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2011 Regional Calendar



2011 Calendar Archive

January 2011

January 3, 2011: Oracy Workshop: (Target Audience: ESL, GED Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Dr. Thomas Sticht. The Oracy Workshop provides adult educators with information about professional wisdom and scientific research related to the ability of children and adults to communicate and learn more effectively by Oracy. The session will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hawthorn Inn Suites, 6789 Boeing, El Paso, Texas. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

January 19, 2011:  USCIS Citizenship Teacher Training Workshop in El Paso. The workshop is FREE for ESL, civics and citizenship teachers of adults. Other personnel including administrators, volunteers, managers, etc. are welcome to attend.
You will learn about:

  • The naturalization process
  • The naturalization test and skill sets needed to prepare students for the naturalization interview and test
  • Teacher Resources and Publications, featuring an all NEW student-centered interactives for the citizenship classroom: demonstration of lesson plans/activities

To register, please complete Registration Form PDF and fax complete form to the Office of Citizenship at 202-272-1316. The deadline to register is January 10, 2011. The training will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services, Inc., 2400A East Yandell Drive, El Paso 79903. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 orfarwestg@farwestgreat.org

January 21, 2011: GED Academy I, Follow-up Session: During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and present their completed assignments. The session will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location to be announced 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.

January 21, 2011: Effective Instruction for All Adult Education Students including those with Special Learning Needs, Session 4: Session will be held on Friday (4:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) at the Socorro ISD - District Service Center in Training Room C, 12440 Rojas, El Paso. A follow-up session scheduled for March 4, 2011. Attendees must participate in all four sessions and the follow up to be eligible for the training stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

January 22, 2011: ESL Academy I: Overcoming the Challenges - Basic Communication Skills for Beginning Literacy ESL Learners: (Target Audience: ESL Instructors) from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Visto Rd., El Paso. This is the first of two sessions. Remaining session on February 26, 2011, with follow-up session to be held April 1. Attendees must participate in both sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. Training will be facilitated by Rosa Hidalgo and Arturo Muro. This training will provide Beginning Literacy ESL Instructors with a variety of tools and strategies to succeed. This training is appropriate and designed for both new teachers and experienced teachers that may want to energize their classroom. During this training we will explore the needs of the student, develop lessons that correlate with the Texas Standards and Benchmarks, and discuss assessments such as the BEST Plus. Trainers will provide activities to improve student learning and performance in the classroom. These fun and innovative activities will promote classroom unity and give teachers and students the opportunity to use authentic materials. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

February 2011

February 4-5, 2011: GED Academy II: Strategies for the GED Exam, Session 1: (TARGET AUDIENCE: GED Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Dr. Steven Meeker. In this first session, strategies will be presented for helping students successfully pass the GED Math, Writing, Social Studies and Science exams. Specific areas of focus will include fractions, decimals, percents, algebra, geometry, and the essay section of the writing exam. All participants will receive handouts with helpful examples. The session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. This is the first of three sessions. Remaining sessions on April 8-9, May 6-7, with follow-up session to be held May 20. Attendees must participate in all sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

February 12, 2011: New Teacher Academy VII, Session 3: (TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who have less than 3 years of experience in Adult Education) Training will be facilitated by Barbara Baird. This is the third of four 1-day workshops (Remaining workshop: April 16, 2011). Attendees must participate in all four sessions to be eligible for the training stipend. The session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The location is yet to be determined and will be posted at a later date. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

February 18, 2011: Texas Adult Education Credential PDPW: (Target Audience: All Adult Education Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Laura Hansen and Liz Moya. 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 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location will be announced at a later date. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

February 25, 2011: Texas Adult Education Credential PDPW: (Target Audience: All Adult Education Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Laura Hansen and Liz Moya. 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 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location will be announced at a later date. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

February 26, 2011: ESL Academy I: Overcoming the Challenges - Basic Communication Skills for Beginning Literacy ESL Learners, Session 2: (Target Audience: ESL Instructors) will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Visto Rd., El Paso. This is the last of two sessions. Follow-up session to be held April 1. Attendees must participate in both sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. Training will be facilitated by Rosa Hidalgo and Arturo Muro. This training will provide Beginning Literacy ESL Instructors with a variety of tools and strategies to succeed. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725

March 2011

March 4 , 2011: Effective Instruction for All Adult Education Students including those with Special Learning Needs, Follow-up Session: During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and present their completed assignments. The session will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Socorro ISD - District Service Center in Training Room C, 12440 Rojas, El Paso. Attendees must participate in all four 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.

March 9, 2011: Far West GREAT Center Advisory Committee Meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon at El Paso Community College - Administrative Service Center, 9050 Viscount, Building B, room 445, El Paso.

April 2011

April 1, 2011: ESL Academy I: Overcoming the Challenges - Basic Communication Skills for Beginning Literacy ESL Learners, Follow up Session will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Visto Rd., El Paso. Attendees must have participated in both previous sessions and this follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and present their completed assignments. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

April 8-9, 2011: GED Academy II: Strategies for the GED Exam, Session 2: (TARGET AUDIENCE: GED Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Dr. Steven Meeker. The session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. This is the second of three sessions. Remaining sessions on May 6-7, with follow-up session to be held May 20. Attendees must participate in all sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

April 16, 2011: New Teacher Academy VII, Session 4: (TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who have less than 3 years of experience in Adult Education) Training will be facilitated by Barbara Baird. This is the last of four 1-day workshops. Attendees must participate in all four sessions to be eligible for the training stipend. The session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The location is yet to be determined and will be posted at a later date. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

April 29-30, 2011: Zero Prep Vocabulary Teaching: Become a Word Wizard!, Session 1 of 2 (TARGET AUDIENCE: All Instructors) will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. This is the first of two sessions. Remaining session: June 10-11 with follow-up session to be held on June 24. Attendees must participate in all sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. Training will be facilitated by Laurel Pollard. Students know it. Teachers know it. And research supports it: students need words! Vocabulary plays a critical role in our students' lives and helps them realize their dreams. In these workshops you will:

  • review how you have dealt with vocabulary, as a learner and as a teacher;
  • discuss some common myths about teaching vocabulary;
  • practice effective zero-preparation activities that work in multi-level classes;
  • consider which activities are good for initial teaching and which ones help students keep their new words for life;
  • have fun with songs, chants, and drama;
  • and decide which activities to add to your teaching repertoire.

With these principles and activities, you can go into class with renewed confidence about what words to teach, about how to present and review, about helping your students take charge of their own learning. And with less preparation, you'll have more time to relax, observe your students, and enjoy your times with them. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

May 2011

May 13-14, 2011: PD Trilogy: Teaching Essential Skills for Academic and Workplace Success, Session 1: (TARGET AUDIENCE: All Adult Education Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Betsy Parrish and Kimberly Johnson. In order for adult English language learners to transition to work, further education or training, and thrive in those settings, practitioners need to integrate academic and employability skills into instruction from the very beginning. This workshop focuses on three key areas that can be incorporated into all ESL and GED instruction, listening and reading strategies, organization and note-taking, and critical and higher-order thinking. Participants will experience and reflect on lessons that demonstrate integrating these skills at all levels, and leave with plans for applying these principles to their setting.

This workshop is the first session in our PD Trilogy. In an effort to meet local program needs and provide more access to staff development activities we are offering a series of three different training session of 9 hours each. The sessions will take place on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Each weekend will have a different trainer and subject matter. Participants may choose to attend all session or just one - or two. You must register for each session you want to attend. Participants who attend two or more sessions (minimum 18 hours) and a follow-up will be eligible to receive a stipend. The location is yet to be determined and will be posted at a later date. The remaining sessions of the Trilogy are scheduled on June 3-4 and July 8-9 with the follow up session on July 22. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

May 20, 2011: GED Academy II: Strategies for the GED Exam, Follow-up Session: (TARGET AUDIENCE: GED Instructors) During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and present their completed assignments. The session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. This is the last of three sessions. Follow-up session to be held May 20. Attendees must participate in all sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

June 2011

June 3-4, 2011: PD Trilogy: Getting Groups to Gab: Listening and Speaking for the Multilevel Classroom, Session 2: (TARGET AUDIENCE: ESL Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Sarah Worthington. This course will build your knowledge of listening and speaking activities for the multilevel adult ESL classroom. We'll learn about (and practice using) a wide variety of listening and speaking resources: published, teacher-made and free Internet-based resources. We'll also examine the many ways listening and speaking activities can be organized, including activities for whole groups, cross-ability groups and like-ability groups, as well as for teacher-led and student-driven activities and centers. Resources for building and managing listening centers will be highlighted.

This workshop is the second session in our PD Trilogy. In an effort to meet local program needs and provide more access to staff development activities we are offering a series of three different training session of 9 hours each. The sessions will take place on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Each weekend will have a different trainer and subject matter. Participants may choose to attend all session or just one - or two. You must register for each session you want to attend. Participants who attend two or more sessions (minimum 18 hours) and a follow-up will be eligible to receive a stipend. The location is yet to be determined and will be posted at a later date. The remaining session of the Trilogy is scheduled on July 8-9 with the follow up session on July 22. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

June 7, 2011: Far West GREAT Center Advisory Committee Meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon at El Paso Community College, Administrative Services Center, Building B, Room 445, El Paso, Texas.

June 10-11, 2011: Zero Prep Vocabulary Teaching: Become a Word Wizard! Session 2 of 2 (TARGET AUDIENCE: All Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Laurel Pollard. The session will be held on Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. See the Far West GREAT Center Map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. This is the last of two sessions. Remaining follow-up session to be held on June 24. Attendees must participate in all sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

June 16-17, 2011: Special Training for Even Start/Family Literacy Practitioners: (TARGET AUDIENCE: Even Start/Family Literacy) Training will be facilitated by Bev Schumacher. Time for refueling---join our summer training to help focus your thinking about the delivery of services you offer families and children and explore topics that will enhance your knowledge and skills for service families.

We will:

  • look at resources
  • create props to support learning
  • make plans for reaching the learners you teach and
  • strengthen our team connections.

We will also explore:

  • Building Family Partnerships
  • Make Learning Fun
  • Sharing Family Literacy Activities
  • Using Community Resources
  • Improving Health - Power to Learn
  • Social Emotional Strength

The session will be held on Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org. Register Online now!

June 24, 2011: Zero Prep Vocabulary Teaching: Become a Word Wizard!! Follow-up Session: During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and present their completed assignments. The session will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. See the Far West GREAT Center Map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. Attendees must participate in all four 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 25, 2011: Texas Adult Education Credential PDPW: (Target Audience: All Adult Education Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Denise Johnson. 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 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. Register Online now!

July 2011

July 8-9, 2011: PD Trilogy: Teaching Math to ALL Levels, Session 3: (TARGET AUDIENCE: GED Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Anthony Chan. This workshop provides Math teachers with teaching strategies and simple tools that will help remove the fear of math that hinders adults from learning. Teachers will learn how to teach math at a level more readily understood by their students. Attendees will participate, through PowerPoint presentations, flip charts, and hands-on activities, in the same types of lessons they will present to their students. In these lessons, attendees will learn firsthand the effectiveness of these methods.

This workshop is the third and last session in our PD Trilogy. In an effort to meet local program needs and provide more access to staff development activities we are offering a series of three different training session of 9 hours each. The sessions will take place on Friday evenings and Saturdays. Each weekend will have a different trainer and subject matter. Participants may choose to attend all session or just one - or two. You must register for each session you want to attend. Participants who attend two or more sessions (minimum 18 hours) and a follow-up will be eligible to receive a stipend. The location is yet to be determined and will be posted at a later date. The remaining session is the follow up session on July 22. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

July 11-13, 2011: Classroom Management Institute: Managing Your Classroom for Student Success: (TARGET AUDIENCE: All Adult Education Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Bonnie Goonen and Susan Pittman-Shetler. Getting and keeping students engaged in learning begins when they first enter the classroom door. First impressions make a difference. This summer academy is designed to provide classroom teachers with classroom management processes and a variety of strategies, lessons, and activities that will help them engage their students. Following is a description of each training day.

  • Day 1: Teachers will begin the academy with a look at how to approach instruction through the use of scenarios that link real-life situations to the use of specific academic skills. On Day 1, the focus will center on reading and writing skills that students need to successfully transition from ESL to ABE to GED and beyond. Teachers will learn about the importance of incorporating cooperative elements as a part of their classroom management system and will participate in lessons based on the REACT strategy. Different scenarios will provide teachers with the opportunity to discuss and critique the lessons to address issues and concerns they may have about use in their own classrooms.

  • Day 2: Teachers will continue the academy by working through a variety of classroom management strategies that incorporate whole class, small group, and individualized instruction. Teachers will be placed in teams in the afternoon of Day 2 to brainstorm and begin developing model lessons that will be shared with all participants. Teachers will be provided with a scenario on which to base their REACT lesson. During the afternoon of Day 2, they will have the opportunity to: identify the academic content that they will connect to the lesson, define approaches to whole class, small group, and individualized instruction, identify sample materials for lesson construction, and determine tools to assess student outcomes.
  • Day 3: Day 3 will begin with active learning opportunities for teachers that include a variety of activities they can use in the classroom to get students off to a good start, such as getting to know the students, emphasizing critical thinking, and recognizing the learning differences among different generations of learners. After this introduction, teachers will work on their lesson plans and prepare for their presentations in the afternoon. After lunch, teachers will present their scenarios to the rest of the group, including at least two activities they have designed to be used with that scenario. The class will provide feedback to each team.

The session will be held on Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The training will be held at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. Attendees must participate in all sessions and the follow-up (8/19) to be eligible for the training stipend. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org. Register Online now!

July 16, 2011: Credential: Reflection Writing Workshop: (TARGET AUDIENCE: Instructors currently seeking their Credential) Training will be facilitated by Mary Lorenz. Staff from the Adult Education Teacher Credential will work with teachers who are actively pursuing their Credential. Participants will write reflections about their staff development and training experiences and submit them for peer review within the group of attendees. Once the reflections are reviewed, they will be posted into CredITS for scoring. The purpose of this session is to assist and encourage teachers to dedicate uninterrupted time in their efforts to complete the requirements for the Credential. The session will be held on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Socorro ISD - District Service Center, Computer Lab, 12440 Rojas, El Paso, Texas. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org. Register Online now!

July 18-20, 2011: The Perfect Pair: Technology and Project-based Learning (TARGET AUDIENCE: All Adult Educators) Training will be facilitated by Denise Guckert. This three-day institute focuses on using technology with project-based learning. Project-based learning is a teaching approach which captures major principles of modern adult learning theory. Teachers become facilitators as they guide students through the process of investigating a topic and/or solving a problem that is meaningful to them. Technology is the perfect tool for learners to use as part of this process; hands-on technology is what we remember best! The training will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org. Register Online now!

July 21, 2011: Goal Setting: Pathway to Success-Developing a Culture for Transitions (TARGET AUDIENCE: All Adult Educators) Training will be facilitated by Denise Guckert. This training will provide practitioners an opportunity to work with manipulatives to identify the benefits of goal setting on student transitions with adult education. With an emphasis of best practices in goal setting, participants receive resources to barriers, set SMART goals, and integrate goal setting in the classroom environment. The training will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org. Register Online now!

July 22, 2011: PD Trilogy Follow-up Session: During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and present their completed assignments. The session will be held 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. Participants who attend two or more sessions (minimum 18 hours) and a follow-up will be eligible to receive a stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

July 29, 2011: Mentorship Institute: (Registrations processed by Invitation only) Training will be facilitated by Barbara Baird. The objectives of this Institute is to prepare a cadre of mentoring Teachers with strategies to assist and support New Teacher Academy participants. The following activities will be focused on during this training:

  • Planning, designing, and assessing teacher and student learning experiences;
  • Reflecting and reporting on instructional practice and professional growth;
  • Preparing their New Teacher Academy lesson demonstrations on learning strategies addressed in the Academy.

The session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The training will be held at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org.

August 2011

August 6, 2011: Credential: Reflection Writing Workshop II: (TARGET AUDIENCE: Instructors currently seeking their Credential) Training will be facilitated by Debbie Janysek. Staff from the Adult Education Teacher Credential will work with teachers who are actively pursuing their Credential. Participants will write reflections about their staff development and training experiences and submit them for peer review within the group of attendees. Once the reflections are reviewed, they will be posted into CredITS for scoring. The purpose of this session is to assist and encourage teachers to dedicate uninterrupted time in their efforts to complete the requirements for the Credential. The session will be held on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at SISD- District Service Center, Computer Lab, 12440 Rojas Dr., El Paso, TX. The facilitator (Debbie Janysek) will be available on Aug. 5th afternoon to work with anyone who may need some extra assistance with the Credential. If you are interested in this, please call the Far West GREAT Center. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org. Registration will close on July 29. Register Online now!

August 12, 2011: The Perfect Pair: Technology and Project-based Learning, Follow-up Session: During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and present their completed assignments. The session will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The training will be held at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. Attendees must participate in all sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org.

August 17, 2011: Building a Community of Excellence: (TARGET AUDIENCE: Instructors at Ysleta Community Learning Center) Training will be facilitated by Aliana Apodaca. For an organization to be effective and reach upper levels of excellence, a high level of communication and commitment is needed. This full day program will explore strategies to achieve this. In this highly interactive program, participants will learn the model of building community, building trust and build effective communication skills. TRAINING IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR YSLETA COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org.

August 19, 2011: Classroom Management Institute: Managing Your Classroom for Student Success, Follow-up Session: During this session attendees will discuss lessons learned and present their completed assignments. The session will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The training will be held at Socorro Community Learning Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. Attendees must participate in all sessions and the follow-up to be eligible for the training stipend. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org.

September 2011

September 1, 2011: BEST Plus Administrator Training: (TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who will be test administrators) will be facilitated by Barbara Shull. This training is for individuals who will become BEST Plus Test Administrators. The session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The training will be held at Socorro Community Learning Center, Far West GREAT Training Room, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org. REGISTER NOW!

September 13, 2011: Far West GREAT Center Advisory Committee Meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon at El Paso Community College, Administrative Services Center, Building B, Room 445, El Paso, Texas.

September 17, 2011: Using the Activboard in the Activclassroom: (TARGET AUDIENCE: All Adult Educators) Training will be facilitated by Rosa Hidalgo. This training is for teachers that want to learn one more way to engage students with today’s technology. This training will provide:

  • An introduction to Activstudio
  • Information on Types of Software
  • Instructions on how to access toolbox and functions of content
  • Instructions on how to use, create and save flipcharts
  • Resources such as lessons and instructional material
  • Activtips
  • Presentation Techniques
  • Ideas for ESL classroom

There will be access to an Interactive White Board during the training. The session will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The training will be held at Socorro Community Learning Center, Far West GREAT Training Room, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Click here for a map to our new Far West GREAT Training Room. For questions, please contact us at (915) 937-1725 or farwestg@farwestgreat.org. REGISTER NOW!

October 2011

October 26, 2011: Data Detective: (TARGET AUDIENCE: Exclusively for Socorro Community Learning Center) Training will be facilitated by Ruth Larson. The TEAMS training will touch on these important topics:

  • What TEAMS means on a federal, state, program and instructor level
  • Instructor capabilities "tune-up" -reporting attendance, creating sign-in sheets, and viewing critical reports
  • Navigating TEAMS
  • TEAMS' newest features

The session will be held on Wednesday, from 12:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Far West GREAT Training Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

October 29, 2011: New Teacher Academy VIII, Session 1 of 4: (TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who have less than 3 years of experience in Adult Education) Training will be facilitated by Barbara Baird. The 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 own teaching methods and explore new delivery based on the information presented in the academy's sessions. Presentation of the modifications made will be presented during the last academic session. The session will be held on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Far West GREAT Training Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. This is the first of four sessions. Remaining sessions on Dec. 10, Feb. 11, 2012, and April 21, 2012. Attendees must participate in all sessions for the successful completion of the academy and to be eligible for the training stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. REGISTER NOW!

November 2011

November 12, 2011: Goal Setting: Developing a Culture for Transitions: (Exclusively for El Paso Co-op Instructors) Training will be facilitated by Martin Loa. Participants will consider the relationship between student persistence and performance. In this hands-on session that includes simulations and role-play, practitioners will explore potential conflicts between program retention and student persistence, strategies to better support stop-out and drop-out students, and program models that support research based best practices. Upon completion, course participants will (be able to):

  • Support adult learners to achieve higher levels of persistence.
  • Recognize patterns of persistence that lead to student success.
  • Utilize research to implement strategies in the classroom.
  • Understand how student pathways can help to predict student outcomes.
  • Employ the six drivers of persistence to minimize common inhibitors to student success

The session will be held on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Far West GREAT Training Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. This is the first of four sessions. Remaining sessions on Dec. 10, Feb. 11, 2012, and April 21, 2012. Attendees must participate in all sessions for the successful completion of the academy and to be eligible for the training stipend. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725. REGISTER NOW!

December 2011

December 2, 2011: EPALL Conference 2011 will be held Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the University of Texas El Paso, Union Building, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso. Details are now posted on our official Conference website.  Please visit www.epall.org to register online or for more information on presentation proposal submission and registration deadlines.

December 10, 2011: New Teacher Academy VIII, Session 2 of 4: (TARGET AUDIENCE: Individuals who have less than 3 years of experience in Adult Education) Training will be facilitated by Barbara Baird. This is the second of four 1-day workshops (Remaining workshops: Feb. 11 and April 21, 2012). Attendees must participate in all four sessions for the successful completion of the academy and to be eligible for the training stipend. The session will be held on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Far West GREAT Training Center, 313 S. Rio Vista Rd., El Paso, TX. Please email farwestg@farwestgreat.org if you have any questions or call (915) 937-1725.

December 13, 2011: Far West GREAT Center Advisory Committee Meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon at El Paso Community College - Administrative Service Center, 9050 Viscount, Building B, room 445, El Paso.