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April 28, 2008
"Education costs money, but then so does ignorance." - Sir Claus Moser
Classic: A book that people praise, but do not read.
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 Reprint from the Superintendent's Bulletin: One-time Tranfer Eligibility for ELL Teachers
TO: All Principals
All English Language Learner (ELL) Teachers
FROM: Valeria Silva, Chief Academic Officer
Teresa Rogers, Executive Director, Human Resources
Heidi Bernal, Director, ELL
RE: One Time Transfer Eligibility for ELL Teachers
Effective immediately, non-probationary ELL teachers may apply for non-ELL vacancies for which they hold an appropriate license. This opportunity is available through the remainder of the voluntary transfer process which ends May 30, 2008.
This opportunity is available at this time because it is estimated that Saint Paul will have a surplus of ELL teachers for the 2008-09 school year. Due to this surplus, teachers who are not currently teaching in ELL, but hold an ELL license are not allowed to apply for ELL vacancies.
The opportunity to participate in the voluntary transfer process does not guarantee an ELL teacher a new position. ELL
teachers who apply for positions and are not selected will remain in
their current positions (or another ELL position if the current
position has been eliminated).
Interested ELL teachers need to apply for vacancies online and must be selected for an interview. The online application system can be accessed at http://hr.spps.org/Search_Jobs_and_Apply.html. Teachers who need assistance with the online application system may contact 603-HELP, option 7, during regular business hours.
If you have questions, please contact Kenyatta Carter, Workforce Management Team Lead, at 651.767.8196.
Washington Middle School Grand Reopening
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Grand Reopening
Program 10:00AM to 10:30AM
Tours at 10:30AM
You
are cordially invited to our Grand Reopening. Please join us as we
celebrate the completion of our $17 million renovation. A landmark in
Saint Paul’s North End neighborhood, Washington Technology Magnet
Middle School proudly continues a tradition of academic excellence,
inclusive and welcoming programs, and outstanding opportunities to the
students and families of Saint Paul with the new BioSMART initiative.
Come meet our students and staff! Come enjoy the architectural
creativity in the space and light of our new design! Come experience
Washington!!!
We look forward to seeing you!
ESL/Bilingual & Migrant Conference
English as a Second Language (ESL), Bilingual and Migrant Education Conference Scheduled: May 1 and 2, 2008
This
year's conference includes over 50 timely sessions, exhibitor booths
and two highly qualified, featured speakers. Dr. Dina Birman will speak
on the topic of school-based intervention and mental health services
for refugee students and Dr. Margo Gottlieb, on ELL evaluation,
assessment and program design. Register for the conference online. View the conference mailer.
Questions can be e-mailed to MDE.ELL-conf@state.mn.us.
 PreLAS, First Grade Language Academy Students, and DVRs
Thanks to everyone involved with the preLAS assessment of our kindergarten students! Please share that data with your colleagues, particularly as you plan for next year. PreLAS Coordinators will receive information about kindergarten students who are eligible to attend a Language Academy for first grade, in the next few weeks.
If you have more than one preLAS kit at your school, please keep one for your building and return all additional kits to the ELL Department at 360 Colborne. Please attach a note to any returned kits if there are damaged or missing materials from the kits. Extra kits will be made available for checkout for the fall testing window, which is from August 20th through September 24th.
We would really appreciate any feedback on the use of the digital voice recorders (DVRs) for the preLAS assessment or for instructional purposes, so please send them to Anh via school mail or email (anh.tran@spps.org). The DVR kits will need to be returned to the ELL Department by the end of the school year and may be checked out again in the fall. If you have any questions about any of this information, please contact your TOSA.
Kindergarten Cadre Meetings
ELL Kindergarten Cadre Meetings
ELL and Kindergarten Teachers are invited to attend cadre meetings to:
- meet other colleagues working with kindergarten ELL students
- share instructional strategies for working with kindergarten ELL students
- discuss current research about language acquisition and literacy
- enhance your understanding of collaboration
The remaining dates will be:
- Wednesday, May 7 2008. 4:15-6:15. Room - Focus: Instructional Program and Design
Register
on PDExpress. (There is only one course for all sessions, if you have
not registered, it is listed with a start date of November 29). Call
Jane Dunlap (767-8307) or email Anh Tran if you have any questions.
 A Topic for Discussion: 10 Myths about Learning to Read by Sebastian Wren
Michael Pressley, in his excellent book, Reading Instruction that Works,
concluded with a discussion of what he considered to be "Ten Dumb and
Dangerous Claims About Reading Instruction." All of the points he made
were quite compelling, but one wonders if these are his "top ten" picks
for the most dangerous myths about reading instruction.
Some might at least argue that the list should be re-ordered
(placing some higher on the list than Pressley did), and certainly some
would argue that there are a few myths that should have made the cut
that he never mentioned. Curious readers are directed to his book to
review his "top ten" list (the book is well written and highly
informative), but here we will examine a second perspective of the most
damaging myths and misconceptions about reading instruction. Let us
begin with a myth that Pressley did not mention, but which is arguably
the most pernicious myth currently influencing reading instruction read rest of article
MN GRAD Writing Prompts
During the fall of 2008, there will be a field test for
GRAD written composition. We will be beginning prompt development
shortly. We are inviting high school teachers to submit writing prompts
that could be used for the GRAD written composition. The prompts will
be reviewed with a panel of Minnesota teachers during a Prompt Review
this August. Prompts must pass a review of bias and sensitivity as well
as a review of field test performance data before being used with
students in an operational test. Prompts must be brief, allow all
populations of students to access the prompt with common background
knowledge, and be appropriate for all student populations (e.g.,
English language learners). Previously-used prompts can be found online.
Please encourage your high school English teachers to submit their
prompts to mde.testing@state.mn.us with “Writing Prompts” in the
subject line. The deadline for submitting prompts is June 16th.
PequenetTimes
This is a website in Spanish for Children. It has tonguetwisters, songs, games, jokes and other resrouces for kids.
Website:
http://www.pequenet.com/
McCarthy Dressmen Education Foundation Academic Enrichment and Teacher Development GrantsMcCarthey Dressman Education Foundation
Deadline for applications: May 1, 2008
Headquartered
in Salt Lake City, Utah, the McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation
was created in recognition of the struggle educators often face in
bringing truly exceptional teaching to their students. The foundation
awards grants to those projects and/or initiatives with significant
potential to augment the educational experiences for youth of all
backgrounds.
The foundation is now accepting applications for its Academic Enrichment Grants and Teacher Development Grants.
Academic
Enrichment Grants are designed to develop in-class and extracurricular
programs that improve student learning. These grants seek to maximize
innovation and results in classrooms and education departments by
funding programs that nurture the intellectual, artistic, and creative
abilities of children from low-income households. Successful applicants
may receive grants of up to $10,000 each per year for a maximum of
three years.
Teacher Development Grants seek to increase the
effectiveness of individual educators and small teams of teachers by
funding the formation and implementation of groundbreaking K-12
classroom instruction. Grantees may be awarded amounts of up to $10,000
each per year for a maximum of three years. The program provides
opportunities for teachers to integrate fresh strategies that encourage
critical inquiry and to observe the effect of those strategies on
students. Teachers have the opportunity to reflect and write about
their projects and to share their observations with other teachers.
http://www.mccartheydressman.org/
Refugee Journey Experience
Imagine
that your home and everything you have was destroyed and you decided to
flee. You are one of the estimated 33 million refugees in the world
today. You are invited to walk in the shoes of a refugee.
Saturday, May 17
1-6pm
First Covenant Church
810 S. 7th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(free parking)
$12 per person – includes Somali lunch
Ages 12+ are welcome.
RSVP by Friday, May 9
(763) 420-9155 or sarah.miller@iteams.org
www.worldreliefmn.org
http://www.teachertube.com/
Puppet Making Class
In
partnership with the Ordway Center for Performing Arts, CHAT will be
offering a PUPPET MAKING CLASS where participants will make larger than
life sized puppets in Hmong clothing to walk in the International
Children’s Parade on May 31, 2008 in downtown Saint Paul!
This is a GREAT opportunity! Classes will happen at CHAT: 995 University Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55104
for more info, call 651-603-6971
Please
tell and encourage every young person you know to participate! And, the
BEST part of all… CHAT will own these puppets and use them forever!
University of Minnesota Course Offering in Multicultural Literacy
Course offering Summer 2008:
Teaching Multicultural Literature in Secondary School
July 7-18, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Instructor: Jill Ewing Flynn, flyn0103@umn.edu
CI 5410 section 2 is a three credit course that provides a theoretical and practical foundation for secondary teachers to increase effectiveness in the instruction of literature from diverse cultures. Students will address
pedagogical and curricular issues as well as explore complications surrounding the use of such texts, learning effective skills and strategies for working with multicultural literature in the secondary classroom.
Class activities will revolve around several academic texts and articles designed to provoke thought and discussion about issues of teaching diverse literature in the secondary classroom. Students will then incorporate new ideas and philosophies learned through reading and discussion into practical designs for teaching specific pieces of diverse literature. In participating in these activities students will also be asked to carefully examine their own philosophies and cultural beliefs as they relate to their pedagogical practices.
Objectives: In this course, students will *reflect on their own cultural backgrounds and beliefs as related to their teaching. *reflect on how students' cultural backgrounds may influence their interactions with literature. *examine methods of integrating multicultural literature into the curriculum. *develop effective strategies for teaching specific works of multicultural literature.
Guiding questions:
1. How can teachers successfully and critically engage students in diverse works of literature? How can teachers incorporate new texts and rethink old texts? What pedagogical practices can teachers learn to more effectively teach these texts?
2. What can we learn from students' responses to multicultural literature? In what ways do students' cultural and social stances and assumptions
affect their readings of multicultural literature?
3. How might differences and/or similarities between the cultures of teachers and of students come into play during the instruction of diverse types of literature? In what ways might classroom, school, and community contexts affect how teachers approach the teaching of multicultural literature?
Major assignments for the course will likely include a dialogue journal, group presntation/model lesson, and a personal "philosophy" paper (due
approximately one week after the final class period) in which students examine some of the questions listed above and discuss how they will use this knowledge to teach a piece of literature in the future.
Assignments, readings, and class activities will be tailored to the needs of the students who register for the course. Please email Jill (flyn0103@umn.edu) with any questions! Thank you.
2008 Summer Institutes at the University of Minnesota
Medieval Film: Exploring European Culture through Time and Place
June 23 - 27, 2008 - class meets 9:00am - 4:00pm daily
Ray Wakefield, Department of German, Scandinavian and Dutch, University
of Minnesota
Immigrant Dreams & Contemporary African Diasporic Literatures
June 23-27, 2008 - class meets 9:00am - 4:00pm daily
Njeri Githire, Department of African-American and African Studies,
University of Minnesota
Transitional Justice: Seeking Truth and Accountability for Systematic
Human Rights Violations
July 7 - 11, 2008 - class meets 9:00am - 4:00pm daily
Barbara Frey, Human Rights Program, and Martha Bigelow, Department of
Curriculum and Instruction, University of Minnesota
Documenting the Hmong Diaspora: Literary, Cinematic, and Oral Historical
Approaches to Diaspora
July 14 - 18, 2008 - class meets 9:00am - 4:00pm daily
Mitch Ogden, Department of English, University of Minnesota
Contemporary European Politics and Society
July 28 - August 1, 2008 - class meets 9:00am - 4:00pm daily
Carl-Gustaf Scott, Department of Political Science, Hamline University
The Worlds of Islam
August 4 - 8, 2008 - class meets 9:00am - 4:00pm daily
G.S. Sahota, Department of Asian Languages and Literatures, University
of Minnesota
*About the Institutes*
*Registration Fees
***Summer Institute fees are $75/institute and include 30 CEUs,
readings, field trips, and lunch for each day of the institute.
*Location
*All institutes will be held on the University of Minnesota's
Minneapolis campus. Details about room and building locations will be
mailed out with your readings prior to the start of the institute.
*Academic Credit*
If you wish to register for undergraduate or graduate credit, you will be assessed tuition at the current rates and if you are not a current U of M student, you may register through the College of Continuing Education at the reduced departmental masters rate of $388/credit. Each
institute is a 2 credit course. Contact your home department to see if these courses will count towards your degree or licensure programs.
*Housing*
Teachers from outside the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area are eligible to stay in on-campus housing in single rooms. Each institute has a
limited number of housing scholarships available to teachers on a first-come, first-served basis. After the housing scholarship funds are
depleted, you may still pay for a room at the rate of $50/night. Visit
http://igs.cla.umn.edu/outreach to download an application.
<http://igs.cla.umn.edu/pdf/HousingApplication.pdf>
*Travel Stipends*
To encourage teachers from outside the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area to attend our *week-long summer institutes*, we have a limited number of
travel stipends available. Teachers may apply for stipends up to $250 and they may be used to defray the costs of airfare or mileage. Visit
http://igs.cla.umn.edu/outreach to download an application.
*Register Online*
To register, visit http://igs.cla.umn.edu/outreach/registration.html
Detailed descriptions about each institute are online at
http://igs.cla.umn.edu/outreach/profdev.html.
Questions? Contact Molly McCoy at outreach@umn.edu or 612-624-7346.
The summer institutes for teachers are developed and administered by the Institute for Global Studies at the University of Minnesota through the support of a Title VI grant from the US Department of Education.
Michelle Carter, MA, JD
Interim Director of Research and Sponsored Programs
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Wigley Administration Building 325
507-389-2322 office
507-389-5459 fax
2008 International Essay Contest for Young People - Creating a Culture of Peace
International Essay Contest organized by UNESCO and the Goi Peace Foundation
with the sponsorship of the Earthrise Society.
The theme for this year's contest is "My project to create positive change
in my environment. How can I foster sustainable development in my
community." The deadline for entry is June 30, 2008. First prize winners
will receive a cash award and a trip to Japan.
Please see the complete guidelines below. The same information can be
found on the Goi Peace Foundation website:
http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0801_00.htm
To read winning essays from last year's contest, go to
http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0702.htm
Please spread the information about the essay contest to young people in
your network.
May Peace Prevail on Earth!
The Goi Peace Foundation
National TPR Conference
The
national TPRS® Conference will be held at the University of Minnesota,
July 21-25, 2008. TPR Storytelling is a method for teaching languages
that was invented by Blaine Ray, in 1990 and is based on the work of
James Asher and Stephen Krashen. Check out the website to get more
information - http://ntprs2008.eventbrite.com/
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