Global Matters
February 2025
Relationships Matter
This month especially, let's celebrate and strengthen the relationships that we hold with each other. Relationships that seek to unite and support. Relationships that build friendships across cultures, nations, differences through formal programs and chance encounters. While there is a great deal of turmoil in our world, it is important for us to recognize our personal and professional zones of control. We can and should focus attention on the relationships that comfort, inspire, and strengthen our resolve to create and sustain an equitable, just, and peaceful world.
Entering this new year -- based on the Gregorian calendar, lunar calendar, or change in federal administration -- we look forward to highlighting the many bright spots in your classrooms that encourage relationship-building through global competence. Send us your stories!
Program Spotlights
Purposeful Play in TK
Equity Leaders Celebrate
CGEP has been honored to work with the California Academic Partnership Program's Leadership Network to certify PK-12 educators as equity leaders. The 2023-2024 cohort graduated December 6-7 at UCLA while screening "Citizen Ashe," a CNN film about Arthur Ashe, and launching a new curriculum project with CGEP.
Lesson Design Institute
California Educators Together is an online platform created for teachers to access free, standards-based, high-quality lessons that support ELD and UDL. CGEP is pleased to work with Kern County Superintendent of Schools to facilitate lesson plan development with teachers, including this large group that met on Jan. 1 and Feb. 2 in San Diego.
Fulbright Teacher Exchange
Are you interested in learning more about global education through firsthand experiences? Fulbright offers K-12 educators a selection of programs and applications are now available. Applications are due February 17, 2025. Visit the Fulbright website for additional information and teaching resources.
Innovation in Education
HundrED is an international organization dedicated to education innovation. Each year, HundrED selects and highlights 100 innovations in education from around the world. Go to their website to learn more about inspiring education programs by viewing the Global Collection. Join this community to participate in webinars and other global education opportunities.
2025 Global Teacher Fellows
CGEP congratulates and welcomes the 2025 cohort of California Global Teacher Fellows! These twelve educators were selected to participate in our 12-month fellowship, which began in January. These Fellows will meet monthly to learn about global education, discuss their experiences and perspectives as globally competent teachers, and develop local inquiry projects.
World Connections
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 11 is International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which promotes gender equality and women's empowerment. Closing the gender gap in science requires breaking stereotypes, promoting role models to inspire girls, supporting women's advancement through targeted programs, and fostering inclusive environments through policies and actions that promote inclusion, diversity and equity.
World Day of Social Justice
World Day of Social Justice is recognized on February 20 as a day to acknowledge that societies and economies function more cohesively when social justice is prioritized. To support the goals of social justice, the Global Coalition for Social Justice was established in 2023, led by the International Labour Organization (ILO), to build a world better tailored for social justice by addressing social justice gaps; accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals; and championing social justice.
World Anthropology Day
We celebrates World Anthropology Day on February 20 this year. This is a day to share the important work of anthropologists who help us better understand our world through studies of humans, human behavior, and societies of the past and present. How will you help your students to learn about the significant contributions of anthropologists around the world? #AnthroDay
Upcoming Events
California: A Changing State Atlas Workshop
3-5th grade teachers are encouraged to attend this free workshop at the HCOE Redwood Room on March 14, 2025 (4-6 pm) or join online to learn about the language of maps, explore California's diverse landscapes and regions, examine the relationships between people, the land, and historical events of our state, and align teaching with 4th grade H-SS standards. Participants will receive instructional materials, including a class set of atlases. Register today!
Saturday, Feb 8, 2025, 07:00 AM
Humboldt County Office of Education, Myrtle Avenue, Eureka, CA, USA
4th Annual Global Education Forum
Join us for the 2025 California Global Education Forum on Sat., March 15, 2025, from 9 am - noon. This year's theme is "Local is Global" and participants are invited to come learn, share, and discuss global education in California schools. Register Now to participate in person at Humboldt County Office of Education, Columbia School District, UC Berkeley ORIAS, Yolo County Office of Education, Santa Ana (school TBD), or San Diego County Office of Education. For those who cannot participate in-person, we will host a statewide online group. However, participants must register to receive the Zoom link. Email CGEP@sandiego.edu for more information.
Save the Dates
Global Book Talk
Attention global readers! Thank you to the educators who came together on Jan. 23 to discuss the first Global Book Club selection Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner (UC Berkeley). We are now excited to move to our second selection for the year, Adam Grant's book Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know (2021). This book illuminates the importance of rethinking your stance, embracing the unknown, and finding joy in being wrong. Join us on June 24, 2025, 3:00 PM online. Register here: tinyurl.com/CGEPbooktalk
Global Education Resources
SDG Student Resources
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.
February Global Book Calendar
The February 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.
Generation Global Virtual Exchange
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.