2008 Calendar Archive

January 2008

January 5, 2008: Multi-Level ESL will be held at Denton ISD/Denton Four County Co-op, 1307 N. Locust, Denton from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Adult Basic Education instructors often find themselves facing large classes full of students with many different language levels and backgrounds. This workshop will focus on turning these challenges into opportunities for learning. Participants will look at methods of establishing goals for a large, diverse group. Participants will consider strategies for working with multi-level classes with an emphasis on adapting activities to meet a variety of needs. Participants will examine ways to manage large classes without sacrificing a learner-centered, interactive approach to language teaching. Finally, participants will explore ways of setting boundaries so to best balance student needs with instructor time. The workshop will be conducted in an experiential learning environment to mirror effective methods teachers can use in the classroom. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or Steve Johnson (940) 369-0091.

January 5, 2008: Student Retention/Strategies to Improve Language and Reading will be held at Denton ISD/Denton Four County Co-op, 1307 N. Locust, Denton 76201. Participants will be introduced to strategies that promote retention in adult ABE/ASE classrooms. The second half of the session will be devoted to using TABE results to address skill areas needed for student gains and/or level completions. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or Steve Johnson (940) 369-0091.

January 12, 2008: Distance Learning Orientation will be held at Region 9 ESC, 301 Loop 11, Wichita Falls Participants will be provided with a overview of Distance Learning 101: Teaching Adult Learners at a Distance. They will be provided guidance in how to access and use the course Web site-Community Zero. For more information, contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or Kim Sizemore (940) 322-6928.

January 12, 2008: TABE Administration (2 sessions-8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) will be held at 1066 W. Magnolia, Ft Worth, TX. From 8:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Participants will learn how to administer the TABE for placement and progress in the ABE/ASE program. TABE updates will be incorporated. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or Aida Martinez (817) 852-1000 x 246.

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.

January 26, 2008: BEST Plus will be held at Lincoln High School. 2826 Hatcher St., Dallas, TX 75215 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Participants who successfully complete this certification process will be able to give both the computer adapted and print based version of this new oral proficiency test. This test was developed by the Center for Applied Linguistics. It is an individually administered face-to-face scripted oral interview designed to assess the English language Proficiency of adult English language learners. This test can be used for program placement, progress, program evaluation and diagnosis. BEST Plus scores can be converted to SPL descriptors that align with NRS Functioning Level Descriptors. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or Conchis Silva (972) 749-2622.

January 26, 2008: Multi-level Math. Region 9 ESC, 301 Loop 11, Wichita Falls 76308, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This training is designed to provide GED teachers with the tools, resources and strategies to teach math on a more successful level. The GED testing service (GEDTS) has conducted a series of data analyses that identify at least three areas of mathematic weakness for GED test participants. The training addresses these areas and provides strategies for correcting the problems. The model that is utilized also addresses the needs of various learning styles, including those who are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 794.7399 or Kim Sizemore (940) 322-6928x384.

January 26, 2008: Student Retention. Region 9 ESC, 301 Loop 11, Wichita Falls 76308, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Adult students often drop out of their adult education instructional program before they have a chance to meet their goals. This workshop will provide participants with strategies that promote student retention in ABE classrooms. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 794.7399 or Kim Sizemore (940) 322-6928x384.

January 26, 2008: Multi-Level ESL. Region 9 ESC, 301 Loop 11, Wichita Falls 76308, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 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) 794.7399 or Kim Sizemore (940) 322-6928x384.

February 2008

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 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.

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.

March 2008

March 6, 2008: North GREAT Center Advisory Committee Meeting will be held at Region 9 ESC, Wichita Falls, TX. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or dbaker@dallasisd.org

March 29, 2008: BEST Plus will be held at 1066 W. Magnolia, Ft Worth from 8:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Participants who successfully complete this certification process will be able to give both the computer adapted and print based version of this new oral proficiency test. This test was developed by the Center for Applied Linguistics. It is an individually administered face-to-face scripted oral interview designed to assess the English language Proficiency of adult English language learners. This test can be used for program placement, progress, program evaluation and diagnosis. BEST Plus scores can be converted to SPL descriptors that align with NRS Functioning Level Descriptors. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 749-2506 or Aida Martinez (817) 852-1000.

April 2008

April 5, 2008: BEST Plus will be held at Yvonne Ewell Townview Center—Rm 289, 1201 E. 8th St, Dallas from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Participants who successfully complete this certification process will be able to give both the computer adapted and print based version of this new oral proficiency test. This test was developed by the Center for Applied Linguistics. It is an individually administered face-to-face scripted oral interview designed to assess the English language Proficiency of adult English language learners. This test can be used for program placement, progress, program evaluation and diagnosis. BEST Plus scores can be converted to SPL descriptors that align with NRS Functioning Level Descriptors. For more information contact Dorris Baker (972) 794-7361.

April 12, 2008: DL 101—Implementation will be held at Region 9 ESC, 301 Loop 11, Wichita Falls, 76306 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This workshop will explain the role of the distance learning final assignment and familiarize participants with on online resources (i.e., listserves, newsletters, courses and websites). For more information contact Dorris A. Baker (972) 794-7361.

April 18, 2008: Content Standards will be held at Grayson Co Community College, 6101 Grayson Dr., Denison 75020 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 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 Benchmards for ABE/ASE and ESL Learners Implementation Guide. For more information contact Dorris A. Baker (972) 749-2506 or Donna Byrum (903) 463-8745.

April 23, 2008: DL 101—Implementation will be held at Student Support Services, Rm 809, 2909 N. Buckner, Dallas 75228 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.. This workshop will explain the role of the distance learning final assignment and familiarize participants with on online resources (i.e., listserves, newsletters, courses and websites). For more information contact Dorris A. Baker (972) 794-7361.

April 23-25, 2008: Parents Make the Difference will be held at School Support Center, Rm 805, 2909 N. Buckner, Dallas from :00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Parents Day 1 focuses on a prenting curriculum that provides a framework for positve everyday interactions that support the language development, social development and literacy development of very young children with a focus on ages birth to three in low income, vulnerable families who may have limited literacy and English skills.

Day 2 involves participants in inexpensive but powerful activities for parent-child interactions that support language, social and literacy development throughout early childhood and that can also be used by parents at home and during the Even Start ILA component.

Day 3. Hold onto your socks whiles we explore a strategy that can accelerate language development for children agen 18 months to three years and can be used by virtually any parent or caregiver!! The Parents Make the Difference culminating activity will show participants how to develop Personal Pictures Books at their sites so that parents can develop them for their own children. For more information contact Dorris Baker or the Texas Family Literacy Resource Center.