St. Louis, Missouri: March 31, 2007
Science and English Language Learners (ELL)
Research, Practical Approaches, and Policy Directions for Classroom Teachers, School and District-Level Administrators, and University Teacher Educators
A Daylong Conference Offering NSF-funded Program Findings and Related Research and Best Practice in the Area of Science and ELLs
In November 2004 and March 2005, NSTA presented two successful conferences titled Linking Science and Literacy in the Classroom, convened in order to disseminate findings from NSF-funded, research-based programs to an audience of K–8 teachers, administrators, and other practitioners. Following on the success of the Science and Literacy conferences, NSTA subsequently conducted two NSF-funded conferences in November 2005 and April 2006 on assessment, titled Science Assessment: Research and Practical Approaches.
Feedback from our external evaluation from these NSF-funded conferences referred to the need for a conference on Science and English Language Learners (ELL). We at NSTA believe that a conference focusing on ELL is a necessary next step in the movement to solidify connections between science and literacy for all students and is of the utmost importance as our nation continues to become more diverse.
Through the ELL conference, NSTA will provide critical information, guidance, and leadership to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in science. The conference will provide a venue to convene an impressive, diverse roster of cross-disciplinary and organizational professionals whose specific and collective expertise promise to provide new insights and inroads in the area of science and ELL. The overall objective of the daylong event is to allow teachers, as well as administrators at school and district levels and professional development providers, to learn about the implications of NSF-funded and other current research for classroom practice and professional development.
The Conference Program
Format. The conference format includes three plenary sessions that address major issues of general interest and features national experts on science education linked to culture and language research broadly and English language learners (or ELLs) specifically. In addition to the plenary sessions, two blocks of 10 concurrent small-group sessions target the interests of a specific audience segment, such as elementary or secondary teachers, principals, or curriculum supervisors, and focus on a topic closely related to the professional needs of that group as they work toward engaging and increasing the achievement of cultural and linguistic minority students in science education. Plenary sessions and the majority of the small group sessions highlight the research findings from projects in NSF’s portfolio that have developed programs, curricular materials, lesson planning protocols, and professional development models in the area of teaching science to ELLs.
Presenters. Presenters are drawn from the fields of science education and culture and language research (second language acquisition, linguistics, home and community culture), instructional materials design, school administration, and teacher professional development. Presentations are relevant to the interests and needs of the practitioner audience. Among the list of highly regarded scholars who are scheduled to make presentations at the conference are Eugene Garcia at Arizona State University in Tempe; Okhee Lee at the University of Miami in Florida; Donna Deyhle at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City; Michael Klentschy, superintendent of the El Centro Elementary School District in California; Ursula Sexton at WestEd; Guillermo Solano-Flores at the University of Colorado in Boulder; Olga Amaral at San Diego State University; Ann Fathman at Notre Dame De Namur University in California; David Crowther at the University of Nevada in Reno; Trish Stoddart at the University of California in Santa Cruz; Michael Padilla at the University of Georgia in Athens; Deborah Short at the Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington, D.C.; Maria Lopez-Freeman of the California Science Project; and Ray Barnhardt at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.
Selecting Breakout Sessions
Registrants will be able to select the breakout sessions that best match their needs and interests ahead of time. Session descriptions include focus questions, a short narrative, and key phrases, such as “instructional strategies” or “focus on current research” to clarify the topic, grade level, and audience. All participants will be able to access ELL conference materials online and through the subsequent executive summary and conference publications. Participants are encouraged to attend in teams, and the diverse breakout session format is designed to accommodate different team members’ interests.
You may select two breakout sessions (one from Block A and one from Block B) when you register for the St. Louis conference online or by completing and attaching the Breakout Session Selections Form to your completed St. Louis Advance Registration Form (see below). Please read the session descriptions carefully. Sessions are often targeted for specific audiences and, therefore, all may not be of interest to you. For descriptions of the sessions (Block A: C-2A through C-11A; Block B: C-12B through C-21B), including framing questions and a short summary to clarify the topic, click here.
Breakout sessions are limited to 50 participants each, and sessions fill up on a first-come, first-served basis. Please rank your top five sessions for both Block A (white section on form) and Block B (shaded section on form) in order of preference, putting a number (1 to 5) in front of each of your selected sessions. Every effort will be made to assign you your top choices. Online registration will provide you with the best opportunity to enroll in the breakout sessions of your choice.
Registration
You must register for the NSTA St. Louis National Conference on Science Education to participate in the Science and English Language Learners (ELL) Conference.
Registration Fees
The cost of the ELL conference will be at an NSF-subsidized rate of $195, after participants have first registered for the NSTA St. Louis National Conference at their applicable rate. The fee includes a continental breakfast and a box lunch, as well as a forthcoming NSTA Press book generated by the information presented at the ELL conference, which will be sent to participants when it is published in 2008.
How to Register
Participation in the ELL conference is by advance registration only, and group size is limited. Purchase tickets for the ELL conference when you register for the St. Louis conference online or using the St. Louis Advance Registration Form available by download below (attach your completed Breakout Sessions Selection form). You MUST provide your e-mail address when registering for the ELL conference. The advance registration deadline is March 16, 2007. Registration refunds will be given until March 23, 2007.
Space is limited. For the best breakout session selection, please register early. If still available, tickets may be purchased on-site at the NSTA Registration Area for $200.
If you have already registered for the St. Louis Conference, please fax the ELL Conference Breakout Session Selections Form with credit card payment information to 703-243-3924.