CATESOL 2012
Deeply Rooted, Always Growing
Oakland Marriott City Center & Oakland Convention Center
Oakland , California
April 12-15, 2012

PCI #A. TEACHING INTENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE READING SKILLS

Dorothy Zemach, Independent Teacher Trainer

Teaching reading can be challenging because students confuse “reading” with “literacy” and assume that once they can decode words - and know enough vocabulary - they’ll be proficient readers. This session will focus for two hours on intensive reading skills that can be taught and practiced in the classroom, no matter what texts you are using, and one hour on instruction, assessment, and measurement of extensive reading for fluency that can be practiced in or outside the classroom.

Levels: Adult, Community College, College/University, Intensive English Programs

PCI #B. ACADEMIC READING AND WRITING STRATEGIES FOR IMMIGRANT STUDENTS

Mark Roberge, Associate Professor of English, San Francisco State University

This workshop presents a rich repertoire of strategies and teaching practices for helping immigrant ESL students succeed in high school and college English classes. The strategies focus on all steps of the reading and writing process, from initial prereading discussion to final polishing and editing of the student essay. Special emphasis is given to long-term US resident students who may have learned English informally and thus may have "oral discourse features" in their academic writing.

Levels: Secondary, Community College, College/University

PCI #C. PROMOTING CLEARER PRONUNCIATION

Marsha Chan, "Pronunciation Doctor," Mission College, Santa Clara; Sunburst Media

This workshop will provide teachers with numerous approaches for enabling English language learners to improve their pronunciation. The presenter will describe core features that affect intelligibility; discuss the role of perception, production, and monitoring; and consider low- and high-tech media. She will demonstrate learning activities that foster spoken clarity for students at various levels. Participants will engage in exercises that activate auditory, visual, analytical, and kinesthetic modalities and that promote stimulating pronunciation lessons.

Levels: All

PCI #D. TEACHING CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP TO IMMIGRANTS

Dr. Michael Jones, Division Chief, Division of Citizenship Education and Training, United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Office of Citizenship

To prepare students for citizenship and naturalization, teachers and volunteers need accurate and informative classroom materials. USCIS has many free resources to supplement and inform classroom instruction. This workshop for Adult ESL instructors, civics and citizenship teachers, volunteers, and immigrant serving organizations will enhance skills in teaching U.S. history, civics and citizenship preparation to immigrant students, including how to prepare students for the naturalization interview and test using the USCIS booklet, Citizenship Foundation Skills and Knowledge Clusters.

Levels: Secondary, Adult, Community College

PCI #E. RESTORE THE JOY TO TEACHING WITH ZERO PREP STRATEGIES FOR MULTI-LEVEL CLASSES

Laurel Pollard, Educational Consultant, Tucson, AZ

Come and practice strategies that challenge and engage each student at his or her own level. These practical activities ensure maximum participation, provide immediate feedback about errors and successes, and create a learner-centered classroom with high student motivation and retention. Best of all, these activities need little or no preparation time by the teacher. You can use them to teach any content at any level, next week and for the rest of your teaching career.

Levels: All

PCI #F. SCAFFOLDING WRITING THROUGH GENRE ANALYSIS

Shannon Pella, Training Specialist, English Language Arts, Sacramento City Unified School District

This workshop aligns approaches to teaching and learning writing with the common core standards for reading and writing across genres. Participants engage in multi-modal activities designed for middle school students yet adaptable for use in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms in intermediate elementary grades through postsecondary. Activities address issues of purpose, audience, register, and text structure to prepare students to read, write, and think critically about typical school-based writing genres.

Levels: All