Educators, instructional coaches and administrators leave this workshop empowered and ready to take their professional learning to the next level. In our ever-changing world, it is more important than ever to know what learning opportunities are at our fingertips as we strive to support multilingual students. This is an engaging day that will meet the needs of the novice tech user to the veteran education blogger. Participants experience a comprehensive array of interpretive, expressive, and interactive activities to support us on our paths and challenge our thinking.

This session outlines simple steps that will make both Short Constructed Response and Extended Constructed Response less threatening. Participants will explore approaches for Grade 3-12 ESL and ELA teachers to scaffold instruction and to boost students’ performance in writing. The session includes an opportunity to examine the required elements of the short constructed response and the extended constructed response and learn to help students incorporate these elements into their writing. During the session we will use sentence stems, graphic organizers, and short videos. Our participants will walk away with multiple tools to prepare students of all language levels for the ELA STAAR/EOC Writing.

Educators will explore the true meaning of sheltered instruction with research-based strategies such as the 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Classroom. Chapter 89 of the TAC, recommends  “the integrated use of second language acquisition methods” to meet the needs of ELs. This training is designed to give teachers the tools they need to meet these requirements. It includes approaches to integrating the ELPS into instruction and ways to align linguistic accommodations to the TELPAS descriptors.

Talk, Read, Talk, Write (TRTW) is a practical approach to classroom instruction that helps students meet and exceed the state standards for learning in the core classes while also developing the literacy skills needed for success in the 21st century. Participants will experience the TRTW approach as learners themselves, and receive step-by-step instructions for how to implement the approach using actual classroom examples. Other training topics include: how to facilitate structured conversations, how to hold students accountable for active participation, how to move students toward successful independent reading and writing, and how to troubleshoot common roadblocks to reading, writing and talking in the classroom.

This innovative training will help all teachers transform their classrooms into vibrant spaces where students can use academic language to talk, read, write, and think about each lesson’s content. This 7 Steps training outlines a dynamic process for structuring, planning, and facilitating a language-rich classroom. In addition,. participants gain knowledge of helpful ways to integrate both content and language standards when planning instruction. They also receive specific strategies for differentiating instruction so that all learners within the classroom can build their ability to discuss and communicate academic concepts effectively.

ELLs in TX: What Teachers Need to Know is a comprehensive, practical resource that is essential for any Texas teacher with ELLs in the classroom. This training provides teachers, administrators, and program specialists with at-your-fingertips knowledge about Bilingual/ESL programs in Texas, second language acquisition, ELPS/TELPAS assessments and connections, and classroom instruction focused on progress and proficiency.

The 7 Steps to a Language-Rich, Interactive Foreign Language Classroom are research-based strategies designed to increase comprehensible input and provide low-stress opportunities for language output and interaction. These practical techniques provide an essential foundation that ensures students are motivated and engaged, while offering access points to any target language in a way that is easy to implement and comprehensively scaffolded. This training was created for both novice and seasoned LOTE teachers to transform the foreign language classroom into an interactive environment in which students are engaging in the target language from day one.

• Get familiar with test domains and competencies.
• See the test-item formats and gain study resources.
• Practice with sample training questions.
• Analyze the theories, research and current practices Bilingual Education and Dual Language Pedagogoy.
• Take home a copy of trainer Dr. Patricia Morales’ book: Content Review and Practice Book for the Texas Educator Certification Program:164 Bilingual Education Supplemental, First Edition.

This 6 hour training offers teachers of English Learners an opportunity to examine common ELA practices through the lens of Language Acquisition Theory  and to explore a variety of techniques for sentence level writing. Teachers will learn to introduce complex syntactic features to Newcomers and Long-Term English Learners stagnating at Intermediate or Advanced levels through hands-on, game-like syntax activities.  Some of the topics will include teaching syntax through communicative context, freewriting vs. deliberate practice, and fostering language proficiency growth by targeting sentence level skills. 

In this 6-hour online session, participants will do the following: 

• Explore 10-minute online and face2face grammar activities
• Engage with deliberate writing practices
• Practice incorporating oracy as a step into literacy

This session was designed for teachers in bilingual/dual and ESL classrooms to bridge research-based pedagogies and connections in the areas of cross- linguistic and cross- academic transfer between English and Spanish. The course will provide teachers a means to empower students in the developmental process of cross-linguistic strategies, metalinguistic and metacognitive awareness, cross-academic strategies, and reinforce their linguistic, cultural, and academic background knowledge in English and Spanish.

Are you ready to learn how to motivate your ELLs? Seidlitz Education will guide you through a unique approach to bringing ELLs beyond mere participation. Learn user-friendly strategies that help teachers at all grade levels connect with and inspire their English Learners. Participants will learn how to: build off student interests to fully engage them in academic content; capitalize on student and teacher creativity and innovation; facilitate enjoyable content writing for all ages; and incorporate physical movement for 100% participation.

The English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) clearly defines the content-area knowledge and academic language instruction that districts must provide for English learners. This training session addresses the requirements within the four sections of the ELPS, for teachers, administrators, and specialists. In addition, it offers a user-friendly process for meeting those requirements using a variety of hands-on, interactive strategies and activities. Participants receive a copy of the book, Navigating the ELPS, to use throughout the training and to take back to their districts.

The literacy spaces we create for our learners and the experiences they have as readers and writers can make an impact in their learning outcomes. This training offers educators a deep dive into reading and writing instruction with a special focus for increasing the effectiveness of instructional methods to serve multilingual learners. Participants will explore and engage in techniques they can implement immediately with students.

This training will allow participants to learn effective ways to help their refugee students while meeting the needs of their families. Support and resources will be given to instruct their students with best practices for meeting language and academic needs. Participants will also receive a copy of the manual, Texas Student Refugee Framework: A Collaborative Approach.