Copy
December 2014 RBERN eNews
View this email in your browser
Content Corner
We have added an exciting new area to our RBERN eNews! Check our Content Corner for Content Area strategies provided by our mainstream partners! Each eNews will feature a different content area. We hope that you find this helpful as you work to align your instruction to the Common Core and prepare your ELLs to be 21st Century ready!
Language acquisition and growth are critical for student academic and social success. Many of us acquire vocabulary unconsciously, accumulated through exposure to oral language and print media promoted by our personal motivation to understand messages. Read more...
Share a Strategy
Do you use an ELA instructional strategy that you find is successful when working with English Language Learners? Would you like to share your ELA instructional strategy with other teachers of ELLs? Please forward your strategies along with an explanation and sample to enews@rbern.org by January 5, 2015. Your strategy may be featured in our next eNews.
Coming Next Month:
Our Content Corner will feature a math strategy
Subscribe to the listserv
You can post questions, seek technical assistance or share resources that you may have found useful in working with English Language Learners. Sign up today!
Help us keep in touch
If you would like to be added to our distribution list, fill out the form on our website.

RBERN Announcements


SAVE THE DATE!
January 30, 2015 Annual Teachers’ Institute: Engaging English Language Learners in Standards-Based Instruction through Differentiation.

The Teachers’ Institute will be hosted by the Capital District RBERN and the Hudson Valley RBERN at Ulster BOCES.  This one-day professional development opportunity will be presented by veteran ESL educators, teacher educators, and authors Shelley Fairbairn and Stephaney Jones-Vo.  Their resource book, Differentiating Instruction and Assessment for English Language Learners: A Guide for K-12 Teachers serves as the anchor for teachers striving to engage English Language Learners in grade-level and content classrooms. Registration information will be available soon via mylearningplan.com

NYSED News

Special Education Field Advisory December 2014 
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information on the appropriate use of standardized scores in the individual evaluation of culturally and linguistically diverse preschoolers and school-age students identified as English language learners1 (ELLs) in order to identify them as having disabilities and determine their need for special education programs and services.

Enrolling and Serving Recently Arrived Unaccompanied Children
On behalf of New York State Education Department Office of Bilingual Education-Foreign Language Studies, please see the presentation providing an overview of the requirements relating to the enrollment and provision of services to unaccompanied minors and other undocumented youth. (Please link to attached file).

Graduation Requirements for ELLs October 2014
At the September 2014 Regents meeting, the Board of Regents amended Part 154 of the Commissioner’s Regulations as a result of this three-year process, and directed Department staff to propose amendments to Commissioner’s Regulations Part 100 to allow additional graduation options for ELLs who enter the United States in 9th grade or above.

Regional News


Literacy New York - Greater Capital Region - Volunteer Tutor Training Dates
Make plans to volunteer in 2015! It's not too early to start thinking about the year ahead. Literacy volunteers gain more than a one-day experience, but an experience that changes another person's life forever. The following training dates are for Schenectady County Public Library. Please call 518-631-2927 for Volunteer Tutor Training dates for Albany, Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties:

2015 Calendar - Workshop times shown are for Schenectady Library:
  • Tuesday, January 13: Orientation
  • Thursday, January 15: ELL 1 (English Language Learners/ESL)
  • Tuesday, January 20: BLL 1 (Adult Basic Education)
  • Thursday, January 22: ELL 2 (English Language Learners/ESL)
  • Tuesday, January 27: BLL 2 (Adult Basic Education)
  • Thursday, January 29: Successful Tutoring
All training times are from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Regional Events

Resources/Articles
“Connecting Culture, education in the classroom: ESL teachers at work at narrowing the divide between culture and learning”
The Times Union featured a story in their November 3, 2014 issue about English as a Second Language Instruction and Culture. Some districts from the Capital Region were featured: South Colonie School District, Albany City School District and Guilderland Central School District.

English / Nepali Glossaries are available
Thanks to the partnership between NYSED Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education, NYSED OBE/OBFLS, the NYS Language RBERN and the Rochester International Academy (RIA), Rochester City School District (RCSD), with special thanks to Prajeet Magar, Lok Gurung and Corey Skinner of RIA at RCSD. English/Nepali Glossaries
  • Grades 6-8: Social Studies
  • Grades 6-8: Science
  • Grades 6-8: Math
  • High School Level Integrated Algebra
New York State Knocks Down Enrollment Barriers for Unaccompanied Minors
The New York State Board of Regents approved an emergency order today to ensure students are able to enroll in the state's public schools regardless of their immigration status.
Common-Core Math Standards Put New Focus on English-Learners
Education Week has published an article in their November issue highlighting the language development of English Language Learners in relation to math instruction.

Child Trends
Child Trends is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center that provides valuable information and insights on the wellbeing of children and youth. The organization provided research on issues affecting children from birth to early adulthood. Data and analyses provided by this organization have been used by policymakers and educators to improve policies and programs serving children and youth. Visit ChildTrends.org for more information.

Reminders


25th Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute
The Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (RBERN) is pleased to invite students to apply as a Capital District delegate for the 25th Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute. The Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute is sponsored by the New York State Puerto Rican Hispanic Task Force and the New York State Education Department. The goals of the Institute are to develop leadership skills in Latino/Hispanic youth; to create opportunities for Latino/Hispanic students to interact with positive role models such as Puerto Rican/Latino elected officials, educators, and business leaders; to create partnerships and conversations among educators, business leaders and students, and to develop in depth knowledge of the state legislative process. During the three-day Institute in Albany, students participate in leadership activities, network with high school students from across New York State, participate in a mock assembly, interact with legislatures and attend a Student Recognition Dinner. For local training dates and an application click here.

Websites


RBERN
SED Office of Bilingual Education-Foreign Language Studies
NYSESLAT Support
New York State Association for Bilingual Education
New York State TESOL
Engage N.Y.
Albany U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants

Contact us


Should you have any questions related to English language learners, please do not hesitate to contact the RBERN.

Xrystya Szyjka
Resource Specialist
Phone: (518) 479-6865
xszyjka@questar.org 

Yesenia Valle
Resource Specialist
Phone: (518) 479-6879
yesenia.valle@questar.org
Copyright © 2014 Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network, All rights reserved.


unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp