7 Steps to a Language-Rich Interactive Classroom (All Levels) (face-to-face)

What if you could design an amazing learning environment? We already have, and it's all contained in 7steps! 7 Steps to Building a Language-Rich Interactive Classroom provides a seven step process that creates a language-rich interactive classroom environment in which all students can thrive. Topics include differentiating instruction for students at a variety of language proficiencies, keeping all students absolutely engaged, and creating powerful learning supports. This session will be a 6 hour session presented by Carol Salva from Seidlitz Education.

Academic Conversations - Supporting Learners Through Discourse (face-to-face)

Most students do not intuitively know how to have productive academic discussions. When asked to investigate or analyze a topic or begin a project, some students will hold back and be silent, afraid to share ideas; others may be bossy and take over the work. Without norms, protocols and practice, it is not easy for students to share voices and ideas, consider each other’s ideas thoughtfully, critique their own and each other’s thinking, and create a plan to work effectively together. This session will address the challenges teachers face when trying to bring thoughtful, respectful, and focused conversations into the classroom. We will identify core communications skills needed to help students hold productive academic conversation across content areas.

English Vocabulary Instruction for Emergent Bilinguals in Secondary Math Classrooms (face-to-face)

This training is for secondary math teachers (who teach Algebra 1, Algebra 2 or Geometry) of emergent bilinguals (EBs). Participants will recognize and analyze categories of academic vocabulary found in mathematics texts and word problems and learn research-based strategies to develop such vocabulary. Some of the topics included in this training are: (a) identifying academic vocabulary; (b) difficulty of academic vocabulary in mathematics; (c) receptive and productive knowledge; and (d) inflection, lemma, derivative, and semantic word families.

Journaling to the MAX (virtual)

Are you tired of the same old interactive journals? In this session, we will give you strategies to update that old interactive journal to meet the needs of your emergent bilingual students, show you how to transform that interactive journal into a digital on-the-go journal, and help you get your own digital journal started before the start of the new school year.

Move Our EBs, Please: Aligning WRITING instructional practices and TELPAS Item Types (face-to-face)

The robust curriculum for the "Move Our EBs, Please: Aligning WRITING instructional practices and TELPAS Item Types" session includes strategies that are designed with all content areas in mind to assist with the improving of EBs proficiency levels on the writing domain of the TELPAS. The strategies were created for ESL teachers, coaches, specialists, coordinators, directors, and administrators to aid in the preparation for TELPAS.

Strategies that Work in the Math Classroom! (virtual)

If you are not getting the “range” from your students that you expected, try changing the “domains” you are using? Change the parameters to expand student talk and interaction in the Math classroom. Participants will see the strategies implemented with Aldine students during the year and will also experience the strategies as participants. The strategies we will be highlighting for the math classroom are: QSSSA, Carousels, Talking Chips, and Whiteboards (digital and non-digital) in the classroom.

Engaging Students Using Nearpod (face-to-face)

Looking for ways to engage your students? Want to know how to interject various learning styles into each lesson? Do you want your students to take ownership of their learning? This session will delve into strategies and routines to create a positive learning environment to captivate your students.

English Vocabulary Instruction for Emergent Bilinguals in Secondary Math Classrooms (face-to-face)

This training is for secondary math teachers (who teach Algebra 1, Algebra 2 or Geometry) of emergent bilinguals (EBs). Participants will recognize and analyze categories of academic vocabulary found in mathematics texts and word problems and learn research-based strategies to develop such vocabulary. Some of the topics included in this training are: (a) identifying academic vocabulary; (b) difficulty of academic vocabulary in mathematics; (c) receptive and productive knowledge; and (d) inflection, lemma, derivative, and semantic word families.

Grade Level vs. Adapted Texts: What’s the difference, and how can they be used in the English classroom? (virtual)

Can adapted texts call for critical thinking? This session will use texts from the English I ODELL curriculum to demonstrate how grade level texts can be adapted to meet students' accommodations without compromising the content and complexity of the text.

Growing Language and Literacy - Supporting our EB Students (face-to-face)

This session will address the diverse language and literacy proficiencies that exist in our classrooms. We will look at levels of language acquisition, and practical strategies that can be applied across grade levels and content areas to support EB students’ academic language and literacy development. With an emphasis on culturally and linguistically sustaining pedagogy, peer interaction, and scaffolding, This session will offer instructional practices organized into strands at each level of language acquisition.

Move Our EBs, Please: Aligning WRITING instructional practices and TELPAS Item Types (face-to-face)

The robust curriculum for the "Move Our EBs, Please: Aligning WRITING instructional practices and TELPAS Item Types" session includes strategies that are designed with all content areas in mind to assist with the improving of EBs proficiency levels on the writing domain of the TELPAS. The strategies were created for ESL teachers, coaches, specialists, coordinators, directors, and administrators to aid in the preparation for TELPAS.

PBL: Easy as Pie (virtual)

Project based learning does not have to be overly complicated and time consuming. In this session, we will explore the benefits of project based learning in the ESL science classroom and how we can make project based learning engaging and easy for everyone. During this session, we will also learn how to make project based learning work for your and your specific population of students.

Strategies that Work in the Math Classroom! (virtual)

If you are not getting the “range” from your students that you expected, try changing the “domains” you are using? Change the parameters to expand student talk and interaction in the Math classroom. Participants will see the strategies implemented with Aldine students during the year and will also experience the strategies as participants. The strategies we will be highlighting for the math classroom are: QSSSA, Carousels, Talking Chips, and Whiteboards (digital and non-digital) in the classroom.

Anchor Charts for All!: How to use Anchor Charts to Deepen Students’ Critical Thinking (virtual)

This session will use examples from the English I ODELL curriculum to demonstrate various ways anchor charts can be used in the classroom to enhance students’ understanding of academic content and create autonomous learners.

Differentiation Made Easy (virtual)

What does differentiation look like in your classroom? In this session, we will explore differentiation in the ESL science classroom, what we think it looks like as educators, what it actually looks like to students, and give you some easy methods to use in order to effectively include differentiation into your everyday classroom routine while meeting the needs of your Emergent Bilingual students.

Move Our EBs, Please: Aligning WRITING instructional practices and TELPAS Item Types (face-to-face)

The robust curriculum for the "Move Our EBs, Please: Aligning WRITING instructional practices and TELPAS Item Types" session includes strategies that are designed with all content areas in mind to assist with the improving of EBs proficiency levels on the writing domain of the TELPAS. The strategies were created for ESL teachers, coaches, specialists, coordinators, directors, and administrators to aid in the preparation for TELPAS.

Promoting Strategic Interaction among Emergent Bilinguals in Secondary Math Classrooms (face-to-face)

This training is for secondary math teachers (who teach Algebra 1, Algebra 2 or Geometry) of emergent bilinguals (EBs). Participants will learn a variety of strategies and activities that promote interaction among EBs. Maximizing interaction in the classroom is an important factor in the development of students’ oral skills.

Responsive Teaching - Positive Impacts on Student Achievement (face-to-face)

Students are often described through a deficit lens; we focus on what they cannot do, rather than by what they can do. In this session we will discuss how teacher expectations affect student achievement, and will explore best practice methods to support our students and build positive interactions in our classrooms. Responsive teaching focuses on building an even stronger school community that is inclusive of EB students. When we develop a climate in which all students’ backgrounds, experiences, and cultures are honored our EB students will thrive.

Simple and Effective Strategies that Work in ALL Classrooms! (virtual)

Will this strategy work for the students in my class? Planning can be stressful! Join us as we share simple and effective strategies that work for ALL students! Participants will see the strategies implemented with students during the year, as well as experience the strategies as participants. The strategies highlighted in this session will promote student interaction and cement student knowledge. The strategies we will be highlighting for all classrooms are: Hanging Hashtags, Talking Chips, Vocabulary Dominos and MORE!

Academic Classroom Environment, Wit & Wisdom, (6th-8th Grade) (virtual)

A student’s physical surroundings have a profound influence on their behavior and learning. This session will focus on how we can transform the classroom into an academic learning environment that can improve instruction and learning. Presenters will share ideas for word walls, module specific anchor charts, timelines, and how to build respect and rapport with our students.

Building Background and Activating Prior Knowledge through Authenticity and Realia (virtual)

Teachers will explore various methods and strategies to build background and activate prior knowledge to prepare students for learning.

Do you struggle with helping students realize they have background knowledge? Did you know you can use realia and authenticity to help your students make connections? This presentation will focus on methods to help teachers build students' skills as we remember what it was like to be bright-eyed and bursting with curiosity in middle school. Teachers will learn how to give similar moments of excitement by using methods and strategies that link students to their learning.

Journaling to the MAX (virtual)

Are you tired of the same old interactive journals? In this session, we will give you strategies to update that old interactive journal to meet the needs of your emergent bilingual students, show you how to transform that interactive journal into a digital on-the-go journal, and help you get your own digital journal started before the start of the new school year.

Making Words Meaningful: Internalizing Academic Vocabulary Using ELL Strategies (virtual)

We have all heard of using word walls, personal dictionaries, and vocabulary graphic organizers in our classrooms, but how can we ensure tools like these are being used effectively in the English classroom? This session will use the English I ODELL curriculum to demonstrate teaching strategies that can be used to enhance students comprehension of complex texts.

Move Our EBs, Please: Aligning WRITING instructional practices and TELPAS Item Types (face-to-face)

The robust curriculum for the "Move Our EBs, Please: Aligning WRITING instructional practices and TELPAS Item Types" session includes strategies that are designed with all content areas in mind to assist with the improving of EBs proficiency levels on the writing domain of the TELPAS. The strategies were created for ESL teachers, coaches, specialists, coordinators, directors, and administrators to aid in the preparation for TELPAS.

Promoting Strategic Interaction among Emergent Bilinguals in Secondary Math Classrooms (face-to-face)

This training is for secondary math teachers (who teach Algebra 1, Algebra 2 or Geometry) of emergent bilinguals (EBs). Participants will learn a variety of strategies and activities that promote interaction among EBs. Maximizing interaction in the classroom is an important factor in the development of students’ oral skills.

Simple and Effective Strategies that Work in ALL Classrooms! (virtual)

Will this strategy work for the students in my class? Planning can be stressful! Join us as we share simple and effective strategies that work for ALL students! Participants will see the strategies implemented with students during the year, as well as experience the strategies as participants. The strategies highlighted in this session will promote student interaction and cement student knowledge. The strategies we will be highlighting for all classrooms are: Hanging Hashtags, Talking Chips, Vocabulary Dominos and MORE!