English Learner Professional Learning Opportunities

  • Welcome to the Region 11 English Learner Support Professional Learning page.  Here you will find information on session offerings.  In addition, you can always contact us about a customized session or instructional coaching for your district/charter or campus.

    Please note that the sessions listed are not an exhaustive list of offerings, and the sessions listed may be not be offered every year. Please visit our current offerings at 21-22 Region 11 EL Professional Learning.

Region 11 EL Professional Learning 21-22

Face-to-Face and Online Trainings

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    I'm ESL Certified, Now What?

    Passing your ESL Certification is just the first step in preparing to work with English Learners. Participants will examine the complexities involved with teaching students from different cultures and linguistic backgrounds. A brief overview of how an English Learner is identified, along with what to expect and teacher behaviors, will be included.  Participants will have multiple opportunities to apply and practice new skills and knowledge as a learner.

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    ESL Specialist 101

    This blended course provides *NEW* ESL specialists insight into the role and how to support both students and teachers. The face-to-face session will be followed with (4) webinar sessions.  This course is designed for new ESL specialists who have instructional contact with ESL students in an inclusion or small-group setting and assist with LPAC documentation. Participants will receive support in small-group ESL instruction, compliance, instructional coaching, and leadership development.
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    Help, I Have a Newcomer

    The session will focus on strategies that both teachers and beginner/intermediate English learners need to survive in a classroom when language is a barrier. Participants will experience activities that can be implemented into the classroom that will benefit all learners. Resources and ideas will be shared to enhance a teachers' "toolkit" when working with English learners. The target audience is teachers new to teaching newcomer English learners.
     
    Participants will leave with strategies and activities to meet both the language and academic needs of beginner and intermediate English Learners.

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    Moving Toward Proficiency: Advanced/Advanced-High English Learners

    This session's focus will be on the characteristics of advanced and advanced-high English learners. Participants will gain tips and strategies to boost achievement in the classroom for English Learners who have gained proficiency at or near that of a native English speaker. Resources and ideas will be shared on how to enhance instruction and classroom environment. Participants will leave with tips and strategies to boost achievement with advanced and advanced-high English learners.

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    Digital Tools to Transform Teaching & Learning of English Learners

    Participants will walk away with digital tools and instructional resources that'll transform their approach to teaching English Learners.  Time will be provided to explore the suggested websites and digital platforms. Participants will leave with a variety of digital resources to enhance instruction and support the development of English Learners.

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    Refugees, Asylees, and Unaccompanied Minors: Understanding your Newcomer

     

    Participants will gain a basic understanding of the refugee/asylee process, including what happens to unaccompanied minors. The information gained will aid teachers, administrators, and support staff to effectively meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of the newcomer. In addition, participants will reflect on how the unique needs and cultural differences of the students affect the classroom.
  • Sheltered Instruction: Supporting English Learners in ANY Classroom 
     
    In this workshop, participants will gain a basic understanding of how to design instruction that focuses on providing English language learners access to grade-level content, curriculum, and concepts while they continue to improve their academic language proficiency. Participants will learn the characteristics of sheltered instruction as well as tips for implementation in the classroom. This session will aid teachers in complying with TAC Chapter 74.4 (English Language Proficiency Standards), which must be implemented as an integral part of each subject in the required curriculum. Sheltered instruction techniques and strategies explored in this session work to lower the linguistic demand of the lesson without compromising the integrity or rigor of the subject matter.

  •  Certification Preparation

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    • ESL Supplemental (154) TExES Online Preparation Course (Independent Study)
    With a goal to increase the number of certified English as a Second Language teachers who will effectively deliver instruction to English language learners, this self-paced online training will provide participants with the research foundation and content addressed in the domains and competencies of the ESL TExES examination. As part of the development of an understanding of second language acquisition and the challenges facing the English language learners, best practices for effective instruction will be shared. Explanations of sample exam questions will be analyzed as well as test-taking tips and techniques. This course is offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
    • Bilingual Supplemental (164) TExES Preparation Course 
    With a goal to increase the number of certified Bilingual teachers who will effectively deliver instruction to English language learners, this training will provide participants with the research foundation and content addressed in the domains and competencies of the Bilingual Supplemental (164) TExES examination. As part of the development of an understanding of second-language acquisition and the challenges facing the English language learner, best practices for effective instruction will be shared. Explanations of sample exam questions will be analyzed as well as test-taking tips and techniques. The supplemental test is one part of a two-test requirement for bilingual certification.
    • BTLPT - Bilingual Target Language Proficiency Test Preparation COMING SOON
    Attendees will gain a deeper knowledge of the logistics of the BTLPT Spanish exam by experiencing simulated scenarios for each section of the exam. Seize the opportunity to experience the level of rigor before taking the actual exam. While instructors share valuable strategies related to BTLPT, the focus of this professional learning is to prepare for this exam, not to improve Spanish language proficiency.

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    Engaging ALL Students in a Language-Rich Classroom 

     

    Participants will learn how to promote language development by creating a language-rich classroom. Specific activities and strategies that target academic language will be experienced and practiced by participants. Participants will experience and practice strategies to empower students to engage in literacy.

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    Read, Write, Speak for English Learners

    Looking for ideas to promote reading, writing, and speaking in your classroom with your English learners? In this session, participants will experience and practice activities for incorporating opportunities to read, write, and speak in the classroom. Ideas and resources will be shared to add to your "toolkit."

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    Teaching English Learners with Little to No Formal Schooling

    Participants will gain tips and strategies for teaching students who have had little to no schooling. The information gained will aid teachers and support staff to effectively meet the social and emotional needs of a newcomer and refugee/asylee/unaccompanied minor. In addition, participants will reflect on how the unique needs and cultural differences of the students affect the classroom. 

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    Reading Workshop and English Learners: Putting it all Together

    Learning strategies to support English Language Learners in reading workshop is at the core of this session. Participants will walk away with an understanding of the components of language acquisition in relation to reading.

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    SLAR TEKS-What is the Difference?

    By attending this session, participants will have an opportunity to identify the language-specific differences in the revised ELAR and SLAR TEKS.

Online Learning Opportunities

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    English Learner Webinar Series for Small and Rural Schools

    This year-long English Learner webinar series will give small and rural schools an opportunity to experience bite-sized learning sessions. Each one-hour webinar will cover tips and instructional strategies to support English Learners in the classroom.

    • Help, I Have a Newcomer!
    • Moving Towards Proficiency: Advanced/ Advanced-High ELs
    • Language-Rich Classrooms
    • Read, Write, Speak for English Learners

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    Bilingual/ESL Program Overview: The "Why" Behind Serving ELs & What to Expect (Online, self-paced course)

    In the state of Texas, both public and charter school districts are required to provide students, who have a language other than English and identified an English learner, an opportunity to participate in a bilingual education or ESL (English as a Second Language) program. This is a self-paced course that provides an overview of the compliance and instruction of English learners in the state of Texas.

    Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:
    -Identify who is an English learner
    -Understand the legal guidelines that inform the instruction of English learners
    -Understand the levels of language proficiency
    -Learn instructional techniques that can be used to differentiate for English learners

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