Creating A Welcoming Learning Environment For Native American Students

Schools in the Pacific Northwest serve a number of Indigenous groups that represent vast cultures in our area. Eddie and Rachel Flores work closely with the tribes in their community to build relationships and provide opportunities for their indigenous students to thrive. This session will focus on why traditional school models may not be working for all students and how teachers can work towards strengthening relationships with indigenous families in order to provide a more welcoming learning experience for those students. We will also discuss how we use technology such as LCD boards for students that may not have paper or prefer not using paper, and Parent Square to bridge communication gaps for families that use phones more than email. We also created a Google classroom for one of our reservations to use for students to continue learning in the summer. All of these steps have helped to create a more positive environment for students.