Sessions Info

Concurrent Sessions I
11:10am - 12:00pm 

CT DOE Policy Updates (Resource Document)

Theatre E-145

Megan Alubicki Flick, English Learner/Multilingual Learner Consultant and Title III State Director, Connecticut State Department of Education

In this session, we will discuss changes and updates to policy and guidelines that impact instruction for ELs/MLs and the teachers that serve them. Participants will leave the session with a better understanding of how recent policy and guidance impact their work and with access to tools and resources for their professional learning. The session will provide an opportunity to hear updates in an informal setting to allow for discussion, questions and answers, and brainstorming as a group. Feel free to bring challenges of practice and/or questions.

Play a Game with Me: Games for the ESL Classroom 

Room 148 

Amy Russell, ESL teacher, Cheshire Public Schools 

Getting families to participate in school events can be a challenge, but with the right kind of activities school and family engagement can be exciting. Learn how to instruct a community action painting that brings people together, breaks down language barriers, and creates a strong sense of unity.

Continuation of Keynote Address 

Room 149 

Elizabeth Howard, Associate Professor of Bilingual Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Connecticut

This session is a continuation of the conversation with Elizabeth Howard with a Q&A session. What is sociocultural competence, and what is its role in teaching multilingual learners? How does focusing on sociocultural competence help us learn about, affirm, and leverage the languages, knowledge, and stories that these students bring to our schools and classrooms? Based on a recently completed practitioner-researcher collaboration with dual language educators, Dr. Howard will define sociocultural competence, discuss reasons why it is important to promote it and assess it, and share an activity bank of classroom activities to promote sociocultural competence that teachers can easily incorporate into existing routines and lessons.

Dual Identified Learners  Cancelled

Room 149

Lauren Bachner, ML Student Support at Stamford Public Schools

Exploring strategies for effectively supporting Dual Identified Learners in educational settings, this presentation covers best practices, tailored interventions, and cultural considerations to enhance language acquisition and academic success. 

Making the Push-in Model Effective by Truly Co-teaching 

Room 153

Jessica Keane, ESL teacher and School Wide English Learning Coach, Fairfield Public Schools

Amy Fox, Classroom teacher, Fairfield Public Schools

Many school districts now use the push-in model to instruct multilingual learners.  In this presentation, we will demonstrate how we created a true co-teaching situation in a 4th grade classroom where both the classroom teacher and the English language teacher were well-prepared to facilitate instruction.

Concurrent Sessions II 

1:10pm - 2:00pm 

Translanguaging: Leveraging Multilingual Students' Home Languages 

Room 148

Chrissy Bowman, Multilingual Learner Education Specialist

This session will delve deep into ways that schools and educators can leverage multilingual students’ home languages for instruction and learning. Viewing and utilizing this essential part of students’ identities as an asset will allow schools and classrooms to foster more inclusive and equitable learning environments. 

Using SIOP for Effective Instruction (Slides) 

Room 149

Linda Massucci, Lead Consultant & Founder Enaltecer Education Consulting LLC

Attendees will walk away with a completed SIOP lesson, as well as the knowledge of how to incorporate Las-Links scores, content standards, and CELP standards into their own SIOP lessons to effectively instruct MLLs. 

How Teachers Learn Community-based Knowledge through Ethnographic Case Studies 

Room 153

Eileen González, Assistant Professor, University of Saint Joseph 

Meredith McConnochie, Associate Professor, University of Saint Joseph

This breakout session will share insights on how teachers learn community-based knowledge through ethnographic case studies involving interviews and observations with Multilingual Learners and their families. We will share findings from action research conducted by in-service teachers enrolled in an MA in TESOL program regarding what and how they learned to develop their teaching by tapping into community-based knowledge. 

Linking the School and the Community in the 21st Century 

Room 253

Marcelo Sousa, ELL Teacher and Coach

Join Marcelo Sousa, a seasoned educator renowned for successfully integrating parents of English language learners and community members into school programs. In his workshop, “Linking the School and the Community in the 21st Century,” Marcelo will share inspiring success stories, practical strategies, and free tools for educators and administrators. Discover how his collaborations with community-based organizations have created benefits for students, their families, schools, and the broader community. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to strengthen your school’s community connections effectively.

Concurrent Sessions III 

2:10pm - 3:00pm 

Prompt Power: Leveraging AI for Streamlined Teacher Admin Tasks and Dynamic Instruction (Slides) 

Room 148

Tyler Poeti (poetit@danbury.k12.ct.us), ELD Teacher, Danbury Public Schools 

Explore how AI tools like ChatGPT and MagicSchool AI can streamline TESOL tasks in this interactive workshop. Learn to craft effective prompts, engage in hands-on activities, and address common concerns about AI use in schools.

The Interconnectness of the translanguaging pedagogy with social and ethical framework (Slides)

Room 149

Damaris Cruz, Department Head of Dual Language and ESOL K-12

In this workshop, you will understand how the translanguaging pedagogy align with SEL and culturally responsive instruction. Participants will walk away with knowledge of the translanguaging pedagogy, and leave equipped with the strategies for implementing it.

Advocacy in Action: Transforming Education for Multilingual Success (Slides) 

Room 153

Lily Corniello-Cordero, District Supervisor, EL, Equity, and Student Support

Nicole Baker, MLL Teacher (Elementary)

Gloribel Barreto-Rameriz, Bilingual Teacher

Join us for "Advocacy in Action: Transforming Education for Multilingual Success" and discover impactful strategies to support multilingual learners. Through research, case studies, and collaborative discussions, you’ll leave with practical ideas to advocate for students, teachers, and families, fostering a more inclusive and thriving educational environment.

Leveraging Community Assets in Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy 

Room 253

Emily Nguyen, ESOL/Bilingual Teacher, New Haven Public schools

Educators of multilingual learners of all ages have the opportunity to engage and empower their students through culturally sustaining pedagogy that uplifts and amplifies students’ cultures and experiences. In this session, participants will review the tenets of culturally sustaining pedagogy and explore community assets that can support this work.