October 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.

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October 1-4, 2008: ProLiteracy Worldwide Conference will be held at the Peabody Little Rock Hotel. For more information, visit the ProLiteracy 2008 Conference Website, contact the conference team at conference@proliteracy.org or call (315) 422-9121 ext. 352.

October 3, 2008: ESOL Workforce Academy (Session I of IV) will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM in Austin at the Goodwill Industries of Central Texas Offices, 1015 Norwood Park Blvd; Austin 78753. Nationally known researchers Dr. Heide Wrigley and Jim Powrie will facilitate this academy where teachers learn how to use scenario-based strategies drawn from the workplace to improve their students’ ESL workforce communication skills. Participants will also receive materials that focus on communication and literacy skills for work that can be integrated with and supplement instruction in the conventional ESL classroom. This twenty-four (24) hour course is held over four Fridays. Future sessions will be held December 5, 2008; February 27, 2009; and April 17, 2009. Participants must attend all sessions! For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522. Apply to attend this academy. [Microsoft® Word document]

October 4, 2008: ESOL Academy I: Techniques for Teaching Adult ESOL (Session I of IV) will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM at Austin Community College-Highland Business Center, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin 78751, room 221.This twenty-four (24) hour course, held over four Saturdays - and led by Dr. Heide Wrigley - is for ESOL teachers who want to "beef up" their everyday teaching skills and for newer teachers of Adult ESOL. You will learn about and practice developing new strategies, activities, and lessons that will support your students' learning. This workshop will let you increase your repertoire of skills and make it easier to make informed decisions about what to teach and why. After participation in the Academy and engagement with the ideas presented, you will know why some activities and approaches are more effective than others in fostering second language acquisition and promoting deeper learning. Future sessions will be December 6, 2008; February 28, 2009; and April 18, 2009. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522. Registration for the ESOL Academy I is currently full and closed. However, applications will continue to be accepted and placed on a waiting list.

October 4, 2008: Advanced Content Standards will be held from 8:30-11:30 at ESC-20 Conference Center, 1314 Hines Ave., San Antonio 78208. (210) 370-5200. Additional session Information and 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.

October 4, 2008: Geometry and Measurement will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Houston Community College, 3100 Main Street,  Houston 77002 . Presenter is Denise Johnson. Geometry and Measurement is designed to provide teachers with creative teaching techniques for units of measurement in different systems to assess the characteristics of lines and geometric figures. The training will include a review on how to convert from metric and customary measures; interpret lines and graphs (e.g., coordinates, perpendicular, parallel, intersections, slope); analyze geometric figures (e.g., angles, congruence, Pythagorean Theorem); and solve problems (e.g., length, perimeter, area, surface area, volume, weight). Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 600159, registration number 86660, and section number CY 484. For more information, please email CoastalCF@lonestar.edu TRAINING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

October 4, 2008: TexTESOL II Fall 2008 Conference will be held in San Antonio at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). In observation of the United Nations International Year of Languages, speakers, presentations, workshops and exhibits will feature ESOL experts on such topics as: the value and importance of multilingualism; current research on Second Language Acquisition; ideas that work for various levels of ESOL instruction including Middle School, High School, Adult Education, and College/University; and the latest materials and publications for ESOL instruction. Registration deadline is September 19. For more information, visit the conference Web page.

October 4, 2008: Texas Adult Education Content Standards Training will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at Houston READ Commission, 5400 Griggs Rd, Houston, 77021. Presenter is Doris Larry. 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/ASE, ESL), and adult education program administrators. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800139, registration number 91976, and section number CY 511. Coastal Registration form. For more information, please email CoastalCF@lonestar.edu

October 6, 2008: Leadership Excellence Academy – New Cohort, Workshop 1 will be held at the Austin Airport Hilton hotel. This day-long session is the first of three face-to-face meetings of the 2008-2009 program year cohort of adult education administrators engaged in Academy, from which they will earn national certification and receive new tools and strategies to strengthen their programs’ performance. Workshop 2 for this cohort is scheduled for January 21, 2009 and Workshop 3 will be April 23, 2009. For more information on the Leadership Excellence Academy, email Sheryl Jefferson at Texas LEARNS or Ken Appelt at TCALL.

October 7, 2008: Leadership Excellence Academy – Continuing Cohort, Workshop 1 will be held at the Austin Airport Hilton hotel. This day-long session is the first of two face-to-face meetings of the cohort that began their Academy participation in the 2007-2008 program year, and is continuing with a second year of participation. Workshop 2 for this cohort is scheduled for April 24, 2009.

October 8-10, 2008: EL Civics Administrators' Meeting will be held in Fredericksburg at the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites - Barons Creek Conference Center. One representative per EL Civics grant is encouraged to attend. Registration details meeting will be available by mid-summer. For more about the content and target audience of the meeting, contact Texas LEARNS.

October 9-10, 2008: Learning Disabilities Association of Texas 44th Annual State Conference will be held in Austin for an audience of parents, educators, and other professionals working to enhance the quality of life for individuals with learning disabilities. For more information, visit the conference Web page.

October 10, 2008: Report Card Training will be held from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (6 hr. training with one hr. for lunch) at 201 W. University, Odessa. Trainer is Mary Ann Juarez. Please contact John Tucker for further information 432-335-6381 or jtucker@odessa.edu. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

October 10, 2008: BEST Plus Training will be held from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at Nacogdoches Adult Learning Center located at 302 Hughes Street, Suite 100 in Nacogdoches. For more information, please contact Ms. Billie Smith at 936-564-8789. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 10 - 11, 2008: GED Academy: Building Scientific Literacy in the ABE Classroom - Session 1- This academy will focus on building science literacy through incorporating reading, writing, and mathematics strategies that will assist the adult education students in better understanding various types of science materials. In this academy, teachers will explore a variety of authentic materials and tasks. Session 1 will focus on Building Scientific Literacy through Developing Reading Skills. Training sessions will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The location is yet to be determined and will be posted at a later date. This is the first of three sessions (remaining sessions: 11/14-15, 12/12-13) There is one follow up session scheduled for this academy: Jan. 30. Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

October 11, 2008: TEAMS for Teachers (Data Detectives) will be held from 8:30-3:30 at ESC-20 Conference Center, 1314 Hines Ave., San Antonio 78208. (210) 370-5200. Additional session Information and 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.

October 11, 2008: Culture and Learning in the ESOL Classroom, Session I of III will be held from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Site: Terrazas Branch Library, 1105 East Cesar Chavez Street, Austin 78702. This workshop is a 3-part session totaling 9 hours of Professional Development for adult ESOL instructors. You must attend all three sessions. This workshop will look at goals of cultural instruction as well as how culture is often learned. There will be hands on activities for teachers to do as they share with each other their own cultural experiences and values, discussing how these are similar to or different from those that their adult learners may hold, and develop strategies to both recognize similarities and bridge differences. The facilitator will be Linda Muñoz. Must register to attend. ESOL Culture & Learning Registration Form For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 11, 2008: TexTESOL IV Regional Conference will be held at the Hilton Hotel at the University of Houston. Plenary speaker, Dr. William Grabe, will offer both academic and concrete ideas that will help all teachers, no matter the grade level or subject area. Featured speakers and break-out sessions will meet the needs of TexTESOL eucators. For additional information, see TexTESOL IV Conference Website.

October 11, 2008: BEST Plus Test Administration will be held from 9:30 AM to 4 PM at One College Center, Room 1460 (2nd floor), 2600 South First Street, Temple, 76504. Participants will receive BEST Plus Test Administrator certification. Please bring bring brown bag lunches; water and an ice chest with ice will be provided. The trainer will be Denise Guckert. You must register to attend: Central registration form. For additional information, please contact Denise Guckert dg21@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522 (toll free).

October 11, 2008: BEST Plus Test Refresher will be held from 1:00 PM to 4 PM at One College Center, Room 1460 (2nd floor), 2600 South First Street, Temple, 76504. Participants will repeat the scoring practice activities from their original BEST Plus Test Administrator training. Participants MUST be certified BEST Plus test administrators and MUST bring their Test Administrator Guide! The trainer will be Denise Guckert. You must register to attend: Central registration form. For additional information, please contact Denise Guckert dg21@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522 (toll free).

October 11, 2008: ESL Strategies will be held from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm at Wesley McCabe United Methodist Church/East Texas Literacy Council located at 1115 South Mobberly in Longview. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 11, 2008: Content Standards will be held from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at Fort Worth Adult Education Center located at 1066 West Magnolia in Fort Worth. For more information, please contact Sofia Zamarripa at 817.852.1000 Ext. 241. For more information, please contact Jim Ratliff at (936) 435-8330 or jratliff@esc6.net

October 17, 2008: Texas Adult Education Credential PDPW, Session 1: This workshop is the first step in initiating the Texas Adult Education Credential process and is required to be eligible for the Credential. The session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This is the first of two sessions (second session October 24). Participation in both sessions is required for credit of completion of the full workshop. The training will take place at Socorro Community Learning Center at 313 S. Rio Vista in El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

October 17, 2008: BEST Plus Training will be held from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (6 hr. training with one hr. for lunch) at 201 W. University Blvd, Odessa. Trainer is Debbie Van Pelt. Please contact John Tucker for further information 432-335-6381 or jtucker@odessa.edu. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

October 17, 2008: BEST Plus Refresher Training will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (4 hr. training) at 201 W. University Blvd, Odessa. Trainer is Debbie Van Pelt. Please contact David Heath for further information (432)335-6384 or DHeath@odessa.edu You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

October 17, 2008: Effective Multi-level Strategies for ABE/ASE Learners (Module 1) will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at HCDE, Irvington Center, 626 Lindale, Houston, 77022. Presenter is Audrey Nelson-Ricks. 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 subjects 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. Modules are sequential, but can be presented in three separate trainings. It is recommended that the training be conducted on two separate days: Day One three hours (Module One) and Day Two six hours (Modules Two and Three). Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800154, registration number 92502, and section number CY 513. Coastal Registration form. For more information, please email CoastalCF@lonestar.edu

October 17 & 18, 2008: Bridges to Practice Learning Disabilities Training will be provided in Dallas as a collaboration of TCALL, Literacy Texas, and Project Turn Around. Participants will earn a certificate of completion only if they attend both days -- 8:00 to 5:00 on Friday and 8:00 to 4:00 on Saturday. (No partial credit for partial attendance.) This in-depth workshop equips adult education programs to meet the challenges of adult students with learning disabilities, including legal issues, assessment, teaching methods and much more. There is no charge to participants, but you must submit the registration form  by October 10. [Registration form is a Microsoft® Word document.] Location: Project Turn-Around, 1808 W. Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas 75232. Trainer: Amelia Gilley. For more information including hotel recommendations, contact Amelia Gilley by email ameliagilley@gmail.com or phone 903-714-1641.

October 18, 2008: Lesson Cycle will be held from 8:30-3:30 at ESC-20 Conference Center, 1314 Hines Ave., San Antonio 78208. (210) 370-5200. Additional session Information and 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.

October 18, 2008: Content Standards Refresher will be held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Central Texas College, Building 152 (Planetarium), Room 101, 6200 West Central TX Expressway, Killeen 76541. Room TBA. This training will provide a review of the Texas Adult Education Content Standards. Participants will review and critique lesson plans based on the Content Standards. The trainer will be Mary Helen Martinez. You must register to attend: Central registration form. For additional information, please contact Denise Guckert dg21@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522 (toll free).

October 18, 2008: BEST Plus Test Administrator Training will be held from 10:30 AM to 5 PM at the Waco Public Library Community Room, 1717 Austin Avenue, Waco 76701. Participants will receive BEST Plus Test Administrator certification. Please bring bring brown bag lunches; water and an ice chest with ice will be provided. The trainers will be Sherry Smith and Denise Guckert. You must register to attend: Central registration form. For additional information, please contact Denise Guckert dg21@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522 (toll free).

October 18, 2008: BEST Plus Refresher will be held from 1:30 AM to 5 PM at the Waco Public Library Community Room, 1717 Austin Avenue, Waco 76701. Participants will repeat the scoring practice activities from their original BEST Plus Test Administrator training. Participants MUST be certified BEST Plus test administrators and MUST bring their Test Administrator Guide! Please bring brown bag lunches; water and an ice chest with ice will be provided. The trainers will be Sherry Smith and Denise Guckert. You must register to attend: Central registration form. For additional information, please contact Denise Guckert dg21@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522 (toll free).

October 18, 2008: Principles of Adult Learning will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (6 hr. training with one hr. for lunch) at 201 W. University, Odessa. Trainer is Kris Witte. Please contact John Tucker for further information +432-335-6381 or jtucker@odessa.edu. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

October 18, 2008: BEST Plus Training will be held from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (6 hr. training with one hr. for lunch) at 1601 S. Cleveland, Amarillo. Trainer is Debbie Van Pelt. Please contact Lesley Boyd for further information 806-677-5280 or leslie.boyd@esc16.net. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

October 18, 2008: Texas Adult Education Content Standards Training will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at HCDE, Irvington Center, 626 Lindale, Houston, 77022. Presenter is Doris Larry. 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/ASE, ESL), and adult education program administrators. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800139, registration number 92504, and section number CY 517. Coastal Registration form. For more information, please email CoastalCF@lonestar.edu

October 18, 2008: Effective Multi-level Strategies for ABE/ASE Learners (Modules 2 & 3) will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at HCDE, Irvington Center, 626 Lindale, Houston, 77022. Presenter is Audrey Nelson-Ricks. 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 subjects 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. Modules are sequential, but can be presented in three separate trainings. It is recommended that the training be conducted on two separate days: Day One three hours (Module One) and Day Two six hours (Modules Two and Three). Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800154, registration number 92503, and section number CY 514. Coastal Registration form. For more information, please email CoastalCF@lonestar.edu

October 18, 2008: Test of Adult Basic Education Training (TABE) 9/10 Certification will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at HCDE, Irvington Center, 626 Lindale, Houston, 77022. 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. Each participant will receive a copy of the official TABE 9/10 training workbook. Please use these numbers to register: CABEA 6800036, registration number 92508, and section number CY 517. Coastal Registration form. For more information, please email CoastalCF@lonestar.edu

October 18, 2008: Content Standards will be held from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm at the Professional Development Center located at 1111 W. Arbrook Boulevard in Arlington. For more information, please contact Maggie Sohel at 682.867.7271 or msohel@aisd.net .

October 19-21, 2008: The National Even Start Association Conference will be held in Austin at the Radisson Town Lake Hotel. For more information, see the National Even Start Association Website.

October 22, 2008: Even Start State Advisory Committee Meetingin Austin (evening -- exact time, location,and other details to be announced).

October 22-24, 2008: Even Start Fall Business Meetingwill be held in Austin immediately following the National Even Start Conference (though at a different site in Austin, to be announced). For more information as details are announced, subscribe to TCALL’s Family Literacy Listserv.

October 23-24, 2008: Funders' Forum and Networking Gathering. This seventh annual event will be presented by A Circle of Ten, Inc. Network for Collaboration and hosted by Texas A&M University College of Architecture's Center for Housing and Urban Development. Designed for leaders of community-based and faith-based organizations, non-profits, schools, literacy organizations, libraries, and more, the event provides opportunities to network with one another and to interact with 40 to 50 federal, state, and private funders. Pre-Forum activities include dinner with funders and an art show and auction on Thursday evening. The full-day Forum will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 24. Location is the Brazos Center, 3232 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan, Texas. For more information, call (903) 541-0013. To register, call (979) 458-3042 or see http://archone.tamu.edu/chud.

October 24, 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. The training will take place at Socorro Community Learning Center at 313 S. Rio Vista in El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

October 25, 2008: Culture and Learning in the ESOL Classroom, Session II of III will be held from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Terrazas Public Library, 1105 East Cesar Chavez Street, Austin 78702. You must have attended Session I in its entirety in order to be eligible to attend Session II.This workshop is a 3-part session totaling 9 hours of Professional Development for adult ESOL instructors. This workshop will look at goals of cultural instruction as well as how culture is often learned. There will be hands on activities for teachers to do as they share with each other their own cultural experiences and values, discussing how these are similar to or different from those that their adult learners may hold, and develop strategies to both recognize similarities and bridge differences. The facilitator will be Linda Muñoz. For information please contact Mario Mokarzel mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 25, 2008:  TISESL Training will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (6  hr. training with one hr. for lunch) at 1929 South 11th Street, Abilene.  Trainer is Mary Ann Juarez.  Please contact Merri Lynn Rideout for further information 325-671-4419 or merri.rideout@abileneisd.org. You must register to attend. West Registration Form.

October 25, 2008: Stand Out Standards-Based English Workshop. Houston Community College has made arrangements with Lindsey Vyoral, our local Heinle representative, to bring the authors of Stand Out to the University of Houston on October 25, 2008, to present a workshop on Stand Out Standards-Based English. The workshop will kick off at 9:00 am and wrap up at 3:00 pm and lunch will be provided. A Heinle Professional Development Certificate of Completion will be provided for those who complete the training. The workshop is open to all ESL teachers, but you must register with Heinle to attend. Please note that the Heinle online registration will be available on October 10.

Please join your colleagues and the authors of Stand Out for a day of learning and fun. This interactive presentation will provide an overview of the new edition as well as effective strategies for lesson planning, multi-level classroom instruction, and project-based learning. Please see the flyer with more information (PDF document, download Adobe® Acrobat® Reader) on this wonderful professional development opportunity.

October 27-28, 2008: TCABE State Leadership Conference. Texas Council for Adult Basic Education will host its annual State Leadership Conference at the Austin Airport Hilton Hotel. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m., Monday, October 27 and ends at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28. This conference will offer an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge in various aspects of Adult Education both from the perspective of the state administration and from experience practitioners. Register by October 15 for early registration rates. Membership form. [Microsoft® Word documents] For more information, contact TCABE President Guadalupe Ruvalcaba (email GRuvalcaba@saisd.net or call 210-299-1102).

October 30-31, 2008: STAR Reading Training Institute #1 of 3. TENTATIVE DATES. The first of three 2-day institutes on evidence-based practice for teaching adult intermediate reading will be held at Texas LEARNS in Houston. For more information, email Ken Appelt