Rhode Island Adult Education Professional Development Center


 


Search this site

LR/RI home

Advocacy

Bulletin Archives

ESOL 

Practitioner research

Learners

Learning, Dis/abilities

Links to resources

RI: learning centers and  community resources 

Literature and learning

Practitioner  resources

Technology and Learning

Women and literacy;

Writing from the field

Substitute teacher list
_______________

This site is hosted by the
Swearer Center for Public
Service

The RI AE PDC is an affiliate
 of the David E. Sweet Center
for Public Policy at RI College


 
 

 



  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, please 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 14, 2010

  Bulletin #348

   Dear Colleagues,

  
   C
alls 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 - – in addition to events listed here, a recently updated list of events  (including workforce development workshops, new practitioner
  orientation, standards overview - and rescheduled events) can be found at http://www.ric.edu/aepdc/calendar.php


 Seeking outstanding adult literacy leaders
 Do you know someone who has made a significant difference in the field of adult literacy, surmounted barriers, and been an inspiration for others to do so?
 If so, consider \ nominating him or her to the National Coalition for Literacy (http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org) for a 2010 award. These awards
 receive national coverage and are used to raise the visibility of adult literacy issues among Congressional representatives and staff, media, and educational
 partners.  Mark your calendar for the September 15th award reception in Washington, DC.

 
 Submit the nominee's name, business title, and a brief explanation of why this person should be considered as an outstanding leader.
 If selected, we will ask for more information and complete contact and biographical information.  Please submit nominations for the
 2010 NCL Literacy Leadership Awards by May 28. Nominations should come directly to me at HSilver-Pacuilla@air.org (be sure
 to receive an acknowledgment that I have received it).  The NCL Board of Directors will review nominations in the first week of June.
 Watch for more details.
 Thank you for your help to find the most outstanding leaders in our field.
 - Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, NCL Board Member. American Institutes for Research, 1000 Thomas Jefferson St. NW
Washington, DC 20007 202.403.5218

 

 

 call for participation:
 
The National College Transition Network at World Education invites you to submit a proposal for its fourth annual national conference on Effective
 Transitions in Adult  Education to be held on November 15 - 16, 2010 in Providence, RI. The submission deadline is June 4, 2010. All sessions are 90
  minutes long and accommodate between 40-60 attendees. For more information and to submit your proposal go to:
 http://collegetransition.org/callforpresenters10.html

 Questions or comments? Contact Priyanka Sharma at 617-385-3788 or email us at nctn@worlded.org
 
 Priyanka Sharma, National College Transition Network, World Education, Inc., 44 Farnsworth Street
 Boston, MA 02210 617.385.3788



 May 26, 2010 Rhode Island Adult Education Conference, to be held at Rhode Island College. Please register by or before May 20.
 If you're a publisher wishing to exhibit, or would like a program via email, please contact lrri@brown.edu
 


  ESOL share Tuesday, May 18th at 4 pm at International Institute of RI, 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence
 Been to a conference? Have questions? lesson and/or material ideas? 
 Come join us as we re-energize the ESOL share and reconnect before the end of the program year.


 RIRAL/TRANSITION TO COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSIONS:
 A comprehensive college preparation program including free College Reading class (ENGL 0850) at CCRI in Providence; student success, career exploration,
 and mentoring workshops; academic writing, basic math, and pre-algebra; computer lab & tutorials; academic advising, support services, & registration for
 college; college application and Financial Aid preparation.
 
 RIRAL TTC is a partner in the RI Statewide Transition to College (RI TTC) initiative and a natural segue for GED, EDP, and Advanced ESL students prior
 to post-secondary education.  
 
 Information Sessions:  June 5; July 10; August 14; September 18; October 16 on Saturdays @ 10:00 am (or by appointment) 
 Allow 2 -3 hours for assessment.  Please do not bring children.  175 Main Street Pawtucket (above the Visitor’s Center)
 Contact person:  MarieCrecca-Romero@riral.org  722-9800.



  Save the date: Skills2Compete Day at the State House on May 20, 2010  2:30-4:30pm

  learning opportunities
  With support from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, ProLiteracy is offering field-tested strategies that can be adapted to a program's accountability
  needs. This is a three-part series of self-paced online courses. The courses are described below.
 You can access these courses here: http://207.10.202.152/home/
 
Data Collection and Management Length: 3-4 hours
This course focuses on the foundation practices in data collection and management needed to ensure the availability of credible, high-quality student data.
This course will help you: build a common language and approach to accountability, organize collection and management efforts around key decision points and staff roles and increase confidence in your program's data collection and management practices
 
Data Analysis for Program Decision-Making Length: 3-4 hours
This course helps administrators and staff learn why and how to institutionalize data-driven, decision-making practices.
In this course you will: review and practice data analysis skills, improve quality of decision-making through a team approach to data analysis and review and streamline program improvement using practical planning tools and strategies.
 
Communicating Success to Stakeholders Length: 4-5 hours
This course helps participants use data to highlight their program's success, positioning it as a vital, relevant community service and thus attracting more resources.
In this course you will learn how to: assess the needs of your community, develop tailored messages to diverse stakeholders and deliver those messages in innovative and effective ways

 The New American Horizons Foundation is creating a series of short, accessible teacher training videos addressing aspects of adult ESOL instruction.
 Each video is about 30 minutes in length and uses classroom footage and instructor interview footage to illustrate topics in adult ESOL practice such as
 approaches to teaching each of the four skills, planning lessons, working with emergent literacy learners, and grammar and vocabulary development in
 context.
 All the videos will be available free of charge online, or DVDs can be purchased for a minimal cost-recovery fee. People can access and utilize the videos to
 suit their training needs: as self-access resources, incorporated in workshops or volunteer trainings, as part of online training or teacher education courses, etc.
 The first two videos are now ready for viewing at http://www.newamericanhorizons.org
 Building Literacy with Adult Emergent Readers focuses on a whole-part-whole approach to working with emergent literacy learners and Lesson Planning for
 Life Skills provides an  overview of general lesson planning principles. On the web site, you’ll also find information about the series overall as well as the
 New American Horizons Foundation.
 Additional videos are in process and will be posted as they are completed. - MaryAnn Florez, Washington, DC           

 

 
 Promoting Learner Transitions to Postsecondary Education and Work: Developing Academic Readiness Skills From the Beginning,
 
by Betsy Parrish and Kimberly Johnson, is available from the CAELA Network  http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/resources/transitions.html  The brief
 reviews the literature on the skills needed for adult English language learners to transition to academic study or work and offers examples of activities and
 strategies that can be used at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of ESL instruction to help learners develop these skills.
 (This brief and other information related to English language learners transitions are posted at http://www.brown.edu/lrri/tell.html)

funding opportunities - large and less large  
 


  - grants posted on the National Institute for Literacy website:
   http://www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/lincs/search/gsearch/dbsearch.cgi?action=Show%20Results

  - 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.


 volunteer opportunity Math tutor needed for Bay View Academy referrals. Needed: resume and references.
  Must be able to travel to BVA or to students home or public library.  College student welcome.  Rates negotiable.
 Please contact: j.woerrner@verizon.net
 

  Jobs for Change "seeks to spark a nationwide movement toward careers in the nonprofit, government, and social enterprise sectors"  – online at
 http://jobs.change.org/


  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


  RI DLT's Rhode Island Red job search feature  draws job postings from ALL local jobs boards (except Monster.com).
  To access this resource visit RI RED http://www.dlt.ri.gov/rired/ -- under quick menu click job search; choose location search criteria, provide job title or other
  criteria. Source codes are listed at the bottom of the page


 Unemployment lifeline – from the AFL-CIO, with locally-searchable links to resources http://www.unemploymentlifeline.com/ 


online / resources available
  online: http//www.askri.org <http://www.askri.org/>  has new databases and a new web design.  Of particular interest for our field is Mango Languages with ESL
 Language courses in 15 languages and 22 foreign language courses, the Adult Education and Career Center in http://tutor.com/ (they critique resumes), and Learning
 Express Library with learning centers for GED prep, job search and workplace skills, jobs and careers, skill building for adults, US citizenship and lots of practice tests
 and tutorials.


NIFL publications can be ordered
by going to the NIFL website and clicking on the Publications tab at the top of the home page. The link, phone number and fax for ordering publications is at the very top of the Publications page (http://www.nifl.gov/publications/publications.html ). Be sure to check the publication description on the NIFL website to see if the one you want is still available in hard copy. Some are now only available for download. Please share this information with others who may be interested. All publications are free.


 new CALEA brief:
 from Miriam Burt, Moderator, discussion list for adult English language acquisition (and Director, CAELA Network) mburt@cal.org
 Even though there are generally few fulltime jobs, scant resources, limited opportunities for professional development, and less institutional support than for novice or
 pre-service teachers, many teachers choose to make a career for themselves teaching adults learning English. What professional development addresses experienced
 teachers' specific needs? How can professional development facilitate the progress from experienced to expert teacher?

 The brief from the CAELA Network, Professional Development for Experienced Teachers Working With Adult English Language Learners by Amber Gallup Rodríguez and
 Sharon McKay, addresses issues such as this and can be downloaded at http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/resources/experienced.html
 
 This brief looks at the characteristics of experienced and expert teachers and describes the ways these teachers differ from novice teachers. It discusses considerations involved
 in providing high-quality professional development for experienced teachers and suggests professional development models to meet the needs of these teachers.

 


  downloadable resources from The Popular Education News http://www.popednews.org/resources.html

  Parenting for Academic Success: A Curriculum for Families Learning English is a 12–unit curriculum designed for parents who speak a language other
 than English as a native language.
 Its goals are two–fold: To develop the English language skills of parents., and to increase the ability of parents to support the language and literacy
 development of their children in kindergarten through grade three.
 http://www.cal.org/resources/pubs/parenting_academic_success.html


 Free online resources that are very appropriate for adult learners are available at http://www.AskRI.org.
 They include online homework help for grades 3 to adult from 2-10 everyday at tutor.com.  Includes career help (resume review, job search, interview help),
 GED prep, citizenship, review of a document by a live tutor.  Also  check out the Skills Center for thousands of worksheets, tutorials, study guides and more. 
 Check out the online encyclopedia - World Book Discover - for adult learners and those with reading challenges includes translation
 capabilities into 14 languages along with employment, financial, health, and housing resources and more.
 
 AskRI is available not only in your public library, but also in schools, community centers and at home.
 With just an Internet connection, you have a whole world of authoritative information at your fingertips.
 And if you have a card from a public library, you have access to even more information tools. The service includes Spanish resources as well as English.


new brief from CAELA: Managing Programs for Adults Learning English http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/resources/managing.html

 
  interesting: an article in the UK Guardian weekly about ESOL provision in the US.
  http://www.guardianweekly.co.uk/?page=editorial&id=1254&catID=18


  Rhode Island Employment Disability E-News, newsletter from the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities,
 available at: http://www.ric.edu/sherlockcenter/onlinepublications.html

  the Math Bulletin, developed by SABES
 http://www.sabes.org/resources/publications/mathbulletin/math-bulletin-june2009.pdf


 Good geography refresher...and good mouse skill practice as well.
 http://jimspages.com/States.htm from Kate Northcott, Director, Student Literacy Corps Webster University

 resources at FREE, the website that makes it easier to find teaching and learning resources from the federal government:  http://www.free.ed.gov/

 Math - What's the Problem? examines the state of math education in the U.S. and the roles of culture, technology, and research on improving math learning and
 proficiency.  Learn about the "miles per gallon illusion" and the train problem.  Discover resources on fractals, matrices, human face recognition, biomimetic
 research, computational conformal mapping, and the "kissing number" of a sphere.  (National Science Foundation)
 http://www.free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2131
 


 Minnesota Literacy Council's online training site – for out of state users:
 The courses for adult learners and educators on the Minnesota Literacy Council (MLC) online training site are developed and maintained by MLC staff through
 supplemental service grants from the Minnesota Department of Education. They are provided free of charge to Minnesota’s adult learners, teachers, volunteers, and
 other Adult Basic Education practitioners. Out-of-state visitors are welcome to explore the site to access learning resources as well, but we cannot offer CEUs or
 course completion certificates to out-of-state users. If you are a not a Minnesota resident, you are welcome to browse the self-access online learning materials,
 but please do not submit course assignments as we will not be able to respond to your submissions.     http://online.themlc.org/

 
 Refugees From Iraq - in-depth information about refugee groups from Iraq, describing the various ethnic and religious communities of Iraqi Arabs (both
 Sunni and Shi’a), Iraqi Christians, and others. Topics include history, conditions in countries of asylum, characteristics of the refugee population, cultural
 features of each of the different  communities, religion, language, education, and resettlement considerations. http://www.cal.org/topics/ri/backgrounders.html


Haiti. 
 http://swearercenter.brown.edu/new/news/haiti-earthquake-relief
 http://twitter.com/#/list/nytimes/haiti-earthquake
 http://doctorswithoutborders.tumblr.com/  - photo blog; please be aware there are some difficult images at this site.
 http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/project-haiti-holding-a-teach-in/?src=twt&twt=nytimes (NY Times learning materials about Haiti)

 online: LessonWriter.com is a free website where teachers can copy, paste and submit any text (an article, essay, story, etc.) and create comprehensive, standards
 -based lesson plans and student materials in minutes.

 LessonWriter is a simple, fast and free way to use authentic, high-interest content to motivate students while delivering the explicit language instruction that ELL's
 need in both English and content-area classes. There are advanced features that can differentiate instruction for multilevel classes and class tracking features that will
 automatically scaffold lessons.  
 http://www.lessonwriter.com
 

  Lots to do at the library Providence Public Library's calendar of events: http://www.provlib.org/calendar.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



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


 
  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.
 

 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/trainin
 

 STAND'S Adult Learner Statewide Leadership Conference Coming This Fall
 We are announcing our first adult learner statewide leadership conference coming this fall to Providence, and are looking for learners to come up with a
 name for the event. A flyer that explains the theme, and the contest rules for submissions can be found at http://www.brown.edu/lrri/nameconf.doc in English,
 and in Spanish http://www.brown.edu/lrri/nameconfsp.doc.
 
 We understand that many of our adult learners are not all familiar with what a conference is, or what they might get out of attending one. Therefore, we were hoping that you
 and your staff could use this opportunity talk to about what is involved in attending a conference (or even presenting at one!). We hope this will lead to more student interest
 in suggestions for workshops that they would like to attend and learn from.
 
 We are asking you to please print out the flyer and use them for class discussions, or at least pass them out to as many of your learners and alumni as possible.
 The contest ends March 22, 2010. If you have any question or concerns please contact me at wes@standri.org
- Wes Garvin  Director of STAND, 600 Mount Pleasant Ave. Bldg. #30 Providence, RI  02908
  401 456 2838 401 527 4219  http://www.standri.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

 street yoga - Through the teaching of free yoga, meditation and wellness classes we seek to help homeless youth increase their physical, emotional and spiritual strength, stamina
 and flexibility so they can better meet their own core needs. We work closely with those service providers striving to help homeless youth secure safe housing, nutritious food,
 accessible health care, employment, clean clothing, educational choices and human dignity.



to LR/RI home