As an AmeriCorps Alumnus (2004), I do my best to try to "get things done" for the Guam community. I encourage my fellow AmeriCorps alumni to continue to make a difference!

CLICK HERE to view the April AmeriCorps NCCC E-Newsletter. Enjoy!

The School of Education Alumni Association was established in 1998.
The present advisor is Dr. Lourdes Klitzkie. The SOE Alumni has a very strong sense of commitment to graduates by their fundraising efforts to sell plaques according to Dr. Klitzkie. She stated that the mission of the SOE Alumni is to “Promote and develop skillful, talented, scholarly educators and professionals and also to foster a spirit of loyalty among alumni of the School of Education.”

The University of Guam Association for Childhood Education International (UOG-ACEI) is a student organization in the School of Education. The UOG-ACEI association has purchased several plaques from SOE Alumni to honor and give recognition to members who will graduate May, 2011, and have demonstrated excellence in service by performing community outreach activities and educational projects.

On March 21, 2011, the UOG-ACEI officers presented a check to Dr. Klitzkie to purchase seven plaques to honor ACEI graduating seniors.

Pictured L-R: Katrina Baza, ACEI Public Relation Officer; Heidi Cameron, ACEI President; Maria Perez, ACEI Treasurer, and Dr. Lourdes Klitzkie, SOE Alumni Advisor.

TESOL Convention Highlight #3 -
Six Blogging Activities for Practicing L2 English Writing
Presented by Kristina Scholz, Northern Arizona University

Scholz introduced six blogging activities that encourage ELLs to write freely and fluently in a low-stress, highly personalized context. The activities shared relate to specific writing forms and incorporate various creative internet-based tools. The blogging activities introduced can be modified to fit a variety of teaching situations.

She mentioned that the following activities would enhance the learning experience of ELLs:

• Activity #1: Profile Writing

URLs: http://baseplate.com/toys/minifig/

www.buildyourself.com/, www.simpsonmovie.com/main.com/main.html?cid=us

• Activity #2: Report Writing

URL: www.fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp

• Activity #3: Evaluation/Critique Writing

URL: www.youtube.com

• Activity #4: Creative Writing

URL: www.ugo.com/games/superhero-generator-heromachine-2-5

• Activity #5: Explanatory Writing

URL: www.artic.edu

• Activity #6: Reflection Writing

URL: www.worldle.net

Annual Curriculum Fair - April 21, 2011 –Thursday 1:00pm – 5:00pm @ Tamuning Christian Fellowship, Camp Watkins Rd.,Tamuning ($2.00 FEE PER FAMILY)

Click on the image below to view details of the curriculum fair.

Free Training for Professionals that Support Military Families - Duty to Care II

Duty to Care II: Honoring the Healers training presented by ZERO TO THREE through the generous funding of the Department of Defense. This one day event is aimed at providers in increasing their resilience and reducing compassion fatigue and burnout in an effort to continue to provide the highest level of sensitive and responsive care for infants/toddlers and their families. Online registration is now open and available. Colleagues from both the Guam National Guard/Reserves and civilian community providers who support NG families are encouraged to register.

April 15, 2011 0800 – 1600

Hyatt Regency Guam 1155 Pale San Vitores Rd. Tamuning, Guam 96913-4206
Register for this training online at www.zerotothree.org/ctamf
For registration questions, contact: Secely Smith 202-638-1144 mprojects@zerotothree.org

Click on the image below for details regarding this special training.

Click here to view the Guam Council IRA April 2011 Newsletter.

April 9 - Nurturing Our Students With Resources, "Spend It All, Spend It Now"

LOCATION: ORDOT-CHALAN PAGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA

May 21 - Gathering Together for the Year in Review

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)-UOG Chapter 1203 will hold a workshop at the UOG School of Business and Public Administration (SBPA) Building, IT&E Lecture Room on April 9, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The conference theme, "Building Bridges through COLLABORATION." For more information, contact Mariana Santos at 687-7579.

TESOL Convention Highlight #2: Time Management Strategies for English Language Teaching Professionals

Presented by Christine Coombe, Dubai Men’s College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Justin Shewell, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Coombe focused on the importance of good time management strategies, tracking the use of time, scheduling and planning, and time savers.

The following are the time savers she stressed:

*Layer Activities – Multitask (Read or talk on the phone while exercising); Streamline your errands.

*Let go. Don’t be perfect. Do things just enough.

*Stock up. (With a well stocked kitchen or desk, last minute runs to the store will be minimized.)

*Limit interruptions.

*Use computers for routine, repeating lists: address/phone, passwords, family info.

*Use checklists to keep from forgetting things.

*Exercise (Essential for superior academic performance; Many say NO ‘time’ for exercise; Your brain won’t function well if you are tired.

*Floating Tasks (Things that can be done anywhere, anytime; Carry around a book you need to read, work to review, or a letter that you need to write.

*Survival (Self-sacrifice and denial are necessary at certain times; Scrap everything that’s not absolutely essential for survival.)

Shewell focused on improving time management through technology. He focused on organizing our lives with technology, technology time wasters, and technology time management methods.

He stressed the following:

*Make sure the technology you use “works” for you.

*Choose technology that is practical, portable, upgradeable, and dependable.

*Learn about ALL the features your technology provides and use them.

*Don’t let technology distract you from your goals and priorities.