It was all about getting to know each other at the start of the Understanding Language Acquisition and Disabilities workshop.

Julissa Cruz, a paraprofessional at PS 89 in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn, registers delight at her creation in the workshop Using Open-ended Materials to Scaffold Language Acquisition Pre-K–2

Rashelle Franco of the Pre-K Center at PS 747 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, holds up the jaw bone she has discovered in an owl pellet at the Creating Conversational Opportunities Through Hands-On Science workshop.

Paraprofessional Sarah Nicholas (left) and teacher Susan Chen, both of the Pre K Center at PS 747 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, react to finding bones in the owl pellets.

Conference participants line up for photographs with Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza.

It’s a busy full house at the Foundations of an Equitable, Successful and Sustainable 2-Way Dual Language Program workshop.

Kimberly Gleason (left) of PS 89 in Cypress Hills and Cristina Tur of PS 33 in Chelsea confer on factors that contribute to a culturally responsive classroom at the Impact of Culture on Student Achievement workshop.

Developing Strong Relations with Families workshop presenter Fausto Salazar of Fordham University checks in with Brooklyn members Alexandra Hernandez (center) of PS 257 in Williamsburg and Amma Minta of PS 135 in Flatbush.

Luis O. Reyes Award winner Dr. Santiago Wood (holding award), the executive director of the National Association for Bilingual Education, is surrounded by (from left) Mirza Sanchez-Medina, the city Department of Education chief academic officer for multilingual learners; Dr. Luis O. Reyes, a member of the New York State Board of Regents; conference chair and UFT Vice President for Education Evelyn DeJesus; Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza; and Linda Chen, the DOE’s chief academic officer.