2020 Bill and Linda Tubbs Teaching Connections
Meeting the Needs of Emergent Bilingual Students and Families
An annual University of Northern Iowa College of Education professional development program for future teachers, teachers in preparation and teacher leaders will take an in-depth look at how educators and others can support emergent bilingual learning students and families.
The Bill and Linda Tubbs Teaching Connections is a two-day program this year at Schindler Education Center on January 30-31, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.
Emergent bilingual learners refers to students gaining proficiency in English who learn and speak in a home language as well. It is considered a broader, more inclusive term which reflects a growing number of students who bring a diverse language background to the classroom in Iowa and across the nation.
This year’s programming features panel discussions with representatives from the Waterloo and Marshalltown school districts, a session moderated by EMBARC (Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center), five UNI faculty guest speakers, and presentations from representatives of the Central Rivers Area Education Agency and McFarland Physical Therapy. Topics will range from multiple supports for students and families, changing demographics, triumphs and challenges to addressing needs outside the classroom.
UNI guest speakers include: Michele Devlin, professor, public health and education; David Hernández-Saca, assistant professor, special education; Mark Grey, professor, sociology, anthropology and criminology; Joyce A Milambiling, professor, languages and literatures; and Aliza Fones, assistant professor, languages and literatures.
Now in its fourth year, the initiative was renamed to reflect a donation by Bill and Linda Tubbs to the UNI Foundation to support the College of Education. There is no charge to attend.
Who should attend: UNI College of Education faculty, students and staff; UNI faculty in secondary education across UNI; other professionals and students who work with emergent bilingual learners, such as sports coaches, athletic trainers and students preparing for those careers.
Planning group: COE Faculty Senate members Mary Stichter, David Hernández-Saca, Sophia Min and Joan Bessman Taylor.
Contact: For more information, contact Mary Stichter at mary.stichter@uni.edu or 319-273-2428.
Schedule:
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Opening Breakfast
8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Session
Schindler Education Center 220
9 - 9:30 a.m.
"Systemic Change Framework and Connection Goals," David Hernández-Saca
Morning Sessions
SEC 220
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
"Demographics of a Changing Iowa," Mark Grey
10:30 - 10:40 a.m.
Break
10:40 - Noon
Panel discussion on bridging families with education and health care while meeting the complex needs of the whole family, moderated by Henny Ohr, EMBARC (Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center); Youth Navigator high school students will share their experiences as emergent bilingual students in Waterloo schools (Zoom distance presentation with panel located at REACH/EMTRARC in Waterloo)
Lunch
SEC 508
Noon to 1 p.m.
Afternoon Sessions
SEC 220
1 - 2 p.m.
Presentation and panel discussion focused on ELL strategies in Waterloo, addressing strategies to serve emergent bilingual learners and how to better communicate with limited proficiency families. Amy White, English language learner facilitator, and Simonal Boroianu, dual language emergent and English language development program coordinator, both Waterloo Community School District, Waterloo West high school and parent panel. (Zoom distance presentation, with panel located at REACH/EMTRARC.)
"Educational Experiences of Immigrant and/or Refugee Students," Shehreen Iqtadar, UNI Ed.D. program
2 – 2:10 p.m.
Break
SEC 216
2:10 - 3:10 p.m.
"Selecting Scaffolds to Match Students' Linguistic Needs," Lisa Wymore, Central Rivers AEA E.L. coordinator and consultant for English language learners
3:10 - 3:30 p.m.
Closing
Friday, January 31, 2020
Opening Breakfast
8:30 - 9 a.m.
Morning Sessions
SEC 220
9 - 10 a.m.
Panel: Strategies to serve emergent bilingual students, to better communicate with limited proficiency families and to bridge complex needs of the whole family with resources; Rachel Inks, ESL, Marshalltown Community School District, program coordinator, English language learner and migrant; Marshalltown students.
10 - 10:20 a.m.
Break
10:20 – 11:50 a.m.
Panel: Supporting emergent bilingual students and families; Lisa Stevenson, director of instruction, Marshalltown; Rebecca Colagreco, Council Bluffs (special education perspective); Sue Inhelder, TL, Marshalltown High School; High school/elementary coaches.
Strategies for meeting needs of emergent bilingual learners, including Martti interpretive software, Paul Brott, McFarland Physical Therapy, Marshalltown
(Panels and presentations will connect from Marshalltown and Council Bluffs via Zoom distance learning.)
Lunch
SEC 508
Noon to 1 p.m.
Afternoon Sessions
SEC 220
1 - 2 p.m.
A global health perspective on emergent bilingual learners, Michele Devlin
2 - 2:10 p.m.
Break
2:10 - 3:10 p.m.
"Teaching in Multilingual and Linguistically Diverse Schools and Classroom," Joyce Milambiling and Aliza Fones
3:10 - 3:30 p.m.
Closing