Culturally Responsive Teaching: Building Connected Classroom Communities

Friday, November 13, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (online via Zoom)

How can we create classroom environments that reflect students’ languages, cultures, identities, and experiences, where students feel valued in the learning process? This two-hour interactive workshop introduces the foundations of culturally responsive teaching and explores practical ways instructors can build on the cultural and linguistic strengths students bring to the classroom. Participants will consider how course materials, examples, activities, and classroom interactions can represent and honor a variety of cultures and perspectives while creating opportunities for students to share their own experiences and knowledge. Through hands-on activities and useful strategies, participants will explore ways to make learning more interactive, social, and culturally relevant, including gamifying course material, incorporating culture-sharing activities, using diverse instructional resources, and drawing on students’ languages and lived experiences as assets for learning. Participants will leave with practical ideas for incorporating culturally responsive teaching into their existing courses and creating classrooms where students feel seen, valued, and engaged.

Workshop Learning Objectives:

• Define culturally responsive teaching (CRT) and explain its role in creating inclusive, equitable, and engaging learning environments.

• Identify ways to build on students’ cultural, linguistic, and lived experiences as assets in the classroom.

• Evaluate instructional materials and activities for cultural representation, inclusivity, and opportunities for students to see their identities and experiences reflected.

• Apply culturally responsive strategies to make classroom learning more interactive, collaborative, social, and meaningful.

• Develop practical ways to incorporate culture sharing and diverse perspectives into their existing courses and classroom activities.

Presenter:

Meg has a doctorate in Literacy Education and is currently a college professor teaching ESL, Reading, Composition, and College Success. She was named the TESOL International Teacher of the Year in 2022 and has over two decades of experience teaching English language learners. She has teaching and curriculum development experience spanning from early childhood to adult learners in a variety of roles as a nonprofit Executive Director, a K-12 educator, a curriculum and assessment designer, and a higher education professional. She is a published author and has presented on TESOL and Adult Basic Education topics to a wide variety of audiences.

Micocredential Categories:

• Fundamental Skills (F)
• Civic, Cultural, and Current Events (C) 

This workshop is free to staff of all Massachusetts non-profit ABE and ESOL Programs.

First Literacy does not receive any state or federal funding and we work very hard to raise 100% of our budget from private sources. Please consider making a donation to First Literacy so we can continue to offer FREE high quality professional development workshops.