1. Interactive Strategies & Assessments Using Technology
Friday, 1:30 PM-5:30 PM
Vickie Mike, NYSAFLT
This workshop will teach participants how to design lessons and assessments (with rubrics) that incorporate technology to increase student participation in pair and group activities. Second, a lesson plan template will be provided with relevant websites. Third, assessments using technology will be explained and discussed. This workshop is of particular interest to those who teach intermediate and Advanced Placement Spanish at the high school level. In English with examples in Spanish, (but of interest to all).
WORKSHOP #1 OPTIONS:
2. Interpersonal Dialogue: How to Get Our Kids Talking for Real
Friday, 1:30 PM-5:30 PM
Dana Pilla, Haddonfield PS
Teachers of novice high students will learn how to create interpersonal and presentational speaking prompts that move their students forward, how to utilize available rubrics, and how to incorporate technology into speaking. By the end of the session participants will have new ideas for class activities, assessments, prompts, and ways to use technology as a means to move forward in language acquisition. Session will be hands-on and will incorporate new technology. In English with examples in Spanish but worthwhile for teachers of all languages. Of special interest to educators in grades 6-12.
WORKSHOP #2 OPTIONS:
5. World Languages & World Art
Friday, 1:30 PM-5:30 PM
Walters Art Museum
The Walters Art Museum welcomes NECTFL world language teachers to an inspiring and exciting tour designed to integrate the Walters collection and your curriculum! The collection includes world art from pre-dynastic Egypt to 20th-century Europe, with Greek sculpture and Roman sarcophagi, medieval ivories and Old Master paintings, Art Deco jewelry and 19th-century European masterpieces. You will gain insights and acquire ideas for content-based teaching and interdisciplinary connections! Our programs for students explore topics ranging from "Art Detective" to "Developing Literacy through the Arts" and "Mathematical Masterpieces." In English and of interest to educators in all languages and at all levels of instruction. Transportation to the museum provided.
WORKSHOP #5 OPTIONS:
6. A Way with Words: Teaching Vocabulary beyond Lists & Cognates
Saturday, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Norah Lulich Jones, Fluency Professional Development
In this workshop, teachers of Latin and modern languages experience highly practical approaches to the nature, power, and flexibilities of words in order to train students to understand, remember, manipulate, and create with language. We play with sounds and see how sounds have always created and clarified meaning in languages. We connect sound to writing to reveal patterns demonstrating the logic and connections within and among languages. We grow your vocabulary-teaching repertoire with various techniques, including analogies, riddles, circumlocution, classification, roots and families, similes, visuals, logic puzzles, and rhythm and chants. Models primarily in Latin and modern Romance languages, but in English and concepts applicable to all classical and modern languages. Thorough handout provided. Of special interest to secondary school educators, including anyone who feels overwhelmed trying to teach vocabulary!
WORKSHOP #6 OPTIONS:
7. World Languages in Middle School: Finding Resources & Designing Instructional Strategies for the Early Adolescent Mind
Saturday, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Ruth Malone, Wicomico County MD Public Schools
Jennifer Steeley, Manheim Township PA M.S.
Starting in 2011, all Maryland middle schools are required to offer world languages to their students. Middle school programs can be the starting point for language study or a critical link between elementary school offerings and high school study. Come join a district supervisor and a middle school teacher for a workshop that will present findings from current neurological research on the early adolescent brain as a basis for choosing appropriate resources and developing effective teaching strategies for middle school world language learners. If your school or district is initiating a program or seeking to improve its existing curriculum, this workshop will engage you with provocative ideas and practical suggestions. In English with examples in multiple languages.
WORKSHOP #7 OPTIONS:
8. Assessment Best Practices: A Data-Driven Approach
Sunday, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Kyle Ennis, Avant Assessment
It is time to assess our assessments! This workshop will take a look at assessment best practices and national trends through the lens of data collected from the STAMP test. Participants will be able to view the data collected over several years and observe the proficiency expectations after specified numbers of years of study. We will then apply this learning to current assessment practices and identify areas that can be improved through understanding best practices and how best practice can be applied to our classrooms. Presented in English with examples in multiple languages and of interest to middle/junior and high school educators, as well as to school administrators.
WORKSHOP #8 OPTIONS:
10. Using National Aquarium Resources to Teach Spanish
Monday, 8:45 AM-11:45 AM
National Aquarium Baltimore
The National Aquarium in Baltimore, just steps from NECTFL's conference hotel, seeks to "inspire people to enjoy, respect, and protect the aquatic world." In this workshop, you will visit the aquarium with a Spanish-speaking guide and acquire knowledge, ideas and materials to use in your classroom. Excite your students with information and activities related to the world's aquatic habitats and to conservation and stewardship responsibilities! Transportation provided. In Spanish and of special interest to K-12 educators although open to all.
WORKSHOP #10 OPTIONS:
12. Thematic Units: Planning with the Learner in Mind
Monday, 8:00 AM-11:00 AM
Helena Curtain, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
This workshop on thematic planning will take participants through the process of creating a thematic unit, from choosing a topic to filling in a unit plan inventory. The presentation will include practical activities and will share examples of completed units. The presenter will share templates to make the process easier and examine some of the major questions involved in preparing curriculum for language learners: What is most important about this topic? What is affectively engaging about this topic? Why should it matter to learners? In English with examples in English and of interest to preK-12 educators.
WORKSHOP #12 OPTIONS:
13. Unpacking the Standards with Backward Design I: Uncovering Culture
Monday, 8:00 AM-11:00 AM
Jennifer Eddy, Queens College/City Univ of NY
What do Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions look like for world language curricula? What are transfer tasks? We will answer these questions by examining curriculum planning within a Backward Design protocol tailored specifically to world language learning and aligned with the National Standards (5Cs). Participants will develop unit and program design frameworks and leave with an excellent understanding of Backward Design as it pertains to world language curricular planning. This model protocol will help teachers and administrators plan an articulated K-12 program and also help teacher educators prepare candidates for curriculum and assessment design. This workshop and its afternoon counterpart are for both new and experienced teachers and teacher trainers, using feedback and interaction, powerpoint, organizing templates, and hands-on tools that help participants begin thematic curriculum design and plan their own assessment system toward a performance goal. After the workshop, participants are invited to continue dialogue, share questions, and pilot their work with feedback. Language teachers, instructional leaders, and teacher educators are increasingly interested in Backward Design and performance assessment for curriculum reform. Participants will design culturally relevant Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions at program level, guiding the choices for culturally authentic materials and performance assessment tasks at unit level. These themes recur over the lifespan, enable program articulation between levels, buildings and schools, and integrate language, culture, and content.
WORKSHOP #13 OPTIONS:
15. La España Verde y el Camino de Santiago
Monday, 8:00 AM-11:00 AM
Rosa Lopez, Education Office – Embassy of Spain
The Education Office of the Embassy of Spain once again offers a world class professional development opportunity to NECTFL attendees! Each year, the Embassy's Education Officers provide an in-depth exploration of a cultural topic, allowing participants to interact in Spanish and to immerse themselves in a significant aspect of Spanish culture. This year, the Embassy will provide information about the four Autonomous Communities that make up the area known as "Green Spain": Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, and Pais Vasco. There will be a brief review of the history, geography, typical dishes, traditions, music, and contemporary artists that come from each of the communities. Handouts with activities focusing on different aspects of these regions will be distributed. In Spanish with examples in Spanish and of interest to all.
WORKSHOP #15 OPTIONS:
16. Strengthening the Five C's ... Integrating the National Standards into Daily Lessons
Monday, 8:00 AM-11:00 AM
Fran Malkin, SUNY Old Westbury
Let's tackle the five C's together! This workshop aims to address the creative ways that we can strengthen our curriculum by integrating all of the National Foreign Language Standards. Innovative and interesting ways to weave Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities into daily lesson plans across grade and proficiency levels will be discussed. Tons of ideas for all five goal areas. Participant involvement is a must! Presented in English with examples in Spanish and applicable to all grade/proficiency levels.
WORKSHOP #16 OPTIONS:
19. Unpacking the Standards with Backward Design II: Designing for Performance
Monday, 12:00 PM-3:00 PM
Jennifer Eddy, Queens College/City Univ of NY
What do Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions look like for world language curricula? What are transfer tasks? We will answer these questions by examining curriculum planning within a Backward Design protocol tailored specifically to world language learning and aligned with the National Standards (5Cs). Participants will develop unit and program design frameworks and leave with an excellent understanding of Backward Design as it pertains to world language curricular planning. This model protocol will help teachers and administrators plan an articulated K-12 program and also help teacher educators prepare candidates for curriculum and assessment design. This workshop and its afternoon counterpart are for both new and experienced teachers and teacher trainers, using feedback and interaction, powerpoint, organizing templates, and hands-on tools that help participants begin thematic curriculum design and plan their own assessment system toward a performance goal. After the workshop, participants are invited to continue dialogue, share questions, and pilot their work with feedback. This workshop continues this unique model for designing performance assessment with the communicative modes. Participants expand their definition of assessment toward a goal of performance and transfer, aligning these key performance tasks to culturally relevant Enduring Understandings and Essential Questions. Can-Do Statements and implementation guides complete this stage to allow for seamless alignment to instruction.
WORKSHOP #19 OPTIONS:
21. Special Education Strategies & Modifications for the World Language Classroom
Monday, 12:00 PM-3:00 PM
Glennysha Jurado-Moran, Edison Public Schools
Are you looking for strategies to help you meet the needs of learners in your classroom? Learn useful and practical strategies to modify instruction and assessments in all three modes of communication, presented by a dual-certified Special Education and World Languages teacher. Gain a background on learning disabilities. Make sense of Individualized Educational Plans and learn how to implement modifications in a way that benefits all students. Discover how the integration of various learning styles, multiple intelligences, and interdisciplinary connections can not only meet the needs of all learners but also spice up your classroom. Presented in English with examples in Spanish and of particular interest to middle school and high school educators.
WORKSHOP #21 OPTIONS:
22. Using Children's Literature to Reach & Teach All Language Learners
Monday, 12:00 PM-3:00 PM
Janel Lafond-Paquin, Rogers High School
Children's stories are a wonderful way of introducing world language students to literature! From simple vocabulary activities to those that prompt discussion of global issues, this workshop will give you myriad suggestions for incorporating these stories into your own classroom instruction! Audience participation is encouraged and a copious handout with all activities will be given to attendees! In English with examples in French and English and of special interest to high school educators.
WORKSHOP #22 OPTIONS:
23. The A,B,C's of Getting Our Students to Write
Monday, 12:00 PM-3:00 PM
Amy Peterschmidt, The Bryn Mawr School
The process of building writing skills in the target language and using writing assignments to consolidate and explore the language puts the student in the driver's seat, thereby creating a unique relationship between the student and the language. Through this relationship, our students' history, senses, emotions and minds become the key to language, and the doors begin to open. The workshop will discuss, show, and direct participants in the creation and application of writing assignments in the foreign language classroom. In German with examples in English and German, and of special interest to high school and postsecondary educators.
WORKSHOP #23 OPTIONS:
26. A Visit to the Baltimore International Academy: Elementary School Immersion in Chinese, French, Russian & Spanish
Monday, 7:45 AM-3:00 PM
John Neubauer, Baltimore City Public Schools
The Baltimore International Academy is a public charter school funded by the Baltimore City Public Schools, the Maryland State Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education. BIA is committed to an immersion model and to using as languages of instruction either Mandarin Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish so each child can gain competency in both English and one other language. This K-8 school includes ELL students and students with IEPs, providing a rigorous program and focusing on the development of citizens who have the "knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills necessary to participate responsibly in a changing world." The Baltimore International Academy invites NECTFL attendees to observe in its classes and interact with staff during a day-long workshop at BIA. Experience the immersion environment first-hand and leave with materials on BIA -- and wonderful memories of the children and their teachers! In multiple languages and of interest to all. Transportation provided.
WORKSHOP #26 OPTIONS:
28. Arabic Kung Fu & Zombie Letters: Strategies That Work
Monday, 8:00 AM-2:00 PM
Steven Berbeco, Charlestown High School
The new Marhaba! curriculum for first-year high school Arabic develops student skills through untraditional teaching methods, materials, and incentives. Workshop participants will learn how to play Arabic kung fu, how to teach zombie letters, and how to use non-linear curriculum design to appeal to students' multiple intelligences. The workshop will include audio-visual presentation and explanation of teaching methods, sample student materials and program incentives, and hands-on experiential learning. Participants will receive a Marhaba! curriculum guide with supplemental materials DVD. This workshop uses examples from Arabic, but the instructional strategies will be of interest to other high school language teachers as well.
WORKSHOP #28 OPTIONS:
29. Motivating Students thru Oral Proficiency Assessment & Feedback
Monday, 8:00 AM-2:00 PM
Thekla Fall, Pittsburgh Public Schools (retired)
Bonnie Adair-Hauck, University of Pittsburgh
Once students understand the ACTFL Scale, they want feedback on how well they are speaking and what to do to improve their performance. Presenters will share time-tested tools to administer SOPI-type speaking tests in French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. This hands-on workshop will include a review of the ACTFL Scale and a SOPI-type test. Participants will practice rating student speech samples and writing Sit-Comms to prepare students for the test. Discussion will include the critical role of feedback to motivate students to improve their performance. Participants will receive a CD with two SOPI-type tests in four languages, as well as useful handouts. In English with examples in French, German, Japanese, and Spanish. Of interest to educators at all levels. Familiarity with the ACTFL scale a plus but not required.
WORKSHOP #29 OPTIONS:
31. Strengthening Curriculum Articulation thru a Spiraled Thematic Design
Monday, 8:00 AM-2:00 PM
Yu-Lan Lin, Boston Public Schools
Carol Chen-Lin, Choate Rosemary Hall/CLA
Yuanchao Meng, Oak Hill MS
Chih-Wen Su, CLASS
In light of the importance of strengthening curriculum articulation, one of the most feasible ways to achieve success is by adopting a spiraled thematic approach. The presenters will provide four Thematic Units and will demonstrate how each one could be spiraled, from the AP down to the FLES level, or vice versa. Participants will be divided into "vertical teams" and guided through the steps to design an articulated thematic unit from kindergarten through 12th grade. Participants will leave with practical information, receive a template for thematic unit lesson planning, as well as a reference sample for designing their own spiraled thematic units. In English with examples in Chinese and of special interest to preK-12 educators. Familiarity with standards-based instruction and Understanding by Design a plus.
WORKSHOP #31 OPTIONS: