I learned the basics of ESL instruction in my first CES Licensure course, Theory and Practice of Acquiring a Second Language. WIDA, SLIFE, Vygotsky, Comprehensible Input, ZPD, and many other words and acronyms that I had never even heard before came to life, both in theory and in practice. Prior to taking this course I had no experience with ESL.  A dual English and Russian major in college, I came to the Collaborative to support student affairs for the aspiring educators who enroll in our licensure programs. But, as I sat in the CES Licensure office reviewing enrollment materials and listening to our ESL instructors discuss new initiatives and strategies, I realized how interested I was in those discussions. I wanted to enroll in the ESL licensure program.

At the end of my first semester as a student, I used knowledge gained through Theory and Practice of Acquiring a Second Language to take and pass the ESL MTEL and earn a Preliminary teaching license. This summer I have completed my seventh course through CES, including six licensure-specific courses for ESL teachers and one very enriching reading course from my Master’s plan of study. After more than three years working in the Licensure office, advising other teachers about credentialing questions while they advised me about teaching strategies, I have accepted my first job as an elementary ESL teacher for the 2016-2017 school year.

The inspiring and grounded instructors at CES prepared me for this, and the dedicated teachers who participate in our courses helped to prepare me, too. Not only has CES given me the content and practical application experiences that I needed to begin my new career, but they also helped me to build a strong network of fellow teachers and to familiarize myself with resources available to support me on my path. As I continue to take courses for my Master’s with CES and Fitchburg State, I look forward to reflecting on and sharing my own experiences as a new educator with peers. These courses provide a platform for both new and experienced teachers to learn from each other under the guidance of expert instructors who are deeply engaged in the work.

I can and will recommend the ESL licensure program at CES to anyone who may be interested in a career as an ESL teacher. You can learn more about it here, or email licensure@collaborative.org for more information.

We here at the CES Licensure Program are a bit belated in expressing our thanks to teachers for all they do.  But who better than to help express that appreciation than Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Mitchell Chester and his colleague, Kid Commissioner:

 

With over 700 teachers and over 1 million students in Massachusetts, this is a great time to become a teacher!  CES Licensure offers a convenient and affordable program that will help you earn your Initial license as a teacher in Massachusetts.

If you’re already teaching, our courses can also be taken for professional development.  Want to learn more about technology integration?  Interested in enhancing your skill in working with English Language Learners?  Want to learn new strategies for working with struggling readers?  Register for one of our hybrid online courses!

Check out our website or call and speak with an advisor today!

Summer 2016 course registration is now open! Courses begin the day after our registration deadline this semester, with most courses beginning on Wednesday, May 11th. Secure your place today and give yourself some time to purchase texts for the course.

You can register online via our online course catalog. Or if you have any questions about registration, email registrar@collaborative.org for more information.

You may also notice that one of our courses has a new name, Understanding Differences and Disabilities (formerly known as Working with Individuals with Disabilities). This course is an excellent entry point into the Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities Initial Licensure program, as it establishes a foundational understanding of the many different learning needs of students in both substantially separate and inclusion classroom settings. General education teachers will also benefit from this deeper look at the specific learning differences and disabilities their students may bring with them to class. The course may be taken for PDPs in order to fulfill the Special Education requirement for recertification, as part of an Initial licensure program, or as part of the 3-course pathway to Additional licensure as a Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities. Learn more or register online.

Enjoy this post from the Education Week teachers blog titled “Why I Plan To Stay in Teaching” by Justin Minkel.  

https://blog.collaborative.org/licensure/2016/04/285/

Over the last five years, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has been working to increase the quality of educator preparation programs. One result of these efforts is improved alignment between the goals of educator preparation programs and the expectations for teachers in the field.  With this in mind, ESE has developed the Candidate Assessment of Performance (CAP) as the new means to assess licensure candidates’ readiness to positively impact student learning.  The CAP differs from the past assessment process in that it explicitly aligns with the MA Educator Evaluation Framework.

All educator preparation programs are piloting the CAP in either fall or spring of 2015-2016.  CES has been piloting the CAP this spring with all of our western MA practicum candidates. Through this experience, our candidates are gaining practice in key areas of the Educator Evaluation Framework, such as self-assessment, goal-setting, and developing student impact ratings. Teacher candidates are assessed using three of the four Professional Standards for Teachers, with a specific focus on six key strands that are most relevant to beginning practitioners.

The CAP will be implemented as the new pre-service assessment for all teacher candidates throughout MA beginning in Fall 2016. You can read more about the CAP pilot and implementation process at DESE’s CAP website.