Dear Early Education and Care Partners:
The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), in partnership with World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA), is sponsoring a series of comprehensive training opportunities for Early Education and Care Partners who support young dual language learners (DLLs), ages 2.5-5.5.
In Massachusetts, more than 1 in 4 children under age 6 live in households that speak a language other than English. In order to prepare children for school success, a focus on early learning for DLLs and meaningful engagement of their parents and communities is essential. In November 2013, EEC adopted WIDA’s Early English Language Development Standards: Massachusetts Guidelines to Support DLLs.
For more information see linkhttp://www.mass.gov/edu/government/departments-and-boards/board-of-early-education-and-care/eec-board-meetings/archived-eec-board-meeting-materials/2013-eec-board-meetings/november-12-2013-full-board-meeting.html
In order to support educators and parents/caregivers of DLLs, the EEC is sponsoring a series of trainings for educators, administrators, coordinators, trainers, and parents/caregivers. Training opportunities for Early Education and Care Educators include:
1) REGISTER NOW! Massachusetts EEC Partnership Conference: Supporting Young Dual Language Learners’ School Readiness and Beyond-February 27, 2014
Description: This is a free one-day event focusing on the importance of supporting, instructing and assessing DLLs and English Language Learners (ELLs) from Birth through Grade 12 to ensure school readiness and success.
Logistics: Thursday, February 27, 2013 at Wheelock College, 9:00a.m.-3:30p.m. Eastern Time, lunch provided, free registration
Audience: Early Education and Care partners from PreK-Public Schools, Coordinated Families and Communities Engagement (CFCE) Grantees, Head Start, Early Education Programs, Home Visiting, EPS Grantees, Readiness Centers, Institutes of Higher Education, State Partner Agencies, Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&Rs) Agencies, Mental Health Grantees, advocacy groups, and others.
Registration: If you are interested, please register at https://new.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_42gepfcvtCehKtf&Preview=Survey&BrandID=uwmadison
See copy of the WIDA's Early English Language Development Standards: Massachusetts Guidelines to Support Dual Language Learners
http://www.wida.us/DownloadDocs/standards/EarlyELD/WIDA_2013_EELD_Standards.pdf
2) Webinar series for educators who are supporting dual language learners
a) Language in Play: Introduction to the Early English Language Development (E-ELD) Standards
Description: This webinar will provide a more in-depth view of each component of the E-ELD Standards Framework. Each component will be reviewed and implications for use as well as implementation in various early education and care programs will be discussed.
Logistics: Thursday, March 13, 2014, 3:00-4:00p.m. Eastern Time
Audience: Massachusetts Early Education and Care educators and providers and others interested in supporting DLLs
Registration: If you are interested, please register at https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=1304&password=M.2CE9A16CC2BB7622389F5737D25EBC
b) Understanding Language Growth: The E-ELD Performance Definitions
Description: This webinar will provide a detailed examination of the Performance Definitions.
Topics include:
o Foundational concepts and research that guided development of the Performance Definitions;
o Similarities and differences with WIDA’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework; and
o Considerations for use of the Performance Definitions in planning curriculum and monitoring growth of early English language development.
Logistics: Thursday, March 27, 2014, 3:00-4:00p.m. Eastern Time
Audience: Massachusetts Early Education and Care educators and providers and others interested in supporting DLLs
Registration: If you are interested, please register at https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=1304&password=M.A239D0784D1DCDAE6D302EF9DBB49B
c) Playing with Language: Understanding and Using the Model Performance Indicator (MPI) Strands
Description: This webinar will build a deeper understanding of the MPI strands.
Topics include:
o The connection between the Early English Language Development (E-ELD) Standards and the MPIs;
o Identifying elements of a MPI strand;
o Using MPI strands in everyday practice; and
o Implications for instruction and assessment.
Logistics: Thursday, April 10 2014, 2:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Central Time, 3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Audience: Massachusetts Early Education and Care educators and providers and others interested in supporting DLLs
Registration: If you are interested, please register at https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=1304&password=M.A9F591EC26C86262BE819C1452AE75
3) Regional Trainer-of-Trainers Workshops
Description: Five regional trainer-of-trainer workshops will be offered to Massachusetts EEC partners. Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the newly adopted Early English Language Development Standards: Massachusetts Guidelines to Support DLLs while further developing facilitation skills. Interested participants will need to complete an application in early spring. More information will be sent at a later date.
4) Parent Focus Groups
Description: Eight regional parent focus groups will be offered to groups of parents across Massachusetts. Parents will have an opportunity to learn about the newly adopted Early English Language Development Standards: Massachusetts Guidelines to Support DLLs. Parents will also learn about the importance of maintaining and developing home language and the role language plays in school readiness. More information will be sent at a later date.
The trainings and webinars will be conducted by WIDA in partnership with EEC
If you have any specific question about the regional trainings or the EEC/WIDA project, please contact Jennifer Amaya-Thompson (EEC) at [email protected] or 617 988-6634. This training opportunity is funded through a federal Race to The Top Early Learning Challenge grant.
Sincerely,
Tom Weber
Commissioner Department of Early Education and Care