The Keys to Engagement: An OWL Online PD Series

This five-session series will focus on breaking down the framework of OWL into concentrated and comprehensive pieces.  Each session in The Keys to Engagement is focused on essential elements of teaching in a high engagement classroom. Facilitators effectively model the techniques so that you will leave with new ideas each time. Participating in the Series gets you consistently connected to teachers from across the country who are also working to build engagement in their classrooms, as you share successes and solutions that have been discovered. 

 

Introduction to Student Engagement– October 19, 2021 

Join this action packed, one-hour training where you will experience the techniques to effectively use the OWL structure to build community, stay in the target language, and allow students to guide the learning.  Come see how to build engagement with your students and feel confident in the language acquisition journey.

 

Building Connections in Language Acquisition– November 2, 2021

As our students dive into proficiency based learning, it is essential to provide connections for our students with the classroom content and their community. The social aspect of language acquisition is crucial for student production and growth, and we can create an environment where students are constantly interacting with one another while staying 100% in the TL, even at the novice level. This session will unravel the science and purpose behind pairing, grouping, and transitions and will explore how these elemental pieces of circle structure provide rich context, build trust within the community, and bring down the affective filter of the individual student and classroom as a whole. 

 

Look Who’s Talking: Engaging Questioning and Conversations– November 16, 2021

An engaging classroom focuses on student interest to build language acquisition. When teachers effectively Prompt and Question students with intentional function and text type, and root conversations in relevancy, student output increases tenfold! This session will focus on how to develop prompts in the moment using the ACTFL proficiency descriptors and the OWL Curriculum Triangle as the guiding foundation.  This session will give participants a chance to build questioning sequences and will discuss strategies for high student- engagement and production and how they are a direct result of the prompts we create.

 

Cultivating Student Empowerment– November 30, 2021

Student empowerment evolves when our students own the language and use it in a way that is applicable to them. This session will guide teachers to develop specific structures to pique students’ interest, foster a positive atmosphere, and provide relevant content to keep students engaged. Accountability in the circle allows the teacher to provide the appropriate feedback and resources to fill in “gaps” discovered in the production process to ensure further development of communication skills, and hooks helps to de-unitize and focus on context and content as the driving forces for moving up the proficiency levels in an organic way. These essential steps in the circle ensure that your students continue to grow!

 

High Engagement Classroom in Action– December 14, 2021

In this fifth and final session of the series, we will reflect on the growth in ourselves and our classrooms, as well as project forward to how we will continue to hone the pieces of the OWL structure and in return, create a high engagement classroom. Whether you know nothing about circle structure, are somewhat familiar with it after participating in an OWL PD, or you have been implementing each step of PPATH along the way- this session is designed to deepen your understanding of PPATH in action for successful implementation and direction in your learning environment.

 

What’s Included

The Keys to Engagement Online PD Series includes:

• All online materials: videos, printable resource pages & collaborative documents.
• Access to the Live Webinar with inspiring and informative facilitators.
• A dynamic, and collaborative online community through Mighty Network. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What time are the live webinars? 

• Check here for your time zone’s appropriate time!

How do I participate in the Online Session?

• OWL uses Zoom to facilitate live webinars. For maximum success, check to make sure your microphone, camera, and volume are working on your computer. 
• Questions on how Zoom works?  Call us at (857)-293-1706, or email at [email protected].

If I cannot attend a live session, will I be able to experience the Session?

• Yes! All live webinars will be recorded for your perusal when is convenient for you. Be sure to register with video access. 

Do I need social media accounts to participate?

• No! We’re using a community based platform that allows you to engage with fellow participants without the distraction of a feed.

If I live internationally, can I participate?

• Yes! You will be charged additional for shipping of the resource materials. With questions, reach out to [email protected].