Volunteer Core Training Module 3: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Learners
2026-05-12 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/12/26
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.

Minnesota ABE Leadership Book Club: Cultivating Genius
2026-05-13 12:00 - 13:15 | Online
Registration Deadline: By each meeting date
DATES: (YOU MUST REGISTER FOR EACH DATE)
Meeting 1: Wednesday, March 4 – 12-1:15 pm (CST) – REGISTER
Meeting 2: Wednesday, April 8 – 12-1:15 pm (CDT) – REGISTER
Meeting 3: Wednesday, May 13 – 12-1:15 pm (CST) – REGISTER

Join fellow Minnesota Adult Education leaders for a three-part book club exploring Gholdy Muhammad’s Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy. Together, we’ll reflect on how Muhammad’s four learning pursuits—identity, skills, intellect, and criticality—can inform leadership and instructional practices across ABE programs. Each session will blend discussion, reflection, and application to our unique adult learning contexts.
Where can I read more about this book?
Scholastic Website: https://shop.scholastic.com/teachers-ecommerce/teacher/books/cultivating-genius-an-equity-framework-9781338594898.html
Is there a digital or audio version available?
Yes, this book is available on Kindle and Audible, as well as other platforms. NOTE: ATLAS is not providing digital or audio versions of the book, only physical copies to those who complete the form.
Who is invited to this Leadership Book Club?
All current or aspiring ABE administrators, coordinators, teacher-leaders
What is the format for the book club?
Three online sessions (do please come to all three if you can, but we understand if you can only come to one or two).

For March 4, read Part 1, through pg.61
For April 8, read Part 2, through pg.133
For May 13, read Part 3, through the end of the book, p.171.

Integrating AI Literacy Across Adult Education Classes and Levels - Session 1
2026-05-14 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 5/14/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Integrating AI Literacy Across Adult Education Classes and Levels
Across adult education, AI literacy is a critical skill for navigating the modern workforce and daily life. This two-part webinar series moves beyond the “what” of AI to the “how” of classroom integration. In Part 1, Rachel Riggs will present four instructional approaches (explicit, contextualized, integrated, and project-based) to show how AI literacy can be woven into different classes and levels. Participants will see clear vignettes and concrete examples of AI integration that prioritize high-quality instruction. In Part 2, participants will return for a facilitated “Show & Tell” session to share their experiences implementing these strategies in an adapted lesson plan and discuss how AI can expand access to learning opportunities for all students.
FAQs:

How do I join? Please register for Session 1 and for Session 2. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from “MNABE Staff” with a Zoom link for each session.
Will the sessions be recorded? Yes! Session 1 will be recorded in its entirety and posted on the MN ABE PD YouTube channel. Participants in Session 2 will discuss and agree on how they would like to share the recording of the Show & Tell.
Can I attend Session 2 if I didn’t attend Session 1 or if I didn’t do the homework? Yes! Please join us for discussion and learning, wherever you are on your journey of AI literacy integration.
How do I request accommodations? Email the DL Helpdesk.
Can I earn CEUs? Yes, if you submit the evaluation after attending.

Support Staff Coffee Break - Using AI to Analyze Data
2026-05-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 5/15/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

The Support Staff Online Coffee Break Series continues with Susan Wetenkamp-Brandt and Elizabeth Bennett sharing about using AI and explaining how your program can take advantage of this technology to analyze your data.
For more information, contact Chrysti Nielsen – cnielsen@nwservice.org

Career-Focused and Specialized Online Statewide Classes Webinar
2026-05-19 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/19/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Join us for an informative webinar on offering FY27 Career-Focused and Specialized Online Statewide Classes. This session will walk participants through key information from the promotional flyer, including what qualifies as a career-focused or specialized class, examples of eligible offerings, and the benefits of expanding access through statewide online delivery. We will also outline the steps for getting your class approved and ready for implementation.

Volunteer Core Training Module 4: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Materials
2026-05-19 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 5/19/26
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.

Integrating AI Literacy Across Adult Education Classes and Levels - Session 2
2026-05-21 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 5/21/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Integrating AI Literacy Across Adult Education Classes and Levels
Across adult education, AI literacy is a critical skill for navigating the modern workforce and daily life. This two-part webinar series moves beyond the “what” of AI to the “how” of classroom integration. In Part 1, Rachel Riggs will present four instructional approaches (explicit, contextualized, integrated, and project-based) to show how AI literacy can be woven into different classes and levels. Participants will see clear vignettes and concrete examples of AI integration that prioritize high-quality instruction. In Part 2, participants will return for a facilitated “Show & Tell” session to share their experiences implementing these strategies in an adapted lesson plan and discuss how AI can expand access to learning opportunities for all students.
FAQs:

How do I join? Please register for Session 1 and for Session 2. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from “MNABE Staff” with a Zoom link for each session.
Will the sessions be recorded? Yes! Session 1 will be recorded in its entirety and posted on the MN ABE PD YouTube channel. Participants in Session 2 will discuss and agree on how they would like to share the recording of the Show & Tell.
Can I attend Session 2 if I didn’t attend Session 1 or if I didn’t do the homework? Yes! Please join us for discussion and learning, wherever you are on your journey of AI literacy integration.
How do I request accommodations? Email the DL Helpdesk.
Can I earn CEUs? Yes, if you submit the evaluation after attending.

Teaching Reading Vocabulary
2026-05-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 5/27/26
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.

How Adult Brains Learn Languages Presented by Andrea Echelberger
2026-05-29 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 5/29/26
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.

Annual Volunteer Report Refresher
2026-06-03 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 6/3/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Are you new to Adult Basic Education and completing the Annual Volunteer Report for the first time? Or would a quick refresher be helpful?

Join Literacy Minnesota and SiD as we return for the 5th year to support ABE programs in navigating the Annual Volunteer Report process.

This webinar will walk participants through how to accurately complete the report and answer any questions along the way. Completing this report is an important part of gathering essential volunteer data for the state of Minnesota.
All ABE staff are welcome to attend.

Teaching Intermediate Alphabetics
2026-06-11 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 6/11/26
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.

Racial Equity 101 Presented by Jimmie Heags
2026-06-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 6/15/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Join presenter Jimmie Heags, Jr., MA, LSC, LPCC, LADC, ACS, for this session that exposes how race is defined and how racism impacts individuals and institutions. The session will provide learners with a framework for understanding and disrupting the attitudes and structures that perpetuate inequality. Participants will be introduced to basic interventions to identify and disrupt racialized mindsets and practices that promote equity. Interventions will include how to be an anti-racist.
Objectives include the following:

Define the nature of race and racism and their origins and impact.
Examine the concepts of white privilege and white fragility.
Understand the nature of microaggressions and their impact.
Develop interventions for disrupting racist mindsets.

Teaching and Tutoring with Northstar Digital Literacy
2026-06-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 6/16/26
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.

The Learning Styles Myth (and the Teaching Practices Worth Keeping)
2026-06-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 6/18/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Many of us were taught that students learn best when instruction matches their “learning style.” In this webinar, we’ll take a closer look at where that idea came from, why it stuck, and what research actually tells us. We’ll explore how learning‑style labels can end up doing more harm than good for learners. At the same time, we’ll focus on what is worth keeping — the useful lessons learning‑styles theory offers for language instruction. You’ll leave with practical, research‑based strategies you can use right away, without sorting students into boxes.

Volunteer Core Training Module 1: Overview of Minnesota Adult Education and Program Accountability
2026-06-23 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 6/23/26
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.

SiD Prep for August Reports 2026
2026-06-25 09:00 - 10:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: THU. 6/25/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

It’s almost time to wrap up the 25-26 NRS Program year! Join us as we review the reports due to MDE and share practical tips to help ensure your SiD data is accurate, complete, and ready for the August submission. We’ll also cover changes that go into effect July 1, and how to get a strong start on the 26-27 Program year.
Target audience: Staff responsible for preparing and submitting their consortium’s 25-26 NRS Program Year August Submission to MDE.

Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency
2026-06-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 6/26/26
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.

Volunteer Core Training Module 2: Understanding Adult Learners
2026-06-30 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 6/30/26
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.

Volunteer Core Training Module 3: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Learners
2026-07-07 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 7/7/26
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.

Volunteer Core Training Module 4: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Materials
2026-07-14 18:30 - 20:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 7/14/26
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.

ATLAS Monthly Webinar - ESL: Accessible Distance Learning for Beginning English Learners
2026-07-15 14:30 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 7/15/26

July 15: Accessible Distance Learning for Beginning English Learners
Presenters: Elizabeth Bennett (Literacy Minnesota) & Rebecca Jarvis (Metro South ABE)
In a perfect world, all learners would easily be able to access high-quality, relevant distance learning content. In the real world, we know that technology and language barriers often get in the way. In this session, we’ll provide an overview of lower-tech and paper-based distance learning options that can extend access to meaningful learning beyond your classroom. We’ll also showcase a FREE collection of paper-based lessons that were intentionally developed to support pre-lit and beginning English learners. These lessons were created in alignment with Minnesota’s Teacher Verification Model (TVM) to offer proxy hours per lesson.
Get more information about TVM >>

ATLAS Monthly Webinar Series
On Wednesday afternoons, plan on joining ATLAS staff monthly for exciting webinars on a variety of topics!
Join us from 2:30-4:00pm on these upcoming Wednesdays:

September 9, October 21, November 18, December 16, 2026
January 20, February 17, March 17, April 14, May 12, June 9, 2027

LAN Advocacy Happy Hour & Meet-Up
2026-07-16 16:30 - 18:00 | Lake Monster Brewing, 550 Vandalia St #160, St Paul, MN, 55114
Registration Deadline:
Venue: Lake Monster Brewing (see details below)

Join members of LAN’s Legislative Committee to discuss how we advocate for Adult Education in MN!
This is a chance to connect socially with other people in the field of Adult Education and brainstorm ideas for how we advocate for ABE – particularly at the MN State Legislature. All levels of experience and involvement are welcome.
Learn about what LAN has done, come with questions, and share your own experiences and ideas!
Come to Lake Monster Brewing (550 Vandalia St #160, St Paul, MN 55114); 4:30pm-6pm
Contact Kaija Bergen or Scott Helland with questions.
(kaijabergen@gmail.com; shelland@isd622.org)

WebChat with MN ABE
2026-07-22 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 7/22/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

WebChat with MN ABE is a webinar discussion led by state ABE staff from the Minnesota Department of Education. WebChat 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, July 6, 2026.

Topics are to be determined.
For those unable to attend, the recording and slide deck will be available on the LAN and MN ABE websites.

Summer Institute 2026
2026-08-12 08:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-13 08:00 - 16:00 | Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 8/11/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Save the date for Literacy Action Network’s annual Summer Institute 2026. More information to come!

ATLAS Lounge - ESL with Patsy!
2026-08-28 09:30 - 10:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 8/28/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

Welcome to a new endeavor for ATLAS – open office hours! Join the Zoom on Friday, August 28, between 9:30-10:30am, for the inaugural virtual “ATLAS Lounge.” This first office hour is dedicated to language teaching, and Patsy will be sipping coffee, awaiting a conversation with you! (Learn more about Patsy Egan and her language experience below)
What is the ATLAS Lounge?
ATLAS Lounge time is meant to be an informal, drop-in conversation with an ATLAS staff member. Each of us holds interests and expertise in different areas, and we are eager to talk about teaching and learning with you. Come to connect with others doing similar work and chat with ATLAS folks! Bring your questions, new resources, & frustrations. We’re eager to hear more about your classroom and program.
[Note: CEUs not available for these informal, drop-in events]

Patsy Egan, PhD, is the ATLAS Director. She has been involved with language teaching & learning in various ways since she began teaching English in Russia in 1994. She holds a BA in Russian, an MA in ESL, and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction in the area of Second Languages & Cultures. After her time abroad, Patsy returned to her homebase in Nebraska and worked as the Refugee Coordinator for the Lincoln Literacy Council. After relocating to Minnesota in 1998, she taught English and composition at the U of M in the late 90’s, and she taught adult ESL in the early 2000’s at Lao Family Community Center and Metro North-Brooklyn Center. While she is enamored with all things related to ESL, her particular wheelhouse is lower levels, those who with emergent print literacy.
Fun fact: Patsy just returned from Brno, Czech Republic, where she attended the LESLLA Symposium! (www.leslla.org) This year at LESLLA, Patsy and colleague Janet Issleris (Brown University) offered a workshop on the legacy and learnings from Dr. Heide Wrigley, a beloved LESLLA colleague who passed away last December.
Fun fact #2 – Patsy was the first President of LESLLA.

WebChat with MN ABE
2026-09-16 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 9/16/26
Venue: Online (see details below)

WebChat with MN ABE is a webinar discussion led by state ABE staff from the Minnesota Department of Education. WebChat 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, August 31, 2026.

Topics are to be determined.
For those unable to attend, the recording and slide deck will be available on the LAN and MN ABE websites.

Math Institute 2026
2026-10-09 08:30 - 15:30 | Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 10/9/26
Join us for a day of purposeful PD grounded in effective math instructional practices.
Guest Speaker: Heidi Schuler from TERC, and our CALM facilitator.
More information forthcoming!
NOTE! Also, join us for the Math Institute Follow-up Webinar on THU. 1/14/27 – REGISTER!
If you require ASL Interpretation, contact Lindsey Pust at lpust01@hamline.edu

CSI - Content Standards Integration Cohort, 2-Day in-person training
2026-11-05 08:30 - 15:30, 2026-11-06 08:30 - 15:30 | _OTHER
Registration Deadline: FRI. 9/4/26
Venue: (see details below)

NOTE: This event is a 2-day in-person training for the Content Standards Integration (CSI) cohort. Participation is by application only.
More information: https://atlasabe.org/apply-content-standards-integration-csi-cohort-fy27/
Applications available here, due September 4, 2026: https://atlasabe.org/applications/
