ATLAS ABE

Understanding the Somali People: History, Culture and Migration to Minnesota - Presented by CAIR-MN
2024-09-24 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 9/24/24
Somalis are estimated to be the largest African immigrant group in Minnesota with approximately 75,000-100,000 residing in the state (source: McKnight Foundation).
This training covers:

Pre- and post-modern history of the Somali people.
Culture.
Migration to Minnesota.
Cultural gaps between the Somali and American communities.
Recommendations for outreach to Somali community members.

HSE Testing Coffee Talk Series
2024-09-24 13:30 - 14:30, 2024-10-22 13:30 - 14:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: Register up to the date of each Coffee Talk.
This past year, we have added a new option to our testing services, making us a two-test state. We have had and continue to need help with connectivity issues, online proctoring, scheduling availability, student identifications, accommodation issues, etc. This series is intended to begin creating a space for us to come together, discuss, share, and problem-solve.
Coffee Talks will take place from 1:30-2:30 pm on every 4th Tuesday of the month in the 2024 calendar year.
Questions?
Please contact mde.abe@state.mn.us

AI Playgroup
2024-09-24 13:30 - 14:30, 2024-10-22 13:30 - 14:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 11/26/24 (for the final session)
How are generative AI tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, MagicSchool, Khanmigo, and many others) affecting you, your colleagues, and adult learners? Are you using AI all the time, curious about it, worried about it, or just confused?
Wherever you are, join Nick Houlson, Jason Brazier, and Elizabeth Bennett from Literacy Minnesota for an informal AI playgroup! Each Tuesday, we’ll learn a little about an AI tool, play around with it, and explore implications for our practice. Everyone is welcome: teachers, administrators, support staff, and volunteers.
Please note the following:

After registering, you’ll receive an email from “MNABE Staff” with a link to join the meetings.
Attendance at all three sessions is NOT required. Register for the series, and you can join on the day(s) that work for you.
NO prior knowledge, preparation, or homework is necessary! Please just bring yourself (and a sense of humor).
We are not planning to record these sessions, but we will share a Padlet with resources to explore on your own.
We promise that you won’t break anything. This will be fun!

Volunteer Core Training Module 4: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Materials
2024-09-25 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 9/25/24
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.

BurlingtonEnglish/Prepare for CASAS STEPS Overview
2024-09-26 16:30 - 17:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 9/26/24
Come join our session to learn about how Burlington English can help prepare your students for the new Prepare for CASAS STEPS assessment. In this session, we will cover the new Burlington English Reading CASAS STEPS feature and how you can use Burlington Core to help your students achieve skill gains. We will answer any questions you might have!

Credential Specialist Webinar
2024-09-27 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 9/27/24
A credential is just a piece of paper, right? WRONG!
An industry-recognized credential can make a huge difference in the life of a learner, which is why Adult Education programs throughout Minnesota are developing and implementing career pathway programs.
Community Interpreter, Food Protection Manager and Certified Nursing Assistant are some of the most common and most commonly asked about credential courses happening in ABE. Attend this webinar to hear from experienced Credential Specialists about what requirements are suggested for potential participants, how the testing works, student success stories, and a chance to ask questions.
If you require ASL interpretation, contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

Back to School with Exact Path
2024-09-27 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 9/27/24
Andrew Kappel from Edmentum will present an introduction to Exact Path, a tool for individualized instruction and practice within the Edmentum platform. You’ll learn about assigning diagnostic assessments, managing individual student Learning Paths, using reports to monitor progress, and proxy hour reporting. The training will be interactive and include time for hands-on practice and questions. We hope you’ll join us to learn more about this powerful tool!
Additional information about the training:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
It will be helpful to know your login credentials prior to the training. You can complete the form here under Key Information to request an account on the statewide Edmentum license.
To request accommodations (ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact the DL helpdesk (support@mnabedistancelearning.zendesk.com).
A recording will be available after the training.

Additional information about Exact Path:

Exact Path is included in our statewide Edmentum license. Edmentum is a state-supported platform, so there is no additional cost to you or your program!
Exact Path is recommended for intermediate or above ESL learners and ABE learners. Content is aligned to K-12 standards in math, reading, and language arts.
The platform can be used to supplement in-class learning or for standalone distance learning.

Teaching Reading Vocabulary
2024-09-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 9/30/24
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.

ABE Foundations At a Distance: Webinar Series
2024-10-01 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-10-08 14:00 - 15:30, 2024-10-22 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: Date of each webinar
When ATLAS is unable to hold the usual in-person ABE Foundations workshop, the ABE Foundations online course is a great option for those new to ABE! However, it’s a lot of information, and we recognize that having the in-person workshop allows you to ask questions, meet key leaders in the field, and build relationships with other colleagues new to ABE.
So, in order to enrichen the online course experience, we are offering a series of 3 live webinars to support your entry into the field. The purpose of the ABE Foundations At a Distance webinar series is to provide a guided, connected way to complete the ABE Foundations online course content in a short, defined timeframe with colleagues; to provide space for asking questions, sharing successes and challenges related to their current work; and to meet and network, and form relationships with ABE leaders and fellow practitioners in the state. Each of these webinars will address different content.
Dates: Each session is 1.5 CEUs; attend ALL 3 and earn an additional 1.5 CEUs!
Webinar 1 of 3: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 – 2-3:30 PM –REGISTER
Webinar 2 of 3: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 – 2-3:30 PM –REGISTER
Webinar 3 of 3: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 – 2-2:30 PM –REGISTER

Back to School with MobyMax - Session 2
2024-10-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 10/2/24
If you’re teaching with MobyMax this school year and need an introduction or a refresher, then this training is for you! We’ll cover essential tasks for teachers, including adding learners to your roster, creating class groups, adjusting module settings so learners can access the correct content, creating assignments, monitoring progress, and proxy hour reporting. The training will include plenty of time for hands-on practice and questions. Note: This is a repeat of the same training held on 8/29/24.
Additional information about the training:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
It will be helpful if you know your login credentials prior to the training. You can complete the form here under Key Information to request an account on the statewide license.
To request accommodations (ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact the DL helpdesk (support@mnabedistancelearning.zendesk.com).
A recording will be available after the training.

Additional information about MobyMax:

MobyMax is a state-supported platform, so there is no additional cost to you or your program!
MobyMax is appropriate for a wide range of ESL and ABE learners. The platform includes lessons, practice, and assessments in literacy, language (grammar and mechanics), math, science, and social studies. The content is aligned with state standards for grades K-8.
The platform can be used to supplement in-class learning or for standalone distance learning.

North ABE Fall 2024 Regional - Walker, MN
2024-10-03 13:30 - 19:30, 2024-10-04 08:00 - 15:00 | Chase on the Lake, 502 Cleveland Blvd., Walker, MN, 56484, United States
Registration Deadline: FRI. 9/27/24
FLYER (includes session descriptions)
NOTE: THE HOTEL ROOM BLOCK IS FULL. PLEASE MAKE HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS ON YOUR OWN, IF NEEDED.
Hotel Accommodations: A discounted guest room block at Chase on the Lake is being held for ATLAS until FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20. All rooms must be requested through the ATLAS Registration Form for Participants and ATLAS Presenter Form for Presenters by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20. You will not be able to secure a guest room by calling or contacting the hotel directly for these dates or rates.
COST:

$25 for both Thursday and Friday (get Thursday for free!)
$25 for Friday only
$15 for Thursday only
$15 late fee will be incurred for registrations submitted after 9/27/24

PAYMENT:
Need to pay for multiple registrations at once? Or need to pay for a registration that was already submitted?

By credit card/PayPal: Have your staff mark “Please bill my organization” when registering, and use this payment form.
By organizational check/PO: Have your staff mark “Please bill my organization” when registering, and ATLAS will invoice your program. Please do not send checks until you are invoiced.

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT:
In addition to covering lodging expenses directly with the hotel, ATLAS will again reimburse North ABE programs or individuals for mileage over 50 miles one-way to and from the venue. Simply submit an ATLAS invoice (and Form W-9 if applicable) after the event. Please direct any questions to Marisa Geisler at mgeisler02@hamline.edu.
If you require ASL Interpretation, please contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 3 – 1:30-7:30 pm
1:30-4:30 pm – Afternoon Session
5:00-6:00 pm – Light Dinner
6:00-7:30 pm – Concurrent Session 1
Friday, October 4 – 8:00 am-3:00 pm
8:00-9:00 am – Welcome & General Session
9:15-10:45 am – Concurrent Session 2
11:00 am-12:30 pm – Concurrent Session 312:30-1:15 pm – Lunch
1:30-3:00 pm – Concurrent Session 4

Teaching Intermediate Alphabetics
2024-10-07 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 10/7/24
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.

SiD Fall Data Cleanup
2024-10-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 10/8/24
In this interactive session, we’ll focus on ways to keep your data clean throughout the year, making year-end reporting a snap! We’ll also answer some of our most popular user questions. Make plans to run SiD reports and examine your own program data as we go along.

CCRS Foundations Refresher Webinar
2024-10-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 10/14/2024

INFORMATIONAL FLYER >>
Download and pass along to your colleagues!

Join us as we take a moment to refresh on key components of CCRS Foundations! This webinar is for any teacher, coordinator, administrator, or program leader who would like to brush up on their CCRS Foundations knowledge.
Ask yourself:
Do I remember the math shifts and the standards for mathematical practice, and the difference between them? Do I remember what the three aspects of Rigor are and why they are important?*
Do I remember how to measure text complexity, both qualitatively and quantitatively? Do I remember the progression of text dependent questions that is outlined by Fisher and Frey?*
We will be refreshing on these topics and more!
* Please note: You will have the option to join an ELA breakout group or a math breakout group during the webinar.
If you require ASL interpretation, please contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

Refining Your Teacher Talk
2024-10-16 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 10/16/24
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.

Support Staff Coffee Break - STEPS for Beginning ESL Lit Learners (Virtual)
2024-10-18 10:30 - 11:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 10/17/24
Do you have questions about the new STEPS assessment, especially as it relates to Beginning Literacy learners? Join the Minnesota Assessment Training team for a short presentation on STEPS A level to learn how it relates to the previous beginning literacy test. Bring your questions and concerns, and the team will answer them. Others who may be interested in this session could be teachers or managers with multiple roles who have intake responsibilities.
For more information on this session contact Marty Olsen (martha.olsen@gmail.com) or Linda Keller (lindam.keller@ahschools.us).

Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency
2024-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 10/18/24
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.

Volunteer Core Training Module 2: Understanding Adult Learners
2024-10-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 10/23/24
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.

BurlingtonEnglish/Prepare for CASAS STEPS Overview
2024-10-25 09:30 - 10:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 10/25/24
Come join our session to learn about how Burlington English can help prepare your students for the new Prepare for CASAS STEPS assessment. In this session, we will cover the new Burlington English Reading CASAS STEPS feature and how you can use Burlington Core to help your students achieve skill gains. We will answer any questions you might have!

Comprehension Strategies for Intermediate-Level Readers
2024-10-29 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 10/29/24
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.

2024 Fall Manager Meeting
2024-10-30 09:00 - 15:00 | Best Western Plus – Shoreview, 1000 Gramsie Rd, Shoreview, MN, 55126, United States
The 2024 Fall Manager Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 30 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. The target audience for this event is adult education managers, coordinators, administrators, and other program leaders. Because the focus of this meeting will be on collaborative problem solving and sharing around priority topics in the Minnesota Adult Education system, this will be an IN-PERSON ONLY event. Topics will include:

Service delivery models, including statewide online courses, student recruitment and referrals, and waitlist management
Accountability, including new MSG options and strategies for improving and monitoring performance
We are reviewing manager survey feedback to determine additional topics.

We strongly encourage every adult education consortium to have representation at this meeting.
Details:
Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (doors open at 8:00 am with a continental breakfast and networking time)
Location: Best Western Plus (1000 Gramsie Road, Shoreview, MN 55126)
Food: Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Registration: Information has been emailed to all MN Adult Education managers. Please contact Neill Allard at neill.allard@state.mn.us with any questions.
Note that Literacy Action Network will reimburse mileage and lodging costs for those traveling 100 miles or more round trip. If you have questions about reimbursements and/or lodging, please contact Wendy Lindblom at info@literacyactionnetwork.org
Hotel Booking at the Best Western Plus:
Book your room by October 21, 2024
Phone: (651) 482-0402
Group: MN ABE Fall Managers
Rate: $105.00/room (not including taxes)
Room Block for the night of Tuesday, October 29, 2024
If you need ASL interpretation for this event, please contact Wendy Lindblom at info@literacyactionnetwork.org by October 11.

Minnesota State - ABE Corequisite Affinity Group Meeting
2024-10-31 14:00 - 15:15, 2024-11-01 10:00 - 11:15 | Online
Kickoff Meeting for the year:

October 31 @ 2:00 – 3:15 pm CDT – OR – November 1 @ 10:00 – 11:15 am CDT
You choose the option that best suits your schedule. Content is the same for both. All meetings are free.

No Registration – use this JOIN LINK to join each Zoom meeting.
Developing and advancing effective College and ABE co-req classroom partnerships is the business of ABE and Minnesota State educators working together through periodic Affinity Group (AG) meetings. The Affinity Group’s composition by role includes ABE Educators, Faculty, College Deans and Administrators, anyone with co-req reporting responsibility, and ABE Regional Directors. The Affinity Group sessions bring together all these practitioners who wish to explore and promote effective partnership models for student success in the co-req environment. All voices are welcome to help shape local and statewide collaboration strategies.
Additional information about the Affinity Group >>
MEETING DATES & TIMES: JOIN LINK
Fall 2024 (both meetings will have the same content; attend the one that best fits your schedule)
Meeting 1: Thursday, October 31, 2024 – 2:00-3:15pm (CDT)
Meeting 2: Friday, November 1, 2024 – 10:00-11:15am (CDT)

Winter 2025 (both meetings will have the same content; attend the one that best fits your schedule)
Meeting 3: Thursday, January 30, 2025 – 12-1:15pm (CST) NOTE TIME CHANGE!
Meeting 4: Friday, January 31, 2025 – 10:00-11:15am (CST)

Spring 2025 (both meetings will have the same content; attend the one that best fits your schedule)
Meeting 5: Thursday, April 3, 2025 – 2:00-3:15pm (CDT)
Meeting 6: Friday, April 4, 2025 – 10:00-11:15am (CDT)
If you require ASL interpretation, contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

How Adult Brains Learn Languages - Presented by Andrea Echelberger
2024-11-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 11/1/24
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.

Reading Activities for Beginning Literacy and Beginning English Language Learners
2024-11-01 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 11/1/24
Teaching and tutoring very beginning level ESL readers can be intimidating for volunteers and professional teachers alike. Attend this webinar to get practical activities and ideas for one-on-one, remote and in-person instruction with tech and no-tech options. Leave feeling ready to provide your learners with meaningful and effective reading activities.
