Project S.P.E.A.K

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Project S.P.E.A.K

• Missouri Southern State University
• Department of Teacher Education

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Project Description

• Project S.P.E.A.K. is purposefully designed to
  result in significant improvement in the academic
  achievement of English Language Learners (ELLs)
  who are at risk of educational failure. It will
  systemically change the way teachers are prepared
  to teach ELLs in rural school districts of
  southwest Missouri.

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Project Description, continued

• The purpose of this National Professional
  Development Grant is to provide Missouri
  endorsement for Teachers of English for Speakers
  of Other Languages through state-approved courses
  and professional development activities, designed
  to improve classroom instruction for at-risk
  ELLs. Project personnel will assist participating
  teachers in meeting high professional standards.

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Growing Demand

• According to the Missouri Migrant Education and
  English Language Learning (MELL) Program, the
  non-English language population in Missouri has
  grown sharply within the last five years,
  increasing by 86 from 10,238 in 2000 to 19,902
  in 2005.

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Goals

• Overall Goal To improve the academic achievement
  of English Language Learners while systemically
  changing the way ELLs are taught and teachers are
  prepared to work with diverse student
  populations.
• Goal 1 All courses in the MSSU pre-service and
  in-service training programs will be aligned with
  TESOL/NCATE teacher preparation and/or K-12 State
  standards and assessments, including English
  language proficiency standards and content
  standards.

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Goals, continued

• Goal 2 75 in-service teachers will earn
  ESOL/TESOL endorsement, and 150 teachers will
  participate in high quality ESOL/TESOL
  professional development.
• Goal 3 100 of graduates/completers will be
  effective in the instructional setting with
  English Language Learners.

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Courses(3 credit hours each/18 total credit
hours required)

• ENG 301 Introduction to English Linguistics
• OR
• EDUC 387 Grammar for Pedagogical Purposes
• AND
• EDUC 380 Theories of Teaching English as a
  Second Language
• EDUC 381 Teaching in a Multicultural Society
• EDUC 480 Methods and Techniques for TESOL

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Courses, continued

• EDUC 481 Material Development and Assessment for
  TESOL
• EDUC 482 Practicum for Teaching English to
  Speakers of Other Languages
• Some students may need additional courses, such
  as . . .
• EDUC 422 Content Area Literacy Secondary, or
  another approved TESOL elective.

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Benefits to Participants

• Project S.P.E.A.K.
• Supplies free tuition and books.
• Delivers high-quality instruction in courses
  taught by TESOL certified professors.
• Holds classes close to home on MSSU campus.
• Utilizes convenient class times (400-700 pm).
• Provides on-site classroom assistance to
  participants.

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Benefits, continued

• Project S.P.E.A.K. . . .
• Offers endorsement of TESOL (certification).
• Allows certification requirements to be completed
  in only four semesters.
• Gives financial assistance for professional
  development registration fees.
• Provides students with a commitment agreement
  from MSSU.

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Benefits, continued

• In addition, participants will . . .
• Become more valuable to their districts.
• Help their district meet a growing need.
• Develop into a more marketable teacher.
• Gain additional skills to assist your students,
  their parents, and other teachers.
• Grow professionally.

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Possible Benefits

• Depending on their district, participants may . .
  .
• Teach smaller classes.
• Advance on the salary schedule or career ladder
  or receive a bonus.
• Meet professional development requirements.
• Become one of their districts ESOL experts.

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Progress Report

• Thirteen in-service and four pre-service teachers
  are currently in the program.
• Four of the seven target districts have at least
  one teacher enrolled in the program.
• Participants have begun the application process
  for the spring semester and for Cohort I.
• The Project S.P.E.A.K. curriculum is in place.
• By December, the workshops will be in place.

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Upcoming Events

• We are planning four workshops at the Southwest
  Center for Educational Excellence, beginning in
  the spring.
• Project staff members will be attending the
  following conferences MIDTESOL in October,
  Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) in
  October, National Association for Multicultural
  Education (NAME) in October/November, National
  Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) in
  February, and the TESOL Annual Conference in
  April.

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Web Page Development

• Currently a demo page is being created.
• Once developed, the page will be on the MSSU Web
  site linked to the Teacher Education page.
• We are in the process of deciding on its content
  and features.
• Proposed Web Page Menu Buttons include the
  following
• 1) Overview, 2) Podcasts, 3) S.P.E.A.K.
  Services, 4) TESOL Resources, 5) Upcoming Events,
  6) Participating Districts, 7) FAQs, 8) Staff, 9)
  Teacher Certification, 10) Forms, 11) Legal
  Requirements/Issues, 12) News Information, 13)
  Handbook, and 14) Teacher Education-MSSU.