2011 Fall Conference
Stillwater High School
October 1, 2011
Join us this Saturday! On-site registration is available. Invite a colleague to come with you!
A full day of insightful presentations, fresh ideas, and networking with your world language colleagues around the state!
View the schedule of sessions!
Click here to view the schedule of sessions!
Advance registration (before Sept 21):
Members: $35
Non-Members: $65
*Full-time Student Members: $15
On-site registration:
Members: $45
Non-Members: $75
*Full-time Student members: $20
Location & Parking
Stillwater High School
1224 N Husband St, Stillwater, OK
Map to the school
Parking for the conference is available in the south lot near the front doors of the school. Alternately, the conference area is also accessible from the doors on the north side of the school by the north parking lot.
Conference Agenda
8:30 – 8:55 Registration/Sign-In
9:00 – 9:50 Session I
10:00 – 10:30 Language-Specific Meetings
10:30 – 10:50 Exhibits
10:50 – 11:30 Keynote Address
11:35 – 12:30 Session II
12:30 – 1:30 Lunch/Business Meeting
1:35 – 2:25 Session III
2:35 – 3:25 Session IV
Keynote Speaker: Ellen Bernard Shrager
Ellen is a 7th grade Spanish Teacher from Pennsylvania with useful insights into classroom management. She has worked with children from rural and urban poverty and has over 20 years experience in the World Language classroom. She has presented frequently at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the National Middle School Association. Ellen uses a blend of current research, personal classroom anecdotes, and humor to present her workshops.
Keynote Address:
Our electronic society has influenced interpersonal dynamics in meaningful ways, changing how adults and adolescents relate to one another and how children treat their peers. This keynote will explore the changes in teachers’ responsibility for correcting youthful misbehavior and students’ inappropriate responses to correction, seeking to build a bridge from where our students are to where they need to be in order to function in our classroom. Participants will learn the ACT triangle to redirect adolescent behavior and to neutralize students’ negative behaviors. Reduce the drama and restore your enthusiasm for teaching and reaching all learners in a digital age!
Breakout sessions also presented by Mrs. Shrager:
- Motivating and Organizing the Unmotivated and Unorganized
Language teachers need successful students to protect their programs and to contribute to school-wide initiatives to enhance test scores. Students from chaotic households frequently perform academically below their ability and need help with motivation and organization. Participants will be able to help students to understand which poor habits prevent them from completing school work, guide students to a future vision of themselves with these habits, and help form one new positive habit at a time.
- Successful Dialogues with Enabling Parents
Educators now spend more time dealing with indulged students and difficult parents because society has changed the way we are raising children and the resultant behavior children bring to our classes. World Language Teachers need firm classroom management without turning students away from their programs. Using the TRIAL method to respond to requests for enabling will help teachers reach all learners by responding compassionately and appropriately without burning out.
- Neutralize "Entertainment Bullying"
Meet Jordan, a 7th grade student bullied in school hallways. As his world language classmates learned to see other people`s perspectives, they also learned to see the world through his eyes. They transformed into loving classmates who each quietly gave `four minutes a day` to accompany him between classes. Within a week, the situation was successfully managed at minimal cost. Come learn how to set up a similar and important program in your own building. Contribute to your school’s learning climate by helping your administrators solve bullying problems.
Schedule of Sessions
Session I - 9:00 to 9:50 a.m.
“Motivating and Organizing the Unmotivated and Unorganized” – Ellen B. Shrager
Language teachers need successful students to protect their programs and to contribute to school-wide initiatives to enhance test scores. Students from chaotic households frequently perform academically below their ability and need help with motivation and organization. Participants will be able to help students to understand which poor habits prevent them from completing school work, guide students to a future vision of themselves with these habits, and help form one new positive habit at a time.
“Women of the Ancient World” – Dr. Tonia Sharlach
Dr. Tonia Sharlach of OSU will examine the rules and regulations that shaped the lives of women in various ancient societies, including Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Roman. As an expert on the ancient Near East, she will bring a unique perspective to the cultural component of our Latin classrooms. Target language: Latin
“Innovative Approaches to Teaching Literature in the Foreign Language Classroom” – Dr. Teresa Bell
Dr. Teresa Bell will introduce participants to a variety of approaches of introducing and teaching literature in the foreign language classroom.
“OU Summer Study Abroad Programs for Educators” – Jennifer Robinson
Jennifer Robinson will explain two programs offered by OU, one with a summer immersion component in Puebla, Mexico, and the other in Amiens, France.
“Humor in the Chinese classroom” – Susie Tattershall
Being funny may be a gift, but just like any subject, we also can learn how to be funny. Humor in the classroom can help our students pay attention, and therefore learn. Target language: Chinese
“Current Research into the ‘Passive Speaker’ Phenomenon” – Donna Longhorn
Donna Longhorn will present her paper discussing the inadequacy of current teaching methods for adult members of indigenous communities who understand their heritage languages fluently but rarely, if ever, speak them – “passive speakers”. This paper will discuss research being done to better understand the barriers that inhibit fluency among passive speakers in the Absentee Shawnee community of Little Axe, Oklahoma.
Session II - 11:35 to 12:30 p.m.
“ACL and NJCL: Why Latin Teachers Don’t Have a Life During Summer” – Rachel Dowell
Rachel Dowell will share highlights from the ACL 2011 Summer Institute and the NJCL’s 2011 Convention, including using music for reading, websites to supplement your classroom activities, the spirit competition, and fundraising ideas. Target language: Latin
“Building Proficiency: Novice through Intermediate” – Kris Earle
Kris Earle will show you easy-to-use proficiency building activities, with fun twists for dictations, reading, storyboards and more. Students will have meaningful practice in the interpretive, interpersonal and presentational modes.
“Franco-American Fellows Program” – Jennifer Robinson
Jennifer Robinson will explain the Fellows program which is a partnership between l’Alliance Française d’OKC and the Académie d’Amiens in France. Open to central Oklahoma high school and community college students ages 16+, this two-week immersion program allows participants to explore a chosen research topic, while attending school and living with a local host family. Target language: French
“Now You’re Talking: An Overview and Demonstration of STARTALK Teaching and Learning Approaches” – Clydia Forehand, Jenny Chen, Michael Sheng, Xingmin Chen
The presenters will share free resources appropriate for teachers of all languages in the development of lesson plans and assessments, and present lesson demonstrations developed along STARTALK-endorsed guidelines.
“How to use Internet Sources in the World Language Classroom” – Audrey Nelson
Audrey Nelson will provide an overview of many of the resources available on the internet, many of which can be downloaded and used daily in world language classrooms. Exercises, assessments and strategies will be demonstrated. Bring a blank DVD to trade for a collection of the activities for Spanish and French on DVD.
“It’s Elementary, My Dear Watson: A Return to Routine” – Shaylan Crnkovic
The use of a "calendar board" or "math board" in an elementary classroom is to instill foundational knowledge through daily repetition and participation. This session will discuss how the "calendar board" concept can be adapted and utilized in a foreign language classroom to address various topics such as days, months, numbers, weather, question phrases, tenses, etc. There are endless possibilities and lasting benefits!
Session III - 1:35 to 2:25 p.m.
“Successful Dialogues with Enabling Parents” – Ellen B. Shrager
Educators now spend more time dealing with indulged students and difficult parents because society has changed both the way we are raising children and the resultant behavior children bring to our classes. World Language teachers need firm classroom management without turning students away from their programs. Using the TRIAL method to respond to requests for enabling will help teachers reach all learners by responding compassionately and appropriately without burning out.
“Rusticatio et ubi sunt claves tuae?” – Heather Mulhern
Heather Mulhern will share exactly what takes place at the Rusticatio: a one-week Latin immersion experience. In addition, participants will learn the skills of a language hunting game created by Evan Gardner called Where are Your Keys (WAYK). This game is a language learning accelerator and will have the entire group speaking Latin in no time! Check out the method in advance by visiting: www.whereareyourkeys.org . Target language: Latin
“The Textbook is Not My Enemy” - Whitney Stafford Najibi
In the world of TPR and TPRS, sometimes the textbook gets a bad name. This session is to show participants how to get ideas using their current curriculum to promote comprehensible input-based assignments, activities and assessments.
“Time Management and Classroom Activities to Achieve Observable Performance vs.
Assumed Knowledge” – Lilli Lyon
This presentation will provide examples of time management and interesting classroom activities to keep students excited, engaged, and involved in language acquisition. Our ultimate goal as language teachers is to “focus on what the students can DO with the language: OBSERVABLE PERFORMANCE VS. ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE.” Target language: Spanish
“Partnership with Académie d’Amiens” – Desa Dawson and Barbara Thompson
The partnership between the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Académie d’Amiens, France, was recently renewed. Desa Dawson, Oklahoma Director of WLOE, and Barbara Thompson, Honorary French Consul of Oklahoma (Retired) will report on the benefits of the partnership, new developments and opportunities, and the application process to start a partnership. Target language: French
“Classroom Management” – Joe Rex Burnett
This presentation will help teachers manage their class time and classroom by implementing effective classroom guidelines and teaching methods. The benefits of learning Chinese and how it affects both sides of the brain will be a focus of this lesson. Target language: Chinese
Session IV - 2:35 to 3:25 p.m.
“Is That Your Final Answer?” – John Hansen
Certamen (or quiz bowl) is one of the most popular and most competitive events at the annual OK JCL Convention. Topics this game covers include Latin language, Greek and Roman history, and Classical Myth. Join us as we play! No experience necessary. Target language: Latin
“Edmodo.com: Safe Social Media for Students” – Caleb Allison
Social media is widely used by most of our students. Edmodo.com is a user-friendly network that is made by educators for educators and that is safe and secure. This session will focus on basic functions and setup as well as a few advanced features.
“The Active Conversation Room” – Maria Teresa Moinette
Where normally conversation classes are lead by the instructor, in this session you will see activities created and delivered by an intermediate high group of university students. Using learning contracts to have students prepare and lead a session using only the target language makes students become much more active in the learning process.
Chinese Teachers Session
Target language: Chinese
“Neutralize ‘Entertainment Bullying’ “ – Ellen B. Shrager
Meet Jordan, a 7th grade student bullied in school hallways. As his world language classmates learned to see other people`s perspectives, they also learned to see the world through his eyes. They transformed into loving classmates who each quietly gave `four minutes a day` to accompany him between classes. Within a week, the situation was successfully managed at minimal cost. Come learn how to set up a similar and important program in your own building. Contribute to your school’s learning climate by helping your administrators solve bullying problems.
Updated Sept 28, 2011
|