ESL workshops are held at:
North Reading Middle/High School, 189 Park Street, North Reading, MA
8:30-9:15 Keynote Address: Statewide EL Vision for Success and Blueprint
Sibel Hughes, Assistant Director, Office of Language Acquisition
9:30-10:30 Striving for an Equitable Curriculum: Breaking Down Bias
Karen Hall
This workshop will provide practical strategies for educators striving for a more equitable curriculum for culturally and linguistically diverse students. Participants will learn about the various forms of bias in instructional materials and practice identifying them. They will then be given a framework for reflecting on and overcoming biased curriculum materials. Finally, groups will brainstorm action steps for breaking down curriculum bias upon returning to school. Participants can take this workshop alone or can extend the conversation in “Striving for an Equitable Curriculum: Integrating Social Justice” at 10:45.
9:30-10:30 The Harsh Reality of Self-Efficacy
Mary DeFelice
It is no secret that teacher self-efficacy affects student learning. Moreover, issues of equity require that teachers refrain from engaging in limiting language and behaviors that consciously or subconsciously affect student success. In this seminar, we have the difficult discussion regarding the behaviors that have this adverse effect on students.
9:30-10:30 Throwback Tuesday: Integrating “Old School” Methods and Today’s Technology to Develop Academic Language
Rachel Hoffman
In this interactive workshop, participants will review some “tried and true” ESL methods (flash cards, dictionaries, picture files, etc.) and learn how to both refine and enhance these methods with technology. Participants will collaborate on and practice the integration of these methods with colleagues with the goal of promoting students’ academic language development.
9:30-10:30 Implementing the Seal of Biliteracy
Barbara Fitzgerald
This presentation will provide an overview of how North Reading has implemented the Seal of Biliteracy. Time will be devoted to sharing of resources and discussion about what other districts have done/are doing.
10:45-11:45 Striving for an Equitable Curriculum: Integrating Social Justice
Karen Hall
In this workshop, educators will learn how integrating social justice can lead to a more equitable curriculum for culturally and linguistically diverse students. Participants will explore the theoretical and practical applications of social justice in the classroom using Teaching Tolerance’s “Anti-Bias Framework” as a guide. They will then consider ways to overlay the social justice standards in their own curriculum and help other teachers to do the same. Participants can take this workshop alone or can extend the conversation in “Striving for an Equitable Curriculum: Breaking Down Bias” at 9:30.
10:45-11:45 Using the Collaboration Tool
Theophilia Afful
In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the Collaboration Tool from the Next Generation ESL Project. This “multi-layered, multi-use resource” is invaluable for all content area teachers as they focus on promoting higher order thinking skills as well as academic language development.
10:45-11:45 Technology Tools for English Learners
Jean Gately
This session will introduce the Educator Toolkit/ Using Educational Technology-21st Century supports for English learners. This toolkit is for all educators—including teachers and administrators—who want to use technology to help their English learners gain proficiency in English and meet academic goals. We will discuss the guiding principles along with digital learning resources and support features.
10:45-11:45 MA Budget Presentation
Colin Jones
This session will provide historical background, details, and current analysis of Massachusetts’ school funding formula (also known as Chapter 70). Participants will be provided information to support greater knowledge of the main components of the Chapter 70 formula. This will include discussion of current challenges in school funding across the state, those specific to communities with the greatest needs, and proposals to modernize this system to better serve all kids, including English Language Learners. This session will provide specific detail on how ELL students are accounted for in Massachusetts school finance calculations, and recent changes and proposals to update these increments, and how support for ELL students is likely to be affected by upcoming school finance debates.
11:45-12:30 Lunch
12:30-2:00 Working Group 1: PreK&K Monitoring Forms
12:30-2:00 Working Group 2: Parent Advisory Groups
12:30-2:00 Working Group 3: Seal of Biliteracy
12:30-2:00 Working Group 4: Student Success Template
12:30-2:00 Working Group 5: EL Progress Reports
