|
|
|
Melissa Castillo the principal trainer of MelCast Educational Consulting is a trainer of Sheltered Instruction for the SIOP® Institute as well as an Independent Consultant working with educators in several states across the country. Areas of training expertise include; academic vocabulary development, coaching, sheltered instruction techniques and building capacity. Her professional experience includes many years as an elementary teacher in a bilingual program. She then became the director of several English Language Learner programs at the primary and secondary levels. As a director she developed, and implemented extensive trainings using the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP®) Model. Participants included elementary and secondary teachers, school administrators and district personnel. Melissa has also shared her experience and provided guidance to educational organizations in the areas of planning, implementing and facilitating trainings in sheltered instruction. As a Doctoral student her research has focused on effective instructional programs for language minority students specifically Sheltered English Immersion and Dual Language. Both her professional and educational accomplishments continue to support her efforts in helping schools, teachers and administrators successfully educate Limited English Proficient Students.
|
|
|
|
|
Michelle Giltner has worked with English Language Learners for the past 32 years. Her journey began as a Bilingual teacher in inner city Chicago . When her family relocated to Arizona she began working as an ELL teacher and is currently working in Gilbert, Arizona . She has a certificate in Elementary Education K-8, endorsements in Bilingual/ESL and SEI, as well as a Masters in Reading . These credentials have enabled Michelle to better serve the ELL community. Michelle has planned and delivered staff development on Sheltered English Instruction strategies that assist literacy development as well as promote interaction in the classroom. She facilitated SEI training at both the district and state level. Michelle has co-developed both the Newcomer Curriculum and the ELD curriculum used for K-6 in Gilbert. She has coached teachers working with English Language Learners and modeled effective strategies for teaching vocabulary, grammar, reading and writing. In order to meet the needs of the extended ELL community, Michelle has strived to create linkages with families that enhance the educational experiences of her students. Michelle has worked to organize parent activities, such as Make and Take classes and enlist parents to come in and teach folk dances from their culture. Although she enjoys sharing best practices with teachers, her passion to work directly with students is what keeps her engaged in the classroom.
|
|
|
|
|
Leticia Ruelas is the Project Manager of the demonstration classroom in Phoenix, Arizona . Some of her responsibilities include coordinating and conducting action research with a focus on professional development for teachers of English Language Learners. Her most recent projects included planning and delivering staff development for two summer lab-schools where teachers refined their practice using research-based methods for teaching vocabulary, reading, grammar and writing. Leticia’s experience includes many years of teaching students in bilingual and E.S.L programs. She has coached teachers in the area of second language acquisition and modeled best practices for teaching English Language Learners as the Demonstration Classroom Teacher. She has trained district staff in Sheltered English Instruction with a strong focus on writing effective content and language objectives and strategies for increasing student interaction. Leticia is passionate about English Language Acquisition. Her educational experiences as an English Language Learner are the driving force behind her efforts to provide high quality instruction for English Language Learners.
|
|
