ATLAS ABE

Teaching and Tutoring with Northstar Digital Literacy
2025-12-05 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 12/5/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Holding Space: Healing-Centered Routines and Practices for Classroom Instruction
2025-12-08 14:30 - 16:00
Registration Deadline: MON. 12/8/25
For many learners and teachers, stress and trauma can seem like insurmountable barriers to developing academic skills. However, the resilience and empathy that many people in adult education have developed can form a foundation for a learning community grounded in curiosity and compassion. Incorporating healing-centered routines and instructional practices in the classroom can improve academic outcomes for learners, promote a sense of belonging, and decrease stress and pressure for learners and teachers alike. In this webinar, learn how to apply the Sequence of Engagement framework and healing-centered approaches in a classroom setting to build community, promote personal growth, and create a safe space for everyone to learn and thrive.
If you require ASL interpretation, contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

Getting Started with Workplace Literacy
2025-12-09 13:00 - 15:00
Registration Deadline: TUE. 12/9/25
Getting Started with Workplace Literacy is a two-hour webinar designed to introduce the foundations of Workplace Education, including key terms such as program definitions, milestones, and MSGs.
Participants will hear from a panel of local ABE managers and workplace literacy partners who will share real-world examples of how programs launch, grow, and demonstrate value. Attendees will also get a first look at a set of customizable tools designed to help programs engage effectively with employers. Panelists will describe their own Workplace Education programs and respond to guiding questions that explore what inspired them to get started, how initial conversations turned into action, and the strategies that helped “seal the deal.”
This session is ideal for anyone looking to understand the essentials and learn from practitioners already doing the work.
If you require ASL Interpretation, please contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

Ellii December Webinar: Keepin’ It Real: Examples from Your Minnesota Colleagues
2025-12-10 14:30 - 15:30
Registration Deadline: WED. 12/10/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

In this session, we’ll showcase examples of how Minnesota adult education teachers are using Ellii in their classes and for distance learning. Come learn from your peers about the activities and resources that they and their learners have loved.

Audience: Teachers and volunteers who are using or interested in using Ellii, all levels
Do I need an Ellii teacher account to attend this session? No. An account is helpful (get one here), but not required.
How do I join the session? Register here, then look for an email from “MNABE Staff” with a Zoom link.
Accommodations: To request ASL interpretation or other accommodations, please email the DL help desk.
Will there be a recording? Yes! The recording will be posted on the MN Adult Education PD YouTube channel.

2025 Virtual Literacy Volunteer Management Conference
2025-12-12 08:30 - 14:45
Registration Deadline: THU. 12/11/25
Cost: FREE for participants in Minnesota and Wisconsin; $25 for participants outside of Minnesota or Wisconsin. Registration is not refundable, but recordings and materials will be available to registrants after the conference.
Venue: Online (see details below)

The Volunteer Management Conference (VMC) is a one-day professional development opportunity that brings together Adult Basic Education staff who work with volunteers: coordinators, teachers and managers alike. The conference is virtual, on Zoom.
Get Ready To:

Learn new strategies and ideas through a keynote presentation and concurrent session offerings.
Get practical resources you can use right away.
Network and share your professional wisdom with colleagues.
Earn CEUs.

Comprehension Strategies for Intermediate-Level Readers
2025-12-15 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: MON. 12/15/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

How Adult Brains Learn Languages - Presented by Andrea Echelberger
2025-12-18 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: THU. 12/18/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Teaching Reading Vocabulary
2026-01-09 13:00 - 15:00
Registration Deadline: FRI. 1/9/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Volunteer Core Training Module 1: Overview of Minnesota Adult Education and Program Accountability
2026-01-13 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: TUE. 1/13/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Supporting Future Paraprofessionals: Integrating Content Standards into ABE Instruction
2026-01-14 14:30 - 16:00
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: WED. 1/14/26
Paraprofessionals play a vital role in classrooms, supporting student learning and fostering inclusive, effective instruction. This interactive webinar will explore the essential skills needed to succeed as a paraprofessional and how Adult Basic Education programs can help learners build those skills. Using content standards integration as a framework, we’ll examine key transition, digital literacy, math, and literacy skills critical for paraprofessional success—and share practical strategies for embedding these skills into classroom instruction.
If you require ASL Interpretation, contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

Teaching and Tutoring with Northstar Digital Literacy
2026-01-14 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: WED. 1/14/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Minnesota State/ABE Corequisite Affinity Group Meetings
2026-01-15 14:00 - 15:15, 2026-01-16 10:00 - 11:15
Registration Deadline: Day of Event (see below)
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:

1. Thursday, October 30, 2-3:15 pm – REGISTER
2. Friday, October 31, 10-11:15 am – REGISTER
3. Thursday, January 15, 2-3:15 pm – REGISTER
4. Friday, January 16, 10-11:15 am – REGISTER
5. Thursday, April 9, 2-3:15 pm – REGISTER
6. Friday, April 10, 10-11:15 am – REGISTER

Support Staff Coffee Break - Everything You Need to Know About Social Security Numbers But Didn't Know to Ask!
2026-01-16 10:00 - 11:00
Registration Deadline: FRI. 1/16/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

The Support Staff Online Coffee Break Series begins the year 2026 with Jenny Schlukebier (SiD) and Rachel Stiglitz (Ramsey County Correctional Facility) talking about the important aspects of Social Security number collection and explaining why the information is so important to MN ABE. You will gain some insight into how to talk to students about sharing their personal information and have a chance to ask your important questions on the topic.
For more information, contact Marty Olsen – martha.olsen@gmail.com

Volunteer Core Training Module 2: Understanding Adult Learners
2026-01-20 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: TUE. 1/20/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency
2026-01-21 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: WED. 1/21/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Emergency Online & Hyflex Teaching 101 Webinar
2026-01-22 13:00 - 14:30
Registration Deadline: THU. 1/22/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Are you or your program making a quick pivot to online, hybrid, or HyFlex instruction? Join this webinar for some just-in-time guidance and resources to help you get started with (or restart) distance and remote instruction. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions of members of the Statewide Digital Learning Team and connect with other Minnesota adult education practitioners. Volunteers and staff in all roles are welcome.

How do I join? Register here and answer all of the questions. Then, look for an email from “MNABE Staff” with a Zoom link.
Accommodations: To request ASL interpretation or other accommodations, please email the DL help desk (support@mnabedistancelearning.zendesk.com).
Will there be a recording? Yes! The recording will be posted on the MN Adult Education PD YouTube channel. (Time spent in breakout room discussions will not be recorded.)

SiD Class Setup Essentials
2026-01-27 09:00 - 10:00
Registration Deadline: TUE. 1/27/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Join us for an in-depth webinar about how to set up classes in SiD. We’ll cover the basics of creating, duplicating, and removing classes. We’ll also dig into how to build specialty classes like IET, Workplace, and Distance Learning. If you’re new to the process of creating classes or looking for a refresher, this is the session for you!

Volunteer Core Training Module 3: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Learners
2026-01-27 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: TUE. 1/27/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Language & Literacy Institute 2026 - VIRTUAL EVENT - Day 1
2026-01-29 08:15 - 15:30
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: THU. 1/29/26
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must register for EACH day you plan to attend!
FLYER (Final Agenda)
PROGRAM SCHEDULE (Complete Session Descriptions) COMING SOON!
If you require ASL Interpretation, contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

GENERAL SESSIONS:
General Session A: Designing for Difference: Scaffolds that Support Adult Learners’ Voice and Choice, presented by Jayme Adelson-Goldstein
Session Description: Adult learners bring a spectrum of goals, strengths, and needs into every learning space. With this variability in mind, we can intentionally design instruction that amplifies learner agency and provides multiple pathways to engage with lesson content. By embedding scaffolds and differentiation strategies into instructional routines, it’s possible to balance structure with learner autonomy and thrive in the process. In this webshop, we’ll reflect on the role scaffolds and differentiation play in deepening learners’ understanding of core content and collaborate to use instructional routines (including choice boards) that increase learners’ connection to that content and to each other.

Jayme Adelson-Goldstein has over 40 years of experience as an instructional designer, teacher educator, and instructional coach. She focuses on refining instructional practices in ways that respect and differentiate for the needs of multilingual learners and the teachers, tutors, and instructional leaders who serve them. In her work as Lighthearted Learning, she provides in-person and virtual professional learning opportunities that emphasize instructional approaches which contextualize, scaffold, and customize adult learning while fostering learner agency. She has served as a subject matter expert on federal projects including Digital Resilience in the American Workforce (DRAW), Teaching the Skills That Matter (TSTM), and LINCS ESL Pro, and is the recipient of the 2025 Ideal Consortium Impact Award for Innovating Digital Education for Adult Learners. Her publications include The Oxford Picture Dictionary, Step Forward, and numerous open educational resources for adult instructors.
General Session B: The Power of Talk: Building Literacy and Career Readiness Through Oral Language
In this workshop, we explore how harnessing and strengthening oral language can act as a springboard for literacy development and career readiness. Using the Teaching & Learning Cycle, which scaffolds academic and professional writing through deep and critical thinking tasks, academic discussions, interactive reading, and language development, instructors can connect seamlessly to the CCR Shifts in Complexity/Evidence/Knowledge. Learn how structured academic conversations serve to build and deepen content knowledge; see how using mentor texts can move adult learners to constructing complex texts of their own while supporting ideas with evidence. This workshop will benefit teachers both of English learners as well as learners whose primary language is English.
Betsy Parrish is Professor in the TESOL Program at Hamline University. She has worked for over 35 years as an English language teacher, teacher educator, and consultant in the US, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, France, India, Russia, and Vietnam. She is a frequent presenter at state, national, and international conferences on adult education issues, including academic and career readiness, innovative PD models, and learner-centered teaching practices. As co-founder of ATLAS, Betsy participated in the development of the Minnesota Transitions Integration Framework (TIF). She has been a subject matter expert on several OCTAE-funded projects, including ESL Pro, Teaching the Skills that Matter in Adult Education (TSTM) Civics Toolkit, the LINCS course on Principles and Practices for Meeting Adult EL needs, and trainings for the English Language Proficiency Standards for Adult Education. Betsy is the author of Teaching Adult ESL:English Language Learners: A Practical Introduction (Cambridge 2019).

Language & Literacy Institute 2026 - VIRTUAL EVENT - Day 2
2026-01-30 08:15 - 15:15
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FRI. 1/30/26
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must register for EACH day you plan to attend!
FLYER (Final Agenda)
PROGRAM SCHEDULE (Complete Session Descriptions) COMING SOON!
If you require ASL Interpretation, contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

GENERAL SESSIONS:
General Session: From Academic Language to the Language of Access: History, Harm, and New Possibilities in Adult Education, presented by Michelle Benegas, Hamline University
Session Description: Adult educators across Minnesota work with learners navigating many linguistic worlds — high school equivalency, college preparation, workplace expectations, digital communication, and more. Yet the term “academic language,” once proposed as a neutral support for learners, has increasingly functioned as a racialized hierarchy that privileges certain ways of speaking and writing.
This session slows down the history: how scholars such as Cummins and Zwiers framed academic language, why their models resonated at the time, and how more recent work — including that of Nelson Flores — challenges us to rethink what we are actually asking learners to do. Using storytelling, brief video clips, and interactive breakout reflections, we will explore the shift toward the language of access: a practical, justice-oriented approach that asks not “How do we correct learners?” but “How do we equip them with multiple linguistic resources to move through unequal systems?”
Participants will leave with concrete strategies, fresh perspectives, and a deeper understanding of how language can either reinforce barriers or open doors in adult education settings.

Volunteer Core Training Module 4: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Materials
2026-02-04 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: WED. 2/4/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Thinking Online? Learn How Minnesota Programs Are Making the Shift
2026-02-06 11:00 - 12:00
Registration Deadline: FRI. 2/6/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

From Worthington to Grand Marais, programs using BurlingtonEnglish across Minnesota are successfully navigating any instructional model. Join us to learn how programs are using BE, and how we can support you in your pivot.
Presented by:

Kathleen Moriarty: ABE Supervisor, Metro North
Liv Musel-Staloch: Lead Teacher, Mankato Area Adult Basic Education
Mary Kate Lewis Piroso: Distance Learning Specialist, Mankato Area Adult Basic Education
Sherri Quesnel: Regional Manager, BurlingtonEnglish
JennaRose Dahl: Customer Manager, BurlingtonEnglish
Xue Xiong: Customer Representative, BurlingtonEnglish

NOTE: You do not need a BurlingtonEnglish account to participate; this webinar is open to everyone.

Teaching Intermediate Alphabetics
2026-02-06 13:00 - 15:00
Registration Deadline: FRI. 2/6/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Basic Tech Help for Online and HyFlex Classes
2026-02-11 13:00 - 15:00
Registration Deadline: WED. 2/11/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Are you currently teaching or volunteering in an online or hybrid/HyFlex class? Is your current class pivoting to online instruction? Join this session to learn about common technology issues and basic skills you will need to support learners in Zoom or Google Meet. We will also provide real-life examples of meaningful roles that volunteers can play in online and HyFlex classes.
Practice and prepare skills like joining online, managing your meetings and keeping students in the loop. We’ll also discuss common pitfalls to avoid.
NO SPECIAL TECH OR IT SKILLS ARE REQUIRED! The only requirements for being a tech helper are patience, a sense of humor, and willingness to learn.

Online & HyFlex Teaching Support Webinar - Session 1 of 2
2026-02-12 14:00 - 15:30
Registration Deadline: THU. 2/12/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

This webinar series is a follow-up to the Online & HyFlex Teaching Foundations workshop offered as a pre-conference session at the 2025 Summer Institute. All staff and volunteers who are involved with online or HyFlex classes are invited to attend.
These webinars will be interactive and based on YOUR questions and requests. In Session 1, Digital Learning Team members will facilitate a sample online lesson using EdTech tools. You will reflect on your experience of the lesson and be given a small reflection and application assignment to complete before the next meeting. In Session 2, you’ll be able to share what you learned and have time to ask questions and swap ideas with colleagues in similar teaching contexts.
CEUs will be awarded for attendance at each session as well as for completion of the application assignment.

Audience: Teachers, program managers/coordinators, support staff, and volunteers who teach or support online and HyFlex classes. Everyone is welcome to attend, even if you did not attend Summer Institute or are not yet offering online or HyFlex classes.
How do I join? Register here and answer all of the questions. Then, look for an email from “MNABE Staff” with a Zoom link. The same link will work for both sessions.
Do I have to attend both sessions? You are strongly encouraged to attend both sessions and complete the “homework” activity before Session 2. However, we understand that schedules are complicated, so please join us for whatever time your schedule permits.
Accommodations: To request ASL interpretation or other accommodations, please email the DL help desk.
Will there be a recording? Yes! The recordings will be posted on the MN Adult Education PD YouTube channel. (Time spent in breakout room discussions will not be recorded.)

Comprehension Strategies for Intermediate-Level Readers
2026-02-12 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: THU. 2/12/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Teaching Reading Vocabulary
2026-02-16 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: MON. 2/16/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

WebChat with MN ABE
2026-02-18 13:00 - 14:30
Registration Deadline: WED. 2/18/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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 Lindblom at info@literacyactionnetwork.org by Monday, January 26, 2026.

Topics will include (but are not limited to):

Federal funding update, as available
State WIOA Plan revision
HSE Subsidy status
Contact hour year-over-year comparison
Grant updates
Transitions updates
Upcoming Professional Development opportunities

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

Volunteer Core Training Module 2: Understanding Adult Learners
2026-02-18 18:30 - 20:30
Registration Deadline: WED. 2/18/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.
