Reading

Abstract:

Are your students proficient and effective readers? Can they analyze and evaluate what they read, or do they struggle with basic comprehension? Do your students struggle with drawing conclusions or making inferences? In this webinar, we will explore reading and reasoning strategies that will help students better understand what they read, whether they are preparing for the GED® test or dealing with real-life reading needs at work or home. Recording link: https://youtu.be/98a9AErkB4k Original Air Date: May 15, 2020

Abstract:

In order for English language learners to take full advantage of today’s career and educational opportunities, they need to rise to the higher expectations for academic rigor as outlined in the College and Career Readiness Standards, and achieve measurable outcomes as defined by the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act. How can we meet these rising expectations in our general English language classes? By enriching the content we teach, broadening the contexts of English to include workplace and academic communication, scaffolding rigorous tasks, and increasing the range and frequency of higher order thinking skills. Join this webinar to see how the new edition of Future has risen to today’s higher expectations. We will highlight how the new edition’s reading and writing strands scaffold challenging tasks from the start, and how the Future’s new workplace soft-skill strand engages students’ culture skills in collaborative problem-solving tasks.

Abstract:

Did you know...in 2019, there will be 6 million job openings for information security professionals—but only 4.5 million security professionals to fill those roles? It is time to bridge the confidence gap. Alamo Colleges has developed the Cyber Core-4 Pathway to help adult education students bridge the confidence gap and complete a suite of 4 CompTIA Certificates in less than a year. Alamo I-BEST started the journey by posing as CompTIA instructors and attending the national conference. Over 50 completed students later, it is time to share the surprising things they learned. Let’s bridge the cyber confidence gap together. Alamo Colleges will share the truths, myths, and best practices.

Abstract:

Are you teaching your students to think about their thinking? Are you giving them opportunities to build their critical thinking skills to problem solve? Let’s have fun together discovering metacognition activities, strategies, and lessons to build important thinking skills for success in class and in life. Teaching critical thinking is good for ALL students and especially important in reaching those with learning difficulties.

Abstract:

Seeking a deeper, more personal experience for your adult ESOL learners? Looking for a way to make reading more interesting? Explore how to use high interest, low reading-level biographies to create 10 weeks of integrated language curriculum. Using books that feature inspirational global figures naturally draws in curious minds and brings out prior knowledge. You will practice how to look at text with an eye to expanding to the personal realm, encouraging deep and individual connection to material. You will also look beyond the words to bring the world of your book to life. In addition, you will see how to create extensive language practice, linking what you are reading to writing, speaking and listening activities. Come ready to practice planning as a teacher and also experience language activities as a student. This hands-on workshop provides routines and techniques you can use right away!

Abstract:

In many classrooms reading comprehension is addressed by having students read passages and answer questions about what they have read. While this is definitely a necessary part of practice, it does not provide them with strategies to improve their ability to comprehend texts. In this session instructors will practice 10 specific reading strategies that they can use with students to help make the practices of successful readers a part of their classroom instruction. The goal is to give instructors the tools to expand their personal repertoire, but also to broaden the scope of reading instruction at their program sites.

Abstract:

This webinar will provide a research-based framework for teachers and tutors to better understand the most effective sequence for teaching students to read. Understanding why sequence matters and being able to pinpoint where students are along their path will allow teachers to more effectively target lessons to focus on the students' current skill level. Components in learning to read include: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension

Abstract:

This session provides an overview of first language (L1) use in Ready to Work, a government funded program that combines English language instruction with digital literacy and case management to help beginning level immigrants and refugees gain job readiness skills and explore pathways to college and career success. The presenters review research and literature regarding L1 use in multilingual settings, offer examples from the Ready to Work ESOL classes and ask attendees to consider the role of home language inclusion in creating a collaborative and linguistically appropriate environment for immigrant and refugee students. The session also shares strategies to incorporate students’ L1 knowledge into administrative processes such as intake, registration and advising. Ultimately, the presenters argue, L1 inclusion plays an important role in challenging ideologically rooted monolingual principles and acts as a crucial part of dismantling English-language supremacy and “English Only” mentalities in ESOL settings.