2009 Regional Calendar
November 13-14, 2009: ABE/GED Academy: Moving Beyond the Basics, Session 1 of 3 - Making the Connection between the Classroom and the Workplace. This academy is designed to provide teachers with strategies, activities and resources they can use to provide instruction through a more contextual approach with an emphasis on not just the acquisition of skills but the student's ability to apply those skills at home, at work, and in the community. This initial workshop will focus on helping teachers make the connection between what they teach in their classrooms and how their students use those skills and concepts in a variety of settings. These sessions will be held on Friday (4:30-7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd, El Paso. This is the first of three sessions -- remaining sessions will be held January 15-16 & February 12-13, with a follow-up session to be held April 9, 2010 . Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. You must register to attend - Register
Online Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.
November 20-21, 2009: Far West Regional Training: Effective Instruction for All Adult Education Students including those with Special Learning Needs, Session 3 of 4: The content, techniques and strategies taught during this four-part training, conducted by Stacey Milberger, will provide teachers in the Far West Region with effective instructional methods for all adult education students, including those with special learning needs. This session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Socorro ISD - District Service Center in Training Room A, 12440 Rojas, El Paso, TX. This is the third of four (4) sessions (remaining session: 1/29-30). Attendees must participate in all four sessions to be eligible for the training stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.
December 1, 2009: Far West GREAT Center Advisory Committee Meeting will be held from 10:00 am - noon. The location is yet to be determined.
December 4-5, 2009: ESL Multi-Level Academy - Session 1: Training will be facilitated by Sara Worthington. This academy is designed to boost the instructional power of those teaching in multilevel ESL settings. Participants will explore activities and strategies which allow students to improve their language skills according to their current levels, not where they "should be.” We’ll discuss activities and strategies for listening, speaking, reading, writing and grammar as well as how to structure class activities to maximize instruction in the multilevel classroom. Participants will create a resource book that can be used immediately in their current teaching position. These sessions will be held on Friday (4:30-7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.). The location will be announced at a later date. This is the first of three sessions (remaining sessions: 1/22-23, 4/23-24). Follow-up session is scheduled for May 14, 2010. Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. Academy is limited to 20 participants. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
December 12, 2009: New Teacher Academy, Session 2 of 4 will be held from 8:30 - 3:30 p.m. at El Paso Community College, El Paso. Remaining sessions will be held February 6, & April 10, 2010. Attendees must participate in all four sessions to be eligible for the training stipend. 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. As part of the mentoring component, the mentee shall evaluate his/her teaching methods and explore new delivery based on the information presented in the academy's sessions. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.
January 16, 2009: 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 January 30 ). Participation in both sessions is required for credit of completion of the full workshop. The training location is Socorro CLC, 313 S. Rio Vista, El Paso, TX. This PDPW is the last opportunity offered this year for those interested in beginning the credential process; so register soon!! Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
January 16, 2009: Texas Content Standards Recertification Training: This workshop provides training on the re-structured statewide Standards training. The training will be held on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at San Jacinto ALC, 1216 Olive, El Paso 79902. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
January 17, 2009: New Teacher Academy - Session 3: Training session will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will take place at El Paso Community College - Valle Verde Campus (room to be announced at a later date). This is the third of four sessions (remaining session: 3/7) Attendees must participate in all four sessions and the mentoring component to be eligible for the stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
January 23-24, 2009: GED Academy: Integrating Technology into Content Areas- Session 3 - This session will focus on Connecting to Tomorrow! 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 training will take place at Socorro ISD - District Service Center at 12440 Rojas Dr. This is the last of three sessions. There is one follow up session scheduled for this academy: Feb. 20. 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!
January 30, 2009: Texas Adult Education Credential PDPW, Session 2: The session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This is the last of two sessions. Participation in both sessions is required for credit of completion of the full workshop. The training location is Socorro CLC, 313 S. Rio Vista, El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
February 6-7, 2009: Project Based Learning Academy - Session 1: This academy will introduce the principles and practice of project based learning. We will start with teacher-led mini-projects and then move on to student-generated group projects. Teachers will learn how to use the Internet, digital pictures and video to help students create community research projects. This session is titled “Principles of cooperative learning and project-based learning” and will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is the first of three sessions (remaining sessions: 3/13-14, 5/1-2). Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the stipend. The training location is Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista, El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
February 20, 2009: GED Academy: Integrating Technology into Content Areas- Follow up Session - During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and their completed assignments. The session will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The location is yet to be determined and will be posted at a later date. 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!
February 27-28, 2009: ABE/GED Academy: Surrounded by Math and Science, Session 1. This session is titled “Forces Behind the Weather” and will provide you with lessons that integrate mathematical measurements, map reading, graphics and the world of earth science. The session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will take place at Socorro CLC, 313 S. Rio Vista, El Paso. This is the first of three sessions (3/27-28, 5/8-9). There is one follow-up session scheduled for this academy: June 5. Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the stipend. Registration deadline is JANUARY 30th so register soon!! Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
March 7, 2009: New Teacher Academy - Session 4: Training session will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will take place at El Paso Community College - Valle Verde Campus (room to be announced at a later date). This is the last of four sessions. Attendees must participate in all four sessions and the mentoring component to be eligible for the stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
March 13-14, 2009: Project Based Learning Academy - Session 2: This session is titled “From Teacher-led to Student-generated Group Projects” and will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is the second of three sessions (remaining session: 5/1-2). Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the stipend. The training location is Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista, El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.
March 27-28, 2009: ABE/GED Academy: Surrounded by Math and Science, Session 2. This session is titled “Health Literacy” and will provide you with lessons that will help your students improve their health literacy levels and provide practice using basic skills in mathematics. The session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will take place at Socorro CLC, 313 S. Rio Vista, El Paso. This is the second of three sessions (5/8-9). There is one follow-up session scheduled for this academy: June 5. Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the stipend.
April 25, 2009: Data Detective: Using TEAMS Data to Improve Performance: This training was developed by Texas LEARNS to provide technical assistance to Texas Adult Education programs. The training helps programs understand how to utilize the data in TEAMS Reports to accurately and effectively assess students and to improve program performance. The session will be held on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Ysleta Community Learning Center - Annex Building, 121 Padres, El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
May 1-2, 2009: Project Based Learning Academy - Session 3: This session is titled “How to Support and Evaluate Student-generated Group Projects” and will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This is the last of three sessions (follow-up scheduled: 5/29). Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the stipend. The training location is Socorro CLC, 313 S. Rio Vista, El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.
May 8-9, 2009: ABE/GED Academy: Surrounded by Math and Science, Session 3. This session is titled “It’s Everywhere! Resources for the ABE/GED Classroom” and will help you learn how to incorporate science into your math classroom through hands-on activities. The session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will take place at Socorro CLC, 313 S. Rio Vista, El Paso. This is the last of three sessions. There is one follow-up session scheduled for this academy: June 5. Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the stipend.
May 29, 2009: Project Based Learning Academy- Follow up Session - During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and their completed assignments. The session will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The follow up session will take place at 313 S. Rio Vista. 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.
June 3, 2009: Far West GREAT Center Advisory Committee Meeting will be held from 10:00 am – noon at the Socorro ISD – District Service Center, 12440 Rojas, El Paso
June 5, 2009: ABE/GED Academy: Surrounded by Math and Science, Follow-up Session. During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and their completed assignments. The session will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will take place at Socorro CLC, 313 S. Rio Vista, El Paso. Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the stipend.
June 5, 2009: BEST Plus Training: The session will be from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will take place at the Ysleta Community Learning Center, 121 Padres, El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
June 9-11, 2009: Improve Classroom Management with Zero Preparation Activities: Discover practical activities to increase learning and improve classroom management -- activities you can use tomorrow and for the rest of your life! Laurel Pollard, co-author of Zero Prep and Zero Prep for Beginners, will demonstrate interactive teaching strategies that use multiple intelligences, help students take responsibility for their own learning and can be used to teach any content at any level. A repertoire of such activities gives teachers time to relax, reflect, and recover their vision. The session will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will take place at the Hawthorne Inn and Suites - Oxford A, 6789 Boeing, El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
June 22-23, 2009: Note-taking and Critical Reading Skills: Exploring Careers and the College System: This Institute is designed to prepare Adult Education instructors to introduce postsecondary academic content, survival skills, and career and college culture information into their curriculum. Focus on this series will be on note-taking, critical reading and discussion skills using material that introduce students to career exploration and an understanding to the US college system. Participants will experience and practice using activity-based lesson plans that teach students a modified Cornell note-taking strategy/format. This note-taking format enhances critical reading skills (main points/details), promotes practice in asking and structuring questions for review, and improves discussion skills through focused listening and speaking practice. Participants will be able to use the lesson plans in their GED/ESL classes. The sessions will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day and located at El Paso Community College, Administrative Service Center, 9050 Viscount, Building B, Room B323. Attendees must participate in both days and the follow-up (8/28) to be eligible for the stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
June 24-25, 2009: Far West Regional Training: Effective Instruction for All Adult Education Students including those with Special Learning Needs, Session 1 of 4: This training, conducted by Stacey Milberger, is for teachers in adult education programs. The content, techniques and strategies taught during this four-part training will provide teachers with effective instructional methods for all adult education students, including those with special learning needs. This enables teachers to provide the best classroom learning experience for ALL students. This session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on both days at the Socorro ISD - District Service Center in Training Room A, 12440 Rojas, El Paso. This is the first of four (4) sessions (remaining sessions: 9/11-12; 11/20-21; 1/29-30). Attendees must participate in all four sessions to be eligible for the training stipend. Space is limited to 10 participants, so register soon! Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
July 7-8, 2009: BEST Plus Refresher Training: The session will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on both days and will take place at the Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
July 10, 2009: Improve Classroom Management with Zero Preparation Activities, Follow-up Session: During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and their completed assignments. The session will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The location will be announced at a later date. Attendees must participate in all three sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the stipend. (First sessions were held June 9-11) Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.
July 28 - 30, 2009: ESL Summer Institute: Get Your Students Talking! Are you looking for ideas on how to engage adult learners in conversations, interviews and discussions? Do you want to breathe new life into your classes by having students involved in drama and poetry? This 3-day workshop will present hands-on activities that will have students talking at the best of their abilities. We will demonstrate how to create simple one-question surveys that work both inside and outside of the classroom and how even beginning level students can express ideas as part of structured pair activities. Proven strategies such as Readers’ Theater can help even the shyest students find their voice. We will show how role-plays and drama can be used to engage students in problem solving and communication and how scenarios can present a jumping off point for playing with language while discussing issues important in students’ lives. The sessions will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day and located at the Socorro ISD - District Service Center in Training Room A at 12440 Rojas, El Paso, 79928. 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!
August 14, 2009: Credential Training will be held from 8:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Computer Lab of the Socorro District Service Center, 12440 Rojas Dr., El Paso. The Far West GREAT Center and the Credential Project are providing a unique Professional Development opportunity for teachers who have enrolled in the Teacher Credential.
In order to participate, teachers must:
1. Be enrolled in the Credential
2. have a CredITS username and password, and
3. have been "assigned" in CredITS by their local administrator
The purpose of this full-day (6 hrs) PD opportunity is to provide guidance to teachers as they write and submit a reflection in CredITS. This is a great opportunity for hands-on practice with writing and posting reflections. The co-presenters, Brenda Dunlap and Debbie Janysek, have been providing this training individually for the past two years and at our request, have agreed to travel to each GREAT Region this summer. Additionally, Brenda and Debbie have earned both the Teacher Credential and the Administrator Credential so they are uniquely qualified to offer this training. Attached is a more detailed description of the professional development. Questions may be addressed to either Mario Mokarzel at mm64@txstate.edu or Michelle Janysek at mjanysek@txstate.edu . You may also call the Far West GREAT Center at 915-937-1725 for more information.
August 21, 2009: ESL Summer Institute, Follow-up Session: During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and their completed assignments. The session will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location is yet to be determined. Attendees must participate in the entire 3-day workshop 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.
August 28, 2009: Note-taking and Critical Reading Skills: Exploring Careers and the College System, Follow-up Session: During this session, attendees will discuss lessons learned and their completed assignments. The session will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at El Paso Community College, Administrative Service Center, 9050 Viscount, Building B, Room B322. Attendees must participate in the entire 2-day workshop 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!
September 8, 2009: Far West GREAT Center Advisory Committee Meeting will be held from 10:00 am - noon. The location is yet to be determined.
September 11-12, 2009: Far West Regional Training: Effective Instruction for All Adult Education Students including those with Special Learning Needs, Session 2 of 4: The content, techniques and strategies taught during this four-part training, conducted by Stacey Milberger, will provide teachers in the Far West Region with effective instructional methods for all adult education students, including those with special learning needs. This session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Socorro ISD - District Service Center in Training Room A, 12440 Rojas, El Paso. This is the second of four (4) sessions (remaining sessions: 11/20-21; 1/29-30). Attendees must participate in all four sessions to be eligible for the training stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.
October 17, 2009: New Teacher Academy, Session 1 of 4 will be held from 8:30 - 3:30 p.m. at El Paso Community College, El Paso. Room number TBD. Academy will consist of four 1-day workshops, October 17, 2009, December 12, 2009, February 6, 2010 and April 10, 1010. Attendees must participate in all four sessions to be eligible for the training stipend. 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. As part of the mentoring component, the mentee shall evaluate his/her teaching methods and explore new delivery based on the information presented in the academy's sessions. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if
you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register
Online now!
October 29-31: TexTESOL I State Conference - "A Pass to the Future" will be held at the El Paso Convention Center, with a pre-conference session on October 29 at the Camino Real Hotel, El Paso. The Far West GREAT Center has joined forces with TexTESOL 1 and will hold an adult education strand with specific presentations for adult educators. Registration forms are due in by October 8. Please visit textesol1.com for registration forms and additional information.
