Link to Connecticut Technical High School System
Emmett O'Brien Technical High School 141 Prindle Avenue, Ansonia, CT 06401
 
Telephone: (203) 732-1800, FAX (203) 735-6236

Connecticut State Department of Education

 

O'Brien and Platt Instructors Team Up at Connecticut Tesol Conference

ConnTesol Workshop PresentationPop-up books, Vidioms, Role Plays, baseball games and a finale that took learning grammar to a new level by using multiple intelligences are a few of the ingredients Mary Parady of Emmett O’Brien  and Suzette Montanez of Platt Tech threw in the blender to concoct a ‘A Whole Lot of Shakin’ activities at the 2007 Annual ConnTesol Conference. 

These two English Language Learner (ELL) instructors packed a cornucopia of activities that engaged the interest of all the teachers at this gathering.  The presentation included interactive strategies and activities for teaching content literacy to teachers at the Conntesol event.

The “Shake Up Your Content” instruction includes differentiating instruction, multiple intelligences, modifying lessons and making connections, to engage all students in the learning process.

More than a tablespoon of creativity permeated the session. “We presented interactive lessons that could be used in all content areas.  Our students at Emmett designed a board game in the lab that they presently use to study vocabulary in the trades and subject areas.  They also quiz each other on their knowledge in specific subjects. The students love it and enjoy the competition!”

The quality of the presentation reflected the wide range of experience both instructors consistently bring to the table.  Ms. Parady has an M.S. in Multicultural and Bilingual education and a Sixth Year in Educational Leadership.  She is the former program manager for ELL Adult Education Programs, a program developer and a successful grant writer.  She currently teaches in the language Arts Lab and the new Career Development at Emmett O’Brien.

Ms. Montanez
Ms. Montanez
Ms. Parady
Ms. Parady

Ms. Montanez graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez.  She majored in English Linguistics and a minored in English Education.  After working in Puerto Rico as an English high school teacher, she was recruited by the CSDS to work for the Connecticut Technical high School system an ELL/Language Arts Lab instructor.