Spiraling Instruction for Continued Proficiency Growth through Checkpoint B
Presenters: Bill Heller, Dr. Joanne O’Toole, Dr. Lori Langer de Ramirez
Webinar date & time: Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, 4:00-5:00 pm via Zoom
The Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) presents this next webinar in its 2025 Professional Learning Series: Spiraling Instruction for Continued Proficiency Growth through Checkpoint B. This webinar is offered free of charge for world language educators and administrators working and studying in New York State educational institutions. One (1) hour of CTLE credit offered.
Webinar description: Checkpoint B builds on proficiency attained in Checkpoint A and establishes a foundation for continued proficiency development. In this session, participants will examine ways to spiral instruction through Checkpoint B. The workshop will provide a brief overview of the performance indicators for Intermediate proficiency targets and consider themes that incorporate the four new Checkpoint B topics to provide additional cultural contexts. Attendees will also look at key curriculum elements including authentic text types appropriate for enacting Interpretive tasks and the language toolbox needed to carry out Interpersonal and Presentational language functions.
Click here to download the webinar flyer.
Registration process: All participants are encouraged to pre-register for this event. Pre-registration will close on Monday, February 24, 2024; there will be no same-day registrations. Once the registrant's email address has been verified as being from a New York State school, college, or university, an email confirming their registration will be sent. Twenty-four hours prior to the event, all registered individuals will receive login instructions with the link to join the webinar. Only pre-registered attendees will be eligible for a certificate documenting attendance and/or CTLE hours.
For more information on professional learning webinars for world language educators, please visit our website.
Bill Heller has taught in public elementary, secondary, community college and undergraduate classrooms for 40 years, including 24 years teaching Spanish at Perry High School. He has been a methods and Spanish instructor at SUNY Geneseo since 2001. He is a frequent presenter of workshops, webinars and keynotes. Bill served as Conference Chair for the 2018 Northeast Conference (NECTFL) and is currently a member of the Executive Board and Content Advisory Panel for World Languages at the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
Dr. Joanne O'Toole is a Professor of Modern Language Education in the Curriculum and Instruction Department at SUNY Oswego. She is a member of the Executive Committee of the NYSED World Languages Content Advisory Panel and the Principal Investigator of the NYS World Language Standards Initiative. Joanne has served in several world language leadership positions including NYSAFLT President and NECTFL Director, and is a regular presenter at national, regional, state, and local conferences. Joanne is a certified teacher of Spanish and taught Spanish for 16 years prior to entering post-secondary education.
Dr. Lori Langer de Ramirez began her language teaching career as a teacher of Spanish, French and ESL. She holds a Master's Degree in Applied Linguistics and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is currently the Director of World and Classical Languages & Global Language Initiatives at the Dalton School in New York City. Lori is the author of books, texts and articles about language teaching and learning and multicultural education. She presents workshops at local, regional and national conferences and works with teachers in schools throughout the U.S. and around the world. Her website (www.miscositas.com) offers free materials for teaching Chinese, English, French, and Spanish.
