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Colorado Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Volume 35 Number 1 |
May 2013 |
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2013 Fall Convention
Call for Proposals (Deadline: June 21, 2013)
Erin Kimmel, President
Chris Tombari, Convention Chair
Jennifer Shank, Program Chair
Ruth Moore, Publishers' Liaison
Dieter Bruhn, Hospitality Liaison
CoTESOL Colleagues:
The educational landscape in Colorado has seen some vast changes over the last couple of years. At this year's CoTESOL Annual Fall Convention (November 8-9, 2013), we would like to invite you to come and share your experiences as you are "Blazing New Trails" in your work and efforts in this new frontier.
What inspires and ignites you? Come and share knowledge about various cultures and working internationally. Demonstrate the successes you have experienced in content areas and language domains. Illustrate effective strategies in supporting vocabulary development. Share grammar activities that deliver a wealth of approaches and methods. Whatever your passion, there are a variety of formats in which to present your knowledge and expertise. These formats allow you to organize and exhibit your experiences and talents in a variety of structures and in a style that fits your approach.
Much of the success of this organization has come from you, researchers and partners in the field...and it still does. So please, genuinely consider sharing your skills and interests at our fall convention. Proposals can easily be submitted online at: http://www.colorado.edu/iec/cotesol. The deadline is June 21, 2013. Because CoTESOL is one of the largest ESL conventions in the Rocky Mountain region, you will have the advantage of meeting new colleagues as well as revisiting with old 'partners'. |
Award Given in Honor of
1st President of CoTESOL Barb Sample
Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning celebrated the invaluable and immeasurable accomplishments of Vice President Barbara Sample on May 3, 2013. Held at the First Baptist Church across the street from the State Capitol building, the event was attended by current and former employees, current and former board members, family, and friends. Everyone in the room had a personal connection to the honoree that evening. Myrna Ann Adkins, President and CEO, presided over the program which included a drumming performance and speeches from various attendees, including DU International Law professor and Denver Post columnist Dr. Ved Nanda, as one of the founders of Spring Institute along with Robert Sample, Pambos Polycarpou, and Connie Shoemaker.
Barbara has been the heart of the institute's education programs since 1979. Among her many accomplishments, Barbara authored the teacher's manual for book 3 of the Crossroads series (Oxford University Press) and created the internationally recognized pre-employment program for refugees, WorkStyles. Many of the educators and trainers at the event stated they considered Barbara their mentor for adult ESL instruction.
In her honor, Spring Institute has established the "Barbara Sample Legacy Fund" which will support the professional development of instructors at Spring Institute. CoTESOL contributed $1000 and presented her with a check that evening. The donation was fitting in that Barbara was also a founder of CoTESOL. |
Interested in a CoTESOL Board position?
Are you interested in a great networking opportunity? Would you welcome the chance to build your skills and boost your resume? Do you feel like contributing some of your time and talent to providing high-quality professional development opportunities to others in the TESOL industry? If yes, then consider applying to join the CoTESOL board starting in November 2013.
We are currently recruiting replacements for several volunteer board positions. The openings include Special Interest Group (SIG) representatives for:
- Adult Ed Co-Chair
- Content Area Co-Chair
- Elementary Ed Co-Chairs
- Intensive English Program/Higher Ed Co-Chair
- Secondary Co-Chair
This is a two-year commitment that includes attending approximately 6 board meetings each year (held on Friday evenings from 4-6pm) and assisting with decision making; contributing two articles per SIG each year to the CoTESOL e-newsletter; encouraging colleagues to submit proposals to present at the convention; organizing a forum of interest for your interest group for the fall convention; helping at the convention with bag-stuffing, registration, "ask-me" duties; and serving as an ambassador for the organization. We also have an opening for Publisher's Liaison, which involves all aspects of organizing publishers' involvement with the conventions.
If you would like to apply, please complete the form found here:
www.colorado.edu/iec/cotesol/board/boardap2013.docx
Join Us!
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Once a year, English language educators from across the United States meet to learn about the inner workings of Congress, receive hands-on training on the fundamentals of advocacy, gain knowledge about the current political climate and trends as they relate to TESOL's priorities, and meet with members of Congress to share their thoughts.
CoTESOL Board Members Dr. Stephanie Dewing, an instructor at UCCS and Dr. Angela Bell will be representing CoTESOL at Advocacy Day in DC June 16-18. During this time they will hear from representatives in DC along with over 100 representatives from other states.
Last year, the Senators and Congressmen really appreciate stories from the field. They wanted to know how their actions were impacting teachers and English Language Learners (ELLs). Also, they wanted to know what more they could do (or what they could do differently).
Representatives in Colorado have a strong voice in many issues that relate to ELLs. They have been the driving forces behind the Dream Act and modifications to NCLB/ESEA to include the Growth to Excellence Act looking at student growth as an indicator. There will also be discussions about the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act.
Please send Dr. Bell an email with what you would like her to tell our Congressmen and Senators. She needs stories of what is working in addition to what you want us to be advocating for. Any data you may have from your programs that you think may be useful for advocating for English learners in Colorado will also be appreciated.
You can contact Dr. Bell at University of Colorado Colorado Springs
[email protected]
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Contents |
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Questions/Comments:
If you have an questions or comments about this newsletter, please contact the CoTESOL Communications Liaison. Christine Deines, Communications Liaison/ Newsletter Editor |
Job Openings
Interested in a Volunteer CoTESOL Board position?
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Upcoming TESOL
Professional Development
June 16-18, 2013
CoTESOL sends two representatives to TESOL's annual Advocacy and Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., to meet with Colorado Congressional delegations.
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200 conference goers attended the 2013 CoTESOL Spring Conference in Colorado Springs on April 20.
CoTESOL's Spring Conference was a wonderful day of collaboration with an impressive line-up of speakers, beginning with a keynote address from the highly sought after dynamic duo: Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld and Dr. Maria Dove from Molloy College, New York. They have been the authors and editors of many recent books, including: Collaboration and Co-Teaching: Strategies for English Learners (2010);Co-Teaching and Other Collaborative Practices in the EFL/ESL Classroom:Rationale, Research, Reflections, and Recommendations (2012); and Common Core for the Not So Common Learner (2013); and they were the September 2012 TESOL Journal editors for the special edition on collaboration.
The 15 breakout sessions included topics regarding successful co-teaching practices, creative collaborations (using technology/online tools, IEP partnerships, teaching abroad, etc.), and helpful CELP tools developed by the Pikes Peak partnership of ELD directors to bring content and language teachers together, among others.
Thanks to the CoTESOL Board and Pikes Peak ELD Directors for their support. Thanks to all of the presenters for their time and dedication. A special thanks to Andrea and Maria for traveling to Colorado Springs to share their expertise with us. Thanks to Dean Mary Snyder from UCCS School of Education for supporting this event. Also, thanks to the UCCS Faculty Minority Council for your donation to our presenters. And a special thanks to Larry Fisher and Angela Bell for their time and dedication to organize this event.
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Executive Board |
CoTESOL Executive Board
2013
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Mission Statement |
CoTESOL supports its members.
- Encourages participation in professional discourse.
- Supports collaboration, networking, leadership and research.
- Provides professional development.
- Disseminates information
CoTESOL supports students and education.
- Advocates and fosters respect for language and culture.
- Promotes high standards.
- Upholds the profession of English language teaching.
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Contact Information |
CoTESOL
c/o Larry Fisher
63 UCB
Boulder, CO. 80309
303-735-4234 |
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