Dynamic New Book- Power of Learning from Inquiry

The Power of Learning from Inquiry Teacher Research as a Professional Development Tool in Multilingual Schools

A New Book in the Adult Education Special Topics: Theory, Research and Practice in LifeLong Learning
by Aida A Nevárez-La Torre, TESOL Program, Fordham University

I am very pleased to announce that we have a new release in the adult education series at Information Age Publishing: The Power of Learning from Inquiry Teacher Research as a Professional Development Tool in Multilingual Schools by Dr. Aida A Nevárez-La Torre of Fordham University.

Dr. Nevárez-La Torre is director of the TESOL and Bilingual programs at Fordham’s Graduate School of Education and has extraordinary experience as a researcher and practitioner in the field. This book is truly a one of a kind human interest, life transformation and professional development research book rolled up into one compelling volume.

Last week iwas describing to some of my graduate students as a powerful demonstration of how working alongside of educators/faculty and guiding them to explore action resaerch, providing a safe space for questioning assumptions, can lead to radical transforamtion. That this book reveals that storeis- in the particiapting teachers voices- how they came to the awakening, and grew to recognize and resist the oppression which they had been silenced previously. Biligual and TESOL educators are often even MORE overlooked in k-12 systems than adult edcutoars (hard for us to belive it ispossible, but it is true. There are many reaons for this basis and oppression- not only do they serve new immigrants, ELL learners, but they may also be ELL or immigrants. The end result is that may schools do not even attempt ot hide the fact that few resources, recogniztion or concern are exercisesd towards these students, teachers or resources.

• Are you ready to discover how one group of people began changing their corner of the educational world?
• Do you want to see how action redsearch can be used to expose oppression?

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Five Roadblocks to Successful Writing

Knocking Down Roadblocks to Successful Writing

Having assisted writers for the last 20 odd years in many different capacities (such as professor, coach, and colleague), I have worked with a lot of frustrated and stymied writers. In addition, I have written 17 books and have encountered many writing roadblocks myself which had to be conquered.

Along the way I have developed five favorite ways to successfully knock down those roadblocks and continue the writing journey. Join me as we explore these strategies.

It dawns on you one day….. You might not realize you are confronted with a roadblock. All you know is you cannot write, or you do not know where to start. Or perhaps you cannot figure out how to make the writing gel so that it is compelling on the page…. These, my dear fellow authors, are all different forms of roadblocks. Now don’t be fooled, there are many roadblocks you encounter along the journey of writing. However, the good news is that the strategies we develop, the momentum of success which we build from conquering even these first five, will strengthen us for the marathon ahead. This article will help you buzz by those roadblocks in order to charge ahead towards success.

The roadblock counter-strategies which I share in this brief article take the form of techniques. Indeed, I divulge some of my trade secrets which I use to assist students, faculty and business people to break the chilly stalemate between the keyboard and the blank screen. Be diligent, keep this list close at hand, give these strategies a try, and be ready to choose a remedy when you encounter your next writing emergency. This is your survival kit. Therefore you must become familiar with it in a non-stressful situation; please consider the following points.

Fingers poised over the keyboard…and begin…

Roadblock 1: I can Say it, but I cannot write it.

Sometimes a piece that we are writing just lends itself more to telling. Sometimes we are more gifted as a storyteller or orator than a writer! Nonetheless when we have to put that same account into written form, what are we to do? One solution is so simple people miss it because of that point. Speak the piece aloud! You might use a recorder, voice activated software, or perhaps a really great friend will take notes or transcribe. Basically, the process is the same in all three methods: speak the project, rather than write it. It is amazing how this strategy can unjam the writing roadblock for people. Some authors even discover it moves them towards developing better writing skills over time.

Roadblock 2: Who is my Audience?

Road block 2 oftentimes lurks at the crux of Roadblock 1. However many of us never learned (or in deference to our English teachers don’t remember learning) about audience. Without this understanding, it is very difficult to have a clear view of who we are writing for in our literary eye while we write. However, this trick works wonders for many people with whom I have shared it: when you sit down to work on your writing, close your eyes for a minute and imagine your readers sitting in chairs in front of you. Perhaps they are ……………..

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