ATLAS ABE

Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices Study Circle
2024-04-05 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-04-19 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FRI. 2/23/24
To do our work well, educators need to be aware of students’ possible experiences stemming from trauma in a myriad of forms, as well as implications for teaching and learning. In this study circle, a lens of trauma-informed instruction is used to deepen our best practices in working with adult learners in ways that are inclusive and culturally responsive. In this professional learning activity, emphasis is on reading, reflection, and discussion.
Objectives:
– Articulate a working definition of trauma that includes personal, systemic, historical, and other experiences.
– Identify ways that such trauma can impact learning for adult basic education students.
– Implement trauma-informed practices in order to better serve adult learners.
– Connect with fellow ABE practitioners and create a supportive environment that fosters well-being for ourselves, our students, and our workplaces.
Facilitated by: Andrea Echelberger
You must attend all study circle sessions to earn the 20 CEUs:

Friday, March 8, 2024 from 1:00-4:00pm
Friday, March 22, 2024 from 1:00-4:00pm
Friday, April 5, 2024 from 1:00-4:00pm
Friday, April 19, 2024 from 1:00-4:00pm

Zoom registration links will be sent to registrants via email.
Note: Priority for slots is given to current paid staff of Minnesota Adult Education programs.
GET MORE DETAILS >>
Meet our facilitator

Andrea Echelberger has worked in the field of adult education as a classroom teacher and an instructional trainer for 20 years, providing training and support for English language teachers on both a state and national level. Andrea has worked extensively with refugee-background adult emergent readers, served as an EL Fellow and EL Specialist with the US State Department, and has developed a wide variety of workshops and classroom instructional materials. Andrea holds a M. A. in Teaching ESL from Hamline University and a MN ABE Teaching License from the University of Minnesota.

The HiSET Exam Curriculum: Leveraging Existing Skills for Success
2024-04-15 13:00 - 14:00
Registration Deadline: MON. 4/15/24
The HiSET serves as a crucial pathway for individuals seeking to obtain a high school equivalency credential. This session highlights a unique perspective on the HiSET exam curriculum, emphasizing that individuals are often already engaging with its content in their daily lives and in their classrooms. By recognizing and harnessing these existing skills and knowledge, test-takers can approach the exam with confidence and optimize their chances of success. This session explores various facets of the HiSET curriculum that align with current classroom content. Through this perspective, the journey toward achieving a high school equivalency is made attainable through the educator’s current classroom curriculum, style, and management.

Volunteer Core Training Module 2: Understanding Adult Learners
2024-04-15 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: MON. 4/15/24
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.

Burlington English Lunch and Learn: Looking into CCR & ELPS with Burlington English
2024-04-16 12:30 - 13:15
Registration Deadline: TUE. 4/16/24
In this session, we will learn how to identify CCR and ELP standards addressed in a lesson in Burlington Core and use other instructional resources in Burlington Core to help students develop skills addressed in the CCR and ELP standards.
NOTE: Attendees must have current login credentials for their BE account.

Teaching Reading Vocabulary
2024-04-17 13:00 - 15:00
Registration Deadline: WED. 4/17/24
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.

CCRS Support Webinar (3 of 3): CCRS + TIF = A match made in heaven!
2024-04-18 14:30 - 16:00
Registration Deadline: THU. 4/18/24
The standards for adult education can be confusing – CCRS, TIF, & Northstar, oh my! They are all important, of course, and we know students need everything, everything, all at once! Here’s the truth – the standards all interact, all the time. Join state leaders on this webinar to discover ways we can enrich teaching and learning by thinking about the standards TOGETHER. Does interpreting a graph have anything to do with Critical Thinking? Does point of view relate to Navigating Systems? What about the interplay of showing evidence, effective communication, and learning strategies? And what of all this transfers to building career skills (or maybe the better question is what DOESN’T transfer to building career skills!) All this and more with ATLAS’s Kristine Kelly, Lindsey Pust, and Carly Voshell.
If you require ASL interpretation, please contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

Adult Career Pathways Institute
2024-04-19 09:00 - 13:00
Registration Deadline: FRI. 4/19/24
Join ATLAS for a half day, virtual conference on all things Adult Career Pathway! This year’s ACP Institute will feature a welcome from Minnesota ABE Director, Brad Hasskamp. We will introduce Credential Specialists in the areas of Certified Nursing Assistant, Community Interpreter and Food Protection Manager, and explain how to find more resources related to these high-need credentials. Concurrent sessions include career exploration for adult English Learners, co-enrollment with WIOA programs and the updated IET Approval process.
Schedule:
9-10 am – Welcome from ATLAS & State Staff & Announcing New Credential Specialists
Join us for remarks from MN Adult Ed Director Brad Hasskamp and ATLAS staff as we introduce Credential Specialists in the areas of Certified Nursing Assistant, Community Interpreter and Food Protection Manager, and explain how to find more resources related to these high-need credentials.
10-10:15 am – Break
10:15-11:30 am – Concurrent Session 1
Put Math to Work
From checking your pay stub to setting prices in your small business, adults use math in every job. It’s our job as instructors to incorporate math skills in ACP courses in a contextualized way. Let’s talk about how to identify which skills learners need and embed them in ACP curriculum with coherence and relevance.
Co-Enrollment and Collaboration: Making Connections to Better Serve ABE Students Holistically
Adult Education students face many barriers while improving their lives. They may be juggling many plates- school, work, family, and other responsibilities. Having a strong, two-way referral system between ABE and Workforce partners helps to meet the complex needs of these individuals. Join this session to learn more about collaborating with your local workforce development organization to discover what opportunities are available for eligible students and how co-enrollment in WIOA and other programs can benefit the whole student.
11:30-11:45 am – Break
11:45 am-1 pm – Concurrent Session 2
In Our IET Era: What Every Adult Ed Program Needs to Know About the 2024 IET Application Process
This session is made for newcomers and veterans of Integrated Education and Training (IET) work. 2024 brings changes to the IET application and approval process. Participants will see the new forms and take a closer look at strategies when creating Single Set of Learning Objectives (SSLOs) for future IET applications.
Career Exploration for English Language Learners
The goal for most adult learners is a good job so they can support themselves and their family. Adult Educators want to make that transition as smooth as possible by providing classes, events and activities to allow for career exploration and conversation in the ESL classroom. This presentation will feature panelists from around the state of Minnesota. Find out what’s working, ask questions and pick up some fresh ideas for building career confidence for EL learners.
If you require ASL Interpretation, contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu as soon as possible!

Administrator Webinar: Leading ABE Programs with a Trauma-Informed Lens
2024-04-23 12:00 - 13:30
Registration Deadline: TUE. 4/23/24
As leaders of ABE programs, coordinators and administrators can do much to create organizations and learning environments that are trauma-informed and healing-centered. In this webinar, join Lucille Rosario, a nationally-known social worker and educator, as she walks us through how leaders can directly impact their programs in ABE! Research has shown us that we cannot have a healing or trauma-informed learning environment without our own wellness and self-awareness. Join us as we dive into the impact of stress, trauma, and compassion fatigue on all professionals and organizations in adult education.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Lucille will build on foundational knowledge from her Language & Literacy keynote presentation, Creating a Healing-Centered Environment by Cultivating Educator Resilience. To get the most out of this upcoming webinar, please plan to watch the recording and/or look closely at the slides before April 23rd.
Please contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu for ASL Interpretation.

Burlington English Lunch and Learn: Strategies to Teach to a Multi-Level Classroom
2024-04-23 12:30 - 13:15
Registration Deadline: TUE. 4/23/24
In this session, we will explore the challenges and advantages of teaching a multi-level classroom, share ideas on how to overcome these challenges, and brainstorm other strategies that we can use in the classroom.
NOTE: Attendees must have current login credentials for their BE account.

Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency
2024-04-23 13:00 - 15:00
Registration Deadline: TUE. 4/23/24
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.

HSE Testing Coffee Talk Series
2024-04-23 13:30 - 14:30
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

Reading Activities for Beginning Literacy and Beginning English Language Learners
2024-04-24 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: WED. 4/24/24
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.

Learning Math Asynchronously: Best Practices, Resources and More
2024-04-25 14:30 - 16:00
Registration Deadline: THU. 4/25/24
Students have incredibly busy schedules and this can prevent them from attending scheduled classes to meet their needs. In the past, we may have simply offered students access to a distance learning platform. Today we have access to a variety of tools and resources to provide students with a more interactive and robust learning experience. Join us as we explore asynchronous learning in the post-COVID era. We will discuss the benefits and challenges of asynchronous learning as well as tools, resources, routines and stories from inside our own asynchronous classrooms.
Contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu if you require ASL interpretation.

CASAS STEPS and Burlington English Prep Virtual Conference
2024-04-26 09:00 - 12:00
Registration Deadline: FRI. 4/26/24
Come learn about the new CASAS STEPS assessment and the new BurlingtonEnglish CASAS preparation materials. We’ll collaborate together in person, sharing strategies learned from states who have already adopted the new CASAS Steps assessment, gaining confidence with the English Language Proficiency standards, and receive training on the new BurlingtonEnglish CASAS preparation materials (coming spring 2024).
All are welcome, whether you use CASAS, BurlingtonEnglish, or both.

Working with Literacy and Beginning Level ESL Learners
2024-04-26 13:00 - 15:00
Registration Deadline: FRI. 4/26/24
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.

Teaching Intermediate Alphabetics
2024-04-29 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: MON. 4/29/24
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 23-24 End of Year Data Cleanup webinar
2024-04-30 09:00 - 10:30
Registration Deadline: TUE. 4/30/24
It’s time once again to tidy up your data in SID! Mark your calendar for our annual webinar that helps you get ready for upcoming state and federal ABE reporting. It will be here before you know it!
Topics include:

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

How to Work Effectively with Muslims - Presented by CAIR-MN
2024-04-30 13:00 - 15:00
Registration Deadline: TUE. 4/30/24
Join Jaylani Hussein of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) MN for a proactive diversity training that bridges the gap of misunderstanding and provides resources to employers, attorneys, community leaders and educators.
This single diversity training will cover three different sections.
1. First, the presentation will open with a brief introduction on how to effectively work with Muslim learners by bringing awareness and eliminating a potential bias. This session will also include an interactive polling exercise. Participants will answer questions to both learn about Muslim culture, while also learning ideas about unconscious bias.
2. The second segment highlights Muslim demographics worldwide, in the United States and in Minnesota. This section includes an in depth explanation of the religion and cultural norms, including keywords, holidays, and customs held in Muslim culture, and concludes with a discussion on how Muslims practice their beliefs, emphasizing the continuum of diversity of practice within the religion.
3. The third part of this presentation will include how to provide religious accommodations in an educational setting. It emphasizes:
a. the main practices for which school staff should expect a request for accommodation
b. practices to be mindful of when interacting with Muslim learners

WebChat with MDE - Annual ABE Grant Application Webinar
2024-05-01 13:00 - 14:30
Registration Deadline: WED. 5/1/24

NOTE: ASL interpretation has been secured for this webinar.

This session will be the annual grant informational webinar for the state and federal Adult Education Grant Application.
The Annual ABE Grant Application is the application that must be submitted on June 1 by all consortia in order to continuing receiving state and federal Adult Education funds. This year, the application will be submitted through a new grants system, Minnesota Education Grant System (MEGS). An overview of MEGS will be included in this webinar, so it is especially important for each Minnesota ABE consortium to send at least one representative to this virtual session. Participants are encouraged to share the resources and learning with other staff in their consortium.
Topics will include:

Information and guidance on the Annual ABE Grant Application for Fiscal Year 24–25
Overview of the MEGS grant application system
Update on statewide contact hours
Professional Development announcements
Other announcements and topics TBD

Web chat 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.
For those unable to attend, the meeting and materials will be available on the Literacy Action Network website after the meeting: http://literacyactionnetwork.org/supplemental-service-activities/web-chat-with-mnabe.

Comprehension Strategies for Intermediate-Level Readers
2024-05-06 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: MON. 5/6/24
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.

Burlington English Lunch and Learn: Best Practices in Core
2024-05-07 12:30 - 13:15
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/7/24
In this session, we will explore ideas and strategies to enhance your instruction when teaching with In-Class Lessons. We will go over fresh ideas on how to engage your students when completing different activities!
NOTE: Attendees must have current login credentials for their BE account.

Volunteer Core Training Module 1: Overview of Minnesota Adult Education and Program Accountability
2024-05-08 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: WED. 5/8/24
Participants learn about Adult Basic Education programming in Minnesota, demographics of learners, instructional content standards as well as initial and on-going assessment. This session wraps up with learner motivations, barriers and persistence.

Edmentum Flex Assignments Training
2024-05-09 15:00 - 16:00
Registration Deadline: THU. 5/9/24

Flex Assignments in Edmentum Courseware allow teachers to assign targeted lessons, practice, and assessments without assigning an entire course. Kris Klas from the Hubbs Center in Saint Paul and Andrew Kappel from Edmentum will discuss how you can use this feature to support your in-person, hybrid, or online classes.
Edmentum is a state-supported (no cost to you) distance learning platform with a wide variety of content for teaching reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, GED/HiSET preparation, and career pathways classes.
It will be helpful to know your login credentials prior to the training. If needed, you can complete the form here under Key Information to request an account on the statewide license.

Tips and Strategies for Online Instruction
2024-05-10 13:00 - 15:00
Registration Deadline: FRI. 5/10/24
During the early days of the pandemic, remote instruction was a necessary evil that many begrudgingly endured. But as the options for in-person instruction opened up, many learners chose to continue to learn in an online environment. Join this session to learn and see modeled tips and strategies for teaching and tutoring online, and determine how to bring them back to your context. This session is appropriate for educators working with both English language learners and adult education students. (Note: This session does not include technical how-to skills for using Zoom or other platforms.)

Burlington English Lunch and Learn: Progress and Reports
2024-05-14 12:30 - 13:15
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/14/24
In this session, we will have an overview of how to use Progress and also go over the reports feature. We will go through helpful tips on how to increase student usage.
NOTE: Attendees must have current login credentials for their BE account.

Volunteer Core Training Module 2: Understanding Adult Learners
2024-05-15 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: WED. 5/15/24
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.

Introduction to USA Learns, A Distance Learning Platform for ESL Students
2024-05-16 14:00 - 15:30
Registration Deadline: THU. 5/16/24
USA Learns is an online distance learning platform for low-intermediate level ESL students, and those studying for Citizenship. In this webinar, presenters Melissa Brusacoram (AEOA) and Jessica Ess (St. Paul ABE/Hubbs Center) will provide an overview of the platform, how to sign up as a teacher, student sign up, and guidance on using the website.

How Adult Brains Learn Languages Presented by Andrea Echelberger
2024-05-17 13:00 - 15:00
Registration Deadline: FRI. 5/17/24
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.

Burlington English Lunch and Learn: Xue's Office Hour
2024-05-21 12:30 - 13:15
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/21/24
You will be able to join Xue’s open office hour to come with any questions or issues that you have. If you need help with a technical issue, Xue will be able to walk you through and train you in how to resolve the issue. If you need teaching tips or strategies, we can brainstorm in this session. If you need training in a specific area of Burlington English, Xue will be able to help you navigate through the features.
