Professional Conference Reflection

On Saturday, November 23^rd I attended the Rhode Island Teachers of English Language Learners (RITELL) Fall Conference. This conference focused on Sheltered Instruction and Common Core Standards and the speaker was Dr. Deborah Short. Dr. Short was an excellent speaker who kept my attention throughout the conference. She spoke in depth about the SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) model and how to incorporate such model into everyday instruction. There were also connections made of how to use the SIOP model to fulfill the Common Core Standards.

From this conference I learned the basics of the SIOP model. I learned that the SIOP model works with different techniques that help English Language Leaner students. These techniques include vocabulary development, content area literacy, ad oral language skills. Vocabulary development techniques included many activities that got the students involved and even incorporated an activity with us as the participants. They included 4 Corners Vocabulary, Word Sorts, List-Group-Label, Shades of Meaning, Word Familiarity Rating, and others. All of the activities were provide on a handout given to us that I can keep for the future. It seemed very beneficial to get the students working together and sharing out the more. Vocabulary is definitely going to be a part of my lessons as a science teacher so I believe these methods and activities will be useful to my future.

Although I do not plan on going into teaching ELL, I still found this conference to be very educational. Learning different techniques as a future teacher is so important because I do not wish to be a routine teacher. Getting my students involved in activities that are educational is a huge goal of mine so attending more conferences like this one will be great for my own development. I also will try using the SIOP model checklist that was also provided in my lessons. Overall, Dr. Short’s presentation was a great first conference that I have attended and I definitely will utilize her techniques into my future teaching practices.