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TexTesol IV Regional Conference

OCTOBER 15, 2011

COSMOS FOUNDATION

HOUSTON, TX

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Table of Contents

Pages Welcome Letter………………………………………… 2

Conference Schedule………………………………..… 3

Plenary Information ………………………………..… 4

Slate of officers for the 2011 TexTESOL IV board.. 5

Session 1………………………………………………… 6

Session 2………………………………………………… 7

Session 3………………………………………………… 8

Session 4………………………………………………… 9

Session 5 (Quick Share)……………………………… 10

Teachers of the Year………………………………… 11

TexTESOLer of the Year …………………………..… 12

Continuing Professional Education Credit Form… 13

Attendance Certificate ……………………………..… 14

Notes (blank page for your notes)………………….. 15

Need a CPE form or an attendance certificate? Turn to the back of the program.

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Dear TexTESOL IV members: Welcome to our TexTESOL IV Regional Conference! On behalf of the TexTESOL IV Board, we would like to welcome you to the Cosmos Foundation, the host for this year’s conference. This year’s theme is “Power Up! Tools to Energize Learning.” Thoughout the day the workshops will provide tools to enhance your ESL instruction regardless of the age of your students. We are honored to have as our keynote speaker Dr. Kate Kinsella. She hails from the wonderful city of San Francisco. She brings energy and a wealth of knowledge. Let’s give her a big Texas Howdy. Following the keynote, Dr. Kinsella will present a 90 minute workshop. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity. Please take a minute to review the program and read the descriptions of the different ESL strategies being implemented around the state. Many of the sessions highlight best practices and research that has proven effective in the ESL classrooms. You will find reading, writing, speaking and even math workshop to equip you better serve the ESL population and energize learning. In addition to the excellent sessions being offered, we are delighted to have some outstanding exhibitors. Please take a moment and visit our exhibitors. This conference would not be possible without their generosity and support. Our exhibitors bring the latest publications, software and other resources to facilitate your ESL instruction. I personally want to thank the TexTESOL Board for not only helping plan the conference but also supporting me throughout the year. This has been a year truly memorable for me. Not only have I gained a wealth of knowledge, but I have also developed relationships that will forever enhance my life. Remember to “Power Up”, Martin Loa TexTESOL IV President

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Conference Schedule Exhibits open 7:30 am to 3:45 pm

in the lobby of the Conrad Hilton Ballroom TIME ACTIVITY LOCATION 7:30 - 8:30 Registration & Breakfast

Visit exhibits Multi-Purpose Room, Lobby

8:30 – 8:45 Welcome & Announcements 8:45 –9:45

Plenary: Dr. Kate Kinsella Eradicating English Learner Lethargy: Structuring Active and Accountable Contexts for Academic Language Development

9:45 – 10:15 Business Meeting

Multi-Purpose Room

10:30 – 11:15 Session 1

11:30 – 12:15 Session 2

Auditorium, 3rd Floor, High School rooms 101,113, 114, 115, 116, 121

12:15 – 1:45 Lunch Visit exhibits (lobby)

Multi-Purpose Room

1:45 – 2:30 Session 3

2:00 - 4:00 Cookie Break in the lobby

2:45 – 3:30 Session 4

Auditorium, 3rd Floor, High School rooms 101,113, 114, 115, 116, 121

3:30-4:00 Session 5 (Quick Share)

Multi-Purpose Room

4:00 Door Prizes Multi-Purpose Room

THANK YOU!

Special Contributors: Oxford University Press : Keynote Dr. Kate Kinsella Coastal GREAT Center: Jeff Mohammed, Denise Johnson and Teresa Walling Cambridge: Conference Bags Cosmos Foundation: Facilities Without the generous contributions of our sponsors, our conference wouldn’t be possible.

Please take a moment and visit our exhibitors. They will be open until 3:45, in the Lobby.

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TexTESOL IV Board Members in 2011

We are very happy to have served our membership this past year and to bring you this conference today.

Marin Loa, President, Harris County Department of Education Past President Mary Endress, President Elect, Katy Independent School District Cheryl Pearson, Treasurer, University of Houston Eileen Kress, Membership Coordinator, Katy Independent School District Anne Damiecka, Historian, Lone Star College Terry Shearer, Advocacy, Region IV Harriet Hubacker, Webmaster, Harris County Dept. of Education, HCC Karen Tannery, Conference Chair, Lamar Consolidated Irma Rohatgi, Conference Chair Elect, HISD Teresa Walling, Conference Program, Harris County Department of Education Katherine Chirinos, Conference Registration, HCC Jennifer Greer, Member-At-Large Kimberly Mitchell, Member-At-Large, Katy Independent School District

Slate of Officers for 2012 Position Name Organization / affiliation President Mary Endress Katy ISD Past President Martin Loa HCDE Adult Education President Elect Irma Rohatgi University of St. Thomas Secretary VACANT Treasurer Cheryl Pearson EnergyWorkPower Resources Newsletter Editor Anna Lauzon Hood UH LCC Membership Coordinator Eileen Kress Katy ISD Historian Anne Damiecka Lone Star College Advocacy Terry Shearer Region IV Webmaster Jennifer Geer Conference Chair VACANT Conference Chair Elect VACANT Conference Program Teresa Walling HCDE Adult Education Conference Registration Katherine Chirinos HCC Member At-Large Trudy Freer-Alvarez Waymire Group Member At-Large Harriet Hubacker HCDE Adult Education, HCC

If you are interested in joining the board, please contact Mary Endress maryendress@katyisd.org.

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PROGRAM NOTES: Descriptions of the breakout sessions can be found on the following pages.

The audience appeal listed in the left column is only a suggestion. It tells you where the presenters’ examples and experience primarily come from. However, everyone is welcome in each session. Even if the appeal does not fit you perfectly, you can still apply many ideas to your individual situation. Session 1 10:30 – 11:15

Room 101 Adult Ed Bilingual Secondary Elementary

EXHIBITOR’S SESSION CTB/McGraw-Hill Learn to use LAS Links Online to administer data and review reports to link instructional guidance with teacher lessons, promoting the language proficiency of all students. Nina Trigger is a consultant with CTB/McGraw-Hill with emphasis in language acquisition serving as a language assessment specialist for Texas. Nina has worked with language assessment for over 10 years, conducting several workshops around the country. A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, she is a graduate of St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas.

Auditorium, 3rd Floor All

90-MINUTE WORKSHOP Bolstering Competent Vocabulary Use Through Explicit Instruction and Scaffolded Application KEY NOTE SPEAKER, KATE KINSELLA

Room 113 Bilingual Secondary Literacy

Help Students Acquire English Proficiency Through Hands-On Learning Participants will engage in hands-on experiences using VersaTiles and Reading Rods to provide the support students need to acquire English language proficiency through supplemental hands-on resources. Ginger Doss is an Educational Consultant for ETA/Cuisenaire. She is a former educator with 31 years experience. She lives in Katy.

Room 114 All

Is There Uniformity in ESL Programs Across the Nation? Questions regarding flexibility of states to establish ESL programs will be discussed as ESL literature and recent state laws are examined. Michalina Mrugala is an M.T.E.S.L. teacher at the Language and Culture Center at the University of Houston. She is experienced in basic adult education and elementary ESL

Room 115 Adult Ed. Administration Literacy

EXHIBITOR’S SESSION Cambridge University Press Transitioning Students from ESL to Work and Academic Settings In this workshop, the presenter discusses the issues involved in teaching students some of the skills essential to making a successful transition into the workplace and academic programs. Participants learn ways to connect the classroom to the workplace contextualize materials and incorporate work and academic readiness skills into their teaching practice. Vincent De Blasi

Room 116 Adult Ed. Literacy

Keeping Beginning ESL Learners Motivated National Center for Adult Literacy and Learning research on student persistence factors for adult literacy learners suggests that teachers can help students stay motivated to attend classes by providing support in four major areas: Self-Efficacy, Goal-Setting, Seeing Progress, and Overcoming Barriers. Denise Johnson

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Session2 11:30-12:15

Room 101 Adult Ed.

Goal Setting Strategies for the ESL Learner Adult ESL teachers can help their students, and their program, meet goals by incorporating an effective goal-setting plan. ESL Students are much more likely to persist and transition to ABE/ASE if goal setting is taught, implemented, and followed through. In this workshop, learn effective ways to incorporate SMART goals in adult ESL classrooms. Teresa Walling works for Harris County Department of Education as a Program Assistant and adult ESL instructor. She is presenting for the Coastal Region GREAT Center.

Auditorium, 3rd Floor

90-MINUTE WORKSHOP - continues Bolstering Competent Vocabulary Use Through Explicit Instruction and Scaffolded Application KEY NOTE SPEAKER, KATE KINSELLA

Room 113 Adult Ed. Higher Ed.

Kinesthetic Activities to Energize Academic Writing Participants will experiment with engaging kinesthetic activities which can be used in the brainstorming drafting, and editing phases of academic writing. Anne Damiecka – Associate Professor of ESOL, Lone Star College – CyFair Tricia McLeroy– Associate Professor of ESOL, Lone Star College - CyFair

Room 114 Adult Ed Bilingual Ed Elem Ed Literacy

“I Can Read, But I Don’t Understand This!’ Often ESL learners can read the words, but do not understand the meaning. Presenter will share tried and time-tested strategies for reading comprehension. Gursharan Kandola is a reading specialist with over 25 years of experience teaching reading to linguistically and culturally diverse learners ages K-12 and adult.

Room 115 Adult Ed.

Providing Cultural Adjustment Information for Beginning Level ESL Students This demonstration shows how the use of visuals and videotapes can provide the concepts that lower level students need to be more comfortable in their new culture. The demonstration will show the steps and the timing involved in providing this contextual information to beginning level students as well suggestions for extrapolating writing, speaking and vocabulary development from the activities. Carol Archer, Ed D - Developer of the Culture Bump Approach to understanding cultural differences, author of Living with Strangers in the USA and The Toolkit for Culture and Communication

Room 116 Adult Ed Higher Ed Bilingual

Technology in the ESL Classroom: Differentiating Instruction for Diverse Learners This presentation will focus on how ESL teachers can differentiate their instructions and make learning meaningful by using emerging technologies tailored toward diverse learners. Seda Khadimally teaches at Rice University. Her specialization is Computer Assisted Language Learning. She holds a MED (Educational Management & Control) and ALM (Educational Technologies).

Awards Luncheon 12:15 – 1:45 Multiple Room First Floor Please join us as we recognize our TexTESOLer of the Year and TexTESOL IV Teachers of the Year. See pages 11-12 information. Music provided by violinist Monica Bingham.

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Session 3 1:45 – 2:30

Auditorium, 3rd Floor Adult Ed Higher Ed Secondary

90-Minute Workshop Successful Speaking Practice We will look at techniques and activities that provide students with motivating and useful practice in speaking. Jeff Mohamed runs the Cambridge University CELTA program at Lone Star College – CyFair and frequently leads TESOL workshops in southeast Texas.

Room 101 All

Math Tools for All Levels Participants will learn how to dispel students’ fear of math and will be given tools they need to show their students that algebra is used everyday. Anthony Chan

Room 113 All

Communication in the Fast Lane Oral communication is essential to learning a second language. Learn strategies to speed up the acquisition of oral language, so that students can be successful. Mary Endress is the Instructional Officer for Secondary ESOL in Katy ISD. Mary has more than 25 years of experience in Second Language Acquisition and Foreign Language Instruction. Eileen Kress is Program Facilitator for Secondary ESOL. Eileen has more than 30 years experience in working in ESOL instruction.

Room 114 All

Fun and Cheap Icebreakers for the First Days of School Fun icebreakers that can be used for all levels are difficult to find—look no further! We have a few tested and tried icebreakers? Vincent Tran has taught for over 15 years in Japan, Poland, and the US. Currently, he teaches at the LCC at UH and Rice University. Stephanie M. Stewart has experience teaching in the US and overseas, including EAP and refugee survival English. Her MA (TESOL) is from University of London.

Room 115 Adult Ed Higher ED

An IEP’s Response to Arabic-Speaking Beginners The presenters share a Foundational English curriculum developed for Arabic speakers, which integrates all skills and includes phonics, multisensory grammar, and direct vocabulary instruction. Anna Lauzon teaches at the University of Houston, Language and Culture Center. She received her M.A. in Foreign Language Education from UT at Austin. Vela Fallin teaches at the University of Houston, Language and Culture Center. She received her M.A. in Bilingual-Bicultural Studies from UT at San Antonio. Sandra Buckner teaches at the University of Houston, Language Culture Center. She received her M.A. in Administration and Supervision from University of Houston/Victoria.

Room 116 Adult Ed Secondary Literacy

Editing-Schmediting: Activities to Energize Academic Writing Presenters will share strategies and techniques to foster self-editing practices among beginner, intermediate, and advanced ESOL writing students. Ann Amis, joined the ESOL faculty at Lone Star College Kingwood in 2007. She has a MA in Teaching ESL from the SIT Graduate Institute. Melissa Silva has taught ESl in New York, China, and Oklahoma. She currently teacher at Lone Star College, Kingwood campus. She has a MA in English/TESL.

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Session 4 2:45 – 3:30 Room 101 Bilingual Elementary Secondary

Learning Games for Beginning ESL Students Experience a fun and energetic mind-body approach to learning basics and foster classroom belongingness, leadership, and joy. Marisol Mendez teaches at the New Arrival Center in Sheldon ISD. Her high school students love to play and learn basic skills.

Room 113 Elementary Secondary

Engage, Empower, and Transform Low Performing Math Students Learn Strategies to move students from poor math growth to sustained math scores, posting double-digit gains, increased proficiency levels on high-stakes tests. Patsy Mills is a retired bilingual/ESL Specialist from HISD and is currently an ESL/Bilingual consultant for Houston area school districts.

90-Minute Workshop Continues-Auditorium, 3rd Floor Successful Speaking Practice Room 114 All

Help Your Students Write a Dynamic Reader! Try this fool-proof method to create a ‘can’t put it down’ reader complied of stories written by students. Jeanne L. Smith works as a Workforce Literacy Adjunct at Lone Star College. She has a BA in Linguistics from UC Berkley, California

Room 115 Admin

Alternative Strategies for Classroom Teacher Observations

This presentation will discuss alternative methods of teacher observation including action research, focused pre and post feedback, and “unseen observations.” Macarena Aguilar is currently the Chair of the ESOL Department at LSC-CyFair. One of her main research interests includes Teacher Professional Development. Tara Lynn Gonzalez is an Adjunct Faculty member at LSC-CyFair. Anne Damieka is a teacher and teacher-trainer at LSC-CyFair.

Room 116 Bilingual Secondary Literacy Computer-Assisted Language Learning

ESL ReadingSmart-The Proven Path to English Proficiency ESL ReadingSmart is a standards-based online ELL program. It offers individualized, content-based instruction to develop English proficiency with emphasis on academic language, newcomers to advanced. Martin Loperena

Stay for Quick Share, an invigorating series of 15-minute presentations. Use these ideas on Monday.

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FREE DOOR PRIZES in the Multi Purpose Room First Floor after Quick Share!

Bring your completed Conference Evaluation for a free ticket.

Session 5: Quick Share 3:30-4:00

(All sessions located in the Multi Purpose Room First Floor) Attend two 15-minute presentations of your choice. Presentations are focused on practical classroom activities. Choose one table to start with. When prompted, move to another table. Table 1 Adult Ed Bilingual Elementary Secondary Higher Ed

Total Physical Response (TPR): Not Just for Beginners Participants will have the opportunity to experience TPR as a tool to teach a variety of concepts and deepen student’s understanding and engagement. Participants will receive detailed handouts and actively participate. Be prepared to move and learn. Ennis Howard has nearly 20 years ESOL experience. He also provides ESOL TExES reviews at Region 10 Educational Service Center.

Table 2 All

Learning English Intrinsically Games are a wonderful tool to use because students win by practicing a language component. Using games becomes a natural way of learning and achieves many positive outcomes. Alida Nakic, originally from Caracas, Venezuela, earned a B.A. and M.A. in teaching English as a Foreign Language. She has been teaching EFL and ESL for more than fifteen years in both Venezuela and the U.S. Her primary interest is teaching English in multi-cultural/settings by using games.

Table 3 Adult Ed Bilingual

Real Caring Enhances Real Learning Do your students know you personally care about them, or your lesson plan? Tips for reaching students without confidence or motivation. Clydene Reep was TEXTESOL Region IV’s Adult Educator of the Year in 2010. She has 43 years of teaching experience, including two years in Moscow, Russia.

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TexTESOL IV Regional Conference October 15, 2011 Cosmos Foundation

9321 W Sam Houston PKWY, Houston, TX 77099 Texas Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages

www.textesoliv.org

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Form

Educator’s Name: Email: School District Name: Work phone: CPE clock hours can be accrued through workshops, conferences, and in-service or staff development delivered by an approved registered provider. Only those CPE activities from SBEC-approved registered providers will be recognized for Standard Certificate renewal purposes. All CPE providers approved by SBEC are listed on the SBEC website, http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/SBECOnline/certinfo/regprov.pdf. Educators are responsible for maintaining a record of their Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours.

Date Content/Title of Activity Number of clock hours that count toward satisfying the CPE

Signature of presenter (if required by ISD or educational institution)

Oct. 15, 2011

TexTESOL IV is a Texas State Board of Education Certification-Approved CPE

Provider # 501202

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