Rhode Island Adult Education Professional Development Center



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 The Rhode Island Adult Education Professional Development Center produces a bulletin roughly every two to three weeks in order to inform area practitioners of news, events, and
  calls for participation and also as a forum for posing questions, issues and discussion topics. The current bulletin is posted below.

 
To read previous bulletins, go to Bulletin Archives.  To receive the bulletin via email, contact LR/RI.

 
To learn more about professional development opportunities, please contact the RI AEPDC at (401) 456 -2838 or (401) 863-2839

 
May 1, 2008

  Bulletin #268

  Dear Colleagues, 

  Calls for participation, employment, funding, and conference and workshop opportunities, online and other resources. 
  To post information,  and/or to receive the bulletin via email, 
please contact the AEPDC or leave a message at (401-863-2839).
 

Janet Isserlis signature

 Janet Isserlis



 
NOTICES

 

  ESOL  share Wednesday,  June 11th at 2:00 pm, Genesis Center, 620 Potters Avenue, Providence.
  Looking forward, looking back – what’s worked, what changes are we considering in our practice?

 This is an open discussion group – practitioners with an interest in adult ESOL are all welcome.

 State Budget Workshop - Learn more about the  Impact of Proposed Budget Cuts on Rhode Island  Children, Families, Seniors, and People with Disabilities
 - May 9, 9:00-11:00 am Casey Family Services  1268 Eddy Street, Providence Co-Sponsored by One RI and Children’s Policy Coalition

 The state is facing a budget shortfall of $530 million. To close the gap, the Governor has proposed slashing tens of millions of dollars from programs that help Rhode Islanders meet their basic
 needs. To register contact Heidi Collins at hcollins@ric.edu or call 456-2751

 Topics  RI’s budget deficit, Impact of proposed cuts, How you can influence the state budget
 Who Should Attend?  Agency Directors, Boards of Directors, Program Staff, Clients, Concerned Residents


 SAVE THE DATE! May 20th   INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE PROVIDENCE, RI
 The US Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Citizenship (USCIS) will be conducting a free regional training in preparation for the new Citizenship Test.
 Details on time will come very shortly. For more information  ontact  janet_isserlis@brown.edu  863-2839 or elizabeth.jardine@ride.ri.gov  222-8933
 -we’re still waiting for confirmation re: time of this event.

 practitioner share, Tuesday, Tuesday, May 20th at 3 pm, in the Knight Memorial Library auditorium (downstairs to right), Elmwood Avenue, Providence.
 Many practitioners struggle with helping adult learners stay engaged in learning. Family, work and other concerns can often make it difficult for learners to stay focused on educational programs.
 Join classroom teachers and administrators considering these issues and share both concerns and possibilities. We’ve begun to consider solution and practices to support learning for all.

  other RI Adult Education PDC events: http://www.ric.edu/aepdc/calendar.php


 
RI Adult Education conference, May 23, 2008
  On May 23, Rhode Island will host its sixth annual State Adult Education Conference, supported by the RIDE Office of Adult Education.
  http://www.brown.edu/lrri/conference08.html 
 Deadline for registration is May 5th.
 COLLEGE WORKSHOPS Have you completed, or are you close to completing your GED?

Are you thinking about continuing your education? Not sure what you want to do?

Would you like some help with your career, vocational and/or educational decisions?

Come to an informational meeting to find out what your options are and let us help you  Transition into college!

We can help with: Application Process, financial aid forms, College Degree and Certificate information,  Career exploration, Accuplacer practice testing and vocational and educational advising

Call or email us today to schedule a meeting, or to sign up for one of our informational workshops

Informational workshops for those who want to TRANSITION INTO COLLEGE

The following workshops will all be held at the CCRI Providence Campus in the Lifelong Learning Office 1154

Wednesday, May 7, 7:00 – Business Administration

Monday, May 12, 6:00 – Computers Studies

Wednesday, May 14, 6:00 – Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice

Monday, May 19, 1:00 – Health Science

Monday, June 2, 1:00 – Human Services

Please RSVP so we can save you a spot!  For more information and to RSVP please email Lynn Foley at lmfoley1@ccri.edu, or call Karen Johnson at 401-455-6140

 


 COLLEGE PREPARATION FOR ADULTS - RIRAL'S Transition to College  now enrolling students for fall 2008. Is college your goal? 
 Do you need help upgrading your academic skills?  Do you need help with Financial Aid?  RIRAL’S TRANSITION TO COLLEGE is an intensive college preparation program that provides success strategies
 and academic review in reading, writing, math, computer, and study skills.  Career Seminars and Mentoring Sessions emphasize additional valuable skills.  Students also receive assistance with Financial Aid and
 college applications, and academic advising.  While attending TRANSITION TO COLLEGE students enroll in a class at the Community College of Rhode Island.  This program will help guarantee your success in college!
 
 TRANSITION TO COLLEGE is holding Information Sessions for their fall Evening and Weekend programs on the following dates: 
 Tuesday, May 6 - 5:00 pm; Saturday, May 10 - 9:00 am; Tuesday, June 17 - 5:00 pm; Saturday, June 21 - 9:00 am. 
 ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED, SO CALL TODAY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
 
 TRANSITION TO COLLEGE meets in downtown Pawtucket and at the Community College of Rhode Island in Providence.   Funding is provided by the Rhode Island Department of Education
 in partnership with the Community College  of Rhode Island.  Contact:  Marie Crecca-Romero, Program Director at 722.9800 or email MarieCrecca-Romero@riral.org .

 learning opportunity:
  The Extending Mathematical Power (EMPower) curriculum and professional development opportunities were created specifically with adult numeracy teachers and their diverse student
  populations in mind. The curriculum fosters a  pedagogy of learning for understanding and challenges students and teachers to extend their ideas of what it means to do math. It also promotes a learning
 community in which students are encouraged to work collaboratively, explore open-ended investigations, and share multiple ways for solving real-world problems.
 (see, e.g. http://www.keypress.com/documents/ALookInside/EMPower/EMPower_SeekingPatternsSB.pdf)
 Our hands-on trainings, based on the EMPower series, introduce teachers to effective ways of developing an understanding of all math strands at all levels. This year, TERC is pleased to announce two EMPower Professional Development  - In Louisville, KY on July 17 & 18 Topics: Data and Graphs and Proportional Reasoning
- In Cambridge, MA at TERC on August 14 &15  Topics: Number and Operation Sense and Algebraic Thinking

 The cost for attending the Institutes is $150 per participant per day. All materials will be provided—including the EMPower teacher and student book for each of the topics covered (a retail
 value of $83.80). Both trainings will be presented by EMPower co-author Mary Jane Schmitt. For more details and a registration form, please email Sherry_Soares@terc.edu or visit:
 http://adultnumeracy.terc.edu/EMP_SumInst2008.html.

 Alternatively, your program may choose to host a professional development training (open to groups of 25+) at your location, which can be customized to best meet the needs of your staff and student population.
 For  details, please see our EMPower Workshop Inquiry form  http://adultnumeracy.dev.terc.edu/EMP_wkshp_inquiry.cfm .
 Please note that these offerings are not part of the Teachers Investigating Adult Numeracy (TIAN) initiative; they are additional opportunities. -  Sherry Soares, EMPower Workshop Coordinator

 (note to RI educators – if your program would like to participate, but needs to find additional practitioners, please contact janet_isserlis@brown.edu so that we can announce your interest and let others know).

The Change Agent: Adult Education for Social Justice: News, Issues, and Ideas – call for articles

Theme: Climate Change  Please submit illustrations, cartoons, and graphics on this theme too

Most scientists agree that the planet is heating up due to carbon emissions and that we will be facing significant changes in how we live as a result. The next issue of The Change Agent will focus on the social,
 political, and ecological significance of climate change. We are interested in hearing from teachers and adult learners about their experiences, teaching, learning, and thinking related to climate change.

Sample Questions to Consider:
Who is responsible for carbon emissions? What changes need to be made in order to reduce carbon emissions?
Have you organized with others to address global warming? If so, tell us about what you have done with others, and why.
Have you changed your life in any way in order to reduce carbon emissions? If so, tell us about the steps you’ve taken and why.
Have you experienced extreme weather conditions where you live? What happened? How did your community respond? Were you prepared?
What should communities do to prepare for the changes in weather patterns that are likely to affect them? Who is responsible? Who should have input? Who should bear the costs?
How can families or individuals prepare for severe weather event? What are some of the problems that could arise for you?
How do you think the planet might be affected as it gets warmer? Have you observed anything that makes you think a change is really happening?
Do you notice in yourself and/or others a sense of fatalism when it comes to climate change? If so, what strategies have you found for handling that?

 All articles must be received by May 5.  All articles and emails MUST include contact informa­tion for the student and/or the teacher. All articles will be considered. Suggested length is 500-1,200 words.
 Final decisions are made by The Change Agent editorial board.  A $50 stipend will be paid to each adult education student whose work (article or illustration) is accepted for publication.
 Please send material (preferably by email) to: Cynthia Peters, Editor, NELRC/World Education, 44 Farnsworth St., Boston, MA 02210, Phone: 617-482-9485
 email: cpeters@worlded.org http://www.nelrc.org/changeagent

 input sought:
 To Rhode Island adult education practitioners:

 There is much in the news these days about the state of our environment and the availability and cost of energy, particularly fossil fuels. There is also a growing discussion about ‘green jobs’
 and a new ‘green economy’ that will result from changes we make in response to the environmental and energy crises. This green economy has the potential to create many jobs across New
 England.
 Finding Earth Works has put together a survey to get baseline information from New England adult literacy and English language programs about these issues to help understand the best
 way to support abe students to be ready for these green jobs. The link to the survey is:
 http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=wU8G8Wy6CxzZBIgGnks47Q_3d_3d
 Please feel free to share this email message via listserv and with other literacy providers.
 Thank you in advance, Alex Risley Schroeder Principal, Finding Earth Works  413-586-1683
 arisschroe@comcast.net
 Finding Earth Works connects adult literacy and English language students and programs to information and training about green jobs.


 tutor sought:
 Rose Woods is a 35 year old woman looking for a tutor to help her improve her reading. She has cerebral palsy and lives in a group home in Johnston. She could meet with a tutor at the Greenville Avenue
 home or the nearby Johnston Town Library. Rose graduated from high school as a special education student, but is only reading at a 4th or 5th grade level. She would like to work in education, but knows she
 must improve her reading. She would like to meet with a tutor at 4 PM. If you would like to tutor Rose, please call her at 231-1915 or call Steve Stycos from Dorcas Place at 273-8866.
  learning opportunities

 
  online learning opportunity: One semester each year Penn State’s World Campus offers the online course
  Early Literacy Development and Parental Involvement, ADTED 458. The semester runs May 19 – August 15.
 
 This course focuses on young children’s language and literacy development, including ways that parents and early childhood professionals support this development; research related to children's
 learning; and ways in which family literacy supports early literacy development. information
 http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/FamilyLiteracyCertificate.shtml
 

 
 ProLiteracy offers online courses:

  ProLiteracy offers online courses: Course descriptions and registration available at
  http://ProfessionalStudiesAE.org, look for the appropriate topic area, then click on a course title to review the description and registration process.

 

 National Priorities Project analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. 
 Numeracy, critical thinking and technology:  have a look http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home  

funding opportunities - large and less large
  New England Transitions to College and Careers Pilot
 The Nellie Mae Education Foundation seeks organizations and institutions in the six New England states that provide Adult Basic Education, ESOL, GED or Diploma classes as a primary
 educational service and that also currently offer program elements that support adult learners transitioning to college. The collaborating college should have a history of coordinating activities
 with key health care services employers.
 
 This Pilot Program will be administered in partnership with the New England Literacy Resource Center (NELRC) and will focus on helping adult learners access and persist in postsecondary
 education in pursuit of select high-growth occupations in health care fields that have developed career pathways and pay family-sustaining wages.
 
 NELRC will assist the Foundation in selecting grantees and will provide them with technical assistance, training, and support for program implementation. Planning grants of up to $10,000 will
 be awarded to four to six partnerships for the period from August – December 2008. Partnerships that complete their proposed planning activities will be eligible for up to $80,000 to implement
 the pilot program from January – December 2009.
 
 For more information, including full criteria, guidelines and how to submit your proposal by June 16, 2008, please go to http://nelrc.org/tcc/tccrfp.html to download each:
 Transition to College and Careers(TCC) Request For Proposals
 TCC Guidelines
 TCC Action Plan
 College Prep Curriculum Overview
 Proposal Cover Page
 
 The Nellie Mae Education Foundation is the largest philanthropy in New England that focuses exclusively on promoting access, quality, and effectiveness of education. The Foundation provides grants and
 other support to education programs and intermediary organizations in the region to dramatically improve underserved students' academic achievement and to investigate and promote high quality, varied
 approaches for students to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary in the 21st century. The Foundation also funds research that examines critical education policy issues and public understanding about
 education in order to better inform efforts to improve education. Since it was established in 1998, the Foundation has distributed nearly $83 million in grants. Currently, it primarily provides funding through
 five strategic initiatives: Early Learning, Pathways to Higher Learning, Time for Learning, Adult Learning, and Systems Building.



- other grants from the Public Education Network: http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp

- The federal government's new one stop grant site: http://www.grants.gov/


  The Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC) announces another round of education reform grants in areas of social science research.  PRACC is particularly interested in issues such as high
  classroom turnover/mobility and its disproportionate impact on low-income, minority, and farm worker students.  However, other issues will be considered as well.  To apply, send PRRAC a proposal outlining
  the planned research and methodology, the advocacy work it is designed to support, a budget, timeline, and qualifications of the researchers.  Maximum grant: $10,000. 
  No application deadline. http://www.prrac.org/grants.php

  Funding Solutions for Small Nonprofit Organizations
  A collection of resources to help small nonprofit organizations fundraise including ways to motivate your board, sample fundraising letters, phonathon advice, and tips to improve your
  direct mail solicitation.        http://www.nonprofit-innovations.com/

employment opportunities
employment opportunities are generally sent as they arrive via email; if you would like to receive this bulletin, and those updates by email please contact
janet_isserlis@brown.edu.

Substitute teaching: The Genesis Center is interested in adding to its substitute list. If you are an ESOL instructor who is interested in occasional work as a substitute, either day, evening or
Saturday hours, please call Nancy Fritz or Pat Clarkin at 781-6110.


Jobs in Literacy – nation wide postings on the National Institute for Literacy's LINCS site:
http://www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/lincs/jobs/jobs.cgi

Substitute list: if you would like your name added to the general list, please see contact LR/RI.  The list needs to be updated so that it can function more usefully for teachers and programs hoping to
work with them. (http://www.brown.edu/lrri/sub.html)

Rhode Island Community Jobs (RICOMJOB) is a public e-mail announcement list that seeks to raise the profile of meaningful work in Rhode Island by helping non-profit and public interest
employers publicize openings effectively. Anyone seeking a job that makes a difference in Rhode Island can join the list.  Any non-profit, government or private sector employer advertising a paid
position related to the public interest or community concerns can post a free job listing.  Positions must be paid but may be part-time, full-time or temporary.

To join the list as a job seeker or to post a job as an employer go to: http://www.ricommunityjobs.org

Rhode Island Community Jobs is supported by the Swearer Center for Public Service at Brown University and the Rhode Island Campus Compact.  If you have questions about this service, please
contact us at ricomjob@brown.edu 


from Thursday Notes:
MAY 1st, 2008:
 
 OVAE Selects Six States for Phase 2 of Standards-in-Action  
 OVAE announced the selection last week of six states that will participate in the second Standards-in-Action (SIA) pilot project:  Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia.  The first SIA
 pilot, working with six states, helped build teachers’ understanding of standards and how to use standards to create curriculum.  The new SIA pilot will provide states with teaching and training materials to help
 instructors evaluate and improve their skills.  States will pilot the processes and materials in local programs after a July meeting focusing on how to assess implementation of standards in adult education classrooms.  
         
  Dollar General Helps Community-Business Education Partnerships  
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is supporting the National Coalition for Literacy by staging the Dollar General Presentation Series: Pathways to Partnerships http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/ 
to promote community-business partnerships and advance adult literacy.  Adult educators and business leaders at these meetings discuss the importance of literacy services and work together to promote adult education.  The next Presentation Series will be held in Houston on May 29.  Dollar General officials and researchers will join Joanie Rethlake of Texas Learns, who will present an overview of adult education in Texas.  More information is available from Jennifer Maloney <mailto:Jennifer.maloney@ncldc.net> .  
         
 Rhode Island Guides Research to Practice          
 Adult education professionals can receive a new resource from Rhode Island’s Office of Adult Education and GED, a template that allows users to move adult education research to practice.  The template can be
  used to implement almost any adult education research using a series of guiding questions the state developed.  It provides a case study of research implementation to determine how long adults persist in adult
 education, including examples of specific activities on how to use research and share it, such as organizing study circles and creating or changing policies and programs.  The use of research in adult education
 practice appeared to increase in the average hours of instruction students received in Rhode Island.  Contact Johan Uvin <mailto:Johan.uvin@RIDE.RI.GOV>  for more information.  
         
  Dyslexia Varies  by Language   
 A new National Academy of Sciences (NAS) http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/105/14/5561  study shows that dyslexia affects different parts of children’s brains, depending on whether they are raised
 reading English or Chinese.  The study indicates that different skills are required for reading an alphabetic language like English versus a nonalphabetic language like Chinese, which requires learners to memorize
 complex images that represent words.   Experts say  different methods of intervention are needed for dyslexics from different cultures.  Implications for teaching limited English speaking dyslexic adults were n
 included. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/08/AR2008040801473_2.html

 APRIL 28th, 2008:
 
             
 President Signs Second Chance Act With Education Grants     
 President Bush signed <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/04/20080409-2.html>  the Second Chance Act <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h1593:>  recently, making rehabilitation a central goal of the federal justice system.  The act authorizes spending, which remains to be appropriated, including funds for matching grants to state and local governments and nongovernmental groups.  The act reauthorizes adult and juvenile offender state and local re-entry demonstration projects now allowing these funds to provide offenders in prisons, jails, or juvenile facilities with educational, literacy, vocational, and job placement services that facilitate re-entry into the community.  Grantees will test provision of additional education and drug treatment in prisons as well as help with housing, employment, and building family and community ties after release.  The act also creates the national Re-entry Resource Center.     
         
 WIA Incentive Grants Available to Eight High-Performing States  
OVAE and the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announced recently in the Federal Register
 <http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-8861.htm>  that eight states are eligible to apply for incentive grants under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. 
They are: Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, South Carolina, and South Dakota.  States are eligible to receive incentive grant funds if they exceeded their performance targets for 2006—07 under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), career and technical education provisions of Perkins III, and WIA title I.  Applications from these eight states are due to the Department of Labor June 9, and awards will be made by June 30.   
         
 New GED Test Series Slated for 2012  
The General Educational Development Testing Service (GEDTS) <http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=GEDTS>  has announced that the fifth GED test series will be ready by Jan.1, 2012, and not by January 2011 as planned.  A Web page <http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ProgramsServices/GEDTS/2012/index.htm>  about the 2012 release is now available, and includes both the official announcement and a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions for GED administrators, policymakers, researchers, prospective test-takers, and teachers.  A sample template letter to alert new test-takers to the transition also is posted.   


online / resources available
  UK National Curricula for ESOL, Literacy and Numeracy, with associated material and  support for teachers, including the competencies for each skill at each level. 
 As well, a significant number of resources for working with people with  a range of disabilities.  (See, for example): http://www.dfes.gov.uk/curriculum_literacy/access/workwith/principles/
 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/curriculum_esol/
 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/curriculum_literacy/
 http://www.dfes.gov.uk/curriculum_numeracy/


 Lynne Weintraub's TESOL workshop, What's on the new citizenship test? (How can teachers ensure that students pass it?
 The author of the highly successful "Citizenship: Passing the Test" and "Citizenship: Ready for the Interview" share ideas for retooling your classroom for the new test, and preview the newly updated editions of
 these texts), will be offered online by New Readers Press, as a free webinar for people who missed the presentation on the new test (and new materials to go with it).
 The webinar is scheduled for May 2 (3:00 pm) and repeated May 9 (6:00 pm). You only need a computer, internet connection and a phone.
 To register, send an email to citizenship@proliteracy.org and tell which session you're registering for.
 

 Workplace Essential Skills and  GED Connection series Now Available Through VIDEO-ON-DEMAND

 The adult learning series Workplace Essential Skills and GED Connection are available online through the Rhode Island PBS video streaming portal.  In 25 half-hour segments, the Workplace Essential Skills series
 presents refreshers in fundamental reading, writing, and math skills as they relate to getting, keeping, or advancing in a job. Lessons also cover job applications, resume writing, and job interviews. An orientation
 segment touches upon the use of the different components included in this series. Lessons are written at a pre-GED level, and can help prepare adults for the GED tests. Four workbooks accompany the series.
 In 39 half-hour programs, the GED Connection helps learners prepare for the GED exam. Episodes cover subjects and skills related to work, community, and home life. Practice tests help learners know what to
 expect, see which skills they need to strengthen, and build confidence.
 
 Access to Workplace Essential Skills and GED Connection series through RI PBS video streaming is free. Users access VOD through an account and passcode, available by email request to
 Education@ RIpbs.org or by calling Education Services at 401-222-3636 x 211. Video streaming, also known as video on demand (VOD), allows users the convenience of watching lessons at any time
 from an Internet-connected computer. VOD is also flexible, allowing users to watch several episodes in one sitting, or repeat lessons as often as desired.

 Both the Workplace Essential Skills and the GED Connection series are also broadcast on RI PBS LEARN, digital 36.2 and Verizon 787. The Workplace Essential Skills broadcasts Fridays at
 12:30 PM and the GED Connection series broadcasts Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays at 12:30 PM.  For Workplace Essential Skills and the GED Connection broadcast dates 
 please visit: http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/
For information about RIPBS Education Services please visit out web pages at http://www.ripbs.org/Education/
- Dr. María D. Velásquez de Tondreau Education Director Rhode Island PBS 50 Park Lane Providence, RI 02907 Phone: (401) 222-3636, ext. 211 Fax: (401) 222-3407 Education@RIpbs.org
tutor sought: Rose Woods is a 35 year old woman looking for a tutor to help her improve her reading. She has cerebral palsy and lives in a group home in Johnston. She could meet with a tutor at the Greenville Avenue home or the nearby Johnston Town Library. Rose graduated from high school as a special education student, but is only reading at a 4th or 5th grade level. She would like to work in education, but knows she must improve her reading. She would like to meet with a tutor at 4 PM. If you would like to tutor Rose, please call her at 231-1915 or call Steve Stycos from Dorcas Place at 273-8866.



  great online resource: http://www.nrdc.org.uk/index.asp
 National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy,
 dedicated to conducting research and development projects to improve literacy, numeracy, language and related skills and knowledge. On this site you will find information on all our activities, including:

 Research and development projects <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/projects.asp

 Creative routes to specialist teacher qualifications <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/creativeroutes>

 The Voices on the Page storybank is now live! Read all of the 640 stories here <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/voicesonthepage.asp

 Research reports and reviews <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=329

 Latest e- newsletter <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=671

 News and events <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/news.asp>

 While the work originates in the U.K., much of it has usefulness and validity for work in this country.
 


 online: STATE OF WORKING RI 2007 
 The Poverty Institute's biennial study documenting trends in wages, occupations, unemployment, and the state's workforce. The report points out that the state's labor
 force of 578,000 is more diverse, older and better educated than it was two decades ago but workers face a triple whammy – slowing job growth, eroding wages and benefits, and growing inequality.
  http://www.povertyinstitute.org/matriarch/documents/State%20of%20Working%20RI%202007.pdf


  The CAELA Network's latest newsletter provides information about Network activities and links to resources available for those working with adult English language learners both from the CAELA Network and from other organizations. Links are also provided to web sites containing information about upcoming conferences of interest to those working with adult English language learners.
http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/newsmarch08.html


google literacy site
: http://www.google.com/literacy/

outstanding resource: http://www.youthliteracy.ca/ - Youth Literacy work in Canada

Shannon Gavin, a senior graduating from Brown this year, has developed a new website, as her capstone project in Middle East Studies,  called Arab Perceptions of the United States:
Video Interviews from Amman, Jordan and Damascus, Syria.You can view them, and supporting text at  http://arabperceptions.wordpress.com


  The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) - The  U.S. Civics and Citizenship Online: Resource Center for Instructors is available online at:
 http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b36e663784bcd010VgnVCM100000d1f1d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=b36e663784bcd010VgnVCM100000d1f1d6a1RCRD


  The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), Assisting Refugees with Disabilities Program : Resource Guide for Serving Refugees with Disabilities
  available at http://www.refugees.org/DisabilityGuide

  The guide, written for refugee case managers and those serving refugees with disabilities, includes 139 pages of information about resources for serving adults and children with disabilities,
  housing for refugees with disabilities, assistive technology, medical resources, citizenship and disability, benefits for refugees with disabilities and more. 
  If you have any questions or technical assistance needs, please contact Xuan Nguyen, Director of USCRI Health and Human Services at xnguyen@uscridc.org or at 202-347-3507 ext 3056.
 

Resources from EdChange family of Web sites:
A new Classism and Poverty Awareness Quiz http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/quizzes.html ;
Newly designed Social Justice News Service site http://mail.socialjusticenews.net/mailman/listinfo/news_socialjusticenews.net- email-based news service, periodic email digests of links to articles related to equity,
social justice, and multiculturalism from sources all over the world. 
New essays and links to essays http://www.edchange.org/publications.html
New essays in the Multicultural Education Research Room  http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/papers.html


  Radical Math is a resource for educators interested in integrating issues of social, political, and economic justice into math curriculum and classes… RadicalMath.org has the goals of raising
 mathematic literacy and simultaneously developing ways to address a range of community issues. The website supports educators to teach many different types of math within the context of
 studying social, political, and economic justice issues. RadicalMath.org also contains teaching materials on important financial topics for youth such as owning a credit card, paying for college, and avoiding subprime lenders, as well as materials on Ethnomathematics. Visit http://www.radicalmath.org/ for more or email info@radicalmath.org

Google Scholar enables searches for scholarly literature, including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports from broad areas of research. Use Google Scholar to find articles from a variety of academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories and universities, as well as articles available across the web.  Google Scholar orders search results by how relevant they are to your query, so the most useful references should appear at the top of the page. This relevance ranking takes into account the full text of each article as well as the article's author, the publication in which the article appeared and how often it has
been cited in scholarly literature. Google Scholar automatically analyzes and extracts citations and presents them as separate results, even if the documents they refer to are not online. This means your search results may include citations of older works and seminal articles that
appear only in books or other offline publications. http://scholar.google.com/
 Living in Poverty slideshow does the math: what does it take to live at the poverty level.
  http://www.nccbuscc.org/cchd/povertyusa/tour2.htm

 RI Foundation online scholarship directory - searchable by city/town, intended field of study, current high school, and more. http://scholarship.rifoundation.org/
 YouthBuild USA Learning Network has links to Web sites and full-text documents, and  includes a section on "Authentic Materials/Engaged Learning/Constructivism/Contextual Learning/Project-based Learning."  http://www.youthbuild.org/learningnetwork/professionaldev.html

conferences and workshops - conferences and workshops are listed chronologically and are updated with each bulletin
 Rhode Island - Training/events around employment issues for people with disabilities http://www.ric.edu/uap/training.html

The Rhode Island Special Interest Group of MATSOL Cordially Invites You to Attend The Best of TESOL, Saturday, May 3, 2008
 8:45-12:30, Second Floor Student Union Building Rhode Island College
 
 Schedule for the Day: 8:45-9:15 Book Exhibit, Registration, Greeting and Networking
 9:15-10:30 Opening Session: Maria C. Pereira and Celeste M. Hoeg Reading Strategies for ELLs
 10:30-10:45 Coffee Break/Book Exhibit, 10:45-12:15 Breakout Sessions: Choose One
 12:15-12:30 Raffle & Exhibits
 
 Opening Session: Reading Strategies for ELLs An Encore Presentation from TESOL 2008 Maria C. Pereira, Bilingual Science Teacher, East Junior High School, Celeste M. Hoeg,
 English Language Acquisition Coach, Brockton Public Schools

Break Out Sessions - Please choose one of the workshops listed below to attend for your breakout session. Please state your choice when you register.

Elementary Sharing Session of Best Strategies and Resources from TESOL 2008
Kim Levy, ESL Teacher, Broad Rock Middle School, South Kingstown,  Christine Byrne, ESL Coordinator, Westerly Public Schools

The Best of TESOL 2008 for Secondary Educators Julie Motta, ESL Director, Pawtucket School Department
Alicia Migliore, ESL and English Language Arts Teacher, Central Falls High School Karen Kouttab, North Kingstown High School Science Teacher

TESOL 2008 Adult ESL Resources & Strategies Kathryn Trites, M.Ed. in TESL Program Student, RI College
David Lewalski, Kaplan ESL Teacher, Dean College, Franklin MA Jay Busse, ESL Instructor, Outreach Programs, RI College

Registration Fee $5.00 for RI SIG of MATSOL Members $10.00 Non-Members
R.S.V.P and state your breakout session to: RhodeIslandEvents@matsol.org


 A Declaration of Numeracy: Empowering Adults through Mathematics Education, 15th International Conference 2008 June 30th - July 3rd Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia
 
ALM is an international research forum that brings together those engaged and interested in research and developments in the field of adult mathematics/numeracy teaching and learning. 
 The ALM conference has not met in the United States since 2000 and offers American educators a unique opportunity to meet colleagues from around the world who share their interest
 in adult mathematics education.   http://www.alm-online.net/
 

The 14th Annual International Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed Conference: May 22 -May 25, in Omaha, Nebraska--the original site of PTO.
 Inspired by the critical education work of Paulo Freire and theatre activism of Augusto Boal, PTO brings together those interested and engaged in critical
 pedagogies, theatre, and arts aimed towards progressive and revolutionary social change. The theme for this year's conference is What is Change? What is
 Substantial Change? And How? Augusto Boal, internationally renowned theatre artist and activist, is returning to provide Theatre of the Oppressed (TO)
 workshops prior to and after our conference. Pre and post conference workshops also scheduled; information and registration
 http://www.ptoweb.org.


 Second Annual Prepárate Conference May 22-23, 
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois
 Building on the success of the inaugural Prepárate conference, join us for a solutions-driven conference promoting academic accomplishment for Latino students. Get informed about the direct
 services available for Latino students in schools and communities across the country. Prepárate brings together members from higher education, secondary schools, middle schools, and community
 based organizations--with the common goal of increasing Latino student success at the post-secondary level.  http://www.collegeboard.com/preparate/
 

ProLiteracyWorldwide's 2008 annual conference  at the Peabody, Little Rock, AR October 2 - 4:
http://www.proliteracy.org/conference/



2008 National Refugee and Immigrant Conference: Issues and Innovations September 25-26, Chicago, IL
 
The 2008 Refugee and Immigrant Conference offers groups and individuals assisting refugee and immigrant children and their families an opportunity to network and learn about issues affecting
 refugee and immigrant children and their families, schools, health, and health care, along with the challenges of cultural adjustment.  This conference is valuable if you are a … state refugee coordinator, RCSIG
 coordinator, bilingual education coordinator, resettlement worker, social worker, school teacher, school administrator, counselor, university faculty, university student, healthcare professional or a refugee and
 immigrant services staff member.
 Information and the Call for Conference Workshop Proposals http://www.thecenterweb.org/alrc/refugee.html  
- questions, please contact Lynn Osheff (losheff@thecenterweb.org).

other events and conferences http://www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/Calendar/calendar_world.cgi

TESOL worldwide calendar of events http://www.tesol.org/isaffil/calendar/index.html



breathe - everyday yoga at your desk. http://www.mydailyyoga.com/yoga/everyday_yoga.html



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