IN THIS ISSUE   
Global Language Convention Proposals Due October 15
Water Educational Exchange Promises “aha” Moments
2008 IBNA Training Workshop Dates Announced
International Classroom
CASIE Welcomes New Staff Member

QUICK LINKS   
Global Language Convention Call for Papers and Workshops
International College/University Fair Flyer
Global Language Convention Registration
Water Educational Exchange Registration
Register for October DP Level 2 Training
International Education Week 2007

Global Language Convention Proposal Deadline Extended to October 15

Proposals for Workshops, Papers and Classroom Showcases has are due by October 15, 2007, for the Global Language Convention.  The GLC, which is being held April 17-20, 2008, in cooperation with the International Baccalaureate (IB), will give language educators an opportunity to converge and discuss best practices, research and much more. The Convention will focus on language immersion programs within the framework of the International Baccalaureate curriculum as well as in schools that are not part of the IB.  Convention attendees will benefit from keynote speakers Katty Kay, Dr. Colin Baker and Dr. Myriam Met.  Additionally, attendees will be able to attend various workshops and showcases of multi-lingual classrooms from schools throughout the world including Argentina, Mexico, Japan and China as well as Atlanta International School. 

The event will be held at Atlanta International School.  The full Call for Papers & Workshops can be downloaded at: http://www.casieonline.org/GLC/Call_For_Papers.pdf. Early-bird registration for the event is now open. Visit www.casieonline.org/glc for more details.

Water Educational Exchange Promises “aha” Moments
By Lynne McClendon, CrossWorlds Director

When students are engaged and motivated and feel minimal stress, information flows freely through the affective filter in the amygdala and they achieve higher levels of cognition, make connections, and experience “aha” moments. Such learning comes not from quiet classrooms and directed lectures, but from classrooms with an atmosphere of exuberant discovery (Kohn, 2004).  [Source: Willis, Judy. “The Neuroscience of Joyful Education,” Engaging the Whole Child (summer 2007, vol. 64 published by Educational Leadership)]

2008 IBNA Training Workshop Dates Announced

June 17-19 • Middle Years Programme Level 1, 2 & 3 Training Workshops

June 25-27 • Primary Years Programme Level 1, 2 & 3 Training Workshops

July 8-10 • Diploma Programme Level 1 & 2 Training Workshops

October 16-18 • Diploma Programme Level 1 & 2 Training Workshops

To register for any of these workshops or find out additional info, please visit http://www.casieonline.org/index.cfm.

AIS Library - A Great Partner in Multiple Language Learning
Part of the International Classroom Series, showing international education in practice.
By Elena Barrio, US Librarian, Sharon Hermann, PS Librarian and Grace Rembert, MS Librarian

The Atlanta International School library is a vibrant, multilingual resource center, designed to support and enrich the curriculum needs of the school with an emphasis on language learning. Librarians have a role as language teachers, because activities in and supported by the library bring about language learning. In keeping with our school-wide language policy, which states "all teachers at AIS are language teachers", the three librarians on staff are in a unique position to support multilingualism through the "library classroom". Each librarian represents and focuses on the unique needs of either the PYP, MYP or DP Programmes. Working as a team, the librarians are able to maximize the benefit of sharing one multilingual library collection across all age and language levels.

The multiple language learning environment in the library influences library collection development and collaborative relationships with teachers. AIS offers English, French, Spanish and German at beginner to native levels and limited offerings exist in Chinese and Latin. All students from kindergarten through Grade 12 study at least two of these languages. Our library collection reflects these curricular needs and is rich in resources, including books, e-books, audio books, videos, DVD’s and magazines, to support the multiple languages of instruction. As educational partners, we work closely with our language teachers when selecting and purchasing materials in multiple languages to ensure all languages and reading levels are represented and directly aligned with the curriculum. We have learned that teachers' cultural knowledge and personal international experiences contribute to our ability to make quality selections for our library collection. Our international teachers share information about their favorite authors, the most popular magazines in their language, important fictional characters from their culture, best language publishers, etc. It is through these collaborative relationships, that we are able to support multiple language learning in our library at AIS.

CASIE Welcomes New Staff Member

CASIE is pleased to welcome Meredith Woolard as the new Events and Marketing Coordinator.  Meredith is an Atlanta native who received her IB diploma from Marietta High School and then received her undergraduate degree from Florida State University.  While at Florida State, she took the opportunity to study abroad in London.  Meredith will be working with CASIE through April 2008, focusing on the Global Language Convention and its many working parts. Meredith joins CASIE from the Alliance Theatre Company.

PAST ISSUES          June-Aug '07          March-May '07

Notes from Alex

Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year (in the northern hemisphere).  I trust that this will prove to be a rewarding year for everyone involved in international education.

Here at CASIE we are gearing up for what will be by far the most eventful year in our seven year history.  In addition to our regular IB workshops, which will increase in scope and number, we are also offering two new events which will develop our mission to promote international and language education.  The Global Language Convention (April 17–20, 2008) is taking shape nicely, and promises to provide an excellent opportunity for educators from around the world to share ideas and programs with others.  We already have schools from China, Thailand, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Canada and the United States interested in showcasing their language programs, and we fully expect this number to grow rapidly. 

Concurrently with the Global Language Convention, the annual meeting of the International Baccalaureate Council of Foundation and Petersen Lecture will be held in Atlanta, thereby adding a further international dimension to the event.

In October we are holding our first CrossWorlds Educational Exchange program, with the topic being water.  Fifteen teams of students (4th to 7th grade age range) will spend a day in Atlanta studying water issues in the region, and then each team will then be teamed up with a school in a different country for a year-long project comparing water-related issues in their respective countries.  This is a challenging pilot program which, if successful, will be developed as an annual event looking at issues which have both global and local importance.

Earlier in September, we are hosting the Council of International Schools College Fair.  This will bring together over 500 IB students from throughout the region with 70 college representatives from the USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, England, Scotland, The Netherlands, Ireland and Switzerland.  The purpose of the fair is to demonstrate to IB students how they have an incredible array of opportunities world-wide for college/university study.

All in all it will be a busy and exciting year for us, and I look forward to the opportunities that it will present. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any comments or suggestions as to how we may further our mission to promote international and language educational opportunities in both public and private sectors of education.

Best wishes,

Alex Horsley

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