ESL workshops will be held at North Reading Middle/High School
Session 1 8:30-10:00
ESL1 LGBTQ Competence in Schools
In this workshop, we will cover an introduction to the concepts relevant to LGBTIQQA* (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, and asexual) students, review information about specific needs and risks for LGBTQ students and how these can be culturally variable, and talk about what staff can do to help create a supportive environment in their schools and districts.
ESL2 Parent Teacher Home Visits: Creating Impactful Relationships around Hopes and Dreams of ELL Families
Parent Teacher Home Visits is a relationship-building model that promotes active collaboration between families and teachers. Research tells us that results include increased engagement of students in academic life, fewer suspensions, and greater attendance. Other benefits are reduced implicit bias among both educators and parents. These are critical factors for ELL families who might need encouragement to fully engage in their children’s school lives. This workshop will highlight the components of the PTHV model and include first person testimony from home visit practitioners, and action planning on how to initiate this practice in your district.
ESL3 Unaccompanied Youth Experiencing Homelessness
This session will focus on state policies and resources for school-aged children and youth who are experiencing homelessness, as well as current advocacy efforts to increase resources and supports for immigrant children and youth who are dealing with homelessness and housing instability. Topics will include shelter, housing stabilization supports, rehousing resources, school transportation, and the work of the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth.
ESL4 Substance Abuse Prevention
Underage substance use continues to be a major issue in our schools and communities. While street drugs are readily available in many communities, teen drug users may easily obtain over-the-counter or prescription medications from a variety of sources, including their family’s medicine cabinet. Information about the opioid epidemic is included in this workshop.
ESL5 Facilitated Networking Session
Connect with colleagues to share your struggles and successes on various issues in the field. The group will decide on the topics and direction of the conversations in this facilitated networking session.
Session 2: 10:15-11:45
ESL6 Critical Thinking with ELs in the Common Core Classroom
Feeling pressure to teach those ever-important critical thinking skills? Unsure how that even looks when working with so many English proficiency levels? This session will explore several easy instructional tweaks to incorporate critical thinking into the classroom.
ESL7 Practical Technology when working with ELs
Explore how to use social media to share your ELs successes using Twitter and Instagram. Don’t have an account yet? No problem. Step by step instruction in setting up and using your new accounts. Also explore translation devices to be used with families. Additional resources found online will be examined to further impact student language proficiency. Bring your own device whether it be a smart phone or larger device.
ESL8 Teaching ELs with LD
This workshop will provide educators with an overview of language development and second language acquisition with a specific focus on English Learners (ELs). It addresses the distinction between language differences and disorders, with a particular emphasis on language-based learning disabilities (LBLD). In this workshop, educators will learn about the following areas: Language Acquisition, ELs with LBLD, and Instructional Strategies for ELs and ELs with LD.”
ESL9 STEM and ELs
Come to uncover the new exciting tools and strategies that DESE and WIDA has developed to help our EL students succeed in STEM subjects. This workshop will focus on development of language objectives and discourse moves. The facilitator will provide examples of linguistic supports in STEM units and lessons. Participants should bring a topic or a lesson from any STEM subject, so we can practice embedding explicit language instruction into an amazing work you already do. Screen reader support enabled.
ESL10 Networking Session
Connect with colleagues to share your struggles and successes on various issues in the field. The group will decide on the topics and direction of the conversations in this facilitated networking session.
Session 3 12:30-2:00
ESL11 LOOK Act Regulations
The LOOK Act provides for greater flexibility in English learner education (ELE) programs, and also provides new requirements for ensuring English learners and their parents get the focus they deserve in schools and districts across the Commonwealth. In this presentation we will explore what the requirements are under the LOOK Act and how districts can ensure that they are meeting ELs’ needs under the law.