ATLAS ABE

North ABE Fall 2025 Regional Conference - IN-PERSON: Bemidji, MN
2025-10-10 08:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | South Shore Hotel & Conference Center – Bemidji, 1019 Paul Bunyan Dr S, Bemidji, MN, MN, 56601, United States
FINAL REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FRI. 10/3/25
HOTEL REQUEST DEADLINE: Is Past Due – please make a reservation on your own, if needed.
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE: WED. 10/1/2025
LATE REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FRI. 10/3/2025 at 5:00 pm (CST) NOTE: Additional late fee of $20 applies after 10/1
FY26 FLYER-NORTH ABE FALL 2025 REGIONAL
Hotel Accommodations: A discounted guest room block at the SouthShore Hotel on Lake Bemidji is being held for ATLAS until TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. All rooms must be requested through the ATLAS Registration Form for Participants and Presenters by TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. You will not be able to secure a guest room at the discounted rate of $119 by calling or contacting the hotel directly for these dates or rates.
COST:

$35 for both Thursday and Friday (get Thursday for free!)
$35 for Friday only
$20 for Thursday only
$20 late fee will be incurred for registrations submitted after Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 5:00 pm (CST)

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 Eva Kovacs Zewdie, ATLAS Grant & Budget Coordinator ezewdie01@hamline.edu

SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 9 – 2:00 pm – 7:30 pm (note 2 pm start time)
2-4:30 pm – Afternoon Session: Using AI in Reading Instruction
5:00-6:00 pm – Light Dinner
6:00-7:30 pm – Concurrent Session 1
Friday, October 10 – 8:00 am-3:00 pm
8:15 – 8:45 am – Welcome & General Session
9:00 – 10:30 am – Concurrent Session 2
10:45 – 12:15 pm – Concurrent Session 3
12:15 – 1:15 pm – Lunch
1:15 – 2:45 pm – Concurrent Session 4
If you require ASL Interpretation, please contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

Teaching Intermediate Alphabetics
2025-10-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 10/10/25
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.

Teaching and Tutoring with Northstar Digital Literacy
2025-10-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 10/15/25
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.

Integrated Pronunciation Instruction for Increased Intelligibility Presented by Suzanne Gilchrist McCurdy
2025-10-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 10/20/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

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.

Volunteer Core Training Module 1: Overview of Minnesota Adult Education and Program Accountability
2025-10-22 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 10/22/25
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.

Fall Manager Meeting
2025-10-23 09:00 - 15:00 | Jimmy’s Event Center, 3565 Labore Rd, Vadnais Heights, MN, 55110, United States
Registration Deadline: WED. 10/8/25
Venue: Jimmy’s Event Center (see details below)

The 2025 Fall Manager Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 23 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.
We strongly encourage every adult education consortium to have representation at this meeting.
If you need ASL interpretation for this event, please contact Wendy Lindblom at info@literacyactionnetwork.org by October 2.
Details:
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time: 9:00 am–3:00 pm (doors open at 8:00 am with a continental breakfast and networking time)
Location: Jimmy’s Event Center (3565 Labore Road, Vadnais Heights, MN 55110)
Food: Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided
Lodging information:
Holiday Inn Express (Vadnais Heights, MN)
P: (651) 484-2400
Group: Literacy Action Network
Rate: $109.00/room (not including taxes) — breakfast included
Room Block: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Note: 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.

Support Staff Coffee Break - Best Practices for Intake for Beginning Literacy Learners (Virtual)
2025-10-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 10/24/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

The Support Staff Online Coffee Break Series returns with Rebecca Jarvis (Metro South) sharing the work of a task force of experienced adult educators who focused on Beginning ESL Literacy learners. The task force addressed concerns and made recommendations surrounding intake, placement, and testing practices for these learners. The specific focus was students who do not read or write in their first language and are new to alphabetic print literacy.

NEW resource! Best Practices for Intake and Support Staff: Beginning ESL Literacy

For more information, contact Marty Olsen – martha.olsen@gmail.com

Comprehension Strategies for Intermediate-Level Readers
2025-10-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 10/27/25
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.

MobyMax: Focus on Content Standards and Assignments
2025-10-28 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 10/28/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

Join us for a deep dive into MobyMax content and the CCRS! You’ll learn how to find and assign MobyMax lessons that are aligned to specific CCR/Common Core standards in math and English language arts. We’ll also discuss ways to make the most of diagnostic assessment and placement test data and tips for managing assignments in open-enrollment classes.

Audience: Teachers and instructional staff or volunteers who use (or are interested in using) MobyMax for distance learning
Do I need a MobyMax teacher account to attend this session? Yes, it will be very helpful to know your login credentials before attending this session. You can request a state-supported account here under “Key Information.”
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.

Ellii October Webinar: What Can I Teach with Ellii?
2025-10-29 14:30 - 15:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 10/29/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

This session will provide an overview of the rich selection of content available for teachers in the Ellii platform. We’ll show you some concrete examples of resource sets for various topics and levels and discuss options for customization. We’ll also take a quick tour of the Ventures collections for teachers using this textbook series. There will be time for questions and discussion.

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.

Volunteer Core Training Module 2: Understanding Adult Learners
2025-10-29 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 10/29/25
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.

Minnesota State/ABE Corequisite Affinity Group Meetings
2025-10-30 14:00 - 15:15, 2025-10-31 10:00 - 11:15 | Online
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

Teaching Reading Vocabulary
2025-11-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 11/3/25
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.

AI Crash Course - Session 1
2025-11-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: On the date of each webinar
Venue: Online (see details below)

AI Crash Course 2025
November 4, 11, 18 @ 3:00pm – 4:00pm
This FREE webinar series is open to all adult education staff and volunteers. Please register for the series and attend the sessions that work for your schedule.
Session 1: What is AI? What are effective prompts?
TUE. 11/4/25
A beginner-friendly introduction to working with AI. Learn what AI is, how to access and navigate AI platforms, and how to create effective prompts (i.e., help the AI “understand” what you want it to do).
Session 2: AI for Teaching
TUE. 11/11/25

Start learning how to use MagicSchool AI, an AI platform developed for teachers. It has tools to support you with many common tasks, including:

Creating academic texts, lessons, worksheets, and rubrics
Drafting unit plans and course syllabi
Brainstorming ideas for choice boards, differentiation, and accommodations
And much, much more!

Session 3: Now what? AI Literacy for EVERYONE
TUE. 11/18/25
Discuss what AI literacy means and why it matters: for learners, teachers, administrators, and everyone. Consider how we can support appropriate, responsible, and ethical use of AI tools.
Additional information:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from “MNABE Staff” with a Zoom link to join the sessions.
To request accommodations (ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact the DL helpdesk at support@mnabedistancelearning.zendesk.com.
Sessions will be recorded and shared on the MN Adult Education PD YouTube channel.
CEUs will be available.

Volunteer Core Training Module 3: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Learners
2025-11-05 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 11/5/25
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.

Healing-Centered Organizations: Stress and Trauma’s Impact on Adult Education Programs and Teams
2025-11-06 14:30 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 11/6/25
How does trauma show up in our organizations? Trauma is not only an individual’s experience or responsibility, but an organizational pattern that can be perpetuated in schools and programs. This webinar presented by frequent ATLAS speaker Lucille Amis Rosario explores the types and signs of organizational trauma, including patterns like parallel process and re-enactment that can undermine team cohesion and the wellbeing of both students and staff. Learn how communication dynamics may reflect deeper stress, and discover practical ways to interrupt harmful cycles through a healing-centered approach. Lucille will also introduce a Sequence of Engagement framework to guide healthier interactions and support programs in becoming places of healing.
If you require ASL interpretation contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu

Math Institute 2025 (Virtual Conference)
2025-11-07 08:45 - 15:15 | Online
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FRI. 11/7/25
Keynote Talk: Math is Figuroutable!
Keynote Speaker: Pamela Weber Harris
Pamela Weber Harris is changing the way we view and teach mathematics. She is the author of several books, including Numeracy Problems Strings K-5, Developing Mathematical Reasoning, and Building Powerful Numeracy. As a mom, a former high school math teacher, university lecturer, and an author, she believes everyone can do more math when it is based in reasoning than math as memorizing and mimicking. Pam has created online Building Powerful Mathematics workshops and presents frequently at national and international conferences. Her particular interests include teaching real math, building powerful numeracy, sequencing rich tasks to construct mathematics, using technology appropriately, smart assessment, and vertical connectivity in curricula in schools PK-12. Pam helps leaders and teachers to make the shift that supports students to learn real math because math is figureoutable!
If you require ASL Interpretation, contact Gail Rutan at grutan01@hamline.edu
Schedule:
8:45am- 10:15 – Welcome and Keynote – Keynote address (Pam Harris)
10:15-10:30 – Break
10:30-12pm – Workshop (Problem Strings with Pam Harris)
12:00-12:45 – Lunch
12:45-2:15 – Concurrent Workshops
2:15-2:30 – Break
2:30-3:15 – Resource Share

Let’s Start at the Very Beginning: Instruction for Literacy Level Adult Learners - Presented by Andrea Echelberger
2025-11-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 11/7/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

Do you work with an adult learner or a class of learners who are just beginning to read and write? Tutoring literacy level adult ESL learners has unique rewards and challenges. There are very few textbooks aimed at this level, and it can be difficult to break down their learning goals into smaller, achievable steps. This session will cover suggested goals, processes, and activities for helping an adult ESL learner get successfully started on the road to literacy.

AI Crash Course - Session 2
2025-11-11 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 11/18/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

AI Crash Course 2025
November 4, 11, 18 @ 3:00pm – 4:00pm
This FREE webinar series is open to all adult education staff and volunteers. Please register for the series and attend the sessions that work for your schedule.
Session 1: What is AI? What are effective prompts?
TUE. 11/4/25
A beginner-friendly introduction to working with AI. Learn what AI is, how to access and navigate AI platforms, and how to create effective prompts (i.e., help the AI “understand” what you want it to do).
Session 2: AI for Teaching
TUE. 11/11/25

Start learning how to use MagicSchool AI, an AI platform developed for teachers. It has tools to support you with many common tasks, including:

Creating academic texts, lessons, worksheets, and rubrics
Drafting unit plans and course syllabi
Brainstorming ideas for choice boards, differentiation, and accommodations
And much, much more!

Session 3: Now what? AI Literacy for EVERYONE
TUE. 11/18/25

Discuss what AI literacy means and why it matters: for learners, teachers, administrators, and everyone. Consider how we can support appropriate, responsible, and ethical use of AI tools.
Additional information:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from “MNABE Staff” with a Zoom link to join the sessions.
To request accommodations (ASL interpretation, etc.), please contact the DL helpdesk at support@mnabedistancelearning.zendesk.com.
Sessions will be recorded and shared on the MN Adult Education PD YouTube channel.
CEUs will be available.

Volunteer Core Training Module 4: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Materials
2025-11-12 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 11/12/25
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.

Support Services Pre-Conference: CASAS and TABE Training
2025-11-13 09:00 - 16:00 | Online
Conference Details & Information
Venue: Online (see details below)

SPARC, along with the Minnesota Department of Education and SW ABE, sponsors an annual statewide conference for support professionals. Day one features CASAS and TABE Implementation Training. Day two is a full day of conference sessions. The day will feature ABE update from our state ABE director and other state ABE staff, followed by concurrent sessions specifically of interest to support staff.
If you require ASL Interpretation, contact Marty Olsen @ martha.olsen@gmail.com

Support Services Conference
2025-11-14 09:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 11/12/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

SPARC, along with the Minnesota Department of Education and SW ABE, sponsors an annual statewide conference for support professionals. Day one features CASAS and TABE Implementation Training. Day two is a full day of conference sessions. The day will feature ABE update from our state ABE director and other state ABE staff, followed by concurrent sessions specifically of interest to support staff.
If you require ASL Interpretation, contact Marty Olsen @ martha.olsen@gmail.com

Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency
2025-11-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 11/14/25
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.

Teaching Intermediate Alphabetics
2025-11-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 11/17/25
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.

Ellii November Webinar: Admin & Support Staff Coffee Break
2025-11-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 11/18/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

If you manage Ellii classes and learner accounts, run Ellii participation reports for DL hours, or otherwise support learners and teachers using Ellii for distance learning, then this session is for you! We’ll talk about some successes and failures we’ve encountered so far; share some tips, tricks, and hacks; and have time for questions, venting (if needed), and troubleshooting. BYOB.

Audience: Coordinators, managers, and support staff in programs using the state-supported Ellii plan for distance learning proxy hours
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.

AI Crash Course - Session 3
2025-11-18 15:00 - 16:00 | Online

I Hear You! Effective Listening Instruction for English Language Learners - Presented by Andrea Echelberger
2025-11-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 11/20/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

Come learn how explicit listening instruction builds a foundation for literacy skills and fosters independence for language learners. This workshop will identify authentic learning tasks that English learners encounter daily, try out a variety of listening activities across multiple levels, and discuss which explicit listening strategies are used for each one. Participants will leave with ideas for listening tasks that can be used in remote or in-person instruction.

Apex & Pointful CTE Courses Q&A Session
2025-12-01 15:30 - 16:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 12/1/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

Did you know that there are state-supported online curricula to help learners explore careers and prepare to earn industry-recognized credentials? Learn more about these Pointful CTE courses and how to access them on the Apex platform. Courses with credential preparation include:

Architectural Design I: Prepare for the AutoDesk Certified User in AutoCAD exam.
LEED Green Associate: Learn about the LEED process and sustainable design and construction. Prepare for the LEED Green Associate exam.
Java SE 8: Learn the basics of programming in Java and prepare for an Oracle Certification exam.
Drones: Remote Pilot: Begin preparing for the FAA exam to become a Certificated Remote Pilot.

Other Pointful courses include Career Exploration in Healthcare, Dentistry, and Finance; three courses related to early childhood and general education; Personal Finance; Entrepreneurship and Small Business; Project Management; Cybersecurity; Construction; and Building Maintenance. View the complete course list here and request a staff account here.

Session audience: Teachers, coordinators, managers, and support staff interested in offering career-focused courses
Do I need an Apex staff account to attend this session? Not necessarily, but an account will be helpful. You can request one here.
How do I join the session? Register above, 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.

Chart Your Course with Exact Path!
2025-12-04 15:00 - 16:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 12/4/25
Venue: Online (see details below)

Join us for an introduction to Exact Path, a state-supported (no additional cost) distance learning platform for individualized instruction and practice in reading, language arts, and math. You’ll learn how to find Exact Path within the Edmentum platform, assign diagnostic assessments, manage individual student Learning Paths, and use reports to monitor progress and track DL proxy hours. The training will be interactive and will include time for hands-on practice and questions.

Session audience: Teachers, coordinators, managers, and support staff interested in using Exact Path with learners
Do I need an Edmentum staff account to attend this session? Yes, an account will be very helpful. You can request one here.
How do I join the session? Register above, 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.
