Shelley Fairbairn

 

Developing ESL Standards for Your District: Blending TESOL’s New “PreK-12 English Language Proficiency Standards” with NCLB Requirements

Date: Friday, November 3, 2006
Time: 1:00 pm — 4:00 pm

This practical, interactive session will include a comprehensive introduction to TESOL’s new “PreK-12 English Language Proficiency Standards,” a review of NCLB requirements for ESL standards, and step-by-step guidance regarding how to develop or enhance ESL standards for your school district. Participants are encouraged to bring along copies of their district’s reading, math, and/or science standards for reference during the presentation, as the required integration of content standards into district ESL standards will be discussed specifically.

Shelley Fairbairn is a visiting professor at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and will receive her Ph.D. in Foreign Language and ESL Education from The University of Iowa in December. In consultation with the Iowa Department of Education, Shelley has written sample ESL standards for Iowa school districts which can be accessed on the state’s ESL web pages. In addition, she has conducted workshops around the U.S. related to the WIDA Consortium’s English Proficiency Standards, which is the anchor document for TESOL’s new “PreK-12 English Language Proficiency Standards.” A veteran ESL educator and published author, Shelley introduces practicality to the realms of academia and legal mandates.

Holly Krech and Susan Krech

Pairing Authentic Literature with Bloom’s Taxonomy

Date: Friday, November 3, 2006

Time: TBA

At TESOL 2006 in Tampa, MIDTESOL members were so impressed with Holly and Susan that we asked them to bring their workshop to us! In this workshop, Holly and Susan will explain why authentic literature is a valuable tool for teaching ESL in higher education, why Bloom’s Taxonomy enables effective instruction, and how the two can be used to develop ESL classroom activities that encourage comprehensive language learning. We know that the research shows that authentic literature, such as poems, stories, and newspaper articles, engages students’ interest, promotes fluency in oral and written communication, and encourages critical thinking. According to Bloom’s Taxonomy, the process of learning begins with basic knowledge-based skills which form the foundation for critical analysis and informed opinion.

The workshop begins by establishing sound theoretical support for using authentic literature through an interactive presentation including pair work and audience polls. Next, the Kreches explain Bloom’s Taxonomy and present a lesson-planning grid with language skills across the top (listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar) and the cognitive skills from Bloom’s Taxonomy along the side. They then demonstrate how to use the grid to plan lessons. Workshop participants engage in several language learning activities based on The Giving Tree, such as shared reading, dictation, and small group work. Finally, participants practice developing their own lessons using the lesson- planning grid.  To make this workshop more personalized, bring any piece of authentic literature that you use in class for practice during the final part of the workshop.

Holly Krech Thomas is a professor in the Communications department at Kingsborough  Community College, City University of New York where she teaches linguistics, public speaking, and ESL speaking and listening courses. She has an M.A. in Linguistics with an emphasis in TESOL and a Ph. D. in Linguistics and Cognitive Science, both from the University of Colorado. She seeks to impart her childhood love of reading to her ESL students, and regularly shares selections of her favorite literature with her speech class.

 

Susan Krech is an Adult ESL instructor for the Carver-Scott Educational Cooperative in Minnesota.  She received her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis in teaching ESL from the University of Colorado at Denver, and has been teaching ESL in adult community program for three years. Before that, she taught music at all grade levels, including college. Having a passionate interest in learning and educational psychology, she is convinced that bloom’s Taxonomy is a useful teaching tool in any content area, from music to ESL.

Jan Rodriguez

Play It Again, Teacher!

Date: Friday, November 3, 2006

Time: TBA

You voted her one of the best oflast year’s conference! Therefore, we asked her back for a three hour encore!

In this workshop, Jan demonstrates how to creatively adapt familiar games into effective learning tools for the classroom. Participants learn how to use them for introducing a theme, lesson development, or practice and reviews; and how to get students involved in creating their own versions of the games. Take home collectibles include a huge packet of the presenter’s reproducible masters and at least one customized version of a game created during the workshop.

Jan Rodriguez is the Assistant Director of Education Department of the International Institute of Metro St. Louis. Jan holds an MA degree in TESL from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and has been an Assistant Director of the Education Department at the International Institute of Metro St. Louis since March 2000. Jan taught three years of EFL at a bilingual elementary school in Ecuador, South America and over five years of teaching adult ESOL at the International Institute through the St. Louis Public Schools’ Adult Education and Literacy Program. At the International Institute, Jan hires, trains, and supervises ESOL teachers as well as does orientation and training for volunteer ESOL tutors and teacher aides. Jan aspires to someday writing ESOL Multilevel Literacy Readers.