Events

Registration Deadline: FRI. 4/28/23

If you require ASL Interpretation, please contact Gail Rutan at [email protected]

Schedule: 

9:00am – Welcome and State PD Updates

9:30am – Session 1 (1-hour sessions) These sessions will be recorded

a) Financial Literacy for Adult Learners (Presented by Helen Delfeld and Carrie Mann, International Institute of Minnesota) – While many ABE teachers effectively internalize cultural differences and approaches, we often don’t fully appreciate how thoroughly different perspectives affects economic behavior and choices. Nor do we necessarily consider how alienating navigating our complex finance system can feel. Financial literacy can fit comfortably into ABE lesson plans, and can help students advance in their goals outside the classroom. And it can be fun! We will explore some different perspectives on money and finance, and give some ideas for lesson plans and resources to help learners be in charge of their money, instead of money being in charge of them.

b) Engaging Employers: The Who, What and Why (presented by Karen Gerdin, Hubbs Center; Lynn Thompson, International Institute of Minnesota; Terry Cherne, Innovize) – In this presentation you will learn about the differences between IET and Workplace Literacy. You will hear from two local companies and their ABE partners who are utilizing these two program models to support adult learners and benefit employers. We will also discuss how IET and workplace literacy can co-exist. As well as discuss best practices for engaging and working with employers.

c) What Does ‘College Ready’ Math Look Like? (Presented by Amber Delliger, Metro North ABE and Rebecca Strom, Mankato ABE) – t’s always exciting when a student completes their high school credential! However, for those who have college or post-secondary training as a goal additional skills may be needed for success. While we have students engaged in our ABE programs, it’s the perfect time to help students bridge that gap. In this session, we will explore common skill gaps are and different strategies to address them.

d) READING* Effective Strategies for Working with English-Speaking, Low-Literacy Adults (Presented by Jane Weiner and Meagan Hymes, Metro North ABE) –  How do know if I have a low-literacy student in my class? What basic concepts could I include in my classroom to help such students? How could I structure my class to support low-literacy learners? Come to this session to hear from an experienced Basic Skills educator on how she structures her class, implements effective strategies, and utilizes resources to help low-literacy adults gain the skills they need.

10:30am – Break

10:45am – Session 2 (1-hour sessions) These sessions will be recorded

a) Nuts and Bolts on Adult Career Pathways Credentials (Presented by Amanda Tall, Moundsview ABE; Andrea Hasslinger, Winona ABE; Heather Turngren, Minneapolis ABE; and Julie Dincau, Minnesota Dept. of Education) – Join us as we focus on the basics around three credentials in Adult Career Pathways (ACP) and Integrated Education and Training (IET) programming. Three instructors will highlight the steps to earn each credential and updates to the certification process (Paraeducator = Amanda Tall; Community Interpreter = Andrea Hasslinger; Certified Food Protection Manager = Heather Turngren). Julie Dincau, MDE Transitions Specialist, will moderate the panel presentation.

b) Teaching with Northstar Digital Literacy Educational Resources (Presented by Rob Podlasek, Literacy Minnesota) – Northstar Digital Literacy is more than just assessments! Come learn more about the Northstar instructor-led curriculum and the self-directed learning modules. We will explore how teachers can integrate these resources into their ESL, reading and digital literacy lessons.

c) Tips for Teaching Writing (Presented by Kristine Kelly, ATLAS; Natalie Seger, Youthbuild; Jaime Wright, International Institute of Minnesota; Heather Anderson, Mankato ABE; Stacy Abraham, SW ABE) – Join us and hear from some current Writing Study Circle participants about how they’ve been incorporating writing tasks with their adult education students at various levels. We’ll talk a bit about writing in adult education in general, and then each panelist will share a task or routine they’ve been working with to improve the frequency and/or quality of writing their students are doing and tips for implementing it into instruction!

d) PBIS* Please Don’t Do That…and Other Positive Behavioral Interventions in the ABE Classroom (Presented by Miriam Bosveld and Erin Parker, AAP-Robbinsdale) – With our ABE student population trending younger and displaying more mental health concerns, teachers are reporting challenging behaviors in their classrooms. We will present research-based positive behavioral interventions that can help to prevent and change these disruptive behaviors. Participants will get a chance to share experiences, discuss strategies that have been successful, and problem-solve with other ABE colleagues.

11:45 – 12:15 pm – Lunch Break

12:15pm – Session 3 (45-minute sessions) These sessions will be recorded

a) LAN Legislative Update (Presented by Kaija Bergen, Hubbs Center) – Learn about what LAN has been doing to advocate at the Capitol this legislative session, including updates on bills, lobbying efforts, and ABE Day on the Hill and how you can get involved!

b) EL* Math in Your ESL Class – Yes, Really! (Presented by Elizabeth Bennett, Burnsville School for Adults) – This session is intended for ESL teachers who may not (yet!) think of themselves as math teachers. I will share my approach to developing numeracy skills with adult learners in ESL classes. You’ll participate in an instructional routine that you can implement in your own classroom, whether it’s in-person, online, or HyFlex. I’ll also share some of my favorite resources. Wrong answers are welcome!

c) Moving Forward with Racial Equity: Updates on Racial Equity Activities in Minnesota Adult Education (Presented by See Moua-Leske and Addy Wolbaum, SW ABE-Marshall) – The grantees of the Racial Equity Grant will be providing an update of what has been accomplished so far, including findings from the administrator surveys, and what to expect in the last year of the grant. The presentation will also include background on what equity in adult education can look like and how your program can be more inclusive to all that work and learn there. This presentation will also lay the foundation for the coffee break to follow, but is not necessary.

d) Teaching Essential Gmail Skills (Presented by Adam Kieffer, Hubbs Center) – We all agree that it’s essential for adult learners to know the basics of how to send, read, and receive emails, but there are some other overlooked, yet essential email skills we should also be teaching. These include: how to manage the inbox, search archived emails, unsubscribe from unwanted emails, how to scan for spam/phishing signs, understand the difference between Gmail site and app, deleting vs. archiving, and how to recognize and use the many tools built into Gmail. Attend this session to get some great ideas on how to teach these essential email skills in any class.

1:00pm – Break

1:15pm – Networking Coffee Break (45-minute sessions) These sessions WILL NOT be recorded

a) Math (Facilitated by Justine Hill)

b) Administrators (Facilitated by Renada Rutmanis)

c) Low-level ESL (Facilitated by Amy Van Steenwyk)

d) One-Room Schoolhouse (Facilitated by Matt Dehmer and Sara Sundberg)

e) Teaching Young Adults (Facilitated by Christopher Riha)

f) Corrections (Facilitated by Harmony Wilson)

g) Racial Equity (Facilitated by See Moua-Leske and Addy Wolbaum) This session is an opportunity for you to share your program’s successes and challenges in creating a welcoming and equitable program. In this coffee break, attendees will participate in a focus group setting. The questions will be based on findings from the Racial Equity Surveys distributed last year. If you completed the survey, this is an opportunity for you to expand on your responses or a makeup opportunity for those who missed the survey. This coffee break is the continuation of the Moving Forward with Racial Equity: Updates on Racial Equity Activities in Minnesota Adult Education session. Even if you didn’t attend that session, we still welcome your participation.

2:00pm – Break

2:15 pm – Session 4 (45-minute sessions) These sessions will be recorded

a) Solvers of All Your Problems–Volunteers! (Presented by Meghan Boyle and Sophie Phan, Literacy Minnesota) – When asked what their classroom struggles are, coordinators and teachers often say things like the following: “It’s hard to engage everyone in this multi-level class. I have trouble incorporating learners who arrive late. I can’t get my students to talk.” Attend this workshop to collaborate with your colleagues and the presenters to solve allllll* your classroom problems with the help of volunteers! We’ll review a classic list of volunteer roles and collectively adapt it and add to it for online and hybrid contexts. You’ll leave the session with renewed excitement to engage volunteers to help you solve your classroom problems.
*Not quite all, but most!

b) SSLOs and Course Design: Why the 30,000 Foot View is Key! (Presented by Patsy Egan and Kristine Kelly, ATLAS) – If you are working in an IET and are tasked with (co)writing the single set of learning objectives (SSLOs), this session is for you! We’ll share a few of the “a-ha” moments we’ve gathered over the last few months of coaching programs who are engaged in this complex work. Come learn a bit about course design and how it relates to IETs and SSLOs, and why we need to zoom out to 30,000 feet to get the best view!

c) EL* Panel: Pronunciation Instruction Tips for Literacy Level Classrooms (Presented by Suzanne McCurdy; Jamie Kreil, Cedar Riverside Adult Education Collaborative; Anne Nervig, Hubbs Center) – Intelligible pronunciation is a key component of learners’ communication needs in the workplace and community. This is true even for literacy-level learners; however, resources at the beginning level often lack attention to this important skill and rely too heavily on literacy skills. Join our panel of ESOL teachers to talk about adaptations to materials and scaffolding approaches they use to bring pronunciation instruction to their literacy-level classrooms.

d) PBIS* De-escalation Techniques for Student Behavior Problems (Presented by Wendy Sweeney, PANDA) – Have you been in situations where a student’s behavior is alarming or highly inappropriate and you don’t know what to do? If so, this session is for you. Come to this session to learn about the conflict cycle, how problem behaviors serve a function, and the stages of behavior escalation. You will be educated about de-escalation techniques and how to find resolution with students. And gain important mental health resources. This course is intended to meet positive behavioral interventions and in accommodating, modifying and adapting strategies.

3:15 pm – Affinity Groups (45 minute sessions – optional) These sessions WILL NOT be recorded

a) Equity/Inclusion

b) LGBTQIA+

*Licensure Sessions:

Reading

PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports)

EL (English Learners)