Postsecondary Education Council (PPEC) Training

Dr. Catherine Stoicovy and Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera provided staff development for faculty from regional post-secondary institutions that are part of the Pacific Postsecondary Education Council (PPEC) during the week of the Pacific Educational Conference (PEC) held July 14-17 on Guam. In particular, we provided ESL second language acquisition skills training titled, Scaffolding Academic Literacy Skills for Asian-Pacific Islanders at the Post-Secondary Level.





















Pictured above L-R: Judy Torres, Northern Marianas College instructor; Midori Mersai, Palau Community College instructor; Dr. Catherine Stoicovy, PPEC instructor; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera (back), PPEC instructor; Rosemary Kohama, Palau Community College instructor; and Rennetta Meyar, Palau Community College instructor. Not pictured is Cynthia Deleon Guerrero, Director for School of Education at Northern Marianas College. Please note that other members attending the PEC were not available at the time this picture was taken.

Happy 65th Liberation Day, Guam!

Happy 65th Liberation Day, Guam! Biba Guam! Biba UOG! Thank goodness the weather cooperated with us! It was wonderful being able to wave to our family, friends, and UOG alumni while on the UOG Liberation Day trolley! The UOG Liberation Day float was also very impressive and symbolic with its eagle wings, canoe, paddles, plumerias, ocean, significant UOG logo, paddlers, Tritons, palm leaves, latte stones, academic book, and so much more! A lot of cultural work and ingenious creativity went into the development of it! Way to go Tritons!

Here are a few snapshots I took during the parade. Enjoy!

















Tritons pictured above L-R: Peter Duenas, UOG Alumni; and Vincent Salas.

















Pictured L-R: Dr. Robert Underwood, UOG President; and Dr. Helen Whippy, UOG Vice President. Back row, UOG Alumni Triton, Peter Duenas, Class of 1976.

















Triton pictured above: Peter Duenas, UOG Alumni, Class of 1976, performing the traditional call of the Kulu.

Why Graphic Organizers?

Graphic organizers convert complex information into manageable chunks. They make content area information more accessible to English Language Learners (ELLs). They include webs, Venn diagrams, charts, and other visual tools that enable your ELLs to better comprehend and organize information that is taught. This will further allow your ELLs to develop their higher level thinking skills and promote their creativity.

Each week I will share the different graphic organizers that teachers can effectively utilize in their classroom instruction. The first graphic organizer I will introduce is a modification of the KWL Chart that many teachers have heard of. The visual is self-explanatory. This is certainly a useful tool! Enjoy!

Note: Click on the image above to get a clearer picture of the graphic organizer.

Join Us for Another Engaging Cultural Conference: PEC

We will soon be treated to yet another cultural Pacific conference, namely the Pacific Educational Conference (PEC), to be held next week. Last month, we had a meaningful cultural experience during the 28th Annual International Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association (PIBBA) Conference with its engaging theme, “Invigorating Languages and Cultures of the Pacific.” It is a cultural learning experience I will always cherish.

This year’s theme for the 26th Annual PEC is “Preparing the Pacific Child for Life.” It will be hosted July 14-17 at the University of Guam. It is co-hosted by the Guam Public School System, University of Guam, Guam Community College, and the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning. Like the PIBBA Conference, it is an annual event in which Western Pacific educators are provided with opportunities for professional growth and cultural enrichment in a variety of academic areas. In particular, the PEC conference will focus on preparing the Pacific child for life. Educators will be given an opportunity to gather ideas, strategies, and best practices for lifelong learning.

Educators seeking recertification can earn one graduate credit by attending the conference and completing ED894 PEC course requirements. However, before you can sign up for the course, you must be a registered PEC participant.

If you missed the PIBBA Conference, then here’s another opportunity to attend an engaging cultural conference you won’t want to miss! We hope to see you there!