NJ Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/
NJ Bilingual Educators

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Our keynote speaker for the Tuesday night dinner is Nancy Cloud, professor and coordinator of an M.Ed. in TESL Program at Rhode Island College. Dr. Cloud will share important findings related to the teaching of reading and writing to ELLs as well as share 7 essential research-based practices that teachers can implement in their classrooms. This is a highly practical session designed for K-12 teachers who want to implement research-based literacy practices with ELLs. Professional development hours are given for the keynote address. (Again: If you haven’t already registered for the Tuesday night awards dinner, do it today: May 9 deadline. Register online on our website.)

Realizing the issues facing New Jersey’s teachers and our specialized populations, it is critical that each one of us be able to speak to those issues. Read Judie Haynes’ piece on what you can do to be not only more informed but also to become actively involved. We need to show our solidarity!

Not a member of a local NJTESOL/NJBE Chapter? Go to the Chapters’ page and find a group near you. We now have 2 new active chapters, too: Camden/Cherry Hill and Essex/Morris/Union. For contacts, go to the NJTESOL-NJBE website and click on the Chapters link.

On that note, read about the Legislative Session on Wednesday afternoon from 1:00-3:00 in BJ Franks’ article. This year there will be two panels: see who will participate and the topics proposed.

This year, we have scheduled an entire Higher Education Mini-Conference to be held all on one day, Tuesday, May 24: a series of concurrent workshops addressing the specific needs and interests of the Higher Ed population. The higher education SIG sessions, The Question of Placement, will be presented on both days: Part I: Assessment and Outcome Evaluation Models on Tuesday, May 24 and Part II: ESL Placement and Retention Models on Wednesday, May 25.

For those who want to get an updated Technology education, go to Marilyn Pongracz’s handy chart/synopsis of the tech presentations according to Special Interest Group. (Note: While there are several technology workshops being offered this year, it’s not required that you bring your own laptop. Internet service will not be available for conference participants.) REMEMBER, though, that last minute scheduling changes are possible so check the final presentation program.

This year NJTESOL/NJBE received a record number of proposals for poster sessions focusing on diverse topics and strategies. Please enjoy a Gallery Walk of Poster Sessions from 1:30-3:00 pm on May 24th and May 25th in the New Brunswick Hyatt’s Atrium Foyer. Read Gail Verdi’s and Ana Mistral’s article with a proposed schedule and the descriptions of the poster session themes.

And last mentioned, but certainly not the least important, read the SIG articles. If you are accustomed to reading about your SIG only, try reading the articles from other special interest groups. You may be surprised at the overlap and the information that you can derive from another population.

Here’s looking forward to another NJTESOL/NJBE Spring Conference. We must be doing something right; after all, it is the 42nd!

Roselyn Rauch, retired from the Paterson Public School District as an ESL teacher and District ESL Resource Teacher, is a consultant with ESL Unlimited.

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President’s Message

Be Informed to Advocate for Our Students

By Judie Haynes

It is fitting that our 2011 Spring Conference theme this year is “Creating Global Communities for ELLs.” NJTESOL-NJBE celebrates the participation of our members in the global community. As I write this message from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Convention in San Francisco, I am reflecting on the value of ESL/bilingual teachers belonging to and contributing to other organizations. NJTESOL-NJBE celebrates the participation of our members in the global community.

The NJTESOL-NJBE Executive Board believes that we cannot advocate for English language learners in a vacuum. It is important that we speak to the needs of our students in other forums. Currently, we have Executive Board members who represent the interests of New Jersey English language learners on the Boards of other state education organizations:

• Karin Von Riman is our representative to NJEA (New Jersey Education Association: and attends affiliate meetings regularly.
• Cassy Lawrence is a member of the American Federation of Teacher’s ELL Educator Cadre.
• Sandee McBride represents NJTESOL-NJBE at the Foreign Language Educators of New Jersey (FLENJ: https://flenj.org/) board meetings.
• Senovia Robles has been representing us at New Jersey Association of Lifelong Learners (NJALL: http://www.njall.org/) and has been active in putting together their April 7th conference.
• B.J. Franks has become a member of the New Jersey Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development board.
• Karen Nemeth is a consulting editor and Dual Language Learning Advisor for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC:https://www.naeyc.org/).
• Both Sandee McBride and Regina Postogna represent NJTESOL-NJBE on the Bilingual Advisory Board.

ESL and bilingual teachers need to become experts on the local, state, and national issues that affect our students. How we advocate for ELLs is as important as what we teach them in the classroom. We need to provide leadership in our districts on issues that involve our students.

HOW CAN YOU BECOME AN EXPERT IN YOUR FIELD?

Become an active member of NJTESOL-NJBE; attend the 2011 Spring Conference and volunteer to help; attend the legislative session on the second day of the Spring Conference; join discussions on the hotlist; join or start a local NJTESOL/NJBE chapter; write an article for Voices; and, know the issues that affect our English language learners in New Jersey.

ESL AND BILINGUAL TEACHERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF HOW NATIONAL MOVEMENTS IN EDUCATION AFFECT OUR STUDENTS

Do you know ___? :

• The Working Group on ELL Policy has released a set of recommendations for how the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) can best foster improved educational outcomes for English language learners. Become familiar with the work of this group by going to Colorin Colorado https://www.colorincolorado.org/ell-basics/ell-policy-research/ell-laws-regulations/no-child-left-behind-ells and read about changes the group suggests to five areas of ESEA policy.
• The controversy about charter schools and teacher pension and benefits affects our students. You can read Diane Ravitch and Deborah Meier’s blog on the Education Week website entitled “Bridging Differences”. These two renowned educators present opposing views and are currently discussing issues of charter schools and national attitudes toward teachers. See EdWeek/Bridging-Differences/
• The Office of Civil Rights is investigating Philadelphia, Arizona, Los Angeles, and Boston for violations in the education of ELLs. Philadelphia was recently investigated on issues of language access that has resulted in their beefing up translations of information to the parents of ELLs. In 2010, there was a hearing in Tucson, Arizona, over the effectiveness of the state’s ELL program. The U.S. Department of Education has launched a civil rights investigation of the ELL program in Los Angeles. Officials say only 3% of ELL students at LA schools are proficient at Math and English by the time they reach high school. In Boston, the Department of Justice and the Office of Civil Rights determined that the Boston Public Schools had failed to properly identify and adequately serve thousands of English language learners since 2003 as required by the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The outcomes of these investigations will affect the education of ELLs all over the United States. It is important for all of us to be aware of important court cases and legislation that affects our students.

Judie & Larry –

DO YOU READ EDUCATIONAL BLOGS? THERE ARE MANY EXCELLENT BLOGS FOR TEACHERS OF ELLS. THERE ARE TWO THAT I READ REGULARLY.

• Mary Ann Zehr’s blog, “Learning the Language”, on the Education Week website. See: https://www.colorincolorado.org/author/mary-ann-zehr
• Larry Ferlazzo’s Blog Websites, https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ is an outstanding resource. I have been following Larry for a year and was excited to meet him in person at the ASCD convention.

Social networking is another excellent way to keep on top of what is going on in the field. Many organizations have Facebook pages and regularly post information and articles. When you follow these pages, you automatically get notified when something new is posted.

• Join the NJTESOL/NJBE Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/NJTESOL.NJBE). We post many articles about the education of ELLs around the country each week that will help you keep up to date on current issues.
• Check out Educators of English Learners EEL, a networking site for educators of English learners to share ideas, collaborate, exchange resources and research, to improve teaching and learning for students acquiring English from Ruslana Westerlund: https://www.facebook.com/ruslana.westerlund
• Follow @NJTESOLNJBE on Twitter.
• Join #ELLCHAT, a Twitter professional development group that will link you to educators all over the world, on Monday nights from 9:00-10:00 PM. Many NJ ELL educators participate in this discussion.

Teachers of English language learners need to know what is happening in our global community and how these events affect ELLs. Become the expert in your school district on education for ELLs. You can begin by attending the NJTESOL-NJBE Conference in New Brunswick on May 24th and 25th.

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Vice President’s Message

Creating Global Learning Communities for ELLs: Your Custom-Built Spring Conference

By Cassandra Lawrence

As I write this, I look out my window for the first sights and sounds of spring. Hope is in the air. At the same time, I’m half-listening/half-watching the news – in Japan, Libya, Wisconsin, New Jersey – events forcing me to think about people I don’t know around the world, across our country, as well as here at home. It’s all unsettling, and yet, there is promise in the idea that, were it not for technology, we would not know half of what we do about what’s happening “out there”. In-the-moment exchanges on Twitter and Facebook, the sharing of experiences via blogs, Skype, and other social media, have connected us like never before.

Globalization is indeed changing the world. As an organization that advocates for the diverse citizens in our schools, we must embrace the tools that will help us to teach, learn, and connect – locally and globally. This year’s Spring Conference theme – Creating Global Learning Communities for ELLs – represents the initiative of NJTESOL/NJBE to support and encourage educators across the state to take advantage of learning and advocacy opportunities made possible by the Web, and by the enriching kinds of exchanges that link learners and educators near and far. This year’s conference continues a long-standing tradition of providing attendees with a broad variety of workshops, as well as tailor-made selections for every Special Interest Group.

FEATURED PRESENTATIONS:

An important part of my PLN (Personal Learning Network) and sure to become part of yours is Keith Schoch. He’ll share exciting information about how to use Picture Books with ELLs during two workshops on Wednesday, May 25. Monica Schnee – a PBS Teacher Innovation Award Winner – will share her expertise in using Web 2.0 tools with our youngest ELLs on Tuesday, May 24. Well-known and regarded as mentors to many NJ educators, Elizabeth “BJ” Franks and Barbara Tedesco will share information on the WIDA and its alignment with standards, curriculum, and instruction. Have you heard of the website Colorin Colorado? Lydia Breiseth will be at our conference on both days, to share this amazing website’s wealth of resources for both teachers and parents of ELLs.

We’ve got the winning team of Debbie Zacarian and our own Judie Haynes scheduled to present; they’ll give an informative session on strategies for meeting the needs of beginning ELLs. Kevin LaMastra will speak about transforming ELLs into successful students and global citizens, and José-Luis Orozco, children’s author and recording artist, will sing his way in to your hearts during his very lively sessions presented on both days of the conference. We’re looking forward to hearing from Raquel Sinai, Lori Ramella, and Ericka Reed, who will provide us, on both days of the conference, with the Department of Education’s most current information on state and federal requirements for bilingual, ESL, and Title III of No Child Left Behind.

Since Dual Language programs have increasingly become a topic of interest and discussion, we have Dr. Vivian Rodriguez and Dr. Geraldine Oades-Sesa, who will share the exciting results of a study they conducted in an early childhood setting. Those who work in bilingual settings will benefit from Ana Mistral’s expertise, and those who seek advice about differentiating instruction will want to hear what Rebecca Freeman Field has to say. Lisa Rose Johnson will be on hand to talk about co-teaching, and April Ponticello and teaching partner, Elisabete Mazzeo, will show you what successful team-teaching and sheltered instruction look like.

While there are several technology workshops being offered this year, it’s not required that you bring your own laptop. Internet service will not be available for conference participants. We do, however, encourage you to follow us on Facebook (NJTESOL-NJBE) and on Twitter (@NJTESOL_NJBE) where we’ll update you on the latest news both prior to, and during, the conference. To add to the excitement of the conference, make the most of your cell phone and post your thoughts and experiences to our Facebook page and/or Twitter during the event. Who knows? There may be a surprise or two in store for conference participants who connect with us virtually during the conference!

We urge you to use a personal email address for all correspondence with NJTESOL/NJBE. Many of you have provided us with a school email address. However, most schools have established security blocks, so you may have missed important news as well as notices regarding the conference. Please take a moment to update your membership details with us. There will be a table for you to do so at the conference.

On Tuesday, May 24, we will be hosting our first Higher Education Mini-Conference. A series of concurrent workshops will be held, addressing the specific needs and interests of our Higher Ed population. Make sure to look at the schedule on our website for a listing of these workshops. This event marks the beginning of a collaborative effort between NJTESOL/NJBE and our Higher Ed membership.

Our liaison, Dave Greer, has worked diligently to gather a great group of exhibitors for this year’s conference. Be sure to visit the hotel atrium, where you can peruse the materials and resources at the exhibitors’ tables. This time well spent will earn you an extra hour of professional development. Be sure to join us on Tuesday evening, May 24! Our keynote speaker, Dr. Nancy Cloud, will discuss essential research-based practices that teachers can implement in their classrooms. Our annual awards presentations will take place at this event. An “Around the World” dinner buffet, complemented by a Middle Eastern and Spanish dance presentation, will top off your conference experience. See you there!

[Be sure to check your program for any last minute scheduling changes.]

Cassandra Lawrence is Vice President of NJTESOL/NJBE and Spring Conference Chair. She is a bilingual elementary teacher in the Perth Amboy School District.

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Getting the Best Experience from Spring Conference

By Gwen Franks

If you haven’t registered yet there is still time (until May 9th).

1. Register on-line & pay with Paypal or credit card;
2. Print out the form & mail in with a check;
3. Print out the form & send in with an approved purchase order (must be sent with the actual purchase order).

If you have already registered you should be receiving an email confirmation. Please read the confirmation to make sure that your registration is correct. If not, please email Gwen Franks.  When filling out the registration form please use your personal email address; many schools are using blockers that will not allow your confirmation to go through.

If your school is sending your registration along with the purchase order and you have not received your confirmation, please double check with your school district as to the status of the PO.

Picture ID is now required at Conference Check-In.

Check-In opens at 7:30 a.m. and remains open only until 10:00 a.m. There is no check-in after 10:00 a.m. You must check-in to obtain your badge and conference materials before attending any workshops. Please wear your badge, so that you can be identified as a conference attendee. Badges will be checked throughout the day.

Two Day Registrants. You MUST check-in both days.

Evening Event: Tuesday, May 24 at 5:00. Cost is $35 for the Around the World Buffet. Our featured speaker is Nancy Cloud; awards and scholarships will be presented during the dinner. You can still register online or by mail.

Parking: Hotel parking for 400 cars will be available for $6.00 per car for the day. Additional city parking lots are also available a few blocks from the hotel at regular rates. Maps and addresses for all parking will be available on-line soon. Carpooling and public transportation are recommended. New Brunswick is served by NJ Transit buses and trains.

Check your conference confirmation and membership status. If you received a notice with your confirmation that your membership status is not up to date and have not acted upon it, please be ready to pay for membership at the conference. Your membership must be paid up in order to receive your conference packet.

Exhibits open early, so enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and take a look at the exhibitions before the workshops begin. We are offering an hour of Professional Development for the time you spend in the Exhibit area. The Exhibitors will be open from 7:30 am – 5:00 pm on Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

The first workshops start at 8:45 so check the new Conference schedule on our website and plan your day.

Lunch buffet will be continuously served between 11:30 and 2:30. Lunch tickets will be included in your registration packet. You will need to provide the ticket when entering the buffet line. Do not lose your tickets, they cannot be replaced.

Professional Development Certificates will be given out at the end of each workshop. Attendees must remain in the session the whole time to receive their certificate. As a courtesy to the presenter and fellow conference participants, it is requested that you arrive to your workshop on time and stay until it is over, at which time the certificates will be distributed.

Directions & Public Transportation to the Hyatt Regency are available on-line.

The Hyatt Regency is offering $129 reduced conference price for rooms. Mention NJTESOL-NJBE.

Gwen Franks is the business administrator and a conference planner for NJTESOL-NJBE.

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New Brunswick: Getting to the Conference

Now, before you head out for the conference, is the time to think carefully about where and how you’ll park your car. Some strategic planning will ensure a great start to your conference experience. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind:

Get an early start! Leave home extra early and avoid morning traffic in your area and around the city of New Brunswick.

Carpooling and public transportation are recommended.

Hotel parking for 400 cars will be available at $6.00 per car for the day. Please let the parking attendant know that you are there for the NJTESOL/NJBE conference, so that you may get the special parking rate.

Additional city parking lots are also available a few blocks from the hotel at regular rates. Your best bets for parking are the Ferren Daily Deck, 1 Penn Plaza, New Brunswick, and the Lower Church Street Deck, 90 Church Street.

Visit the following link for additional information about local parking: https://www.njnbpa.org/parking-locator/

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2011 Spring Conference Writing Awards and Scholarships

Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

In previous years, the generous NJTESOL/NJBE prizes and/or scholarships for winners of the 4th, 8th, 12th grades, and Higher Education writing competitions were funded from our general revenues. However, due to the current economy and escalating costs incurred to provide you, our membership, with a quality conference and professional development opportunities, we had to change the way that this has been done.

Beginning with this year’s 2011 awards and scholarships, the number and amount of the scholarships given to our winners was dependent on your contributions. NJTESOL/NJBE asked its members, and friends of English language learners, to make donations to help New Jersey’s students in ESL and bilingual programs. And you, and they, came through! Attend the Tuesday night Awards and Scholarship Dinner to see your donation at work!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

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Legislative Workshop 2011

By Elizabeth (BJ) Franks

Be informed! Get the latest updates!

Spend an afternoon at the Spring Conference with experts at the state and federal levels as they share information on the educational issues which concern English language learners. This year Dr. Mari Rasmussen, the Assistant Director for State Outreach from the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA), will be joining us to discuss the reauthorization of ESEA, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In addition, we will have panelists from the New Jersey Education Association, the Education Law Center, and NJ Immigration Policy Network to discuss state issues, such as AHSA, the Alternative High School Assessment, and teacher evaluations.

A second panel will focus on Dual Language Education. Dr. Donna Farina, president of the Foreign Language Educators of New Jersey (FLENJ), Dr. Vivian Rodriguez, Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Perth Amboy, and Dr. Elizabeth Willaum, retired Assistant Superintendent from Englewood, will offer their insights and advice on how to build successful programs.

Continue your advocacy and join us for this dynamic, informative, engaging workshop.

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to check the final program for any scheduling changes.]

Elizabeth (BJ) Franks is the Socio-Political Concerns Representative for NJTESOL-NJBE.

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NJ Statewide Higher Education Conference

at NJTESOL/NJBE

Hyatt Regency New Brunswick, New Jersey

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

There is no on-site registration.

Come join us for higher education workshops on teaching techniques, demonstrations, and presentations all on one day, Tuesday, May 24.

We are hosting our first Higher Education Mini-Conference. A series of concurrent workshops will be held, addressing the specific needs and interests of our Higher Ed population. Be sure to look at the schedule on our website for a listing of these workshops. This event marks the beginning of a collaborative effort between NJTESOL/NJBE and our Higher Ed membership. Stay for the awards dinner that evening! Share your experience and knowledge.

We look forward to seeing you!

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Take a Gallery Walk: Poster Sessions for Global Learning

By Ana Mistral and Gail Verdi

This year NJTESOL/NJBE received a record number of proposals for poster sessions focusing on diverse topics and strategies for teaching second languages. Please join us for a Gallery Walk of Poster Sessions from 1:30-3:00 pm on May 24th and May 25th in the New Brunswick Hyatt’s Atrium Foyer. The poster sessions span all levels of education from kindergarten to higher education. Take advantage of the opportunity to talk one-on-one with master teachers in this informal setting as you discuss methods and materials as well as the special needs of particular communities. Here is a list of some of the topics and presenters you can visit in the Atrium Gallery during the 2011 NJTESOL/NJBE Spring Conference:

Sessions Scheduled for Tuesday, May 24
Higher Education
Heidi Lieb	Improving Pronunciation with Pronunciation Cards
Lois Spitzer	Meeting the Needs of NNSs at Stockton College
Olga Weston & Lauren Musto	Pros and Cons of Students Using Bilingual Dictionaries
Bilingual PreK- Elementary – Jersey City Urban Teacher Institute
Libia Agudelo	Nuestros Amigos Los Animales (Our Animal Families)
Wendy Castillo	What Does a Person Need to Overcome Great Challenges?
Eida Feliciano	Forces of Nature
Ana Gonzalez	Patterns in the Sky
Amarilis Rivas	Interdisciplinary Project-Based Learning
Yanira Sergovia	Discovering the Secrets of the Earth
Guillermina Serrano	¿Por qué son las Plantas Importantes? / Why Are Plants Important?
Jacqueline Trezza	Teachers Guiding Students to Get “WOW” Posters
Sessions Scheduled for Wednesday, May 25
ESL PreK-4
Natasha Agrawal	The Burmese: A Story of Displacement and Resettlement
Paddie Donohue	Let’s Write a Book with Your ESL/Bilingual Class
Faith Nadya Mootoo	Using Art to Develop Literacy Skills
Katherine Howard	Creating Music Videos in the ELL Classroom
Bilingual Pre-K-Elementary
Sandra Kusulas	Building Reading and Writing Skills with Graphic Organizers
ESL Secondary
Elizabeth Conway	Focus on Pronunciation through Battleship
Janna Corn	Creating FREE Teacher Websites through Google

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to check the final program for any scheduling changes.]

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The future is unpredictable, especially these days with technology. Advances, offshoots, and new directions will take us to places we cannot even imagine. Today there are so many possibilities that no one person can even explore them all. Collaboration is necessary to begin to grasp this ever-changing new world. The Spring Conference is an opportunity for you to discover some of these options.

Technology workshops are offered throughout both days of the conference for students from kindergarten through college. So that you can attend the presentations that will be the most beneficial to you and your students, here is a list of most of the technology workshops by SIG (Special Interest Group).

REMEMBER THIS IS MEANT AS A GUIDE ONLY. CHECK YOUR DAILY PROGRAM.

Interest Groups	Title	Presenters	Day Time
PreK, Elem, Middle	Help ELLs Succeed with ColorínColorado!	Lydia Breiseth	Tues/ Wed 9:00 - 10:30
PreK, Elem ESL	Extending Language Learning with Web 2.0 Tools	Monica Schnee	Tues 10:30 - 12:00
PreK, Elem, SpEd	NJN’s World of Web-Based Resources	Margaret Jaeger	Tues 10:45 - 12:15
PreK, Elem ESL	Custom Cue Cards using Digital Cameras	Mary Quiroz	Wed 10:30 - 12:00
Elem, Middle, Secondary	Thinkfinity and ELLs: A Perfect Partnership!	Suzan Cole	Tues 8:45 - 10:15
Elem, Middle ESL	Differentiating Instruction for ELLs with Technology	Judie Haynes, Marilyn Pongracz	Wed 10:45 - 12:15
Middle, Secondary	ELLs and Technology	Stephanie Abelson	Wed 1:45 - 3:15
Middle, Secondary, ESL	Building a Community of Learners through Technology	Christina Namendorf	Wed 10:45 - 12:15
Middle, Secondary, HE	Designing Web-Based Integrated Tests	Deniz Gokcora	Tues 8:45 - 10:15
Middle, Secondary, HE	Bloom’s taxonomy & the ESL Students with LessonWriter	Stephen Churchville	Tues 12:15 - 1:15
HEMC, Secondary, Adult Ed	Teaching Grammar and Critical Thinking Through YouTube	Maria Schirta	Tues 8:45 - 9:45
HEMC (Higher Ed)	Transitioning to On-Line Learning: Two Perspectives	Gail Fernandez, Maria Kasparova, Amarjit Kaur	Tues 8:45 - 9:45
HEMC, Secondary, Adult Ed	Social Bookmarking in the Learning Classroom	Charles Nelson	Tues 11:15 - 12:15

Check the website for additions and changes.

Marilyn Pongracz is the Technology Coordinator for NJTESOL/NJBE and the English Language Resource Center Supervisor at Bergen Community College. She may be reached at webmaster@njtesol-njbe.org .

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Spring 2011 Special Interest Groups / About

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