Each 75-minute session in this series focuses on a specific approach to teaching beginners. Register for any or all sessions (individual registrations are required for each one). Each session will open with a brief overview of the approach and its instructional value. An interview will follow with a guest-teacher who has implemented the approach. Participants will then be invited ask and answer questions, share strategies, and consider how to adapt the approach to their diverse teaching contexts, including virtual and in-person classes. All the sessions are aligned to the Massachusetts ESOL Professional Standard 6: Instruction.

1/5/24 — Session 1: Building an Inclusive Learning Community with guest-teacher Susan Reade (Relevant & Inclusive Instruction)

• Exploring activities for student-to-student interaction in in-person and virtual classes    
• Using student generated material
• Using WhatsApp and other common platforms for communication and interaction

2/2/24 — Session 2: Learning Stations with guest-teacher Jana Pickard-Richardson (Differentiated Learning)

• Setting up and using learning stations
• Assembling materials—both 3D and digital: types of exercises

3/1/24 — Session 3: Ongoing Assessment with guest-teacher Jana Pickard-Richardson (Assessment)

• Using rubrics, checklists, dictations, exit tickets, quizzes, and recordings to assess student learning

4/5/24 — Session 4: Setting Up An "Extensive Reading" System with guest-teacher Susan Reade (Rigorous Teaching)

• Finding reading resources
• Using student reading-response forms
• Setting up student book-presentations
• Incentivizing independent reading

5/10/24 — Session 5: Student Presentations with guest-teacher Birgit Townley (Relevant & Inclusive Instruction)  

• Setting up student presentations: topic ideas, class-response tasks, and evaluation tools
• Using digital tools to share photos and text

5/31/24 — Session 6: Teaching & Practicing Learning Strategies and Study Skills with Sarah Lynn (Gradual Release of Responsibility)

• Explicitly teaching learning strategies in class so students can use them independently.
• Identifying and discussing study needs, strategies, and skills.

Note: 

Each session is 75 minutes long. Attendance at all six sessions equals 7.5 PD hours.

Attendance in every session of the series is not required, however, registrations for individual sessions are required.

Teachers are invited to seek out follow-up coaching from SABES on the implementation of any of the practices. Contact ESOL PD Center Director, Dori McCormack, at dmccormack@edc.org for more information.

This course is not available for recordings only. If you are interested in any of these topics, but are unable to attend all of the sessions as outlined here, please see our resource collection on the SABES website at https://sabes.org/pd-center-resources/34.