2026 CSI Summer Conference: Teach Together

We’ve all seen classrooms that are 'friendly.' Students know each other’s names and the atmosphere is pleasant, but there’s a missing spark: that deeper level of academic engagement. It’s the difference between students simply liking each other and actually learning with each other. In this session, we’re going to use Émile Durkheim’s ideas on community and moral regulation to bridge that gap. We’ll look at how to design a classroom where students don't just feel comfortable, but feel essential. We will dive into three specific ways to make a student feel they truly belong: •    Feeling Known: Is their thinking visible to everyone, or are they just a face in the crowd? •    Feeling Valued: Is their reasoning taken seriously by their peers? •    Feeling Desired: Do they know that the community is actually better because they showed up?

This session will explore how to integrate durable skills, open educational resources, and high-impact practices into lessons. Through shared examples and practical strategies, participants will see how arts instruction can support creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking while making learning more accessible and engaging. Attendees will leave with adaptable ideas for designing student-centered lessons that connect artistic practice with skills students can use beyond the classroom.