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4/8/2025

Transforming Texts into Immersive Experiences for Multilingual Classrooms

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Learn how sensory-rich strategies can transform reading instruction and engage multilingual learners in meaningful ways.
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In conversation with

​Dr. Roberta Lenger Kang
CPET Executive Director & Host
​of Teaching Today
Dr. Adele Bruni Ashley

Dr. Jen Gowers
Gregory Petershack

Shenhao Bai

Snapshot

In this episode, we dive into the art of creating captivating, immersive experiences that bring texts to life in any classroom setting — especially for multilingual learners!

Our inspiring panel of educators reveal the behind-the-scenes magic of their groundbreaking workshop with students and teachers visiting from Shanghai, sharing practical strategies that will revolutionize your teaching approach. ✨Connect brain to body through energizing pre-reading activities ✨Awaken the senses with multisensory engagement techniques ✨ Spark creativity by empowering participants to become creators. Listen to how this transformative methodology works in:
  • Immersive all-day workshops
  • Bite-sized sessions that build progressively
  • Regular classroom routines woven throughout the school week

Ready to break boundaries and unlock new dimensions of learning? This episode is your gateway to reimagining literacy education! Learn about the Literacy Unbound summer program and apply for our next session.


Breakdown

In this episode, we bridge theory and practice in the classroom as we discuss the following:
  • Literacy Unbound: An Innovative, Effective Approach to Reading Instruction
  • Arts Integration and Sensory Experiences in Learning
  • Cultural Sensitivity and Multilingual Strategies

Literacy Unbound: An Innovative, Effective Approach to Reading Instruction
Our Literacy Unbound initiative continues to transform traditional reading instruction into a more experiential and multimodal approach. As Roberta explains, she was teaching 9th grade students who struggled with reading and literacy skills, highlighting the importance of deep reading instruction and the need for students to engage with texts in a more experiential and multimodal way. The initiative brings texts to life through real-life experiences and hands-on activities, creating immersive learning environments that can be integrated into typical classroom structures.

Arts Integration and Sensory Experiences in Learning
Integrating arts and performance into reading practices enhances student engagement and comprehension. During the hands-on workshop with students and teachers from Shanghai, China, the team prepared students for a reading experience by creating a sensory experience of the text's setting, using images and narration to transport the students into the text. This approach emphasizes pre-reading through the body and sensitizing students to language through interactive and sensory experiences, which has proven particularly valuable when working with diverse languages and students from various backgrounds.

Cultural Sensitivity and Multilingual Strategies
Cultural awareness and adaptability are essential when working with students from different backgrounds, particularly multilingual learners. During the workshop with Shanghai teachers and students, the team navigated the challenges of encouraging thoughtful responses from Chinese students while respecting cultural reservations of students to speak out loud and the tendency to respect seniors and teachers in a way that kept discussion out of reach without scaffolding. Strategies such as breaking into smaller groups to encourage participation and build confidence were effective, along with the need to be aware of cultural differences in expressing excitement and the value of seeking feedback when working across cultures. Continual reflection, teaching adjustments, and checking in with participants opened up new possibilities and pathways to clear communication and increased connection to the text.

Taking Action

  • Refine and experiment with literacy unbound strategies for your diverse learners
  • Consider incorporating written tasks for students who aren’t yet comfortable with discussion
  • Take one small step to integrate arts / multimodal learning into traditional classroom settings. 
    • Include images that represent the time period of the text in a prereading activity
    • Play music that connects to the text as students read, and share prompts to support students to make connections between what they are hearing and reading
    • Invite students to connect to their bodies with a short practice like one student arranging three of their peers into a sculpture that represents a keyword or phrase from the text
  • Be a participant alongside your students 
  • When trying something new, frame it for your students as an experiment, noting that if something isn’t working, you can change it together and try again
Summary assisted by Zoom AI Companion and Claude (Anthropic, 2024) ​​​​
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The Center for Professional Education of Teachers (CPET) at Teachers College, Columbia University is committed to making excellent and equitable education accessible worldwide. ​CPET unites theory and practice to promote transformational change. We design innovative projects, cultivate sustainable partnerships, and conduct research through direct and online services to youth and educators. Grounded in adult learning theories, our six core principles structure our customized approach and expand the capacities of educators around the world.

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  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Our Team
    • Our Partnerships
    • Our Authors
    • Principles of Practice
    • Job Opportunities
  • What We Do
    • Services
    • Equity in Action
    • Literacy Unbound Summer Institute
    • Signature Initiatives >
      • Literacy Unbound
      • New Teacher Network
      • Student Press Initiative
  • Educator Essentials
    • Book of the month
    • Online Courses
    • Professional Articles
    • Ready-to-use Resources
    • Teaching Today Podcast
  • Support CPET