ATLAS ABE

Volunteer Core Training Module 2: Understanding Adult Learners
2025-04-16 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 4/16/25
Participants develop their personal cultural awareness and learn how expectations around school culture shape how people teach and learn. Guiding principles for effectively delivering instruction to adults are also covered. Finally, participants increase their sensitivity to the challenges of learning English and developing literacy as an adult.

Burlington Boost: Overview of BurlingtonEnglish Prepare for CASAS STEPS Reading In-Class Lessons
2025-04-17 13:00 - 13:45 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 4/17/25
In this session, we will explore the newly released Prepare for CASAS STEPS Reading In-Class Lessons built for teachers to help students with mastering various CASAS Competencies. We will go over where to navigate to them and also strategies to use them in the classroom.
NOTE: Attendees must have current login credentials for their BE account.

Writing Activities for Beginning Literacy and Beginning English Language Learners
2025-04-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 4/18/25
While most in our society take the ability to write for granted, it can be laborious for ESL learners with little experience with this skill. Attend this webinar to learn about and try out engaging, interactive activities for English Language Learners in Beginning Literacy and Beginning level classes. Ideas for in-person, remote, one-on-one, all-class, as well as low-tech and no-tech options will be covered.

Teaching Intermediate Alphabetics
2025-04-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 4/22/25
Teaching intermediate alphabetics (syllables, prefixes, suffixes, root words) is a great way to help students build their decoding and comprehension skills. Come learn a variety of fun and easy-to-use routines and activities for helping intermediate-level readers develop these important tools.

AI Playgroup & Makerspace
2025-04-22 15:00 - 16:30, 2025-05-27 15:00 - 16:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: Date of each webinar
You’re invited to our playgroup! Join your adult education colleagues and members of Literacy Minnesota’s Digital Learning team for a fun, informal, and interactive learning experience. Each month, we’ll focus on a different application of generative AI to support teachers and volunteers in their work with learners. You’ll get to see lots of examples, talk about pros and cons, and have “playtime” to develop resources that you can use in your teaching context right away. Most importantly, we’ll share our creations with each other and develop a collection of open resources for adult educators.
Instead of focusing on specific AI tools or platforms, we’ll look at various “use cases” for AI:

January 28: Teaching Academic Vocabulary
February 25: Dialogues and Speaking Practice
March 25: AI and Math
April 22: AI and the Writing Process
May 27: Adapting and Developing Appropriate Texts for Adult Learners

Minnesota practitioners can earn 1.5 CEUs for attending each meeting and additional CEUs for creating, sharing, and evaluating teaching resources outside of the meeting time.
Additional information:

After registering, you’ll receive an email from “MNABE Staff” with a link to join the meetings.
Attendance at all five sessions is NOT required. Register for the series, and you can join on the days that work for you.
NO prior knowledge or AI expertise is necessary! We’ll help you get started with a free AI tool if needed. Just bring yourself (and a sense of humor).
A portion of each session will be recorded.
To request ASL interpretation or other accommodations, contact support@mnabedistancelearning.zendesk.com
This will be fun!

Volunteer Core Training Module 3: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Learners
2025-04-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 4/23/25
Participants learn how to apply teaching practices that support language and skill development for all learners. These practices include ensuring that instruction is learner centered, using an appropriate level of teacher talk and delivering error correction.

Support Staff Coffee Break - Intake Best Practices (Virtual)
2025-04-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Registration deadline: FRI. 4/25/25
The Support Staff Online Coffee Break Series continues with Christine Wytaske and Alec Lunneborg of Metro South, and Rachel Stiglitz of Metro East, discussing Intake Best Practices. They will focus on data collection, including:

Who is eligible for Adult Education
What information we are asking the students to provide and why?
How do we collect it?
How do we talk about this with the student?
Where does student information go in SiD and where to find job aids in SiD?
Discussion: Share how your program works with students at enrollment.

All staff are welcome to attend.

Leveraging Students' Collectivist Mindset as a Classroom Asset Presented by Cydnee Sanders and Erin Cary
2025-04-28 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 4/28/25
When teaching adult learners from many different cultures, it’s important to understand that our cultures shape the way we process new knowledge and approach learning and problem solving. One example of this is if learners come from more collectivist or individualist cultures. Have you ever noticed some students immediately start working together on an activity, even when you’ve said to do it alone? Don’t worry, this isn’t cheating, these students might be from a culture that deeply values working on tasks collaboratively. Since our education system is primarily set up for more individual learning, this session will provide several concrete strategies for collaborative learning so that you can tap into all learners’ cultural strengths and joy!

Burlington Boost: Overview of BurlingtonEnglish Prepare for CASAS STEPS Reading In-Class Lessons
2025-04-29 15:00 - 15:45 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 4/29/25
In this session, we will explore the newly released Prepare for CASAS STEPS Reading In-Class Lessons built for teachers to help students with mastering various CASAS Competencies. We will go over where to navigate to them and also strategies to use them in the classroom.
NOTE: Attendees must have current login credentials for their BE account.

Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency
2025-04-29 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 4/29/25
Come and review the important role of fluency in reading instruction. We will discuss the three key components of reading fluency and look at a variety of activities tutors and teachers can try. We will talk about the mechanics of doing fluency practice via Zoom, Google Meet, Teams or any other remote tutoring tool (including the phone!). Participants will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and share resources.
This workshop will be most useful for instructors working with low-intermediate to advanced readers.

SiD End Of Contact Hours Year Prep
2025-04-30 09:00 - 10:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 4/30/25

It’s time once again to tidy up your data in SiD. Join us for a webinar that helps you get ready to turn in your program’s 24-25 Contact Hours year data.
Topics include:

Reporting deadlines
Clean up and collect student info
Clean up and collect staff & volunteer info
Turn in report tables
Year-end reminders

Volunteer Core Training Module 4: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Materials
2025-04-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 4/30/25
Participants will engage in a couple of classroom activities to experience scaffolding, checking comprehension and the gradual release of responsibility. These aspects of teaching and tutoring are then defined, explained further and participants get opportunities to practice them.

South ABE Spring 2025 Regional - Mankato, MN
2025-05-02 08:00 - 15:00 | Country Inn & Suites – Mankato, 1900 Premier Dr., Mankato,, MN, 56001, United States
Registration is CLOSED
FLYER (with session descriptions and agenda)
Hotel Accommodations: The room block is no longer available.
If you require ASL interpretation, contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

Math Content Webinar: Supporting Successful Mathematicians with ACES Skills
2025-05-05 14:30 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 5/5/25
Join us as we explore how purposefully incorporating ACES skills into math classes supports stronger mathematicians. We will hear from two adult education teachers, Ellen Skogen and Amber Delliger, as they share targeted routines and strategies for Navigating Systems, Self- Management and Learning Strategies.
If you require ASL interpretation, please contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

Burlington Boost: Keeping Students Engaged Over Summer Break with BurlingtonEnglish
2025-05-06 13:00 - 13:45 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/6/25
In this session, we will brainstorm ways to keep students engaged and working on independent practice over the summer season. Please come prepared with ideas that you do with your students and we will also share ideas from various programs that also use Burlington English.
NOTE: Attendees must have current login credentials for their BE account.

WebChat with MNABE
2025-05-07 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 5/7/25
WebChat with MN ABE is a webinar discussion led by state ABE staff from the Minnesota Department of Education. Web Chat webinars provide updates from the state ABE office on new and emerging issues and an opportunity for local ABE staff to ask questions and provide information to the Minnesota Adult Ed state team.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
If you need ASL interpretation for this event, please contact Wendy Her at info@literacyactionnetwork.org by Monday, April 28, 2025.

For those unable to attend, the meeting and materials will be available on the Literacy Action Network website after the meeting.

Teaching Reading Vocabulary
2025-05-13 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/13/25
Vocabulary is everyone’s favorite reading component! And helping students master reading vocabulary is a key to helping them master comprehension.
But how many words should you teach? And which words are the most important? What strategies are best for helping students learn new words? How do you get students to make new words part of their receptive and productive vocabularies? This webinar will focus on the theory and best practice behind choosing, teaching and reviewing reading vocabulary. You’ll get a chance to learn about (and practice) a variety of activities that can be done remotely or in person. Links to great online resources will also be provided.
This workshop will be most useful for instructors working with low-intermediate to advanced readers.

Working with Literacy and Beginning Level English Language Learners
2025-05-14 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 5/14/25
Learners with limited English and literacy skills have unique needs for in-person and remote instruction. Participants will learn best practices and tips for success at this level. They’ll also get several ideas for routines, activities and resources to use in their classes and tutoring sessions.

Burlington Boost: Keeping Students Engaged Over Summer Break with BurlingtonEnglish
2025-05-15 13:00 - 13:45 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 5/15/25
In this session, we will brainstorm ways to keep students engaged and working on independent practice over the summer season. Please come prepared with ideas that you do with your students and we will also share ideas from various programs that also use Burlington English.
NOTE: Attendees must have current login credentials for their BE account.

Support Staff Coffee Break - TABE 13&14 Updates
2025-05-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 5/16/25
Venue: Online (see details below)
Join us virtually on Friday, May 16, 10:00-11:00 am, for a session focused on TABE 13&14. State assessment trainers Linda Keller of Metro North and Marty Olsen of SW ABE will share the latest TABE 13&14 updates. They will focus on transition and implementation topics including:

TABE 13&14 Administrator Certification webinars
Converting TABE Online 11&12 to TABE Online 13&14
Ordering Paper tests
Scoring options for paper tests
TABE online resources
Creating records in DRC INSIGHT

How Adult Brains Learn Languages Presented by Andrea Echelberger
2025-05-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 5/16/25
Learn what research has to say about how adult brains learn a new language, how trauma and stress impact learning, and how this influences the teaching practices that we use in the language classroom. Participants will leave the webinar with suggestions for ways teachers and tutors can apply brain-based teaching practices as we are helping adult ESL students develop their language skills.

Refining Your Teacher Talk
2025-05-19 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 5/19/25
Many tutors know they should limit their talking time, but struggle to do so. In this webinar, revisit the importance of reducing teacher talking time and learn ways to improve it to maximize learner engagement and comprehension.

Burlington Boost: Keeping Students Engaged Over Summer Break with BurlingtonEnglish
2025-05-20 15:00 - 15:45 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/20/25
In this session, we will brainstorm ways to keep students engaged and working on independent practice over the summer season. Please come prepared with ideas that you do with your students and we will also share ideas from various programs that also use Burlington English.
NOTE: Attendees must have current login credentials for their BE account.

Comprehension Strategies for Intermediate-Level Readers
2025-05-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/20/25
Research shows that explicitly teaching a set of comprehension strategies is a great way to help intermediate-level readers maximize their understanding of texts. Come learn a handful of great comprehension tools that will help students develop critical thinking skills and comprehension skills.

Hmong 101: An Introduction to Hmong History and Culture Presented by Hmong Cultural Center
2025-05-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 5/23/25
Participants will be provided a basic introduction to Hmong history and culture. Topics covered will include Hmong population around the world, Hmong role in the CIA’s secret war in Laos, Hmong refugee movements to the U.S., Hmong American population and demographics (2020 census), Hmong American educational status, Hmong American socioeconomic status, diversity in the Hmong community, Hmong clans and their functions, traditional Hmong religion and shamanism, Hmong marriages and funerals, the Hmong language, and cultural etiquette and communication strategies for service providers who work with Hmong populations.

Integrated Pronunciation Instruction for Increased Intelligibility Presented by Suzanne Gilchrist McCurdy
2025-05-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/27/25
Effective pronunciation instruction that prioritizes intelligibility can greatly support learners both inside and outside the classroom. Yet, many teachers struggle to identify which pronunciation features to focus on and how to seamlessly integrate them into their lessons. This session will help participants refine their pronunciation diagnostic skills, determine key pronunciation features to address, and explore practical ways to incorporate pronunciation instruction into everyday classroom activities.

Teaching and Tutoring with Northstar Digital Literacy
2025-05-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 5/30/25
You don’t need to be a computer expert in order to teach computer skills! Come learn how help students build their digital literacy skills using Northstar Digital Literacy.
In the webinar, participants will learn:

The features of Northstar Digital Literacy.
How to help learners navigate Northstar digital literacy assessments.
How to use the Northstar instructor-led curriculum.
How to guide learners through the Northstar Digital Literacy Online Learning Modules.
Additional digital literacy resources.

Completing the Annual Volunteer Report
2025-06-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 6/4/25
Venue: Online (see details below)
Have you recently joined Adult Basic Education? Are you filling out the annual volunteer report for the first time or need a refresher? Literacy Minnesota and SiD are returning for the 4th year to help you navigate completion of your annual volunteer report. It is important for programs to complete this report to gather essential information for the state of Minnesota. We’ll also go over the Volunteer Required Training report.
Target audience: MN ABE staff who assist in completing the Annual Volunteer Report

Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency
2025-06-06 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 6/6/25
Come and review the important role of fluency in reading instruction. We will discuss the three key components of reading fluency and look at a variety of activities tutors and teachers can try. We will talk about the mechanics of doing fluency practice via Zoom, Google Meet, Teams or any other remote tutoring tool (including the phone!). Participants will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and share resources.
This workshop will be most useful for instructors working with low-intermediate to advanced readers.
