Supporting children to see their assets requires an ecosystem of welcome and belonging. Explore Greek culture and learn from their education challenges and successes. The ecosystem of welcome and belonging framework includes strategies for “philotimo,” cultivating connected leaders, repairing /strengthening community, and empowering teachers & students through global collaboration. As a globally-connected educator, be empowered to take steps to build an ecosystem of belonging for all.
"Erin McCarthy was a wealth of information and most definitely included realistic information, studied answers, and real life examples on how she brings her Greek life back to the classroom. She is incredibly smart, empathetic and easy to listen to and absorb." - 2022 WEAC Professional Learning Institute Attendee |
"I definitely walked away with things I will incorporate into my classes and study halls to make my learners hopefully feel more connected. I already do some things, but I walked away with more ideas!" - 2022 WEAC Professional Learning Institute Attendee |
Lessons from Philotimo: the ecosystem of belonging & welcome workshop
As an ambassador of cultural exchange, knowledge and understanding I want to learn with you.
Let's explore the elements of welcome and belonging in Greek culture and learn from their education challenges and successes. Discover the culture of Greece through interactive "mezze platter" stations. Discover the people, places, foods, languages, artifacts, and customs of a nation grappling with issues of identity, diversity, and resistance.
Begin by mindfully reflecting: work through the Belonging and Welcome Audit and set an intention for your learning. Engage in individual reflection and take a mindful journey into your education ecosystem, then be equipped to define welcome and belonging in your school.
I’ll introduce each element of the framework. Each element of the framework connects to communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity or confidence skills, essential to teaching and learning.
Connection to being and doing: We will explore the Greek concept “philotimo” a term some consider untranslatable. I’ll share strategies to repair and strengthen community through storytelling, story building, listening and weaving meaning. With an understanding of strategies to cultivate connected student leaders and empower teachers & students through global collaboration, participants will begin building their menu of strategies to try in their own classroom.
Participants will connect to the framework by taking on a student role and trying out three strategies from Greek classrooms to empower students.
Engagement: Connections will grow organically through a balance of interactions and reflections. An explicit goal is to create a connected network to build support for global learning beyond the conference.
Significance: Cross-cultural dialogue allows us to see innovation in Greek practices. Their schools face big obstacles from the evolving needs of refugees to funding challenges. Using an Asset-Based Community Development lens their successes can help us reimagine our opportunities to see strengths in our school communities to reimagine our structures through student voice and the valuing of identity, diverse knowledges and literacies.
Tangible Product: Participants will walk away with a menu of strategies to apply in their classroom from the start of the school year.
Let's explore the elements of welcome and belonging in Greek culture and learn from their education challenges and successes. Discover the culture of Greece through interactive "mezze platter" stations. Discover the people, places, foods, languages, artifacts, and customs of a nation grappling with issues of identity, diversity, and resistance.
Begin by mindfully reflecting: work through the Belonging and Welcome Audit and set an intention for your learning. Engage in individual reflection and take a mindful journey into your education ecosystem, then be equipped to define welcome and belonging in your school.
I’ll introduce each element of the framework. Each element of the framework connects to communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity or confidence skills, essential to teaching and learning.
Connection to being and doing: We will explore the Greek concept “philotimo” a term some consider untranslatable. I’ll share strategies to repair and strengthen community through storytelling, story building, listening and weaving meaning. With an understanding of strategies to cultivate connected student leaders and empower teachers & students through global collaboration, participants will begin building their menu of strategies to try in their own classroom.
Participants will connect to the framework by taking on a student role and trying out three strategies from Greek classrooms to empower students.
Engagement: Connections will grow organically through a balance of interactions and reflections. An explicit goal is to create a connected network to build support for global learning beyond the conference.
Significance: Cross-cultural dialogue allows us to see innovation in Greek practices. Their schools face big obstacles from the evolving needs of refugees to funding challenges. Using an Asset-Based Community Development lens their successes can help us reimagine our opportunities to see strengths in our school communities to reimagine our structures through student voice and the valuing of identity, diverse knowledges and literacies.
Tangible Product: Participants will walk away with a menu of strategies to apply in their classroom from the start of the school year.