UC LMRI 2000 Conference Highlights

The 13th annual UC LMRI Conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine California, May 12-13, 2000. There were 117 participants from California and the rest of the United States. The conference staff, Valery Rivera and Nancy Siris-Rawls helped ensure a successful conference.

This year's conference focused on recent school reforms and how they impact the teaching of English Learners(ELs). In the last few years California has embarked on am ambitious school reform effort designed to improve the performance of California students and schools. Although some of these reforms are just beginning to impact schools, they are likely to affect the teaching and achievement of English-language learners. This year's conference brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to look at these issues.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:

Friday, May 12, 2000

After registration on Friday, the conference began with a poolside buffet lunch and the first keynote address by Walter Secada of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, “Parents, Politics, and Pedagogy: Issues in Developing 2-Way Bilingual-Education Programs.”

Participants help themselves to sumptuous buffet lunch.

The afternoon concurrent sessions consisted of presentations about:

• The Implementation of Proposition 228
• Implementing ELD Standards and Instructional Services for English Learners
• Teaching and Assessing Writing
• Teacher Recruitment and Supports
• Teaching and Assessing English Learners

Views of the Friday afternoon sessions

Break time!

ConcepciónValdez (l) and George García (r) both from UCLA

Friday Evening Activities

After the afternoon presentations, there was a reception for the entire conference at poolside, followed by a dinner for the Bilingual Fellowship Graduate Students and their advisors from three campuses (UC Davis, UCLA and UC Santa Cruz). The rest of the participants were on their own for the rest of the evening.

UCLA graduate students enjoying themselves at the Conference reception

Saturday, May 13, 2000

Saturday began early in the morning with a concurrent session with presentations on the following:

• Teaching and Assessing English Learners
• Teacher Preparation in an Era of Reform

Following the early morning session, there was a general session of UC LMRI-Sponsored Research:

• Bridging Multiple Worlds: Culture, Youth Identity, and Pathways to College in a Contemporary Democracy by Catherine Cooper (UC Santa Cruz)
• UCLA Latino Home-School Project Over 12 Years: A Retrospective Look and Current Investigation by Ron Gallimore / Leslie Reese (UCLA) and Claude Goldenberg (CSU Long Beach)
• Lessons Learned From a Longitudinal Study of Untracking (that we would not have learned in a short study) by Bud Mehan (UC San Diego)

Catherine Cooper (UCSC) presenting UC LMRI-sponsored research findings

The conference participants adjourned to the Le Café Restaurant for a buffet luncheon followed by the second keynote address by Catherine Snow (Harvard University). She spoke on, “Learning to Read in a Second Language: Why is it So Hard?”

Catherine Snow (Harvard University) gives the Saturday afternoon keynote address

The conference concluded with an afternoon concurrent session with presentations on:

• Collaborative Efforts to Improve the Achievement of English Learners
• Historical and Ideological Analyses of School Reforms and English Learners

Saturday Afternoon Sessions

The conference ended at 3:30 pm on Saturday. A good time was had by all.

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To 2000 Conference Program (PDF)