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Fall 2026 CoTESOL Convention
Welcome to the 48th Annual CoTESOL Fall Convention!
Dates: November 14-15, 2025
Location: The Conference Center, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, 1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton, CO 80241
Company: Academic clear filter
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Saturday, May 9
 

9:50am MDT

Making Language Stick: Practical Strategies for Combining Scaffolding, the Lexical Approach, and Vocabulary Recycling
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:10am MDT
Learn how to make vocabulary stick by integrating scaffolding, the Lexical Approach, and lexis recirculation in one cohesive ESL lesson. This session offers practical, classroom-tested strategies to deepen lexical retention, promote fluency, and support learners across levels through meaningful, repeated exposure to language in context.

Audience: Adult Education (AE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR)
Speakers
avatar for Yanina Seheda

Yanina Seheda

ESL instructor
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:10am MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"

9:50am MDT

Empowered and Engaged: Reimagining Adult EFL Online with Purposeful Participation
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:35am MDT
How can we move beyond screen fatigue and turn virtual classrooms into dynamic, student-centered communities? This interactive presentation offers tools, techniques, and mindsets that empower educators to lead inspiring, interactive, and equitable learning experiences online.Participants will explore how to:
  • Design online lessons that promote learner autonomy, voice, and collaboration.

  • Use virtual tools designed for the virtual learning environment  to facilitate meaningful reading, writing, speaking, and listening practice.

  • Differentiate for multilevel learners in online settings using visual supports, breakout rooms, sentence stems, and choice boards.

  • Foster a strong sense of classroom community with routines that prioritize identity, culture, and connection.

Through a combination of demonstration, collaborative planning, and reflection, attendees will leave with adaptable lesson templates and tech-integrated strategies that engage adult multilingual learners — even through a screen.Whether you're teaching synchronously, asynchronously, or in hybrid formats, this workshop will show you how to energize your online classroom with confidence, creativity, and purpose.

Audience: Adult Education (AE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Educational Technology (TECH)
Speakers
SB

Sarah Burgess

EFL Teacher, Comunity Development and Wellness Center - Aurora Mental Health and Recovery
SH

Shereen Hill

EFL Instructor, Community Development and Wellness Center - Aurora Mental Health and Recovery
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:35am MDT
Dogwood

9:50am MDT

Cross-Institutional Partnerships for TESOL Teacher Development and Multilingual Learner Success
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:35am MDT
This panel explores dynamic partnerships that support TESOL teacher preparation and professional development. Presenters—including U.S. program directors, international partners, and TESOL students—highlight mutually beneficial collaborations. Attendees will engage in interactive reflection and goal-setting to envision sustainable partnerships that integrate authentic teaching, intercultural exchange, and professional growth across educational contexts.

Audience: Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR)
Speakers
CA

Carolyn Allen

Assistant Director of Special Programming and Communication, International English Center
avatar for Rai Farrelly

Rai Farrelly

Teaching Associate Professor, University of Colorado Boulder
avatar for Barbara Flocke

Barbara Flocke

Assistant Academic Director, Teaching Assistant Professor, International English Center
KL

Karis Lowe

Graduate Student, SLHS, University of Colorado Boulder
MO

Molly O'brien

Undergraduate Student, University of Colorado Boulder
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:35am MDT
Silverton

9:50am MDT

Divide and Conquer: Maximizing Co-Teaching Through Specific Facilitator Roles
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
This session explores how co-teachers can divide and conquer instruction by clearly defining roles and responsibilities. Participants will learn strategies to co-facilitate learning, provide real-time scaffolds, and assess student understanding. Emphasis is placed on maximizing each teacher’s expertise by defining complementary roles to support all learners effectively.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11(s) ELEMENT B

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE); Content Area (CA)
Speakers
avatar for Isabel Clamons

Isabel Clamons

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Instructional Coordinator, Harrison School District Two
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Cottonwood

9:50am MDT

Intentional Co-Teaching for Multilingual Learners
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Learn about our co-teaching model which is laser-focused on three big goals:
  1. Making sure multilingual learners have real access to grade-level content.
  2. Supporting students in acquiring English through content learning—not separate from it.
  3. Creating job-embedded professional learning that helps both content teachers and ML specialists grow as co-teachers.
CDE CLDE Credit: 5.10 Quality Standard III Element A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE)
Speakers
avatar for Beth Dove

Beth Dove

CLDE Coordinator, Summit School District
HP

Holly Porter

Independent Consultant, Intentional Co-Teaching for Multilingual Learners
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Blue Spruce

9:50am MDT

Making Complex Text Accessible to Experienced Multilinguals
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
This session addresses the specific needs of multilingual learners who have reached the ‘developing’ stage of language acquisition. These students in grades 3-12 can decode text, but they may not always understand what they’ve read. This session provides concrete strategies for making even grade-level content texts comprehensible for these students.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 Quality Standard III; 5.11(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)
Speakers
avatar for Beth Skelton

Beth Skelton

Consultant, Educational Consultants, LLC
Beth Skelton @easkelton has over 30 years of experience as a language educator and holds a master’s degree in multicultural teacher education. She has worked with early childhood, elementary, middle, high school and adult language learners in rural, urban, suburban, and international school settings... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Piñon Pine

10:45am MDT

Building the Literacy Trinity: A Daily Routine for Strengthening Knowledge, Vocabulary and Writing
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:05am MDT
Session One
This classroom-tested, slide-based routine builds students' automaticity for recalling tier 2 and tier 3 academic vocabulary through daily 10-minute practice. By developing automaticity in academic word recall, students transfer knowledge into long-term memory more effectively. The flexible format incorporates TPR, CLT, technology integration, formative assessment, collaborative student talk, and writing activities across all settings. Participants will strategize vocabulary selections and practice implementation using provided templates.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 Quality Standard III Standard A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE)​​​​
Speakers
avatar for Sara Sharer

Sara Sharer

ELD/Reading Intervention Instructor, Cedaredge Elementary School English Language Learner Program
How to build the Literacy Trinity for multilinguel learners.  Vocabulary, knowledge building, and writing in one short daily routine.  Best practices for teaching MLL's reading.   
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:05am MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"

10:45am MDT

Read, Write, Play: Joyful Literacy for Children at the Boulder Public Library District
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Research shows that students who don’t read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to not graduate on time, when compared to proficient readers. At the Boulder Public Library District, we aim to inspire a lifelong love of literacy in children through our Reading Buddies program.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 Quality Standard III: Element B

Audience: Elementary Education (EE)
Speakers
JG

Joey Graffagnino

BoulderReads Children's Literacy Coordinator, Boulder Public Library District
JJ

Juan Jimenez

Literacy Manager, Boulder Public Library District
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Flatirons

10:45am MDT

Bringing High School Multilingual Students Together: DCSD's Youth Multilingual Conference
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
In spring 2025, Douglas County School District hosted its first ever Youth Multilingual Conference, designed to connect multilingual high schoolers from across our schools. In this session, we will discuss how we planned it, what went well, and how you can bring the idea to your school, district, or region.

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)​​​​
Speakers
JV

Jesse Van Divier

ELD Teacher, Douglas County School District / Legend High School
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Dogwood

11:10am MDT

Mastering Academic Vocabulary and Content: Practical Routines for Secondary ELLs
Saturday May 9, 2026 11:10am - 11:30am MDT
This presentation provides a research-driven, no-preparation classroom routine designed to aid secondary ELLs in their effort to learn, use, understand, and remember academic vocabulary. This easy-to-implement routine also provides ELLs of all proficiency levels with a deeper understanding of the content taught in their core classes.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Content Area (CA)
Speakers
avatar for Mishelle Kehoe-Seamons

Mishelle Kehoe-Seamons

Researcher, Brigham Young University
Saturday May 9, 2026 11:10am - 11:30am MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"

1:00pm MDT

Enhancing Vocabulary Development for English Learners in Adult Literacy Education
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
The goal will be to equip adult literacy educators with effective strategies to strengthen vocabulary instruction, fostering better learning outcomes. This professional development session focuses on the essential role vocabulary plays in adult literacy and its impact on reading comprehension and communication. Participants will:

  1. Understand how vocabulary development supports literacy growth.
  2. Explore research-based strategies tailored to adult learners.
  3. Discuss the importance of comprehensible input and its role in vocabulary acquisition.
  4. Implement practical tools and instructional approaches designed to build learner confidence and vocabulary skills.
By the end of the session, educators will walk away with actionable methods and adaptable resources to enhance vocabulary learning in diverse adult education settings.

Audience: Adult Education (AE)​​​​
Speakers
avatar for Marion E Martin

Marion E Martin

Board Member, Literacy Coalition of Colorado
My career has been dedicated to multilingual education, spanning roles as a public-school ESL teacher, adjunct professor, ELD consultant, and adult-literacy program coordinator. Working with multilingual learners of all ages has strengthened my belief that strong literacy skills are... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Piñon Pine

1:00pm MDT

Making Language and Content Accessible to All Students
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
In this 45-minute hands-on workshop, I will draw upon research and resources to provide content area instructors with practical strategies and approaches to implement, evaluate and revise to better serve multilingual learners their classes without “dumbing down” content or assessment.

CDE CLDE Credit:  5.11 Quality Standard III; 5.11(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Content Area (CA); Adult Education (AE); Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE)
Speakers
avatar for Kat Bradley-Bennett

Kat Bradley-Bennett

ESOL/TESOL/ABEA Instructor, Front Range Community College
I have been teaching adult ESOL since 1999, when I left a 15-year career in community recycling to go to China for a month and teach English. I was hooked and have not looked back. My only regret is that I didn't discover teaching English to adults earlier in my life!

I love being... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Cottonwood
  Content Area (CA)

1:00pm MDT

From Classroom to Newsroom: Empowering Beginning Writers Through Collaborative Publishing
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
This presentation explores a student-produced newspaper project in lower level writing courses. Framed by experiential learning, the approach empowers emerging writers as reporters, editors, and designers, practicing authentic communication and collaboration. Attendees will gain practical strategies and learn about challenges and successes from a year long classroom implementation to foster engagement, accountability, and confidence in novice writers.

Audience: Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Adult Education (AE)​​​​
Speakers
AF

Agnes Farkas-Roszell

Assistant Teaching Professor, CU Boulder
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Blue Spruce

1:00pm MDT

EFL Online Teaching/Learning: Insights from the Cameroon Distance Education Center
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
This session explores EFL online teaching insights from the Cameroon Distance Education Center, focusing on strategies for engaging secondary and high school learners in resource-constrained environments. Participants will discover practical activities and digital tools used, gaining adaptable techniques for diverse online EFL contexts.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Adult Education (AE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR); Educational Technology (TECH)
Speakers
RK

Robert Kenfack

English and French Language Teacher, Ministry of Secondary Education Cameroon/ Cameroon English Language and Literature Teachers Association (CAMELTA)
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Dogwood

1:00pm MDT

Global Citizenship in the Language Classroom: Teaching the UN SDGs
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Discover how to bring global issues into the classroom by integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This interactive workshop offers practical strategies, engaging activities, and adaptable resources to help foster global citizenship, cultural awareness, and sustainability through language teaching.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 (2) Element B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)
Speakers
avatar for Erik Wennermark

Erik Wennermark

Instructor, CU Denver - ESL Academy
Erik Wennermark has been teaching English as a Foreign Language since 2011, when he moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and received a CELTA certification. He quickly gravitated towards teaching college preparatory courses in Vietnam and then on to working in Universities or Colleges... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Snowmass

1:00pm MDT

Welcoming Newcomer Students: Essential Knowledge, Resources, and Skills in the Teaching of Newcomer Students
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
How do I create an inclusive, linguistically-responsive learning experience for Newcomer Students? This workshop will introduce UC Denver's Welcoming Newcomer Students online modules, a free resource that provides educators timely and practical knowledge for answering this question. Participants will access the modules and go through a lesson of their choice.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.09(1) ELEMENT A; 5.10(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE); Socio-Political; Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR)
Speakers
SC

Sofia Chaparro

Assistant Professor of CLDE, UC Denver, School of Education and Human Development
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Silverton

2:00pm MDT

Enhancing Refugee ELLs’ Digital Literacy with Trauma-Informed SLA
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:20pm MDT
This session presents a trauma-informed SLA-based approach to building refugee adult ELLs' digital literacy. Participants will explore four real-world, integrated lessons, practical scaffolding strategies and adaptable resources to reduce anxiety, boost motivation and support language growth in a safe, inclusive and empowering classroom environment.

Audience: Adult Education (AE)​​​​
Speakers
CD

Christine Doe

Graduate Student and Graduate Teaching Assistant, Colorado State University
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:20pm MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"

2:00pm MDT

Shadowing: What Is It? And Does It Work?
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
A quasi-experimental study was conducted evaluating the effectiveness of shadowing (a pronunciation technique) on intermediate-level adult English language learners. Findings and implications of the research will be shared regarding changes in learners’ comprehensibility, fluency, and accentedness after 10 weeks of instruction.

Audience: Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Adult Education (AE)
Speakers
avatar for Mishelle Kehoe-Seamons

Mishelle Kehoe-Seamons

Researcher, Brigham Young University
DM

Dr. Mark Tanner

Associate Professor of Linguistics, Brigham Young University
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Flatirons

2:00pm MDT

Broadening Access to the Seal of Biliteracy in Rural & Mountain Districts: A Peer-Led Dialogue
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Peer-to-peer dialogue on expanding equitable access to the Seal of Biliteracy in rural districts. Dr. Salinas will share his Spring 2025 research to provide insights on advising students, and address barriers like transportation, staffing, and assessment. Participants share practices, trade tools, design next steps, and leave with an action plan.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.10 (2) Element B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Elementary Education (EE)
Speakers
DM

Dr. Miguel Salinas

Associate Professor of Teacher Education, Colorado Mountain College
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Cottonwood
  Secondary Education (SE)

2:00pm MDT

Essential Belonging through the Transformational Equity Framework
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
Design your multilingual educational environment with belonging in mind - from the very beginning. Educators will explore a current project, unit, lesson, or initiative through Cherry Creek School District’s Transformational Equity Framework as a process for inquiry, ensuring every student and staff member is seen, valued, heard, and appreciated. This asset focused, inquiry-based approach is applicable to every role in education, and includes self-reflection, garnering multiple perspectives, and leaning into the beautiful identities present in our classrooms, schools, and districts.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.09 Quality Standard I; 5.09(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE); Content Area (CA); Adult Education (AE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Socio-Political
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Aspen Lopez (Oglala Lakota)

Dr. Aspen Lopez (Oglala Lakota)

Director of Equity, Culture, and Community Engagement, Cherry Creek School District
avatar for Dr. Remy Rummel

Dr. Remy Rummel

Director of Equity, Culture, and Community Engagement, Cherry Creek School DIstrict
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
Blue Spruce

3:00pm MDT

AI Prompt Engineering for Enhanced Lesson Planning: Hyper-focused Success for CLD
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm MDT
Discover how to leverage AI to super-charge UDL lesson planning with targeted strategies and scaffolds for emergent bilingual and multilingual learners. This 20-minute session equips educators and instructional coaches with practical, AI-enhanced tools to better support diverse MLL needs in inclusive, multilingual classrooms.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11. (2) Standard B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Elementary Education (EE); Content Area (CA)
Speakers
avatar for Emily Gonzalez

Emily Gonzalez

CLD Teacher Leader/Secondary English ELD Teacher, Sierra High School - Harrison School District 2
Emily is a dedicated teacher-leader with experience in K–12 schools across the U.S. and overseas. She is known for creating engaging, culturally responsive learning experiences and designing meaningful professional development that supports educator growth. A confident communicator... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"
  Educational Technology

3:00pm MDT

Digital Literacy Skills in Support of Adult English Language Learners
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
We will explore the role of digital literacy in adult education and becoming multilingual. Topics will include the history of information technology, the digital divide, the rise of A.I. and the coming singularity.

Audience: Adult Education (AE)
Speakers
EG

Elias G. Flores

Bilingual Digital Literacy Specialist, Aims Community College
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Piñon Pine

3:00pm MDT

Developing and Piloting a Secondary Newcomer Welcome Week
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
The presenters partnered together to design a welcome week for secondary newcomer students. They will describe the collaboration between the facilitators and the district, logistics of program and material development, successes and challenges of the pilot, next steps, and recommendations for others interested in doing something similar.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.09 Quality Standard I; 5.09(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)
Speakers
avatar for Audriana Alvarado

Audriana Alvarado

CLDE Newcomer Instructional Coach, Harrison School District 2
SD

Stephanie Dewing

Associate Professor of Education, University of Southern California
MH

Mary Hanson

Associate Teaching Professor, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Snowmass

3:00pm MDT

Supporting Secondary Students New to Country
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Using two Denver case studies, participants will be able to understand wholistic program elements crucial to success for secondary sife students.  Program design, high school trajectories, community engagement and leadership training will be discussed.  Participants will leave with concrete ideas for how to fine tune their current program to meet the urgent needs of our secondary students new to country.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.10 Quality Standard II; 5.10(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Socio-Political
Speakers
avatar for Jen Hanson

Jen Hanson

Director, Multilingual Education, Cherry Creek Schools, Cherry Creek School District
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Flatirons

3:00pm MDT

Teaching English and High School Agency to Highly Mobile Agricultural Students and Out of School Youth through the Title I-C Family Education Program and the Innovative Services for Out of School Youth’s Supplementary Academic Activity Program
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Presentation of virtual/in-person programs with promising strategies for engagement, language learning, building essential skills, and increasing academic growth, participation, and retention in the education system. Featuring a summer virtual course focused on academic language and teaching high school knowledge (credit system, required courses, extracurriculars, and the importance of graduation or its equivalency).

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 (2) Standard B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR)
Speakers
DF

Daisy Fuentes

Title I Administrator, Centennial BOCES
LR

Lauren Radin

Principal Consultant / Student Pathways Unit, Colorado Department of Education
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Cottonwood

3:25pm MDT

"Proud to Be Bilingual" Project
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:25pm - 3:45pm MDT
ACCESS testing season is a high-intensity, high-stress time for multilingual students. To offer some balance, this session highlights a "Proud to Be Bilingual" project as a way for students to celebrate their cultural and linguistic strengths and interests in a middle school classroom.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.09(1) ELEMENT A; Option 1: 5.09 Quality Standard I

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)
Speakers
LP

Lauren Plomer

English Language Development Teacher, Overland Trail Middle School, 27J
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:25pm - 3:45pm MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"
 
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