Welcome to
the monthly
E-News for
the Mid-State
Regional
Bilingual
Education
Resource Network (RBE-RN),
located at OCM BOCES in
Syracuse, NY.

Please share this information with colleagues in the field. You can also send us items that you'd like us to include in next month's E-News. Mid-State RBERN can be reached at:

• Phone number: 315-433-2664
• Fax number: 315-431-8585
• Email: rbern@ocmboces.org
• Website: http://rbern.ocmboces.org

Thank you for your interest in the education of New York's English Language Learners.

January 2017

OBE-WL News

Dear Colleagues:

This month’s topic is:
Holidays and Celebrations

This month’s topic is:
Starting the New Year

Happy 2017!!

This month, we’ll be focusing on reflection, setting goals, and trying new practices.

Upcoming Events

• SUPAC’s three part webinar series on the Special Education Process. Each session is during the lunch hour. The topics are A Walk through the IEP, Involving your Child in the Special Education Process, and Preparing for your Child’s Annual Committee on Special Education (CSE) Meeting. To register, go to: http://supac.org/training/register-supac-trainings/ or register by phone at (315) 443-4336 or toll free 877-824-9555.
• Training sessions for the 2017 NYSESLAT. There are 3 sessions to choose from. One full day session for those new to administration and scoring, and an am or pm session for those experienced in administrating and scoring.
• March 14, 2017, 8:30am-3:30pm
  Administration and Scoring of the 2017 NYSESLAT
  Full Day Session for NEW NYSESLAT Administrators and Scorers
• March 14, 2017, 8:30am-11:30am
  Administration and Scoring of the 2017 NYSESLAT
  Refresher Sessions for Experienced NYSESLAT Administrators and Scorers
• March 14, 2017, 12:30pm-3:30pm
  Administration and Scoring of the 2017 NYSESLAT
  Refresher Sessions for Experienced NYSESLAT Administrators and Scorers

RBE-RN Library

Check out books and other resources. We even have iPads to loan for you to pilot in your classroom.

This month's book highlights: 
25 Quick Formative Assessments for a Differentiated Classroom, Grades 3-8, Low-Prep Assessments that Help you Pinpoint Students’ Needs and Reach
by Judith Dodge

This collection of quick, flexible, informal assessments helps teachers take a snapshot of student learning—at any time during a lesson or unit of study, in any curriculum area. Students' responses give teachers a clear picture of what students know and what they need help with, what material to reteach or extend, and how to pace instruction. Designed to engage a range of learning styles and skills, the assessments come with an easy step-by-step plan, grade-level modifications, tiering tips, and student samples!

To find this book, do an enhanced search at the RBE-RN Library by author or title.

Resource Spotlight

• ELL Teachers Connect and Learn in Twitter Chats #ELLCHAT started a couple years ago and is still going strong today.
• Use the Winter Break to Renew your Spirits and Sense of Purpose Strategies for how to recharge and deal with stress in the New Year.

Content Corner

• Five Things Teachers Can do to Improve Learning for ELLs in the New Year Tips on how to set measurable goals for teaching ELLs.
• Inspect your Ideology Reflect on how you feel about teaching English Language Learners and the effects it can have in the classroom.

Home Strategies

Image CC Brando.n

• Snow Days: Resources to Share with Students and Parents Help keep students engaged in learning on those unexpected snow day closings.

Newcomer Nook

• Supporting English Language Learners with Next-Gen Tools A guide on how to incorporate technology effectively into ENL instruction.

Tech Tips

Image CC Sean MacEntee

• Apps and Websites for Making Posters and Collages

For Administrators

• Lessons Learned From Great Schools Around the World The three main focuses of the top-ranked schools in the World.

ELLs in the News

• ACT to Offer Test Supports for English-Learners
• Students, Some of them Immigrants, Write Children’s Books Inspired by their own Lives

References

• Judie Haynes TESOL Blog
• Colorín Colorado ELL News Headlines
• Bridging Refugee Youth & Children’s Services

Coming Next Month

Our topic will be: For the Love of Teaching

Check out Mid-State RBERN’s blog!

Check out Mid-State RBERN’s blog!
And the ISS Blog
Please let us know what you think!