Language Difference Or Disability?

We'd like to share our upcoming workshops based on the unique needs of English Language Learners who have also been identified with a disability:

Language Difference or Disability? The Work of the Multidisciplinary Team

Participants will review the stages and patterns of second language acquisition, the impact of a disability on language acquisition, considerations for distinguishing a language difference or learning disability, decision-making with Response to Intervention, and planning instruction that aligns with the students Individualized Education Program (IEP).
9-12:00 pm
Fee: Free
You can register for this workshop in MLP here.

The Role of the Language Proficiency Team

Participants will review the role of the Language Proficiency Team and develop a plan for how their school/district will identify a language acquisition need when a student has a disability. By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to identify the steps to ELL identification of a student with a disability, the role of each of the team members and determine what key documents need to be reviewed. 
1-3:00 pm
Fee: Free
You can register for this workshop in MLP here.

Both of these workshops will be held at:
Southern Westchester BOCES
450 Mamaroneck Avenue, 3rd Floor
Harrison, NY 10528

PR/HYLI Application

The Hudson Valley RBE-RN invites you to nominate students in grades 11 and 12 to participate in the 27th Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PR/HYLI). The student application can be found at this link. 

PR/HYLI is sponsored by the New York State Puerto Rican Hispanic Task Force and the New York State Education Department. PR/HYLI participants develop leadership skills. They also have the opportunity to interact with positive role models such as Puerto Rican/Latino elected officials, educators, and business leaders, develop in-depth knowledge of the state legislative process.

Last year 60+ students from the Hudson Valley participated in the training sessions. From that group 44 high-achieving high school Latino students represented the Hudson Valley delegation at the statewide Institute weekend in Albany. The Hudson Valley delegation was the 2nd largest in the state and brought home $9,000 worth of scholarships. 

This year’s Institute is scheduled for March 10-12, 2018. During the three-day Institute in Albany, students participate in leadership activities, network with high school students from across New York State, participate in a mock assembly, interact with legislators and attend a Student Recognition Dinner.

In preparation for the Institute, a local training program will be conducted by the Hudson Valley RBE-RN from December of 2017 to March of 2018 (a schedule is attached to the application). 

Expectations for attendees: 

• To participate in the PR/HYLI training sessions and the weekend Institute, all students must be accompanied by a district a chaperone/liaison who will also assist in the training sessions. 
   
• Face-to-face training sessions go from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Due to training requirements, we will only accept and retain students who commit to attend the entirety of each training session. 

Completed student applications MUST be postmarked by November 27, 2017.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email José M. Meléndez, Resource Specialist and PR/HYLI Trainer at jmelendez@swboces.org or Gregory Bailey, Technology Resource Specialist and PR/HYLI Trainer at gbailey@swboces.org.

Pre-Register For The NYS TESOL 47th Annual Conference

We'd like to share the following information from our colleagues at NYS TESOL:

NYS TESOL 47th Annual Conference

Empathy in Action: Social Pedagogy and Public Advocacy for English Language Learners

November 3 & 4, 2017
Hilton Long Island/Huntington
Melville, New York

Pre-registration deadline extended to October 29th, 2017. 

Pre-register now at https://nystesol.wildapricot.org/event-2650869.