SABES Offers Theme-Based Staff Development

Over the past year, SABES focused its staff and professional development activities around the theme of writing. The goal of the initiative was to increase the breadth and depth of staff development by centering on a particular area. Five programs across the state applied for intensive on-site technical assistance for writing projects. In addition, each SABES regional resource center offered activities centered on writing: workshops, mini-courses, online courses, and writing conferences. The fall 2004 issue of Field Notes will highlight some of the work that was completed during the writing initiative.

Next year, after a planning and development process of several months, SABES will offer focused, intensive staff development centering on teaching math. In partnership with TERC (TERC doesn't stand for anything anymore; they are simply known as TERC!), a leading research and development organization based in Cambridge, SABES will design activities to support teachers in teaching math in ABE programs.

To stay updated about opportunities for math professional development, please contact your regional SABES representative or check the SABES Web site.

New Resource From New Readers Press

New Readers Press announces the publication of a new ESL series called English—No Problem: Language for Home, School, Work, and Community. The series companion Web site www.enp.newreaderspress.com includes a free online lesson planner that "allows teachers to create and save customized lesson plans, related graphic organizers, and selected assessment masters."

Movie Making for ESOL Classes

I recently received a very fun and whimsical card in my e-mail from my friends and colleagues, Steve Quann and Diana Satin. The card appeared as a very short animated movie. When I thanked Diana for it, she told me it was a fun thing to do in ESOL classes. Go to: www.dfilm.com/index_moviemaker.html

Check out the Web site below and learn how to make cartoons, then go ahead and let your students play. Be careful, though: it's kind of addictive.

Go to: www.dfilm.com/index_moviemaker.html and select "Making movies".