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February 2008 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.

January 14–February 24, 2008: TESOL Electronic Village Online 2008. In this professional development project and virtual extension of the TESOL 2008 Convention in New York, NY, participants and ESOL experts can engage in six weeks of collaborative, online discussion or hands-on virtual workshops of professional and scholarly benefit. These sessions will bring together participants for a longer period of time than is permitted by the four-day convention and will allow a fuller development of ideas than is otherwise possible. Sessions may be on any topic in ESL/EFL and are free and open to all interested parties. For more information, visit the Electronic Village Online web page.

January 16- Feb 20, 2008: Distance Learning 101: Planning and Designing a Program for Adult Learners. Prerequisite: Distance Learning Orientation. This online course is designed for adult educators interested in preparing to offer distance education classes. It is intended for teachers and administrators who are already skilled at delivering classroom-based adult education. The course provides participants a collection of reading and activities on student recruitment, orientation, teaching and assessment. Upon completion of the modules, each team will complete a distance education plan for feedback. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or Marilyn Calhoun (972) 749-2638.

February 1-2, 2008: Pre-GED Academy: Focus on Reading and Math - - Session 1. The Struggling Reader: From Decoding Words to Understanding Text: This first session will focus on strategies that teachers can use to help students: determine their purpose for reading a given text; identify and use appropriate reading strategies; improve their overall reading rate and fluency levels; and use their own knowledge and experiences to help gain understanding of new information. This session will be held on Friday from 4:30 pm -7:30 pm and on Saturday from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at the Socorro Community Learning Center on 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso. This is the first of three workshops (remaining sessions February 15-16 and March 14-15). Participation in all three sessions and a follow up activity is required in order to qualify for the available stipend. Follow up activity is scheduled for Friday, April 18, 2008. Limited to 15 participants. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

February 2, 2008: Multi-Level ESL Professional Development Training will be held from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at Kilgore College-Longview Campus located at 300 South High Street in Longview, Texas. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

February 2, 2008: TEAMS for Teachers, ESC-20 Conference Center, 1314 Hines Ave., San Antonio, TX 78208, (210) 370-5200, Laura Antu. Registration is available through iLearning. If you encounter difficulties registering on line, please contact Central Registration by e-mail registration@esc20.net or by calling (210) 370-5671 or 370-5247.

February 5-7, 2008: Parents Make the Difference professional development event will be conducted in Houston for Coastal and East Region Even Start projects by Texas Family Literacy Resource Center. Location is Cy-Fair College in Room 153 of the College and Conference Center, 9191 Barker Cypress Road in Houston. All Coastal and East region Even Start projects should have already received an email with the registration form for Parents Make The Difference. For more information, email Dr. Deborah Stedman at ds43@txstate.edu or call toll-free at 1-877-245-9605. NOTE: Parents Make the Difference sessions for West and Far West regions were held in November 2007 at the El Paso Adult Literacy and Learning Conference.

February 5 & 7, 2008: Multi-Level ESL will be held at Region 9 ESC, 301 Loop 11, Wichita Falls 76308 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Participants will learn methods of establishing goals for a large, diverse group. They will consider strategies for working with multi-level classes with an emphasis on adapting activities to meet a variety of needs. Additionally, participants will examine ways to manage large classes without sacrificing a learner-centered, interactive approach to language teaching. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or Sylvia Lugo (817) 547-2502.

February 8, 2008: Texas Adult Education Credential PDPW, Session 2: This is the last of two sessions for the Texas Adult Education Credential PDPW. Participation in the first session on January 18 is required to attend this session. This session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The training location is yet to be determined and will be announced a week prior to the training dates to all those registered. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

February 8, 2008: BEST Plus Workshop will be held from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Laredo Community College, West End Washington Street, Laredo, 78040. The instructor is Yvette Sanchez. South Registration Form.

February 9, 2008: BEST Plus Workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3:30p.m. at the Laredo Community College, West End Washington Street, Laredo, 78040. The instructor is Yvette Sanchez. South Registration Form.

February 9, 2008: Content Standards will be held from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Bowie-Cass Adult Ed Cooperative located at 3201 Lincoln Drive in Texarkana. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

February 9, 2008: GED Math Training will be held from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (6 hr. training with one hour for lunch) at Abilene ISD, 1929 South 11th Street, Abilene. Trainer is Krista Young. Please contact Merri Lynn Rideout for further information (325) 671-4419 or merri.rideout@abileneisd.org. Open to Abilene only. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

February 9, 2008: Multi-Level ESL training will be held from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (6 hr. training with one hr. for lunch) at Abilene ISD 1929 South 11t Street, Abilene, Texas. Trainer is Harriet Hubacker. Please contact Merri Lynn Rideout for further information (325) 671-4419 or merri.rideout@abileneisd.org. Open to Abilene only. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

February 9, 2008: Introduction to Texas Adult Education Content Standards (SAISD), Harris Middle School (Teacher Resource Room), 325 Pruitt Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78204, (210) 299-1102, Rita McSorley. Registration is available through iLearning. If you encounter difficulties registering on line, please contact Central Registration by e-mail registration@esc20.net or by calling (210) 370-5671 or 370-5247.

February 9, 2008: Effective Multilevel Strategies for ABE/GED, Modules One and Two will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Houston Community College, 3100 Main Street, Houston 77002. NOTE: This is the FIRST of two sessions. You must attend BOTH sessions. The SECOND session will be held on February 23. Presenters are Doris Larry and Cynthia McConnell. This interactive training focuses on appropriate lesson planning strategies, group strategies, and effective multi-level activities. It includes theory and strategies to use in teaching all subject of the GED to a multi-level class. Classroom management techniques, test preparation, orientation procedures, multi-sensory lesson planning, and proficiency objectives of the Texas Content standards will be presented. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800154, registration number 72392, and section number CY 402. Coastal Registration form. For more information, please email CoastalCF@nhmccd.edu

February 9, 2008: Texas Adult Education Content Standards will be held at Community Learning Center, Bldg. C, 1820 Pearl St., Carrollton 75006 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Participants will be provided with the tools to effectively implement the content standards. All participants will receive the Texas Adult Education Content Standards and Benchmarks for ABE/ASE and ESL Learners Implementation Guide. For more information contact Dorris A. Baker (972) 749-2506 or Marelou Cisneros (972) 968-6507.

February 11-13, 2008: TWC Workforce Forum will be hosted by the Texas Workforce Commission at the Omni Southpark Hotel in Austin. Recommended attendees included: Board Executive Directors, Board Planners, LMI Specialists, Youth Specialists, Training Liaisons, Integrated Service Area Managers, Workforce Center/Frontline Staff and TWC Program Staff. For more information, please contact Carolyn Salinas at (512) 463-5556 or go to the TWC Upcoming Events page.

February 13, 2008: BEST Plus Training will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Texas LEARNS, 6005 Westview Drive, Houston 77055. Presenter: Judy Bowman. The participants will study the rationale for the BEST Plus test and acquire sufficient mastery of the BEST Plus test to perform duties of a tester in administering, scoring, and interpreting the scores. NOTE: Participants are required to have a TAG manual. No one will be allowed to attend the session without a TAG manual. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800043, registration number 69947, and section number CY400. Coastal Registration form. For more information, please contact Tina Washco at (281) 290-5259 or CoastalCF@nhmccd.edu Please note: TCALL will provide free continental breakfast buffet, hot lunch and snack for those who attend this session.

February 13-14: New Administrators’ Institute will be hosted by Texas LEARNS in Houston for adult education fiscal agent directors and EL Civics Coordinators who have been in their administrative position two years or less. Location of the meeting is 6005 Westview Drive in Houston. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday and conclude at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. For details on meeting location, registration, or hotel information, contact Stella Earhart at TCALL (800-441-READ; searhart@tamu.edu). If you have questions about who should attend, contact your Grant Service Manager at Texas LEARNS.

February 13-15: BEST Plus Training of Trainers will be hosted by Texas LEARNS in Houston. The training will be conducted for a limited group by Center for Applied Linguistics. For details on meeting location, registration, or hotel information, contact Stella Earhart at TCALL (800-441-READ; searhart@tamu.edu). If you have questions about who is eligible to attend this training, contact your regional GREAT Center.

February 14-15, 2008: The 16th Annual University of North Texas Conference on Parent Education is hosted in Denton by the Center for Parent Education and the College of Education at the University of North Texas. National two-day interdisciplinary conference is intended for policy makers, students, and professionals, including parent/family educators, child and family advocates, early childhood interventionists, family support professionals, and school/parent liaisons. Keynote speaker is nationally recognized in an area of specialized knowledge related to parent education and family support. Presentation proposals are due August 15, 2007. For more information or to register, see the Center for Parent Education Website.

February 15: Program Improvement Planning Meeting will be hosted by Texas LEARNS in Houston. Location of the meeting is 6005 Westview Drive in Houston. For details on meeting location, registration, or hotel information, contact Stella Earhart at TCALL (800-441-READ; searhart@tamu.edu). If you have questions about who should attend, contact your Grant Service Manager at Texas LEARNS.

January 15, 2008: No Child Left Behind Anniversary Special: Rebuilding Education in New Orleans. 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.

February 15, 2008: South Central GREAT Center Advisory Committee Meeting will be held at Wharton County Junior College-Adult Education, 911 Boling Hwy, Wharton 77488 from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. Registration is available through iLearning. If you encounter difficulties registering on line, please contact Central Registration by e-mail registration@esc20.net or by calling (210) 370-5671 or 370-5247.

February 15, 2008: Learning Disabilities in the Classroom training will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3:30p.m. At Southwest Texas Junior College, 2401 Garner Field Road, Uvalde, TX 78801. The instructor is Carol Speigl. South Registration Form.

February 15, 2008: Higher Order Thinking Skills workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Southwest Texas Junior College, 2401 Garner Field Road, Uvalde, TX 78801. The instructor is Irene Ramos. South Registration Form.

February 15-16, 2008: Pre-GED Academy: Focus on Reading and Math - - Session 2. The Struggling math Student: From Mindless Manipulation of Numbers to Mastery of Mathematical Concepts and Processes: This second session will focus on strategies that teachers can use to help students: master the basics of number operations using whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents; recognize and use equivalencies among fractions, decimals, and percents; recognize and correctly apply a wide range of mathematical symbols; and identify and use the basics of measurement and geometry. This session will be held on Friday from 4:30 pm -7:30 pm and on Saturday from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at the Socorro Community Learning Center on 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso. This is the second of three workshops (remaining session March 14-15 and follow up on April 18). Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

February 16, 2008: Brain Research Institute for Teachers of ESOL Adult Learners will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Cy-Fair College, 9191 Barker Cypress Road, Room CEN 151, Cypress, Houston 77433. The presenter is Dr. Janet Zadina. Through PowerPoint illustrations technical material is presented in an understandable and entertaining style. The purpose of this presentation is to empower ESOL Adult Educators by providing them with a basic understanding of how second languages are acquired and how to effectively use this research in the adult ESOL classroom. The session will review scientific literature on second language acquisition and model strategies for maximizing student motivation and learning based on this research. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800131, registration number 69176, and section number CY 398. For more information, please contact Tina Washco at (281) 290-5259 or tina.washco@nhmccd.edu You must register to attend Coastal Registration form.

February 16, 2008: Using Brain Research to Impact Classroom Instruction 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

February 16, 2008: TEAMS for Teachers, ESC-20 Conference Center, 1314 Hines Ave., San Antonio, TX 78208, (210) 370-5200, Laura Antu. Registration is available through iLearning. If you encounter difficulties registering on line, please contact Central Registration by e-mail registration@esc20.net or by calling (210) 370-5671 or 370-5247.

February 16, 2008: Retention V - Planning to Succeed with Adult Learners, Harris Middle School (Teacher Resource Room), 325 Pruitt Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78204, (210) 299-1102, Guadalupe Ruvalcaba. Registration is available through iLearning. If you encounter difficulties registering on line, please contact Central Registration by e-mail registration@esc20.net or by calling (210) 370-5671 or 370-5247.

February 16, 2008: Texas Adult Education Content Standards Training 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 77022. Presenter is: Melanie Mayeaux. This training course is for anyone 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 number72681, and section number CY404. For more information, please contact Tina Washco at (281) 290-5259 or tina.washco@nhmccd.edu. REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

February 16, 2008:BEST Plus Administrator Trainingwill be held from 9 AM to 4 PM at American Youthworks, 1901 E. Ben White, Austin, TX 78741. Yolanda DelaCruz will facilitate. Participants attending will complete BEST Plus Administrators’ certification. (Lunch on your own). Must register to attend. Central registration form. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

February 16, 2008: Effective Teaching Strategies for Multilevel ESL Classrooms, Session I, will be held from 9:00 am to Noon at the Kyle Learning Center, Saddle Creek Apartments, Kyle, TX 78640. This is Session 1 of 2 sessions totaling 9 hours. The workshop focuses on appropriate lesson planning strategies, group strategies and effective multilevel activities for use in ESL classrooms. Follow-up opportunities will be available for teachers to practice activities and strategies. Facilitator: Ronit Ricoy. Must register to attend. Central registration form. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522. or information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

February 19, 2008: Drop Out Prevention: Helping All Students Get on Track for Success. 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.

February 20, 2008: National Leadership Excellence Academy continues with a one-hour Web cast, time to be announced. For more information on this series, contact Sheryl Jefferson at Texas LEARNS or email Ken Appelt at TCALL

February 20, 2008: PLEASE NOTE: the date, time, and room number for the Coastal GREAT Advisory Committee Meeting has been changed and will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at Fairbanks Center, 14955 Northwest Freeway, Room 108, Houston, 77040. For more information, please contact Tina Washco at (281) 290-5259 or tina.washco@nhmccd.edu

Feburary 20, 2008: Using the Class Roster (in TEAMS) for Program Improvement will be held at 1820 Pearl St., Carrollton 75006 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Participants will learn how they can use the data from the class roster in TEAMS to improve their class performance. For more information contact Dorris A. Baker (972) 794-7361 or Marelou Cisneros (972) 968-6507.

February 20-21, 2007: Multi-Level ESL Training will be held from 4:00 – 8:30 p.m. both days at the Presidio ISD-100 Market Street, Presidio. Trainer is Mildred Rugger. Please contact Samuel Carrasco for further information (432)229-3275 or scarrasco@presidio-isd.net. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

February 22-23, 2008: EL Civics Academy II: Living in the US – From Civics to Citizenship, Session 2. This Academy shows teachers how to use PowerPoint ® lessons to teach basic content related to U. S. culture, American democratic values, as well as U. S. History and Government. This session will be held on Friday from 4:30 pm -7:30 pm and on Saturday from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at the Socorro Community Learning Center on 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso. This is the second of three workshops (remaining session April 11-12 and follow up May 9). Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

February 23, 2008: Content Standards Follow-Up will be held from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and repeated from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at the Education Service Center, Region VI located at 3332 Montgomery Road in Huntsville. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

February 23, 2008:Effective Multilevel Strategies for ABE/GED, Module Three will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at Houston Community College, 3100 Main Street, Houston 77002. NOTE: This is the SECOND of two sessions. You MUST have attended the FIRST session on February 9 to attend this one. Presenters are Doris Larry and Cynthia McConnell. This is a follow up to Modules One and Two. Only those who attended Modules One and Two may attend this session. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800154, registration number 72412, and section number CY 403. You must register to attend Coastal Registration form. For more information, please email CoastalCF@nhmccd.edu

February 23, 2008: Effective Teaching Strategies for Multilevel ESL Classrooms, Session II, will be held from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Kyle Learning Center, Saddle Creek Apartments, Kyle, TX 78640. This is Session 2 of 2 sessions totaling 9 hours. The workshop focuses on appropriate lesson planning strategies, group strategies and effective multilevel activities for use in ESL classrooms. Facilitator: Ronit Ricoy. Must register to attend. Central registration form. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

February 25, 2008: Professional Development Planning Workshop (PDPW) Session 2 of 2 will be held from 1:00 pm – 4:00 p.m. at Austin Community College, Highland Business Center (HBC), Room #411, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin 78752. Mary Helen Martinez will facilitate. This session will address submitting narrative reflections into State electronic database, CredITS (Credential Information Tracking System). The PDPW training is the initial training for teachers interested in obtaining an Adult Education Credential. This workshop is sponsored by the Central Region GREAT Center. For information on directions or other logistics, you may contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or toll free 1-877-798-5522. Registration is open only to participants who attend Part 1 of 2 sessions on January 3, 2008.

February 27, 2008: Adult Education and EL Civics Business Meeting will be hosted by Texas LEARNS from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.as a TALAE Pre-conference event at the Omni Bayfront Tower Hotel in Corpus Christi. For updates as plans are finalized, subscribe to TCALL’s email discussion list for Adult Education Administrators Registration for this meeting will be included on the TALAE Conference registration form.

February 28, 2008: Even Start Business Meeting for program coordinators and evaluators will be hosted by Texas LEARNS 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the first day of the TALAE Conference event at the Omni Bayfront Tower Hotel in Corpus Christi. For updates as plans are finalized, subscribe to TCALL’s email discussion list for Family Literacy. Registration for this meeting will be included on the TALAE Conference registration form.

February 28, 2008: Texas Adult Education Administrator Credential: TALAE Conference Session will be on Thursday, from 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. in Corpus Christi. Texas Adult Education Credential Project staff will facilitate a panel discussion about the Texas Administrator Credential Pilot Project. The panel will be comprised of the first cohort of administrators to complete the Texas Administrator Credential. Participants will discuss their experiences as part of the initial pilot project.

February 28 - March 1, 2008: The Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE) will hold its Annual Conference in Corpus Christi at the Omni Bayfront Tower Hotel. Call for Presentations is due September 15, 2007. Download the Call for Presentations. [Microsoft® Word document.] Watch the TALAE website for details as the event is planned.

February 29, 2008: ABE/GED Teaching Strategies for the Classroom: TALAE Conference Session will be held on Friday, 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. in Corpus Christi. Central GREAT Region teachers who participated in the Central, Coastal and South GREAT Region’s ABE/ASE(GED) Teacher’s Academy will share their learning experience by providing tips for developing lesson plans and teaching strategies that work in ABE/GED classrooms.

February 29, 2008: Digital Storytelling Hands-on with Microsoft Photo: TALAE Conference Session will be held on Friday, 1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. in Corpus Christi. Storytelling is a fundamental teaching strategy that engages learners and helps them transfer knowledge into learning. Participants will use a project-based learning model to integrate language, meaning and a newly available free software application called Microsoft Photostory. With Photostory, participants will combine pictures, narration, and text to create movies narrating their personal stories.

February 29, 2008: ABE/GED Teaching Strategies for the Classroom: TALAE Conference Session will be held on Friday, 3:15 p.m.-5:00 p.m. in Corpus Christi. Adult educators who have participated in the Central Region GREAT Master Teacher Initiative over the past two years will present lesson plans from their demonstration lessons. These teachers created demonstration lessons focused on one discreet skill for their teaching demonstration; however, their plans represent the integration of skills within one class lesson. Facilitators will discuss the flexibility of the lesson planning process, the theory behind the focus of each lesson, and explain how their lessons are tied to a particular curriculum framework, text, and/or skill based focus. Audience members will leave with sample lessons plans.