Category Archives: MATSOL

Pre-Conference Institutes Sold Out!

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MATSOL members, you are a dedicated bunch. Not only have you registered for the 2019 Conference in record numbers, but you’ve signed up for two Pre-Conference Institutes on Tuesday, May 28, to become even better teachers.

Here’s what you can look forward to.

Teaching and Learning Content-Based Literacies: 
Systemic Functional Linguistics in Action

Presented by Meg Gebhard, University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Meg Gebhard

This interactive session will help you explore how language works in different ways to construct content-specific meanings in the types of texts or “genres” your students are routinely required to read, write, and discuss.

The morning session will guide participants in analyzing personal and literary narratives using multicultural children’s literature. The afternoon session will focus on scientific explanations and arguments using authentic texts written by middle schoolers.

Co-Teaching for English Learners: Collaborative Planning, Instruction, Assessment, and Reflection

presented by Andrea Honigsfeld, Ed.D. and Maria G. Dove, Ed.D.

Andrea Honigsfeld

Andrea Honigsfeld

Maria Dove

Maria Dove

Are you an ESOL teacher who works with content-area teachers (or vice versa)? Do you want to improve your co-planning, co-instruction, co-assessment, and reflection processes—all for the benefit of your EL students?

In this pre-conference institute, these four key components will be illustrated using authentic video clips of both novice and experienced co-teaching teams. The presenters will guide you as you develop short-term and long-term plans to support the language, literacy, and content skills of ELs in your integrated classroom.

MATSOL Conference is Filling Up!

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matsol classroomHave you been meaning to register for the MATSOL Conference in 2019? This week may be your last chance. Registration is getting full!

You know that the workshops, the keynote speakers, and the pre-conference institutes are all top-notch. I know that you are the secret ingredient that makes the conference so special to all of us, year after year.

Register for the conference today! As an individual, you can register online using your credit card right here. If you are using a check or Purchase Order, or if you want to register as a group, fill in the form here and upload the completed form, then send in payment.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Helen Solórzano, Executive Director, MATSOL

Call for Nominations Extended – MATSOL Board of Directors

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logo-matsol_181007_400x192Deadline extended to April 1, 2019!

Show your commitment to MATSOL and help shape our future! MATSOL seeks competent, energetic, committed members to take a leadership role, work on behalf of the organization, and represent MATSOL members and stakeholders.

By serving on the Board of Directors, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Provide leadership for achieving MATSOL’s mission to promote equity and excellence for English Learners;
  • Help shape development of member activities, professional learning opportunities, and conferences;
  • Participate in advocacy at the local, state, and national level;
  • Encourage engaged and active MATSOL membership;
  • Build on our affiliate partnership with TESOL;
  • Ensure that MATSOL continues to operate as a healthy and vibrant non-profit organization.

In return, you will have the opportunity to expand your professional network, learn new skills, build your resume, and make a positive impact in our field.

Candidates may self-nominate or be nominated by a colleague. Deadline extended to April 1, 2019.

Find out more!

MATSOL Presentations at #TESOL19

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We asked MATSOL members presenting at the 2019 TESOL Convention in Atlanta GA to share their presentation schedules. Congratulations to all MATSOL members presenting at TESOL!

  • Investigating Novice ESL Teachers’ Advocacy Beliefs and Practices, Stephanie Garrone-Shufran – Wednesday, March 13, 12:00
  • PMAERA at TESOL: Talking back: Preparing TESOL teachers well while working to transform educational policies with research-based responses, Ester De Jong, Guofang Li, Hayriye Kayi-Aydar, Laura Schall-Leckrone, Manka Varghese, Yasuko Kanno – Wednesday, March 13, 3:00 PM
  • Demystifying the Academic Publishing and Review Process (a panel of affiliate journal editors), Lubie Alatriste, Margi Wald, Mary Clark, Scott Douglas – Thursday, March 14, 3:00 PM
  • Being a Reflective Practitioner and Scholar in TESOL: Methodological Considerations, Judy Sharkey, Megan Madigan Peercy, Laura Schall-Leckrone, Ana Solano-Campos, Maggie Hawkins – Thursday, March 14, 4:00 PM
  • Building Knowledge: Scaffolding Informational Text for SLIFE, Nicoleta Filimon & Christi Cartwright – Thursday, March 14, 5:00 PM
  • Engage Your Long Term ELLs for Language Success, Stella Dubish and Nereida Cheney – Thursday, March 14, 5:00 PM
  • Academic Language: A Developmental and Contextual Perspective in B-MEIS & SLW intersection session, María Estela Brisk – Friday, March 15, 11:30 AM
  • Organizing a Successful and Sustainable State-Wide English Learner Leadership Group, Ann Feldman & Yvonne Endara – Friday, March 15, 1:00 PM
  • Fostering Communication during Service-Learning: Goals, Strategies, and Outcomes, Ilka Kostka and Lucy Bunning – Friday, March 15, 3:00 PM
  • Alliances with ELs: Goal setting as a tool for empowerment, Leah Richardson, Tracey Spence, Sara Hamerla – Saturday, March 16, 11:00 AM

Conference Networking Sessions – Call for Proposals

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The MATSOL Conference Committee is seeking proposals from members to plan and facilitate networking sessions at the MATSOL 2019 Conference.

networking_session2019Networking sessions are informal facilitated sessions that provide opportunities for members to connect and share ideas with other members around areas of common interest. The sessions take place each day of the conference for 30 minutes after the lunch and keynote. A networking session may be repeated on two or three days, to allow conference participants to attend a different session on each day. Networking sessions may have more than one facilitator.

See the 2018 Networking Session list for topic ideas, but we welcome other topics and formats that encourage connection between members, discussion, and sharing.

Find out more!

New EL Course for School Leaders

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Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Schools: Leading for English Learner Equity and Achievement

Sponsored by MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Schools: Leading for EL Equity and Achievement is a leadership course for decision-makers serving English language learners in our increasingly diverse schools. School leaders will hone their skills in developing collaborative relationships and practices to better identify, evaluate and plan improvements to build equity and achievement for English learners.

This course is designed to build upon the understandings presented in the Massachusetts Sheltered English Endorsement Administrators course through an update on current responsibilities and expectations of leaders, research related to promising practices, and the application of current tools to support educator inquiry and school improvement. This course features interactive tasks and discussions, review of current research, connections to other state initiatives, action planning, text/video analyses and the application of deepened understandings of promising instructional and collaborative strategies to leadership roles and responsibilities.

This course will provide leaders with opportunities to deepen their knowledge base, reflect, plan, and act on their school’s policies and systems in order to implement school and district improvement plans and initiatives that ensure equitable and achievement opportunities for English learners.

AUDIENCE

This specific course is reserved for school leaders in pairs or teams that include a principal (or vice principal, superintendent, etc.) and an EL director. This workshop is designed for administrators who are responsible for school-level policies, leading school improvement planning and data analysis processes, and making decisions about programs and professional development. Preferred Qualification:  SEI Administrator Endorsement Course Completion

Cost: Free!

Course Schedule

Option #1: Two Days
Thursdays, March 21 & March 28, 2019 ● 8:30 AM-3:30 PM
New Bedford, MA

Option #2: Four Afternoons
Mondays, April 8, 22, 29 & May 6, 2019● 4:00-7:00 PM
Hudson, MA

Option #3: Two Days
Fridays, May 10 & May 24, 2019● 8:30 AM-3:30 PM
Andover, MA

Information & Registration…

Poster Session: Call for Proposals

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PosterSession2018MATSOL invites currently matriculated students in teacher preparation programs to submit a proposal to present a poster session on a topic related to English learner education at MATSOL 2019 Conference.

PosterSession2018-2

Posters should contain a summary of an academically sound scholarly or creative project presented in a visually engaging format, highlighting work through charts, graphs, maps, etc. Proposals should include the main topic(s) and description of the visual display. Presenters should plan on short, informative discussions with convention attendees throughout the entire poster session.

Proposals due March 1, 2019 — View the Call for Proposals…

Review Proposals for the MATSOL 2019 Conference

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colorful-up-hand-background-vector-id457484253Proposal reviewers play an important role in ensuring that presentations at the MATSOL conference reflect the best practices in the field and needs of the MATSOL audience. We look for reviewers with expertise in all audiences and presentation topic areas so that all proposals receive fair peer reviews.

Who may apply?

You may apply to review proposals if:

  • You are a MATSOL member in good standing
  • You have internet access and can use online proposal management system.
  • You are able to review proposals between December 20, 2018 and January 15, 2019. Expect to spend 1-2 hours on the reviews.

Note: You may review proposals if you have also submitted a proposal to present. 

Proposal reviews take place online via ProposalSpace, our online proposal management system. A rubric is provided with the evaluation criteria and scoring guide. All proposals are double-blind reviewed. The reviewers will not know the authors’ identities, and the authors will not know the reviewers’ identities.

How to apply?

Submit the online reviewer application form by Wednesday December 12, 2018: Proposal Review Application.

You will be notified by email if you are selected and will receive information on how to conduct the reviews.

MATSOL Fall Institute: Enhancing Parent Engagement & Family Partnerships

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Strong family-school partnerships are built on mutual respect and trust and are based in a foundational belief that student success and district improvements are a joint responsibility. MATSOL’s two-day fall institute will explore these collaborative relationships at the classroom, school, district and community level.

Enhancing Parent Engagement & Family Partnerships

Thursday & Friday, November 8 & 9, 2018
Leominster MA

Day 1: Principles and Practices for Building Family-School Partnerships

Thursday, November 8
Presented by:  Dr. Bertha-Elena Rojas

Day 2: Harnessing the Power of Partnerships in the Classroom and Beyond

Friday, November 9
Presented by:  Dr. Debbie Zacarian

Audience

PK – 12 ESL, bilingual, classroom teachers; content teachers; specialists; coaches; supervisors and administrators.  Teacher educators from higher education institutions and professional developers involved with pre-service and in-service work.

Register for one or two days. A 15 PDP opportunity is available for participants attending both days.

Information and Registration