preconferences

1.01. Savage Unrealities: Uncovering Classism in Ruby Payne's Framework. Payne has become a leading voice on poverty, class, and schooling. In this interactive preconference institute, presenters show why this trend and Payne’s work are regressive by uncovering underlying assumptions and classism in her A Framework for Understanding Poverty. This institute will interest educators using or planning to use Payne’s work. Presenters: Paul C. Gorski, Hamline University (MN); Roberta Ahlquist, San Jose State University (CA); Virginia M. Lea, Sonoma State University (CA); and Theresa Montaño, California State University, Northridge.

1.02. Black Students. White Teachers. We CAN Do It! This PK-16 teacher & administrator preconference institute outlines cultural discontinuities that exist between African American students and mainstream white culture, and describes how these differences play out in school settings. Practical strategies will be given to help educators overcome these discontinuities in order to reach the learner and raise achievement. Presenter: Tania Zaverta Chance, White Bear Lake Area Schools (MN).

1.03. The Raging Storm: Teachers Engaged in Critical Dialogue on Issues of Race and Social Justice. This preconference institute addresses the critical need for preparing teachers to work as allies and advocates for diverse young children and their families. The ramifications of using critical reflection and dialogue around issues of race/ethnicity, power, white privilege, and educational practice are discussed. This institute will benefit teacher educators, administrators, and teachers at all levels. Presenters: Elaisa Sánchez-Gosnell, Jorge P. Osterling, Sylvia Y. Sánchez, Eva K. Thorp, Dennis W. Webster, George Mason University (VA)

1.04. Out of the School Closet. Participants in this preconference institute will explore their own beliefs about how schools respond to issues of sexual orientation in the curriculum, and how to interact with and serve gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students and GLBT teachers and school staff members. The institute will be highly interactive. Presenters: Thomas S. Serwatka and Richmond Wynn, University of North Florida.

1.05. Talking about Religious Oppression and Unpacking Christian Privilege. Using the DAAA (Denial, Awareness, Acceptance, and Action) sequential model, Beverly Tatum’s 8-step privilege model, and the work of Iris Marion Young, preconference institute attendees will explore the manifestations of Christian privilege in American society and U.S. schools. A list of definitions will be shared to facilitate discussion of the power to marginalize that Christian privilege affords a portion of the population. Through both interactive exercises and mini-presentations, participants will explore, identify, and discuss religious oppression. Participants will also be given strategies for facilitating topics related to religion as well as other handouts such as definitions and samples of activities. Presenters: Warren J. Blumenfeld and Ellen E. Fairchild, Iowa State University; and Khyati Y. Joshi, Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ).

1.06. Knowledge Bases for Cultural Diversity in Teacher Education: Meeting NCATE Standards for Diversity. This preconference institute is designed to assist higher education administrators in redesigning their teacher education programs to meet the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standard on diversity, with an emphasis on curriculum and assessment. Registration includes a copy of the book Common Sense about Uncommon Knowledge, by G. Pritchy Smith. Presenters: Donna M. Gollnick, NCATE (DC); and G. Pritchy Smith, University of North Florida.

1.07. The Unbearable Whiteness of Being: Dismantling White Privilege and Supporting Antiracist Education in our Classrooms and Schools. This preconference institute is designed to help educators identify and deconstruct their own white privilege and, in so doing, more deeply commit themselves to antiracist teaching and critical multicultural education. This institute is not intended as an “introduction to whiteness,” but instead focuses on a critical analysis of white privilege in ourselves, in society, and in our schools. This institute is very participatory and requires attendees to take risks and be open to self-reflection. Participants are invited to bring experiences from their educational environments to the discussion. This institute is geared toward P-12 educators, administrators and staff but will also benefit higher education, community education, and social service professionals. Presenter: Heather W. Hackman, St. Cloud State University (MN).

1.08. Is True Gender Equity Possible in the Face of Homophobia? As educators we have been aware of patterns of gender inequity in our schools, yet rarely make the connection between these patterns and the underlying implicit homophobia. Because these patterns are institutionalized, raised awareness is essential. Furthermore, homophobia and heterosexism are issues that educators feel uncomfortable or even unsafe addressing in their schools, even though these issues are critical to the dialogue regarding school climate and safety. With the knowledge and skills offered in this preconference institute, educators will become more adept at addressing homophobia and gender equity. Presenters: Lisa Cech and Carla Kindshi Sherrell, Boulder Valley School District (CO)

relevant for educational personnel who are not bilingual or familiar with immigrant and refugee students, this interactive preconference institute will look at the educational life of this student population, their families and communities, and give participants the skills to become ~~their~~ true advocates. Presenter: John Kibler, Tomotto Intercultural Consulting (IL)

1.10. Voice as Resistance: Balancing the Personal/Professional in Becoming a Multicultural Educator. In this preconference institute, educators will wrestle with how being effective as multicultural educators reflects and depends upon developing our voices. Participants will write, collaborate, and reflect on the role of personal voice in exploring how “positionality” fits within multicultural education. Presenters: Christopher S. Knaus, University of California; Chanira Reang Sperry, Art Institute of Seattle (WA); Erwin Thomas, Brooklyn (NY); Donna Watson, San Diego City College (CA); Steven Purcell Woodard, University of Washington.

1.11. Writing for Publication: Getting Your Work Published. This preconference institute is designed to assist anyone interested in publishing in professional journals or other related publications in the field of multicultural education. The editors of Multicultural Perspectives and other well-known authors and scholars in the field will walk participants through the necessary steps for publishing, as well as offer helpful tips for targeting appropriate publications. This institute is one of our most popular sessions! Presenters: Penelope L. Lisi, Editor of Multicultural Perspectives; Francisco Rios, Associate Editor of Multicultural Perspectives; Carl A. Grant, University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Linda McCarthy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

1.13. Separating Difference from Disability. This preconference institute addresses the challenges facing education professionals working with language minority students with learning and behavior problems, and provides an introduction to the assessment, intervention, and identification strategies that are most effective in separating difference from disability. Participants will receive copies of screening tools and information on best practices. Presenter: Catherine Collier, Cross Cultural Development Education Services (WA).

1:00-5:00 pm Piedmont

1.14. Making Theatre for Social Justice: Personal Testimony and Oral History as Tools of Empowerment. This preconference institute focuses on teaching simple techniques for using personal experience and oral history to create pieces of theatre focused on issues of social justice. These techniques can be used to empower a classroom, a school, or an entire community. This institute will be of benefit to teachers, administrators, community organizers, artists, and writers. Presenter: Russell Vandenbroucke, University of Louisville (KY)

1:00-5:00 pm Suite 226

1.15. Dreaming Together: Empowering Teacher Education Candidates to Become Multicultural Educators. This preconference institute is based on a conceptual framework for teaching about diversity and promoting pluralism. Participants will be provided with information concerning critical concepts for a multicultural curriculum, and will engage in activities that represent effective approaches to analyzing and understanding diversity issues. This institute is designed for teacher educators, instructors for general education diversity classes, and K-12 teachers. Presenters: Kent Koppelman and Richard Lee Goodhart, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.