Program at a Glance
A Message from the Organizing Committee
Conference Highlights
Conference Agenda
Pre-Conference Workshop
Keynote Speakers
Featured Speakers
Your Feedback
A Message from the Organizing Committee
The Organizing Committee is proud to bring to the school administrators, teachers, college faculty, college education mayors, community leaders, and non-profit organizations of North Carolina an exciting program with the participation of successful practitioners at the national, state and county level in ESL programs, self-esteem development, parental involvement, and linguistically/diverse populations as a positive resource.
We are excited to have Dr. Yvonne Freeman a professor of bilingual education and Dr. David Freeman a professor of reading and ESL at The University of Texas at Brownsville. Both are interested in literacy education for English language learners. In addition to doing staff development with school districts across the country, they present regularly at international, national, and state conferences.
Keynote Presentation:
“Closing the Achievement Gap for Limited Formal Schooling and Long-Term English Language Learners”
By Dr. Yvonne Freeman and Dr. David Freeman
The presenters first describe three types of English learners. Then they explain four research-based keys that lead to academic success for limited formal schooling and long-term English learners for each key, they share strategies, culturally relevant materials, and teacher stories.
In addition to the conference, this year we will also be offering a Pre-Conference Workshop on Thursday, October 8th from 9:30 AM- 3:00 PM.
The Pre-Conference Workshop presentations are titled:
"Developing Academic Language for School Success(Morning Workshop)"
By Dr. Yvonne Freeman and Dr. David Freeman
The presenters will define and give examples of academic language at the text, paragraph, sentence, and word levels. They will share teacher stories and pictures of classrooms to demonstrate how teachers can use specific strategies and organize materials to develop both academic language and content knowledge. They will provide examples of how teachers can plan instruction using both content and language objectives.
"Developing Reading Proficiency for English Language Learners(Afternoon Workshop)" By Dr. Yvonne Freeman and Dr. David Freeman
The presenters will show how teachers can help English language learners develop reading proficiency. They discuss the importance of building on background knowledge by using culturally relevant texts. They will also explain the importance of using a balanced approach to teaching reading in which responsibility shifts gradually from the teacher to the student. They will explain how readers use psychological strategies and linguistic cue systems as they read. The presenters will also discuss the characteristics of text that support ELL readers.
We look forward to seeing you at both the Hispanic Achievement Conference 2009 and the Pre-Conference Workshops on October 8th and 9th at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC.
Sincerely,
Hispanic Achievement Conference 2009 Organizing Committee
Conference Highlights
Target Audience and Participants
- Superintendents
- Assistant Superintendents
- Principals
- Assistant Principals
- Counselors
- Teachers
- Other Administrators
- Community Leaders
- Non-profit Organizations
- College Faculty responsible for training in the field of Education
- College Education Majors
Registration Guidelines:
Registration to the conference (includes continental breakfast and lunch):
By September 8, 2009 is $70.00
After September 8, 2009 the registration fee is $90.00.
Registration for the Pre-conference workshops (includes lunch and materials): $65.00
Please register before October 1st for the workshops if you plan to attend.
You can submit your registration form electronically (preferred) or by regular mail.
If you are paying by check or money order, please send registration payment with a copy of your registration to:
NC Society of Hispanic Professionals
Hispanic Achievement Conference
8450 Chapel Hill Road, Suite 209
Cary, NC 27513
If you are paying online via paypal, submit your registration form as you normally would and the confirmation screen will have a Paypal option.
All paid registrations are non-refundable.
Cancellations:
All registrants are responsible for associated fees unless registration is cancelled by October 1st, 2009. Cancellations may be made via phone only.
For more information about registration or questions, please call, send a fax or an e-mail to: mailbox@TheNCSHP.org,
Phone: (919) 467-8424 Fax: (919) 469-1785
Accommodations:
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn Brownstone Hotel and Conference Center located at 1707 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27605. Rooms can be reserved at the discounted rate of $85 for a single and $92 for a double. In order to take advantage of this special rate you must make your reservation no later than Wednesday, September 17th, 2009. To make a reservation call the hotel directly at (919) 828-0811 and be sure to say you are with the NC Society of Hispanic Professionals block.
Pre-Conference Workshop
Thursday, October 8, 2009
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
“Developing Academic Language for School Success (Morning Workshop)”
By Dr. Yvonne Freeman and Dr. David Freeman
The presenters will define and give examples of academic language at the text, paragraph, sentence, and word levels. They will share teacher stories and pictures of classrooms to demonstrate how teachers can use specific strategies and organize materials to develop both academic language and content knowledge. They will provide examples of how teachers can plan instruction using both content and language objectives.
“Developing Reading Proficiency for English Language Learners (Afternoon Workshop)”
By Dr. Yvonne Freeman and Dr. David Freeman
The presenters will show how teachers can help English language learners develop reading proficiency. They discuss the importance of building on background knowledge by using culturally relevant texts. They will also explain the importance of using a balanced approach to teaching reading in which responsibility shifts gradually from the teacher to the student. They will explain how readers use psychological strategies and linguistic cue systems as they read. The presenters will also discuss the characteristics of text that support ELL readers.
Meet In-service requirements: A Certificate of Participation will be provided for continuing education.
The workshop includes: The registration fee includes workshop materials, a Certificate of Participation, lunch, and refreshments.
Registration for the Pre-conference Workshop (includes lunch): $65.00
Please register before October 1st for the workshops if you plan to attend.
You can submit your registration form electronically (preferred) or by regular mail.
If you are paying by check or money order, please send registration payment with a copy of your registration to:
NC Society of Hispanic Professionals
Hispanic Achievement Conference
8450 Chapel Hill Road, Suite 209
Cary, NC 27513
If you are paying online via Paypal, submit your registration form as you normally would and the confirmation screen will have a Paypal option.
All paid registrations are non-refundable.
Cancellations:
All registrants are responsible for associated fees unless registration is cancelled by October 1st, 2009. Cancellations may be made via phone only.
For more information about registration or questions, please call, send a fax or an e-mail to: mailbox@TheNCSHP.org, Phone: (919) 467-8424 Fax: (919) 469-1785
Conference Agenda
Hispanic Achievement Conference Agenda
Friday October 9, 2009
7:45 - 8:30 AM
Registration
8:30 - 9:45 AM
Opening Ceremony
Keynote Presentation:
Dr. Yvonne Freeman and Dr. David Freeman
9:50 - 10:20 AM
Exhibitors Visit
10:30 - 11:30 AM
Concurrent Sessions I
11:35 - 12:35 AM
Concurrent Sessions II
12:45 - 1:30 PM
Lunch
1:35 - 2:00 PM
Exhibitors Visit
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Keynote Presentation: Eliu A. Guzman
Adjournment
Keynote Speaker - Morning
Dr. Yvonne Freeman-Professor of Bilingual Education at the University of Texas at Brownsville
Dr. David Freeman-Professor of Reading at the University of Texas at Brownsville
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION • 8:30 AM-9:45 AM “Closing the Achievement Gap for Limited Formal Schooling and Long-Term English Language Learners”
Dr. Yvonne Freeman is a professor of bilingual education and Dr. David Freeman is a professor of reading and ESL at The University of Texas at Brownsville. Both are interested in literacy education for English language learners. In addition to doing staff development with school districts across the country, they present regularly at international, national, and state conferences.
The Freemans have published books, articles and book chapters jointly and separately on the topics of second language teaching, biliteracy, bilingual education, linguistics, and second language acquisition. Their newest books are Academic Language for English Language Learners and Struggling Readers, published by Heinemann, English Language Learners: The Essential Guide, published by Scholastic and a book they edited, Diverse Learners in the Mainstream Classroom published by Heinemann. Other books written by the Freemans and published by Heinemann include the second edition of Teaching Reading and Writing in Spanish and English in Bilingual and Dual Language Classrooms and its Spanish translation, Dual Language Essentials for Teachers and Administrators, Essential Linguistics: What You Need to Know to Teach Reading, ESL, Spelling, Phonics, and Grammar; Closing the Achievement Gap: How to Reach Limited Formal Schooling and Long-Term English Learners, the second edition of Between Worlds: Access to Second Language Acquisition, which received the Mildenberger Award from the Modern Language Association for outstanding research in the field of foreign and second language teaching, Teaching Reading in Multilingual Classrooms, and ESL/EFL Teaching: Principles for Success. The Freemans are authors of Harcourt Achieve/Rigby’s programs, On Our Way to English and Literacy by Design. They have also recently authored a new Rigby product , STEEL (Strategic Teaching Essentials for English Learners), a professional development program for teachers to support their teaching of ELLs.
The title of their keynote presentation is:
“Closing the Achievement Gap for Limited Formal Schooling and Long-Term English Language Learners”
The presenters first describe three types of English learners. Then they explain four research-based keys that lead to academic success for limited formal schooling and long-term English learners for each key, they share strategies, culturally relevant materials, and teacher stories.
Keynote Speaker - Afternoon
Eliu A. Guzman - Assistant Principal Jordan Matthews High School
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION • 2:00 - 3:00 PM
"Doing More with Less”
Eliu A. Guzman is Vice-Principal at Jordan Matthews High School in Chatham County. He holds a B.A. in History from Florida State University and a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. He earned a professional certificate to teach Social Sciences grades 6-12 and Elementary Education and is a former teacher and school administrator in Orlando, Florida for 18 years.
The keynote presentation will address strategies to motivate Hispanic Students and share success stories. It will cover the importance of establishing relationships in the school setting and will focus on caring, high expectations, actions, motivation, and follow through. The audience will be motivated with real stories and they will be challenged to try to reach each child, especially Hispanic students. The presentation will cover things that work and things that do not work. After the presentation, participants will take away something they can use.
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Featured Speakers
**Presentations are for ALL grades and ALL audiences unless otherwise noted.
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Dr. Andrew Behnke - Professor - North Carolina State University. "Understanding How to Improve the Latino Dropout Rate in North Carolina." North Carolina has experienced high rates of high school dropout in recent years. Many of these dropouts are among the burgeoning Latino student population in North Carolina. This presentation will share research from 501 Latino students in North Carolina public schools gathered at the 2008 Hispanic Educational Summit. These students reveal their opinions about the factors leading their peers to dropout, and the services that could help them stay in school.
- Stephanie Bohr - Celebra la Ciencia. Chair - “Celebra la Ciencia: Connecting Hispanic Students and Families with Community Science Resources.” - Science is an ideal hook to get Hispanic students interested in school, whether by incorporating science into English language learning or using science to bring the whole family together to learn in a community setting. Come explore how science museums, universities, and local public health agencies are involving Hispanic students in cutting-edge science, including natural resource conservation, engineering, biomedical and life science research. The presentation will highlight successful community science programs that are making a difference in the lives of Hispanic students at all grade levels. Liani Yirka, a young Hispanic professional working in environmental science, will share her personal story of how a community science program contributed to her academic and professional development.
- Maria Elena Castro - ESL Teacher - Wake County Public School System. “Creating a Culture of Academic Success: Overcoming Obstacles to Parental Involvement Among Hispanic Families.” - It is all too easy for educators to complain about Hispanic parents not being involved in their children’s education. It is much more productive, however, for educators to seek to understand the cultural as well as linguistic constraints against parental involvement in traditional school activities. Only by understanding can we design programs that address the needs of our families. The objective of this presentation is to provide concrete strategies to include Hispanic parents in the life of the school.
- Martha H. Dobson - ESL Teacher - Yadkin County Schools. “Enabling English Language Learners to Suceed in a World of High Stakes Testing.” - The presentation covers strategies and games that will enable English Language Learners in grades K-5 to be successful in the classroom by increasing comprehension, increasing interaction, increasing background knowledge and increasing thinking skills. These strategies are exciting, challenging and research-based.
- Jennifer Loiseau - ESL Program Psychologist - Charlotte Mecklenberg Schools. “Speech and Language Disorder vs. a lack of English Language.” - One of the most difficult areas to separate out a disorder from a lack of English language proficiency is in the area of speech and language disorders. This presentation will review typical language development, areas of speech and language disorders, errors typical for English language learners and how to determine whether a student has a true speech and/or language disorder. Errors that are typical for Spanish speakers learning English will be reviewed. Participants will be provided with resources for informal and formal assessment and ideas for helping their students
- Dr. Joy McLaughlin - ESL Consultant and Teacher Trainer - Education Horizons, LLC. “EC/LEP Issues: Is it Language or Learning.” - Students in our North Carolina schools who have limited English proficiency are often misidentified as having learning disabilities. This presentation will offer appropriate steps in identifying LEP students with disabilities as well as educating parents in advocating for their children from elementary to high school.
- Yasmin W. Metivier - President- Panoltia, Inc. "Workshop for Interpreters." - This presentation is for bilingual teachers, counselors, clerical or administrative employees, or anyone else who is called upon to interpret in school settings, or needs to know how to use and evaluate the services of an interpreter.
Through real life scenarios, participants will be able to understand the differences between a bilingual person and a trained interpreter, and the impact on your students and families for using both.
Co-developed by the instructor, Yasmin Wurts Metivier of Panoltia, and Eta Trabing of the Berkana Language Center, this workshop is based on more than 50 years of professional interpreter experience. It is the new standard for interpreter training for educators.
- Graig Meyer - Coordinator - Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate Program. "Options to Continue with Post-Secondary Education." Immigrants living in the U.S. without legal documentation face significant challenges when trying to pursue their education beyond high school. What many of these students don't realize is that there are at least FIVE different ways they can pursue collegiate studies. In this session, we will describe the challenges facing them, some possible pathways, resources for financial aid, and how the students' families can be involved with the process. We will also explore what education advocates can do to make it easier for these students to attend college. Summary
- Dr. Maria Teresa U. Palmer - Director of Multicultural Student Center North Carolina A&T University. "Redefining our Roles to Insure the Success of Immigrant Students: What Teachers, Counselors and Administrators must Do." - This presentation will help educators think of the different needs that immigrant students bring to the school community and of the role they can and must play in meeting these needs. The session is based on research conducted in North Carolina and in a thorough study of research conducted in the US and Canada in the last 20 years, with particular attention to the work of Jim Cummins, Lisa Delpit and Angela Valenzuela.
- Danya C. Perry - Field Services Specialist - Communities in Schools of North Carolina. “Empowerment Through Gang Outreach.” - Communities In Schools of North Carolina has endeavored to address the current youth gang problem by utilizing Street Gang Outreach Workers. The role of the outreach worker is to "reach out" to youth who are at-risk or currently involved in gangs. The goals of this initiative are three-tiered: to increase the capacity of communities to prevent gang involvement; to increase the mobilization efforts of the community and engage the family in intervention efforts; and to improve pro-social behaviors of youth.
- MariaRosa Rangel - Senior Administrator for Hispanic/Latino Outreach - Wake County Public School System. “Latino Parent Educational Training: WCPSS Reaches Out to Parents for Student Success.” - The Latino population is the fastest growing ethnic minority in the U.S.A. for the last past five years, The Wake County Public School System has been providing Latino parents with an educational training. The direct result of this training has been that parents feel more empowered to participate in their child's school and better equipped to support their children. The presentation will cover how you can work with Latino families and how your school district can implement similar training.
- Carmen Soltren - Elementary Dual Language Teacher - Chatham County Schools. “Two-Way Immersion: A Bilingual Approach.” - Participants will learn about the benefits of a two-way immersion program for English language learners as well as for native English speakers. The session will cover best practices and differentiation within the classroom. Participants will come away with practical steps for implementing a successful program.
- Donna Weaver & Nancy Gallman. Spanish Services Coordinator and College Resource Volunteer - College Foundation of North Carolina. “Dispelling Myths About College Access for Latino Students.” - This session is a hands-on approach to helping Latino students access college and careers. Participants will feel empowered to break down barriers to college in this interactive and informative session.