Spokane Regional ESL Conference: Full Schedule

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Live zoom Information and Help Desk opens at 7:30am on Saturday morning. Joan will be happy to assist you.

10:15am PST

Developing Language Proficiency Through Project-Based Learning

This presentation shares the strategies utilized in project-based learning units to develop students’ language proficiency. Thinking routines, learning strategies, unit design templates, lesson ideas, and student work samples will be shared.

Speakers

Thereza Vahlstrom

ELD Teacher, Mead School District

Melissa Hainline

General Education Teacher, Mead School District

I am a classroom teacher at a Title 1 school in the Mead School District. I have been teaching for 10 years including Special Education and General Education. I work with students who are Highly Capable, learning English as a Second Language, and receive extra support in Special... Read More →

Kathryn Picanco

Whitworth University

Saturday February 27, 2021 10:15am - 11:00am PST
Manito Park Room

Instructional Strategies

Audience K-12 Settings, Teacher Educators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

10:15am PST

Incorporating Art into the ESL Classroom

Art is a powerful tool for engaging language leaners from the beginner to advanced levels. Learn various techniques and resources that are available and brainstorm ways to incorporate art into your own lessons and curricula.

Speakers

Margaret Mount

Associate Teaching Faculty, Washington State University

Margaret Mount is Associate Teaching Faculty at the Intensive English Program at Washington State University where she has been teaching since 2014. She received her MA in English with a concentration in TESOL from Eastern Washington University and holds a Masters of Social Work and... Read More →

Saturday February 27, 2021 10:15am - 11:00am PST
Coeur d'Alene Park Room

Instructional Strategies

Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Adult Refugee/Immigrant Programs, K-12 Settings, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

10:15am PST

Teaching ESL Reading through Jose Marti’s Poetry

This presentation proposes teaching critical literacy in ESL through reading Jose Marti’s poetry. The presentation will discuss the development of voice, learner's biographical construction, and ethic/aesthetic expressions as integral parts of teaching reading skills in ESL.

Speakers

YiShan Lea

Professor of Bilingual Education, Central Washington University

YiShan Lea is a Professor of Bilingual Education at CWU. Her Ed. D. is in Curriculum and Instruction from Boise State University, Idaho. Her research background is in teacher education and education cultural ethnography. She has published many peer-reviewed articles and 3 book chapters... Read More →

Saturday February 27, 2021 10:15am - 11:00am PST
Mirabeau Park Room

Research

Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Adult Refugee/Immigrant Programs, K-12 Settings, Teacher Educators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum, Bilingual Programs, International Settings

11:15am PST

Films in the Classroom in the Age of Zoom and Covid.

The use of films and videos in the language classroom continues to evolve during Covid and online classroom via platforms such as Zoom. Participants can share their experiences and move through the theory, research, and practice of these types of media, with information about current copyright and fair use guidelines.

Speakers

Terry Knudsen

Instructor of English, Mukogawa U.S. Campus

Saturday February 27, 2021 11:15am - 12:00pm PST
Manito Park Room

Assessment

Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Administrators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

11:15am PST

Fostering Student Collaboration with Google Docs and Slides

Collaboration and student-led learning can be tricky in an online classroom. Using Google Docs and Slides helps to foster these goals. During this presentation, I will demonstrate different ways I have successfully used these tools in my online classroom. My aim is to spark ideas and grow your comfort in using these tools.

Speakers

Ronica Penar

Instructor, Mukogawa U.S. Campus

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Linguistics and a Master’s Degree in TESOL. I have been teaching English language for 10 years, and I have tought in the university setting in both intensive English language programs and experiential programs. I have been fortunate to call... Read More →

Saturday February 27, 2021 11:15am - 12:00pm PST
Coeur d'Alene Park Room

Instructional Strategies

Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, K-12 Settings, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

11:15am PST

Self-Compassion, Reflection, Kindness, & Joy

Self-compassion "encourages mindfulness, or noticing your feelings without judgment; self-kindness, or talking to yourself in a soothing way; and common humanity, or thinking about how others might be suffering similarly.” Let’s explore how we can create community through self-compassion.

Speakers

LaVona Reeves

Professor of English, Eastern Washington University

Former WAESOL President and board member, LaVona Reeves is Professor of English at Eastern Washington University, where she teaches linguistics, literature, TESL, and gender studies. She has also taught at the University of Wyoming, Boise State, Osaka University, & Harvard & in the... Read More →

Saturday February 27, 2021 11:15am - 12:00pm PST
Mirabeau Park Room

Instructional Strategies

Audience Adult Refugee/Immigrant Programs, K-12 Settings, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

2:00pm PST

Differentiating Instruction by WIDA Proficiency Level

Attendees will learn about the WIDA proficiency indicators coming to Washington State next year and an approach to differentiated instruction. Attendees will analyze examples of differentiated Student Learning Outcomes and have opportunities to collaborate in the development of a set in this workshop.

Speakers

Kate Mastruserio Reynolds

Professor of TESOL/Literacy, Central Washington University

Dr. Kate Mastruserio Reynolds is a Professor of TESOL/Literacy at Central Washington University. She has taught at teachers at universities and public school districts, and ESL/EFL in elementary, middle schools and universities educators in the US and abroad. Dr. Reynolds’ publications... Read More →

Saturday February 27, 2021 2:00pm - 2:45pm PST
Chief Garry Park Room

Curriculum and Textbook Development

Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, K-12 Settings, Teacher Educators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum, Bilingual Programs

2:00pm PST

I see me in the story!

This workshop uses a Socratic approach to examine the Iranian festival of Mehregaan and its relevance to our world today. This constructivist approach allows the participants (including English language learners) to engage in a shared inquiry through active engagement with their peers, enhancing their understanding of the issues in the text.

Speakers

Khodadad (Khodi) Kaviani

Central Washington University

Khodadad (Khodi) Kaviani, PhD, is professor of education at Central Washington University. His research and teaching include the Middle Eastern politics and culture, teacher education, social studies methods, democratic education, and the intersection of education and ideology. He... Read More →

Saturday February 27, 2021 2:00pm - 2:45pm PST
Tubb’s Hill Park Room

3:00pm PST

Web-Book: Teachers as Content Creators

This presentation will feature the presentation of an interactive Open Educational Resource developed by two language teachers. The OER and its contents will demonstrate some options for providing free materials to students. Attendees will be given the opportunity to try out the OER and some of the tools used to create it.

Speakers

Collin Shull

Instructor of Spanish, Washington State University

Collin Shull is a Spanish Instructor with an interest in lowering cost barriers to higher education.

Priya Panday-Shukla

Washington State University

Priya Panday-Shukla is a PhD student in the Language, Literacy, and Technology program at Washington State University. She has a master’s degree in Foreign Languages and Cultures. Her research and teaching focus on communicative language, cultures, and technology.

Saturday February 27, 2021 3:00pm - 3:45pm PST
Manito Park Room

Curriculum and Textbook Development

Audience Teacher Educators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum, Bilingual Programs

3:00pm PST

Digital Escape Rooms: Creating Engagement in the ESL Classroom

Creating a digital escape room using Google can be intimidating during times of online ESL instruction. This session will provide all you need to get started, using hyperlinks, sharing to students, and a list of fun/interactive activity sites. You will leave with a copy of one of mine and a list of useful ideas.

Speakers

Kelli Dahmen

ELD Specialist, Pullman School District

Saturday February 27, 2021 3:00pm - 3:45pm PST
Coeur d'Alene Park Room

Instructional Strategies

Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, K-12 Settings, Teacher Educators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum, Bilingual Programs

3:00pm PST

Teach Abroad with the English Language Fellow Program

The English Language Fellow Program has been sending teachers abroad for over fifty years. The purpose of this informational presentation is to inform interested teachers about the opportunity to teach English abroad with the US Department of State, Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs sponsored program.

Speakers

Judy Emerson

U.S. Department of State English Language Programs

I'm an independent contractor working online with individuals and an ESP class in Puebla, Mexico. I was formerly the Academic Coordinator of an Intensive English Program at a College in Idaho. I've been an instructor of English Language Learners for almost 20 years.

Exhibitors

US State Department English Language Programs

Saturday February 27, 2021 3:00pm - 3:45pm PST
Chief Garry Park Room

3:00pm PST

How to get published in WAESOL Educator

Share your knowledge! Develop professionally! Grow your CV! Come and learn how to get published in the WAESOL Educator. The presenter will describe our readership, types of articles, and how to meet our submission requirements. Participants will take away ideas for an article to submit. Bring your smartest friend!

Speakers

Bridget Green

Mukogawa U.S. Campus

In addition to teaching at MUSC, I'm currently the editor for WAESOL Educator. Ask me how to get published in our journal and/or how to be a peer-reviewer!

Saturday February 27, 2021 3:00pm - 3:45pm PST
Tubb’s Hill Park Room

Research

Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, K-12 Settings, Developers of Materials/Curriculum

3:00pm PST

Pre-Service Educator Perceptions of Competence in Diversity

Quantitative study with qualitative support responds to changing educational contexts, identified in the literature review, to examine perceptions of competence on issues of diversity of pre-service educators enrolled in a public northwestern university. The researcher provides suggestions to improve educator curriculum.

Speakers

Kathryn Pawelko

Alumni, University of Idaho

Kathryn Pawelko is a recent graduate of the M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction program in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Idaho. She will soon hold Idaho certification for secondary education with endorsements in history, English, Spanish and... Read More →

Saturday February 27, 2021 3:00pm - 3:45pm PST
Audubon Park Room

Research

Audience Higher Ed. Intensive English, Adult Refugee/Immigrant Programs, K-12 Settings, Teacher Educators, Administrators, Developers of Materials/Curriculum, Bilingual Programs