As we come to the end of 2024 and feel the fatigue of a productive, challenging year in education, December also invites us to enter and enjoy a much-needed winter break that allows space for rest and reflection. I don't know about you, but books become my guide for reflection at times like this. Two titles continue to surface in conversations with hardworking and exhausted educators -- Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey and The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk. I will allow these readings to guide my personal end-of-year reflection in hopes that I will return to work in 2025 with renewed vigor, insight, and enthusiasm for global education.

CGEP Global Teacher Fellows recently completed their year-long fellowship and deep dive into becoming globally competent teachers. Their reflections in our final gathering reflected a deepened sense of global competence, a clear feeling of achievement, and plans to propel them forward as global educators. Many expressed gratitude for this global education community we continue to grow.

How will you reflect on the challenging and successful year that you have just accomplished?

From our CGEP family to you and yours, Happy Holidays!

Interested in sharing ideas, practices, and questions about global education with other PK-12 educators in California schools? Join CGEP's new Community of Practice for Global Educators!

One-hour virtual sessions will be held on these dates at 4:00 p.m.

• Sat., March 15, 2025 (3-hour forum)
• Wed., April 30, 2025

Register Now to receive Zoom links.

Email CGEP@sandiego.edu for more information.

Learn about CIEE’s Global Navigator High School Summer Study Abroad programs and Professional Development Opportunities for educators! Meet California's CIEE Global Education Advisors Jessie Hill and Daniel Velasquez!

CIEE awards more than $7 million in scholarships each year for high school students to participate in 3-4 week summer study abroad programs based in 35+ locations around the world. Students can focus on either world languages (French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, German, Italian, Mandarin, Korean, Portuguese or Japanese) or various thematic programs (STEM, Arts, Business, or Social Change).

We look forward to having you attend this informational webinar on Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Microsoft Teams: Join the meeting here

Meeting ID: 218 281 296 460

Passcode: yxjNp9

Contact Jessie Hill at jhill@ciee.org for more information.

Attention global readers! We are thrilled to launch CGEP's new bi-annual Global Book Talk, which invites you to read a selected book and then join us online for a discussion connecting the reading to global education. The first book selection is Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner (UC Berkeley). This captivating book explores the many ways that awe transforms our lives and perspectives. Immerse yourself in this thought-provoking book and don’t miss your chance to connect with fellow readers and delve into the wonder (and research) of awe. Join us: Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025, 04:30 PM Online

Help your students' to develop and share their voices through letters written to a local elected representative that:

• explains the global issue they want them to prioritize,
• shows how it connects to their local community,
• and proposes a solution.

Through this annual letter-writing contest, students can practice global citizenship, civic action, and persuasive writing, all while exploring the underreported issues that matter to them through Pulitzer Center news stories.

The Pulitzer Center wants to read and share your students' letters. Visit the Pulitzer Center website for contest details and guidelines. Entry deadline: November 15, 2024.

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals Student Resources page offers engaging tools for both youth and adults to learn about sustainable development. These resources provide a fun, interactive way to explore the SDGs and take action to help address the targets. Download materials, share them with students and colleagues, and integrate into your instructional practice to contribute to a sustainable future today.

The December Global Book Calendar is available, featuring children's picture books and young adult literature titles aligned to global themes. This collection of recommended reading aligns national and international days of recognition with global competence and helps you connect classroom learning to local and global issues. Dive in and spark meaningful discussions with your students.

Ready to spark intercultural dialogue among your students? Book them into Generation Global’s video conferences to connect with peers from around the world. 🌟 There are already students registering from India, Indonesia, Mexico, Rwanda, Armenia, Uzbekistan, and many others. Generation Global video conferences are live and facilitated 60-minute sessions for young people to interact, connect, and dialogue with global peers on SDG-related issues.

What’s in it for your students?

🗣️ Dialogue Skills: Improve global communication, critical thinking, and active listening, questioning, and reflection.

🌐 Global Perspectives: Students gain global exposure by dialoguing about SDG-linked topics with peers from 40+ countries.

⏰ Flexible Timing: Available on weekdays at various times to suit your students’ schedules.