Welcome ELL Book Club Facilitators Meeting February 8, 2012

Mixers Four Corners – Birth Order – Language Share Ideas

Ground Rules Read the assigned chapters before our meeting We will start on time and end on time Be an active participant Agree to disagree and please do not make dismissive statements Put cell phones on etiquette mode Use computers for note taking only

RESCFacilitators#Dates ACESRobin Metaj18February. 27, March 26, April 26 CREC Marta Diez Tim Nee 27February 29, March 28, April 25 C.E.S. Trudi Durrell Esther Bobowick 13March 6, March 27, April 24 EASTCONNJane Cook16March 1, March 29, April 12 EDUCATION CONNECTION Erin Bailey12February 29, March 28, April 25 LEARNEllen Dalton Sheila Osko 20February 28, March 27, April 17

Provide a shared professional development opportunity across the state through book club discussion groups Read a recently published book about real life successes and challenges to improve programs for ELs Identify 9 common myths of second language acquisition Discuss and apply effective teaching strategies to best help ELs Book Club Goals

Kick Off Event Dinner Three 1.5 hour sessions held after school with lite dinner RESC facilitated discussions as we read the book Schoolwide Approaches to Educating ELLs Meet the Author Dinner, scheduled for May 2, 5:00 pm, Dr. Sonia Soltero keynote speaker

Building Teacher Knowledge and Awareness Tapping into the following skills should be at the heart of the study group plan: previous knowledge and expertise, internal motivation, self direction and problem solving Developing common knowledge and awareness

The Shared Experience is What is Important! That shared experience must include » Respect for the adult learner » Choice » Voice » Personal Connections

Respecting Adult Learners Adopt the stance of co-learner rather than teacher Connect the study group to a real-life issue in the school / RESC / State Use the first study group session to set goals, create a timeline, and set ground rules Revisit the goals and timeline at the start of each session, allowing participants to give an update. Amend plans to accommodate new ideas.

Incorporating Choice Allow teachers to select their own partners/teams As much as possible allow them to select or give them a choice of activities Allow them to select their breaks

Planning for Voice Structure the time for the meetings Keep an eye on the clock… teachers like to talk and this topic is very conducive to that Assign paired or group tasks that are then shared Keep moving the agenda and purposefully engage the shy or more quiet participants

Personal Connections Construct open ended guiding questions to guide discussions about text Be prepared for emotionally and politically charged conversations Agree to respectfully disagree!

Dealing with Reluctance Teachers will have different levels of commitment and motivation Plan strategies for those teachers that don’t do their reading Make personal connections with individual teachers to facilitate engagement

Read the book! Write down important page #s Write open ended questions or use the questions and application activities at the end of each chapter Order Refreshments, $100 max per session Sign in sheets for CEU’s Send a complete list of participants to Tim and include contact and job role description Plan a team building activity to start Let participants answer first and give lots of thinking time Make connections between comments Wrap up discussions Do not make dismissive statements Facilitator’s Checklist

Imagine the non-English speaking child’s introduction to American education…he comes to school, not only without a word of English but without the environmental experience upon which school life is based. He cannot speak to the teacher and is unable to understand what goes on about him in the classroom. He finally submits to rote learning, parroting words and processes in his own self- defense. To him, school life is artificial. He submits to it during class hours, only partially digesting the information which the teacher has tried to impart. Of course he learns English and the school subjects imperfectly! Sanchez, 1940

Planned Activities Summarize and Pair Share Big Idea Round Robin Brainstorm Five Question Worksheet and/or Gallery Walk Suggested Book Activities Relate to Work Situation and Share Other Ideas DISCUSSION!! In Last Meeting Generate Author Questions

Reading Assignments First Assignment Introduction and Chapter 1 Second Assignment Chapter 2 and 3 Third Assignment Chapter 4 and 5 Make assignment sheets or assignment

Bring provided book to each session First assignment: Read Introduction to page 33 Write a 5-8 sentence summary from reading assignment Write down three big ideas highlighted in the chapters read and are meaningful to you Be prepared to share each week Relate a big idea to your work assignment, record a way to include in your work behaviors

Meet Dr. Soltero Author’s Dinner Wednesday, May 2 5:00 pm Crowne Plaza Cromwell

Evaluation Survey Monkey Review Questions Include demographic about each RESC Send out link following Author Dinner Share results with RESC Facilitators and CT SDE

Book clubs are popular not only because people like to read but also because they are great social outlets, therefore, a little off topic conversation is fine! Please contact us if you need our assistance – Tim Nee – Marta Diez – Miriam Yeung Have fun with this!!! Last but not least…