This article contains:
- Resources available to educators on the afsusa.org website
- Webinar recording providing a walkthrough of AFS educator resources available
The AFS-USA Website contains a variety of tools for educators that we encourage you to share with the school leaders with whom you liaise. By using these resources, you will find ways to support the U.S. Department of Education's International Strategy, "Succeeding Globally Through International Education and Engagement" and AFS-USA.
General Resources
- AFS Resources for Schools and Educators Flyer- This handout summarizes and provides testimonials for many of the resources that AFS-USA offers to schools and educators.
- Join the AFS Educators Community- Sign up to receive new classrom resources, request a presentation in your school, and scholarship opportunities for students, and so much more.
Educator & Classroom Resources
- Classroom Activities - Free classroom activities that are a great way for teachers to infuse intercultural learning into their classroom in any subject area.
- The best way to share is to select ONE and share it with an educator with a recommendation of how/when to use it. (For example, as part of their sub plans, as a discussion activity before a school break, etc…)
- Cultural Considerations in the Classroom – These handouts are designed to help educators (and volunteers) recognize that exchange students may not know some unspoken classroom norms like the U.S. perspective on group work and class participation.
- AFS Intercultural Club Toolkit - This guide helps a teacher plan for 2+ intercultural/international club meetings annually or it helps someone get an intercultural club started in their school.
- Effect+ Teacher’s Guide to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – This toolkit includes six distinct modules each with various activities to help students learn about the 17 Global Goals and various 21st Century Skills like problem solving and collaboration.
- Global Educator Newsletter – Keep up with the newest information being shared with educators by viewing the quarterly newsletter. These links can be shared with educators between when the newsletters go out. (January, April, August, October)
Professional Development Opportunities for Educators
- Best Practices for Hosting Exchange Students Interactive Webinars – These are live Zoom sessions offered once per month for school staff members that are new to hosting. Educators of all types (teachers, counselors, administrators, PAF signers, and more) are invited to attend and bring their questions as there will be time and space to answer everyone's questions.
- Global Up Educator Professional Development Program – Educators can deepen their understanding of global competence concepts like culture, resilience, curbing judgement, and more with AFS-USA staff with live Zoom dialogue sessions and asynchronous learning modules.
- Diversity in the Classroom- Bring cultural understanding to your classroom by hosting a high school exchange student
- Global Competence Readiness Index- A self-assessment tool to help educators determine how prepared their schools are to foster global competence among students
Understanding what resources AFS-USA has when you find an educator is a great way to connect people with tools that will enhance the work that they are already doing in the classroom.
The "A Peek into the World of AFS Educator Resources" presentation was facilitated by Mary Porterfield and Nancy Bridges of the Heartland Area Team in Kansas and they were shocked by how many of the volunteers present in their sessions were completely unaware of the tremendous bank of resources that are offered to educators through our website and other means! Don’t let that be you!
Please watch this webinar recording and consider visiting the Educators page on the AFS-USA website to explore the resources in the Classroom Resources section yourself before you go and visit with a school. You’ll be amazed at what a school can do with the AFS Global Competency Readiness Index and the variety of classroom activities available to help globalize a school and/or a classroom! You can also refer to these suggestions for educators.
If you still have questions after reading through the presentation and exploring the webpages indicated, please reach out to Jill Woerner, Director of Educational Outreach (jwoerner@afsusa.org).