Supporting Newcomers and Students with Limited or Interrupted/Inconsistent Formal Education (SLIFE)
The dates and topics for the two virtual sessions are:
- March 9, 2022 (8-11am ET): Strategies to Support English Learner Newcomers and Students with Limited or Interrupted/Inconsistent Formal Education (SLIFE): During this interactive 3-hour professional development session, participants will explore a framework for the effective instruction of newcomers and SLIFE, apply strategies for supporting newcomers and SLIFE engagement with and understanding of content learning, and discuss and apply strategies for scaffolding academic tasks for newcomers and SLIFE. Participants will have an opportunity to share strategies that are working in their contexts and set goals for strengthening instruction of newcomers and SLIFE in their context.
- April 21, 2022 (8-11am ET): Program Development to Support English Learner Newcomers and Students with Limited or Interrupted/Inconsistent Formal Education (SLIFE): During this interactive 3-hour synchronous virtual professional development session, participants will, explore strategies for creating a schedule and instructional plan that allows collaboration and support for newcomers and SLIFE, apply strategies for supporting and engaging newcomers and SLIFE and their families, including community collaboration, and set goals for strengthening their program model in meeting the needs of newcomers and SLIFE in their schools and districts. Participants will receive tools and strategies that they can apply immediately to their contexts.
Cristina Zakis, MA is a SupportEd consultant and will facilitate the professional development. Ms. Zakis has been an advocate for ELs and their teachers for 14 years in Gwinnett County Public Schools just outside of Atlanta, GA as an EL Programs Instructional Coach for teachers of ELs K-12. Before her retirement from Gwinnett County, she taught ESOL in K-5 and has also been a Spanish teacher and a content area teacher. Her passion for advocating for ELs, their teachers, and their families stems from her parents’ experience as Cuban refugees when they arrived in the US in their teens. Ms. Zakis has developed and delivered PD for teachers in Gwinnett County for over 20 years and has presented at several conferences. She was also part of the team that developed Gwinnett County Public School’s ESOL Instructional Framework. Cristina is proud of her Cuban heritage while also being proud to be American.