English Learner Newcomer Training- Eastern Idaho

Come and learn in a collaborative setting, where you are able to network and create a professional community of practice with educators across Idaho. The Newcomer Support training is focused on providing educators tools and resources for working with newly arrived immigrant students to the State of Idaho. This training is relevant for a district EL Coordinator, principals, instructional coaches, teachers, and paraprofessionals working with immigrant and refugee students need additional instructional training.

Recently-arrived immigrant students (newcomers) bring a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and language to the classroom, and their educators need to be equipped with methods for connecting these assets to daily instruction as well as the overall classroom environment. In this session, we will explore practical ways to differentiate instruction for newcomer multilingual learners (MLs), particularly those at beginning levels of English and/or home language proficiency. We’ll discuss how to leverage newcomers as partners, and participants will walk away with tangible ideas and reflections for next steps in enhancing support for their newcomer MLs.

Breakfast and an afternoon refreshment will be provided; lunch on your own. LEAs are responsible for transportation costs.

Pre-Conference Webinar Series: Please ensure you register and add it to your calendar so you don’t miss out on this additional training. December 6, 2023 at 3:30-5:00pm MST: https://idahosde.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEkd-irpzwoGtNIGRP138GgcZW4fkDM6hrw March 6, 2024 at 3:30-5:00pm MST: https://idahosde.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAocuqtrzgqEtdTSiq7sUMXVen3TETXYPbS May 8, 2024 at 3:30-5:00pm MST: https://idahosde.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwtfu2gpz8tHdT-Dt5s0GiwRXOdBA08iYzD

Carlene Thomas is the CEO and founder of an educational consulting company that advocates for equity for multilingual learners (MLs) and specializes in support for bilingual education and English as a second language (ESL) programs. Carlene also currently advocates at the national level by serving on the executive board for the National Association for English Learner Program Administrators (NAELPA) and on the leadership team for the National Newcomer Network (NNN). Throughout her career, Carlene has been able to impact MLs through multiple perspectives. After teaching as a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) professor at a university in Bejing, China, she returned to the states with a clear passion for MLs. In Texas, Carlene has worked in various roles including ESL teacher (in both elementary and secondary school settings), ESL curriculum writer, ML compliance coordinator, ESL director, regional ESL/migrant educational consultant, and the ESL Program Coordinator for the state of Texas. In her work at the Texas Education Agency, Carlene developed extensive compliance guidance resources, program implementation and evaluation tools, training materials, and comprehensive guidance on instructional practices for MLs. She is dedicated to serving MLs and their families by promoting additive bilingualism within all programs for MLs.