Kate Strein, a dedicated teacher in the School District of Palm Beach County, is a shining example of what it means to champion global education. In 2023, she took the stage at the Actionable Innovations Global GLOW (Global Learning for an Open World) conference, sharing her passion for global education and practical resources for teaching global competencies with educators worldwide. This wasn’t her first time—and certainly won’t be her last—leading the way in inspiring others to embrace a global perspective in their classrooms.
Kate’s school, Jupiter Middle School, partners with Participate Learning to implement global education with the Global Leaders framework. As the school’s global lead, Kate is key in advancing this initiative, which is only part of her globally focused work. Kate is passionate about fostering skills like global awareness in her classroom and helping students connect with real-world challenges and solutions. Her presentation at the GLOW conference emphasized the significance of sharing global learning know-how.
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Growing Global Leaders through Storytelling
During GLOW, Kate outlined the path to teaching global competency in the classroom through the power of children’s stories. She showcased the story Aida’s Violin, demonstrating how this 40-page children’s book can be an impactful tool for identifying traits of global leaders and exploring global challenges through its narrative. Her approach is not just about reading and story elements; it’s about engaging students in a journey of discovery, connecting them with global issues through the characters and situations in the story.
Kate’s method revolves around using stories such as Aida’s Violin as a springboard for deeper discussion, helping students recognize and understand global issues in a relatable and compelling context. This particular story connects to the global challenges of supporting sustainability and promoting quality education for all. This innovative approach aims to cultivate global competency and encourage action-taking skills among students, ensuring that they not only learn about global challenges but also feel empowered to contribute to solutions.
The Importance of Having the Right Tools for Global Education
The presentation went beyond storytelling, offering an abundance of resources, activities, and lesson plans tailored to integrate global awareness and problem-solving skills into various educational contexts. Kate emphasized the importance of equipping educators with the right tools and strategies to foster an environment of global learning and awareness. She proposed methods for educators to create their own children’s stories, providing ideas for differentiation and cross-curricular activities that can adapt to diverse learning environments.
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Her strategies are designed to not only educate but also inspire students and nurture a generation of informed, empathetic, and proactive global leaders. This session stands as a testament to the power of innovative teaching methods in bridging the gap between academic skills and career readiness, echoing the core values of Participate Learning in promoting global learning.
Kate Strein’s practical approach to teaching makes inspiring global action accessible to everyone. Keep up with her educational journey for a regular dose of inspiration by following her on X (formerly Twitter) at @Streinsclass—a great resource for teachers and advocates of global learning.
Global Competencies and Our Global Leaders Framework
Discover how the Global Leaders framework empowers educators to teach global competencies and inspire a generation of curious and engaged students. Explore our Global Leaders framework to get started on your journey to fostering career-ready global leaders.
Uniting Our World Project Donations Initiative
As a teacher within the Participate Learning Network, Kate was eligible to apply for the Uniting Our World Project Donations initiative. This initiative is an exciting opportunity for educators to enhance their global education or language learning classroom projects. Each month, we provide up to five $100 grants to support projects aligned with Participate Learning’s mission to unite our world.
Kate submitted her literacy project for consideration. She received a donation and used the funds awarded for the projects discussed in her presentation.
We accept submissions from any teacher within the Participate Learning Network. If you are an Ambassador Teacher or a U.S. partner teacher in a school that implements a Participate Learning Dual Language Program or the Global Leaders framework, your project is eligible for consideration.
We are eager to learn about the projects you’re working on in your classroom and how you teach your students to be curious and engaged global learners!
For more details and to submit your project for consideration, check out your community of practice. Your innovative ideas drive this initiative. Together, let’s inspire curiosity and create a brighter future for our students.
