teacher, Gaston County Schools, and Trainer, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction English Learner Support Team

Meaningful and purposeful use of technology can transform instruction for ELs by enhancing and increasing academic achievement and accelerating English language acquisition. A variety of digital tools will be presented that will enhance the learning process and equip learners as they enter a technology-rich global marketplace.

9. Understanding the Latino Culture: Bridging the Gap for Student Success

MariaRosa Rangel, Senior Administrator, Office of Equity Affairs, Wake County Public School System

If your school is faced with a growing Latino population, this is the workshop for you. In this session, you will learn about Latino cultural norms and values, demographics and challenges faced by families and students immigrating to the United States. Participants will walk away with specific culturally relevant strategies to increase family engagement and student achievement.

10. Growing Success for ELs in the Content and Dual Language/Immersion Classroom

Ivanna Mann Thrower Anderson, ESL/Title III Consultant, N.C. Department of Public Instruction
Joan Lachance, Cato College of Education, University of North Carolina Charlotte

This interactive presentation will explore the NCDPI vision for ELs in North Carolina in the content, ESL and DL/I classroom. Participants will leave with ideas for how they can apply these ideas at the district and school level. Preservice preparation as well as in-service support will be discussed.

Concurrent Sessions III: Teaching Latin America and Latinx Students

K-12 and Community College

11. One Size Does Not Fit All: Using WIDA Can Do Descriptors to Make ESL-Friendly Classrooms

Christian Walter, ESL Specialist, Guilford County Schools

Have you ever wondered why some long-term ESL students easily get frustrated and can’t do the same work or projects as their peers? If you are a content teacher who wants to get a deeper understanding of effective differentiated instruction for ESL students (Standard IV A), this session is for you! This workshop unveils tools to interpret ESL WIDA scores to make better lesson plans. Participants will expand their ESL students’ awareness to better meet their needs and will also use the WIDA Can Do Descriptors through hands-on activities to improve lesson planning.

12. The SIOP Model: Academic Achievement for English Learners

Joanne Marino, ESL/Title III Consultant, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (retired)

Explore an instructional model intended for mainstream classrooms that helps all students, especially ELs, acquire academic knowledge as they develop English language proficiency. SIOP provides a framework for organizing instruction so that teachers are supported in planning and delivering high-quality instruction while addressing the linguistic needs of their students. SIOP can be implemented in all content areas, at all grade levels and at all English proficiency levels.

13. New Roots/ Nuevas Raíces: Voices from Carolina del Norte

Laura Villa-Torres, Outreach Assistant, New Roots, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Welcome to New Roots: Voices from Carolina del Norte, a digital archive that contains the oral histories of Latin American migrants in North Carolina and the experiences of North Carolinians that have worked for the integration of new settlers into the state. In this session, participants will increase their knowledge about Latinos in North Carolina, will understand how the digital archive works and will have the opportunity to practice with pre-prepared lesson plans.

K-12

14. Designing Lesson Plans to Integrate Cultural Diversity of ELs

Laura Bridges, ESL Lead Teacher, Rutherford County School

Integrating cultural diversity of EL students into teacher lesson plans is the focus of this session. Be prepared to view various lesson plan templates, ideas, activities and strategies that will help you blend your ELs’ backgrounds and unique perspectives into your practice. Learn to enrich your lessons and reach all of your students with these research-based resources.

Community College

15. Connecting Colleges to Central America: Capacity Building for Study Abroad

Suzanne LaVenture, Director of International Education, Davidson County Community College

DCCC was one of 16 institutions that recently won a $50,000 Capacity Building Grant for U.S. Undergraduate Study Abroad from the U.S. State Department. The proposal involved creating a service-learning program in Guatemala, which will occur in May 2017. Central Piedmont and Asheville-Buncombe Technical community colleges serve as consortium partners for the program. The session will cover the grant process and proposal and open a dialogue about potential study abroad consortia for North Carolina community colleges.

Pre-Program Materials

Week 1: Required Reading

“The Ethnic Groups That Still Believe in the American Dream.” Matt Vasilogambros, The Atlantic. March 8, 2016.

Week 2: Required Reading / Study Guide for Credit Certificate

A certificate for one and a half (1½) continuing education (CEU) credits for K-12 educators or 15 hours of professional development contact hours (PDCH) for community college educators will be awarded to participants who attend the Latin America and North Carolina seminar and complete the 2017 WV Latin America and North Carolina Seminar Study Guide (fillable Word document) based on the following required readings:

“U.S. Latino Population Growth and Dispersion Has Slowed Since Onset of the Great Recession.” Pew Research Center, Sept. 8, 2016.

“Demographic Profile of Hispanics in North Carolina.”  Pew Research Center, 2014

“Hispanic and Latino Identity Is Changing.” Mark Lopez, The New York Times, June 17, 2015

Week 3: Recommended Article

“U.S.-Cuban Relations,” Claire Felter, Brianna Lee, James McBride and Danielle Renwick, Council on Foreign Relations, Feb. 3, 2017

Week 4: Recommended Articles

“Brazil’s Youth See Their Future, And Her Name Is Ana Júlia,” Shannon Sims, Forbes, Oct. 27, 2016

“Welcoming Immigrant Students into the Classroom,” Sara Burnett, Edutopia, Jan. 27, 2015

Plenary Speakers