[NIFL-AALPD:1141] Re: Mentoring

From: Varshna Narumanchi-Jackson (varshna@grandecom.net)
Date: Fri Feb 27 2004 - 19:09:58 EST


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From: Varshna Narumanchi-Jackson <varshna@grandecom.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-aalpd@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:1141] Re: Mentoring
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Sorry it took so long!  Varshna.

on 2/24/04 10:54 AM, jataylor at jataylor@utk.edu wrote:

> Hello Varshna, All,
> I am curious about your workshop - can you tell us more about it?

I'm surprised at how many teachers go to a session and think, I could have
done that!, without doing it.  If you're in teaching, you already possess
more than the average bear's set of public speaking skills.  A few concerns
drove this workshop:

A) Texas has 7 GREAT centers -- I wonder where are they going to get
qualified, professional trainers since there has been no coordination or
leadership in this field, in my opinion, for the last two years.
B) TESOL 2005 in San Antonio
C) decline in number of proposals for our affiliate's regional conference

The workshop focuses on:

A) developing a topic (with feedback)
B) determining an audience (national, state, in-service) and its qualities
C) thinking about one's own strengths and weaknesses (e.g., technical skills
like using PowerPoint)
D) reviewing proposals that were accepted
E) writing the abstract and marketing the proposal to both a jury and to a
conference attendee reading a program

We were fortunate to have two hours to do it, but we really could have used
three.  Some great ideas came out of the workshop, and I was delighted by
the scope and breadth of experience and curiosity these teachers brought
with them.  We didn't get to points D and E.



>Do you have 
> other plans in the works for helping teachers to develop presentation or other
> leadership skills?

I have not really thought about it, but I was encouraged that the local PD
specialist let her instructors know that any hours put into researching and
writing a proposal, even if it's not submitted, would be accepted.  It's an
interesting concept.  PD is pretty typically limited to classroom skills or
knowledge development, yet it has the potential for much more.

> Are the teachers participating in a broader professional
> development initiative - i.e. is the intention that they will be delivering PD
> to other teachers in the future?
> 
Several folks were encouraged to consider submitting a proposal for the
regional TexTESOL III conference.  We would continue to work with them to
mentor them through the practical issues of putting together a presentation.

> Would those of you who work in or otherwise coordinate mentoring or
> train-the-trainer programs share what you do when mentoring teachers, no
> matter how informal?  How do you help teachers who want to enhance their
> presentation skills?
> 

> (lots of questions, I know!)
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Jackie
> 
> 
>> PS.  If anyone is interested, locally, a colleague and I just gave a
>> workshop on responding to a "call for papers" as an aspect of professional
>> development.  I would sincerely like to find out how to mentor teachers who
>> want to develop their "presentation skills" as a form of professional
>> development.
> 
> 



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