Family & Community Students & Families Student and Secondary Support
Academic Support

Professional Development Opportunities

Academic Support Technical Assistance Session

April 27, 2006 Hoagland-Pincus Center, Shrewsbury, MA
for all State-Funded Academic Support Grantees

The Student Support Unit invites Academic Support coordinators and teachers from public school districts, charter schools, approved private special education schools and collaboratives, community colleges, and one stop career centers to an all day conference. The day will address issues that previous programs have identified as challenging, and each workshop will provide insight into issues facing students from the classes of 2003-2009 who have not yet earned (or are at risk of not earning) their competency determination. Since the workshop sessions run concurrently, and most will not be repeated, we encourage your program to send a team of 2-3 people if possible.

Keynote speaker Bob Sullo, noted author and administrator, will address how to foster intrinsic motivation in struggling learners. Two sessions of workshops will follow, each led by district and/or Department of Elementary and Secondary Education staff. Designed to help participants understand issues and examine successful strategies, the workshops will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• How to identify the needs of English Language Learner (ELL) students:
  Beginners, early intermediate, and transitioning students - who are they? Learn about the who, what, and why of the MEPA and MELA-O (the Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment and the Massachusetts English Language Assessment - Oral).

• How to serve English Language Learner (ELL) students:
  What are the expectations for language learners? Learn about activities and strategies to develop English skills and language acquisition.

• Saturday school with great attendance and encouraging results?!
  It can happen! Learn the planning and integration of resources needed for the development of a successful multi-program, multi-grade weekend program.

• Successful transitions to high school:
  Learn strategies to identify and institutionalize improvement for students from the middle to high school levels.

• Assessing and developing math skills:
  Learn ways to ascertain previous knowledge and present concepts.

• Quality "Work and Learning" models:
  Come to discuss with your peers and Department staff both the successes and the challenges you face in designing and implementing "work and learning" models.

The day will also provide opportunities for participants to network with others from their program type, to receive Academic Support data submission training, to hear about summer grant opportunities, and more.

See registration page for the schedule  .

Questions? Contact the Student Support Unit via phone: 781-338-3203 or email: achievement@doe.mass.edu. We look forward to seeing you there!