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Central Region GREAT Center Professional Development Opportunites

September 2009

September 12, 2009: Culture and Learning in the ESOL Classroom, Session I of II will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Ruiz Branch Library, 1600 Grove Blvd., Austin 78741. The presenter is Linda Muñoz. This workshop is a 2-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 developing strategies to both recognize similarities and bridge differences. Please register to attend: Central registration form. For additional information, please contact Denise Guckert dg21@txstate.edu
or 1-877-798-5522.

September 15, 2009: Central GREAT Advisory Committee Meeting . Virtual Meeting: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Instructions on how to call into the meeting will be sent prior to the meeting. For any additional questions please contact Mario Mokarzel at mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522

September 26, 2009: Culture and Learning in the ESOL Classroom, Session II of II will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ruiz Branch Library, 1600 Grove Blvd., Austin 78741. The presenter is Linda Muñoz. This workshop is the 2nd session in a 2 part session totaling 9 hours of professional development for adult ESOL instructors. Please see workshop description above on September 12, 2009 Central GREAT training. . Please register to attend: Central registration form. For additional information, please contact Denise Guckert dg21@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 2009

October 2 & 3, 2009: Effective Instruction for all Adult Education Students including those with Special Learning Needs, Session I of IV , will be held from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Austin Community College-Highland Business Center ( HBC ), Room TBA , 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin 78752. This training series takes place on the following dates throughout the year. Teachers must attend ALL sessions!

Session I: Oct 2 & 3, 2009, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Session II: Nov 20 & 21, 2009, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Session III: Jan 22 & 23, 2010, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Session IV: March 5 & 6, 2010, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The multi-session training will assist adult educators understand the needs of adult learners, including those who have learning disabilities and other special learning needs. Participants learn to identify effective instructional practices with all learners, recognize possible learning disabilities, and apply accommodations to assist adult learners with special learning needs to maximize their potential in reaching their goals. Registration is limited to 10 participants; "First Come, First Served" is in place for this series so please register early: Central registration form . For additional information, please contact Mario Mokarzel at mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 9, 2009: ESOL Reading Institute: Research-based Strategies for ESOL Reading, Session I of III will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM in Austin, location TBA . Nationally known researcher Dr. Heide Spruck Wrigley will facilitate this Institute that is designed for experienced teachers and will focus on research to practice in teaching reading to second language readers with an emphasis on comprehension strategies for beginning to intermediate level learners. Future sessions will be December 11, 2009 and February 13, 2010 (virtual, 3 hours). Participants must attend all sessions! Read the informational flyer . Then apply to attend : The application deadline is October 2, 2009 and participation is limited to 25, so reserve your seat soon!  For additional information please contact Stan Ashlock sa07@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

October 9 & 10, 2009: ABE / ASE Academy (Session I of IV) will be held from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Friday) and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Saturday) at Austin Community College, Highland Business Center, Room 301.0 on October 9th and Room 102.2 on October 10th, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin 78752. Ms. Barbara Baird is the facilitator. This Academy is ideal for teachers new to the ABE/ASE classroom as well as experienced teachers who are interested in becoming Master Teachers. ABE/ASE teachers will learn adult learning theory along with brain-based instructional strategies and how to apply them in the classroom. Classroom strategies will cover reading and writing, and teachers will have the opportunity to practice strategies in their classrooms between sessions. The format for this academy begins with an initial 1 1/2 day face-to-face session on October 9 & 10, 2009 followed by three virtual web-based sessions (3 hrs each) on the following Saturdays:

December 5, 2009, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
January 30, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
March 27, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Teachers must attend ALL sessions! Please read the online flyer . Download, complete, and submit the application form . For additional information, please contact Mario Mokarzel at mm64@txstate.eduor 1-877-798-5522.

October 10, 2009: ESOL Workforce Academy, Session I of III , will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM in Austin, exact location TBA . 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' workforce communication skills. This course is held over three Saturdays. Future sessions will be held December 12, 2009 (6 hours) and February 20, 2010 (virtual, 3 hours). Participants must attend all sessions . Read the informational flyer . Then apply to attend : The application deadline is October 2, 2009 and participation is limited to 25, so reserve your seat soon! For additional information please contact Stan Ashlock sa07@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

November 2009

November 14, 2009: ESOL Academy II: Scenario-based ESOL, Session I of III , will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM in Austin, location TBA . This course, led by Dr. Heide Wrigley, is held over three Saturdays. Future sessions will be January 9, 2010 (6 hours) and March 6, 2010 (3 hour virtual session). Participants must attend all sessions! This course includes hands-on activities that can be used directly in your ESOL classroom, strategy-based lessons to get students talking, lesson planning for optimal teaching and learning, informal processes to assess students' communication skills, and presentations that link research to practice. Read the informational flyer . Then apply to attend . The application deadline is October 30, 2009 and participation is limited to 25, so reserve your seat soon! For additional information please contact Stan Ashlock sa07@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

November 20 & 21, 2009: Effective Instruction for all Adult Education Students including those with Special Learning Needs, Session II of IV will be held from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Austin Community College, Highland Business Center (HBC), Room TBA, 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin 78752. This is training II of IV. Session III will be held Jan 22 & 23, 2010, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and
Session IV: March 5 & 6, 2010, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. You MUST have attended Session I to attend the remaining sessions.

The multi-session training will assist adult educators understand the needs of adult learners, including those who have learning disabilities and other special learning needs. Participants learn to identify effective instructional practices with all learners, recognize possible learning disabilities, and apply accommodations to assist adult learners with special learning needs to maximize their potential in reaching their goals. For additional information, please contact Mario Mokarzel at mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

December 2009

December 5, 2009: ABE / ASE Academy (Session II of IV) will be held virtually from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. This academy began with an initial 1 1/2 day face-to-face session on October 9 & 10, 2009. Ms. Barbara Baird is the facilitator. This Academy is ideal for teachers new to the ABE/ASE classroom as well as experienced teachers who are interested in becoming Master Teachers. ABE/ASE teachers will learn adult learning theory along with brain-based instructional strategies and how to apply them in the classroom. Classroom strategies will cover reading and writing, and teachers will have the opportunity to practice strategies in their classrooms between sessions. You must have attended Session I to attend this session. Session III and IV will be held virtually on January 30, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and March 27, 2010, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Teachers must attend ALL sessions! Please read the online flyer. . For additional information, please contact Mario Mokarzel at mm64@txstate.edu or 1-877-798-5522.

December 11, 2009: ESOL Reading Institute: Research-based Strategies for ESOL Reading, Session II of III will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM in Austin, location TBA . This session is available only to participants who registered for and attended the ESOL Reading Institute: Researched-based Strategies for ESOL Reading Session I of III held on October 9, 2009. Session III will be held February 13, 2010.

December 12, 2009: ESOL Workforce Academy, Session II of III , will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM in Austin, exact location TBA . This session is available only to participants who registered for and attended the ESOL Workforce Academy, Session I of III on October 10, 2009. Session III will be held February 20, 2010.

Please send webpage updates to Amy ~ afriend@communityaction.com