SOE Alumni Update: ACEI Provides Literacy Activities at Bishop Baumgartner Lunch Program

ACEI Literacy Volunteerism: The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) members and officers volunteered their time to coordinate the Bishop Baumgartner Lunch Program in Sinajana from October 3 to November 14 in an effort to promote literacy through learning opportunities outside of the curriculum. Kindergarten and first grade students had the opportunity to engage in digital storybook Read Alouds of legends, such as Pohnpei’s “Tab to Bat.” Other activities included the use of local books, felt- board storytelling, crossword puzzles, and arts & crafts activities relating to the stories.

Pictured front row L-R: Kimberlie Castro, Treasurer; Mariana Santos, Co-Chair; Ewalani Escrupulo, Vice-President; and Joy Rivera, Member. Back row L-R: Vaughn Baisa, Public Relations Officer; Donna Purcell, Chairperson; Alicia Quintanilla, President; Beauty Letewasiyal, Secretary; and Ria Torres, Bishop Counselor.

SOE Alumni Update: GPSS ELL/ESL Standards Cadre 2008 Presents at UOG's 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference

Members of the GPSS ELL/ESL Standards Cadre 2008 presented the Guam English Language Proficiency Standards at the University of Guam’s 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference held November 14 and 15 at the University of Guam and Holiday Resort & Spa. The theme of the conference was Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas: Empowering English Language Learners. The cadre’s presentation titled Guam English Language Proficiency Standards (GELPS) introduced the English Language Standards that were developed for social, intercultural, and instructional purposes; language arts; mathematics; science; and social studies. The standards were developed to address the needs of GPSS English Language Learners, close the achievement gap for ELLs, and help ELLs attain English proficiency, or do the same for CHamoru Language Standards. An introduction of the Enhanced Assessment Grant (EAG) Project was also introduced to demonstrate the close relationship between the Standards and the EAG.

Cadre members who presented were Rosa Salas Palomo, Project Director/Coordinator of the Guam ESL Certification Plus Project; Zander David Refilong, Program Coordinator; Gene Dydasco, Education Specialist with the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL); Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, ESL Teacher/Coordinator with the Guam Public School System (GPSS) & adjunct professor for the Language and Literacy, TESOL, and Instructional Technology Programs & Department of English and Applied Linguistics at the University of Guam; Keith Juarez, Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) teacher with GPSS; and Guadalupe (Faye) Camacho Kaible, school program consultant with GPSS. Among the audience members who attended the presentation were Maydelene C. Ganan-Flores and Risa Jade S. Miguel, administrative staff of the Micronesian Language Institute; Menang Diaz, GPSS State Program Officer; GPSS teachers Bobbie Manibusan, Dawn Maka, Cynthia Manibusan & Vina Johnson. Cadre members not pictured are Dr. Margo Gottlieb, LN494/G Instructor & Illinois Resource Center; Lucia C. Leon Guerrero, GPSS School Administrator; Chamoru teachers Teresita C. Flores, Cecilia C. Bermudes, Marilyn R. Perez, Roy M. Leon Guerrero, Jocelyn T.Santos, Rufina F. Mendiola; June E. Taitano from GPSS Special Education; Kirk S. Drygas from Project Hatsa; Dr. Jose Q. Cruz from the Guam Education Policy Board; GPSS ESL teachers, Lois Taitano Gumataotao, Lorena M. Montague, Priscilla C.T. Perez, Melissa R. Pablo, and Marife G. Fernandez.

SOE Alumni Update: Using Internet Tools to Enhance ESL Instruction

Graduate students enrolled in ED638: Teaching with the Internet presented at the University of Guam’s 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference held November 14 and 15 at the University of Guam and Holiday Resort & Spa. The theme of the conference was Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas: Empowering English Language Learners. The students’ presentation titled Using Internet Tools to Enhance ESL Instruction explored web sites aimed at enhancing ESL and content area instruction, writing, collaboration, professional development, instructional technology, website designing, blogging, and assessment.

Pictured L-R: Paul Sekine; Ceferino Duarosan Jr.; Dr. Kate Mastruserio Reynolds, conference keynote speaker and associate professor of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in the departments of foreign languages and curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, instructor; Kate Pappano; and Gregory Mamay.

SOE Alumni Update: Jumpstarting Reading Comprehension for English Language Learners

University of Guam School of Education professors presented at the university’s 21st Annual Regional Language Arts Conference held November 14 and 15 at the University of Guam and Holiday Resort & Spa. The theme of the conference was Reading and Writing Across the Content Areas: Empowering English Language Learners. The professors’ presentation titled Jumpstarting Reading Comprehension for English Language Learners introduced the reader’s schema and its importance in comprehending, learning, and remembering ideas in stories and text.

Pictured L-R: Dr. Kate Mastruserio Reynolds, conference keynote speaker and associate professor of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in the departments of foreign languages and curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Dr. Catherine Stoicovy, Dr. Kelle Murphy, and Professor Julie Fee (sitting) from the University of Guam.

SOE Alumni Update: Language and Literacy Presentation

Language and Literacy Master of Education students enrolled in the ED643 Literacy Assessment course completed the semester on December 1, 2008 with a presentation of their online LiveText Portfolio and Diagnostic Case Report at the University of Guam’s School of Education Literacy Center. The course focuses on using a range of formal and informal assessment tools and methods to diagnose and assess individual learners’ reading and writing development, to guide instruction, and to involve the learner in self-assessment.

Pictured L-R: Lorna Gonzalez; Kate Pappano; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, instructor; Lucille Linder; and Ceferino Duarosan Jr.

SOE Alumni Update: UOG Alumni Officers Sworn In

UOG Alumni Induction Ceremony: Superior Court Steven Unpingco swore in the new officers of the University of Guam Alumni Association during the association’s Awards/Inauguration ceremony held October 3, 2008 at the Guam Hilton Resort and Spa. Pictured L-R: James Underwood, Treasurer; Toni Aflague, Secretary; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Vice President; and Jennifer Sanchez, President.

SOE Alumni Update: SOE Students Pass Praxis I Examination

Praxis Examination: School of Education students who are pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education have recently passed the Praxis 1 exam required for teacher certification. The Praxis 1 exam consists of Academic Skills Assessments which measure proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics. Pictured L-R: Jodi Borja, Erika Flores Arceo, Lisa Taitano, Joshua C. Damian, Mara Andrada, Brianne Naputi, and Joleen Gay.