October 2007 Calendar Archive

A list of local, state, and national professional development events of interest to adult & family literacy practitioners in Texas. If you know of other professional development opportunities or important dates of interest to Texas practitioners, please submit them to our Calendar Committee for consideration. For more information join one of our email discussion groups so you will always hear about the latest training opportunities. Click on "Discussion Lists" to read about these discussion lists and how to join.

October 2007

October 1-31, 2007: Health Literacy Month. Celebrated each October, Health Literacy Month is a time when health literacy advocates around the world promote the importance of understandable health information. For more information, see the Health Literacy Month website.

October 5, 2007: Texas Adult Credential Training, Session 1 – Do you want to learn more about the Adult Education Credential Project? This training is for you! Please join us on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The training will provide detailed information about the Credential model, the benefits of pursuing the Credential, and the current process in place in obtaining this Credential. To attend the training, you must be a teacher of record for any adult education program funded by the Texas Education Agency. (Your name must appear in the adult education statewide management system: TEAMS.) Completion of this training is required before beginning the Credential process. This is the first of two sessions. Training location is El Paso Community College, Valle Verde Campus, Room A1129, El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

October 5, 2007: Content Standards will be held from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Angelina College located at 3500 South 1st Street in Lufkin. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 5, 2007: BEST Plus will be held at 900 N. Elm, Weatherford 76086 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Participants who successfully complete this certification process will be able to give both the computer adapted and print based version of this new oral proficiency test. This test was developed by the Center for Applied Linguistics. It is an individually administered face-to-face scripted oral interview designed to assess the English language Proficiency of adult English language learners. This test can be used for program placement, progress, program evaluation and diagnosis. BEST Plus scores can be converted to SPL descriptors that align with NRS Functioning Level Descriptors. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or dbaker@dallasisd.org, or Donnie McGowan (817) 598-2806 x 3226.

October 6, 2007: Adult Education Math Workshop will be held from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm at Trinity Valley Community College located at 100 Cardinal Street, Suite 108 in Athens. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 6, 2007:  New Teacher Academy V - Session 1: This Academy is targeted to new teachers in the Adult Education field.  The facilitator will provide resources to lesson plans, classroom activities, and brainstorming sessions that will assist the attendees in exploring new methods to address classroom needs.  A mentoring component is included in the Academy that will connect an experienced teacher with a novice.  This session will be held on Saturday from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at the El Paso Community College - Valle Verde Campus. The room number will be forwarded to all registrants prior to the training date.  This is the first of four workshops (remaining sessions Nov. 17, Jan. 19 and March 8).  Participation in all four sessions and the mentoring component is required in order to qualify for the available stipend.  Limited to 15 participants. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

October 6, 2007: NEW BEST Literacy Test Training will be held from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at Houston READ Commission, 5400 Griggs Road, Houston 77021. Presenter is Judy Bowman. This training is the UPDATED BEST Literacy and is intended for anyone who administers or scores the BEST Literacy Test. Using the NEW manual, participants will investigate proper test administration and scoring procedures, practice scoring writing samples, and acquire a basic knowledge of the content. By the end of the session participants should be able to use the writing rubric for scoring writing samples and follow the NEW manual mandates for accurate scoring on the other sections. Participants should bring the NEW BEST Literacy Test Manual to the training session. Coastal Registration form. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800141, registration number 59081, and section number CY170. For additional information, please email: CoastalCF@nhmccd.edu

October 6, 2007: Content Standards Training will be held from 9 am to 4 pm at the Kyle Learning Center, 21393 North IH 35, Kyle 78640. This training will provide an overview of Texas Adult Education Standards Project (TAESP) and how to integrate into lesson plans. Participants will be given an implementation guide that includes benchmarks for ABE/ASE and ESL Learners. Central registration form. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 6, 2007: Math Strategies workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3: 30 p.m. at Laredo Community College, West End Washington, Eloy Garcia building in Laredo.  The instructor is John Hodges. South Registration Form.

October 6, 2007: Content Standards Training will be held from 9:00 am 4:00 pm (6 hr. training with one hr. for lunch) at Odessa College-ABE-Annex B, Odessa. Trainer is Sue Ferguson. Please contact John Tucker for further information 432-335-6381 or jtucker@odessa.edu. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

October 6, 2007:  TEAMS Training Workshop will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM at American Youthworks, 1901 E. Ben White, Austin, TX 78741.  The workshop will include an overview of TEAMS and the latest information on 2007-08 changes to TEAMS.  Presented by Anne Spanyers.   Central registration form. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 8, 2007:  Transitioning GED Graduates to Post Secondary Education will be held from 9-12 Noon at Austin Community College – Highland Business Center, Room 411, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, 78752.  Facilitated by Dr. Sherry Nash.  Must register to attend. Central registration form. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 8, 2007:  Transitioning GED Graduates to Post Secondary Education will be held from 6-9 PM at Austin Community College – Highland Business Center, Room 301.7, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, 78752.  Facilitated by Dr. Sherry Nash.  Must register to attend. Central registration form. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 8, 2007: Math Workshop will be held from 2:30 to 4:30 pm at Austin Community College, Highland Business Center, Room 411, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin 78752. Mary Alice Carlson & Kathy Dowdy will facilitate. Central registration form. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 8, 2007: TEAMS Training will be held at Lincoln Instruction Center, Rm 206, 5000 S. Malcolm X Blvd., Dallas  75215.  Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to enter into TEAMS  participant data, including demographics, profile, assessments (pre and post), class registration, contact hours and outcomes and achievements.  This training will incorporate the following changes to the TEAMS database.  For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or dbaker@dallasisd.org or Conchis Silva (972) 749-2690.

October 9-11, 2007: Even Start Coordinators’ Institute will be held in Fredericksburg at the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites - Barons Creek Conference Center. For more information as plans are finalized, subscribe to the Family Literacy Email Discussion List.

October 10-12, 2007: Regional COABE Institute will be held in Williamsburg, VA at the Crowne Plaza Williamsburg, in conjunction with the Virginia Association for Adult and Continuing Education Annual Conference. Keynote speaker will be Stephen D. Brookfield. Held once or twice a year in addition to the COABE National Conference, COABE Regional Institutes offer the opportunity to select one strand for an in-depth two-day institute on a single topic. Some topics will be: Teaching to the Adult Brain; Applying Research in Reading Instruction for Adults; and a CAELA topic on Teaching (Oral Skills or Writing) to Adult English Language Learners. For more information as topics are announced, visit the Virginia Association for Adult and Continuing Education event website.

October 11, 2007: TEAMS Training will be held at DISD Administration Bldg, 3709 Ross Ave., Portable 2, Dallas 75204.  Upon completion of this training, participants will be familiar with the various reports that can be ran from TEAMS, and how to use these reports for program improvement.  For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or dbaker@dallasisd.org or Conchis Silva (972) 749-2690.

October 11-13, 2007:  Texas Adult Basic Education Statewide Math Institute Follow-Up will be held from 8:30am to 5:00pm on the 11th and the 12th, and 8:30am to 3:00pm on the 13th, at The Radisson Market Square Hotel, 502 West Durango Boulevard, San Antonio 78207. South Registration Form. For additional information, please call Jennifer Unterbrink @ 361-593-2755 or email: kajhu00@tamuk.edu.

October 12, 2007: National Leadership Excellence Academy will begin with a six-hour face-to-face meeting. For more information on this series, contact Sheryl Jefferson at Texas LEARNS  or email Ken Appelt at TCALL.

October 12, 2007: Texas Adult Credential Training, Session 2 – This is Session 2 of the training and will take place on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This is the last of two sessions. Training location is El Paso Community College, Valle Verde Campus, Room A1129, El Paso. Participants must attend both sessions to meet the initial requirement for the Credential project. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

October 12, 2007: BEST Plus Training will be held from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at Angelina College located at 3500 South 1st Street, Technology & Workforce Center, Building TW in Lufkin. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 13, 2007: Content Standards will be held from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Kilgore College, Longview Campus located at 300 South High Street in Longview. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 13, 2007: TEAMS Training will be held from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at Kilgore College, Longview Campus located at 300 South High Street in Longview. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

 October 13, 2007: Content Standards Training will be held from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (1 hr for lunch) at Technology Center Bldg.TC 136, Midland. Trainer is Sue Ferguson. The training is open to the entire West region. For additional information, contact Patty Zeigler pzeigler@midland.edu or 432-685-4566. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

October 13, 2007: Content Standards will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at college of the Mainland, 1200 Amburn Rd. Texas City 77591. The Presenter is Sandi Schneider. This training course is for any one interested in learning more about the Texas Adult Education Content Standards and Benchmarks (TAESB). The main objectives of the training are to familiarize the audience with the TAESB and to develop lesson plans using the standards and benchmarks. Audience members do not need to have previous knowledge of the TAESB, however, they do need to familiar with adult education programs and practices in Texas. Target audience members would include full-time and part-time adult education teachers (ABE, GED, ESL), and adult education program administrators. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800139, registration number 68662, and section number CY 166. Coastal Registration form. For additional information, please email: CoastalCF@nhmccd.edu

October 13, 2007: Content Standards will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at college of the Mainland, 1200 Amburn Rd. Texas City 77591. The Presenter is Alma Ayala. This training course is for any one interested in learning more about the Texas Adult Education Content Standards and Benchmarks (TAESB). The main objectives of the training are to familiarize the audience with the TAESB and to develop lesson plans using the standards and benchmarks. Audience members do not need to have previous knowledge of the TAESB, however, they do need to familiar with adult education programs and practices in Texas. Target audience members would include full-time and part-time adult education teachers (ABE, GED, ESL), and adult education program administrators. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800139, registration number 68662, and section number CY 166. Coastal Registration form. For additional information, please email: CoastalCF@nhmccd.edu

October 13, 2007: BEST Plus Training will be held from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Tyler Junior College, West Campus, Room 120 located at 1530 SSW Loop 323 in Tyler. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 15, 2007: National Literacy Summit 3. NIFL will host this free Webcast from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central Time on the topic of "Competitive Learning in a Global Economy". Dr. Fareed Zakaria will lead discussion of how technology drives the definition of literacy and learning required in a competitive global economy. For more information, contact info@nifl.gov or call 202-233-2025 or visit the Verizon Literacy Network for more information.

October 15, 2007: BEST Plus Refresher Training will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 pm at Paris Junior College located at 2400 Clarksville Street in Paris. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 16, 2007: BEST Plus Training will be held from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at Paris Junior College located at 2400 Clarksville Street in Paris. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 16, 2007: Reducing School Violence: Keeping Children Safe and Ready to Learn. This free broadcast from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Central Time is part of the U.S. Department of Education “Education News Parents Can Use” television series about ways to ensure children's educational success. Satellite coordinates for each broadcast are provided free of charge to all broadcast stations and outlets but requires pre-registration for the 2007-2008 season at http://registerevent.ed.gov.

October 16-17, 2007: BEST Plus Administrator Training, Part I of II and Central GREAT Administrator Training, Part II will be held from 6-9 pm at Austin Community College, Highland Business Center, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, 78752. The training will take place in room 301.7 on October 16th and in room 217 on October 17th. Participants must attend both sessions to receive BEST Plus Test Administrator certification. If you have questions about content, please contact Denise Guckert dg21@txstate.edu or (512) 245-9624. For information on directions or other logistics, Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522. Participation is limited to 15. Central registration form.

October 17, 2007: BEST Plus Administrator Refresher will be held from 6-9 PM at Austin Community College Highland Business Center, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, 78752. The training will take place in room 217. NOTE: This session is Session II of II of a BEST Plus Administrator event, but it may serve as a refresher if you are already a certified BEST Plus test administrator. If you attend as a refresher, you must bring your BEST Plus Test Administrator Guide with you, including your practice CD. For content questions, contact Denise Guckert dg21@txstate.edu or (512) 245-9624. For information on directions or other logistics, Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522. Participation is limited to 15. Central registration form.

October 17, 2007: ELT Advantage Online Courses. For a limited time only, six (6) online courses are available free of charge.  The courses available are:

• Introduction to Teaching ESL
• Practical Ideas for the Adult ESL Classroom
• Assessing Language Ability in Young Adults and Adults
• Making the most of Learner Dictionaries
• Teaching ESL Reading
• Communicative Activities for the ESL Classroom

Courses run for six weeks, two 2-hour sessions per week.  Upon successful course completion, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages).   For course descriptions and registration information, please click here.  Registration form must be completed and submitted no later than 7 days prior to course start date.  For questions, email farwestg@farwestgreat.org or call (915) 937-1706. 

October 19, 2007: Content Standards- ESL Workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3: 30 p.m. at South West Texas Junior College, 2401 Garner Field Road, Adult Learning Center, Uvalde.  The instructor is Sandi Schneider. South Registration Form.

October 19, 2007: Math Strategies workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3: 30 p.m. at South West Texas Junior College, 2401 Garner Field Road, Adult Learning Center, Uvalde.  The instructor is John Hodges. South Registration Form.

October 19, 2007: How to Plan a Successful ESL Course will be held from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at Houston READ Commission, 5400 Griggs Road, Conference Room B, Houston 77021. Presenter is Jeff Mohamed. The workshop will examine how teachers can create ESL courses which provide integrated skills practice and which incorporate useful review activities. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800116, registration number 58664, and section number CY 167. Coastal Registration form. For additional information, please email: CoastalCF@nhmccd.edu

October 19, 2007: BEST Plus Training will be held from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Huntsville Adult Learning Center located at 2514 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite C in Huntsville. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 19, 2007: Building Student Retention will be held from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, at Beaumont ISD Adult and Community Education, 1800 Pope St. Beaumont, 77703. The Presenter is Cynthia McConnell. This Professional Development training will focus on critical exit points for students and ways to improve retention. Teachers will develop activities for student retention through demonstrations, role-play, and hands-on activities. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800088, registration number 61057, and section number CY 173. Coastal Registration form. For additional information, please email: CoastalCF@nhmccd.edu

October 19, 2007: Working with Multilevel ESOL Classes will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Beaumont ISD Adult and Community Education, 1800 Pope St. Beaumont, 77703. This Professional Development training will focus on the characteristics of the multilevel ESOL class, ways to make multilevel classes rich and productive, and how to adapt instructional materials and activities for the multilevel class. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 680082, registration number 61058, and section number CY 174. Coastal Registration form. For additional information, please email: CoastalCF@nhmccd.edu

October 19-20, 2007: EL Civics Academy I: ESL Strategies for Navigating a New Culture, Session 1 - Teachers in this course will learn how to create and use activities for EL Civics that engage students, improve language and literacy skills, and build civic involvement. Presenters will demonstrate research-based instructional strategies and will offer hands-on practice for teachers to help students create civic mini-projects using digital photography and video.  Teachers will be expected to try out several of the key strategies presented in their classrooms to ensure transfer of learning.  Participants will also develop a lesson plan using a common format that shows integration of these strategies into their overall instruction. Participants must attend both session of the Academy.  Training will take place at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista, El Paso. Please join us on Friday (10/19) from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday (10/20) from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

October 19-20, 2007: Effective Multi-level Strategies for Adult English Language Learners will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on October 19th and from 9 am to 12 noon on October 20tth at Temple College, One College Center, 2600 South First Street, Temple 76504. The workshop will be facilitated by Linda Muñoz and will focus on appropriate lesson planning strategies, group strategies and effective multi-level activities for us in ESL classrooms. Must register to attend. Participants must attend both sessions. Central registration form. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 20, 2007: Content Standards will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Harris County Department of Education, Irvington Learning Center, 626 Lindale, Houston, TX 77022. The Presenter is Melanie Mayeaux. This training course is for any one interested in learning more about the Texas Adult Education Content Standards and Benchmarks (TAESB). The main objectives of the training are to familiarize the audience with the TAESB and to develop lesson plans using the standards and benchmarks. Audience members do not need to have previous knowledge of the TAESB, however, they do need to familiar with adult education programs and practices in Texas. Target audience members would include full-time and part-time adult education teachers (ABE, GED, ESL), and adult education program administrators. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800139, registration number 58665, and section number CY 168. Registration is closed.

October 20, 2007: TABE 9 & 10 will be held from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at Harris County Department of Education, Irvington Learning Center, 626 Lindale, Houston 77022. The Presenter is Bill Medina.  This training will provide the CTB/McGraw-Hill certification requirements on the best practices of administering, scoring, and interpreting the TABE 9/10. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 680036, registration number 58666, and section number Cy169. Registration is closed.

October 20, 2007: BEST Plus Training held from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Harris County Department of Education, Irvington Learning Center located at 626 Lindale in Houston. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 20, 2007: TABE Workshop will be held from 9:00 a.m.-12: 00 p.m. at Corpus Christi Adult Learning Center in the cafeteria, 3902 Morgan, Corpus Christi. The instructor is Yvette Sanchez. South Registration Form.

October 22-23, 2007: TEAMS Training will be held at Irving ISD, 820 N. O’Connor Rd, Irving from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Participants will learn how to enter student demographics, profiles, assessments, achievements. The various reports will also be introduced. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or dbaker@dallasisd.org

 October 24, 2007: BEST Plus Training will be held from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (6 hr. training with one hr. for lunch) at the Adult Education Center, 1601 24th Street, Lubbock. Trainer is Bobby Jackson. Training is open to the entire region. For site information contact Ms. Gayla Dirks, Adult Education Specialist, Lubbock by email gdirks@esc17.net or phone 806-766-1278. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

October 25, 2007: Adult Education and Correctional Conference, will be held from 8:15 am - 4:30 pm at Education Service Center, 1314 Hines, San Antonio, TX 78208. Please visit this site for future updates and topics to be presented. Individuals must register online. Registration is available through iLearning. If you are unable to register on line, please contact Central Registration by e-mail registration@esc20.net or by calling (210) 370-5671 or 370-5247.

October 25-26, 2007: Training of Trainers: Principles of Participatory Education, hosted by TAALC. The goal of this workshop is to give teachers/literacy tutors, who have some experience working with students, the skills and techniques needed to provide quality training for their organization. When you receive your certification from this workshop, you will be certified to train those who work with adult education/literacy students. Even if you are not directly involved with literacy/education as a trained tutor/teacher, you are invited to join us at this training to improve your trainer skills and techniques to expand your abilities, and network with other trainers. Registrants are required to attend both days to be certified. Training times are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. The training location is the Head Start Multipurpose Center,  11670 Chito Samaniego, Dr. Lorenzo Garcia room, El Paso. For registration information, email at: valcsm@yahoo.com or call: (361) 582-4273.

October 25, 2007: TEAMS Training Workshop will be held from 9:00 to 12:00 noon virtually.   Terri Schiemenz will facilitate.  The workshop will include an overview of TEAMS and the latest information on 2007-2008 changes to TEAMS. Central registration form.

October 25-26, 2007: Sixth Annual Funders’ Forum at the Cain Center in Athens will be sponsored by A Circle of Ten, Inc. Network for Collaboration, along with The East Texas Arboretum, East Texas Workforce Board, and other sponsors. At this event geared toward non-profit organizations, over 30 representatives from funding agencies will speak, take questions, and consult with attendees. For more information or to register, contact A Circle of Ten (903-541 0013 or circleof10@circleof10.org) or visit the East Texas Virtual Village.

October 25-27, 2007: TexTESOL State Conference will be hosted in Galveston by TexTESOL Region IV. For more information as the conference is planned, visit the TexTESOL Region IV Website.

October 26, 2007: BEST Plus Workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3: 30 p.m. at Even Start Building, 2919 High School Circle, Lyford, TX.  The instructor is Yvette Sanchez. South Registration Form.

October 27, 2007: GED Math will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3: 30 p.m. at the Pharr Workforce Development Center, 1100 E. Highway 83, Pharr 78577. The instructor is John Hodges. South Registration Form.

October 28-30, 2007: The 13th Annual National Even Start Association Conference will be held in San Diego, CA at the Bahia Resort Hotel. Conference theme is Make a Difference: Shape the Future. For additional information on the conference go to the NESA conference website. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact Melissa Sites or 858-278-1810.

October 31 - November 2, 2007: Special Learning Needs Training Series conducted by Neil Sturomski and Nancie Payne begins with this first of four 3-day (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily) training events. For more information on this series, contact Tracy Hendrix at Texas LEARNS or email Ken Appelt at TCALL.