Teaching Strategies
Recent Newsletter Articles
CCRS Classroom Videos? You got it. Second Video Now Available!
You asked, and we answered! If you’ve been wanting to see CCRS aligned instruction “in action” at lower levels, this video is for you. ATLAS and the Minnesota Literacy Council have collaborated on another wonderful new instructional video, available for free! Read More
Diana’s ELL Writing Practice: A FREE Website for ABE/ESL Teachers and Students
Introducing a free Google site for teaching writing skills! It does not require a login, is easy for students to navigate, has no distracting pop-ups, and is accessible from a computer or smart phone. Read More
Read My Lips! Pronunciation Videos
“All right everyone, it’s time to speak English. Show me your American mouths!” Immediately, I was faced with a class full of beginning level English learners opening their mouths as far as they could, and laughing as they caught sight of each other. Read More
Practical Applications of Technology Integration in the Adult Education Classroom
While technology integration may feel like "one more thing" we have to find space for in our already busy schedules, it doesn't have to be complicated. Hear from an ABE teacher about how she made NorthStar digital literacy skills a regular part of her instruction. Read More
One Small Piece at a Time: Quick and Meaningful Curricular Applications for the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Training
"How can I meet content standards while addressing student variability in learning styles and needs? How can I manage this while holding myself accountable for the content of other trainings I’m taking? What about my roles outside of my program?" Sounds like you should consider PANDA's UDL training! Read More
Retrieval Practice as a Learning Strategy
Retrieval practice is an important learning strategy that focuses on helping students get information out of their heads. Much of teaching focuses on filling our students' heads with new information; this strategy reminds us that deeper learning occurs when we can remember and use what we have learned over time. Read More
Thinking Outside the Slide: Using the Technology Integration Initiative to Move in New Directions
If you have an interest in creating digital materials, incorporating technology into the classroom, implementing the Northstar Digital Literacy Standards, or just need some “sharpening of the saw,” the Technology Integration Initiative cohort is the right training for you. Read More
Integrating Culture and Career Contextualization into GED Curriculum: Experiences in the 2018 CCI Cohort
In this article, a 2018 CCI Cohort participant details her experiences learning about contextualized instruction and the benefits that came with cohort participation. Could a contextualized approach work for your students or program? Read on to find out more! Read More
I am a Citizen; Now, How Do I Vote? Free 2018 Election Curriculum
A free five-lesson curriculum educating new citizens on the voting process in Minnesota is available to download at the Minnesota Literacy Council website. The curriculum was created by Meredith Sommers, a long-time literacy volunteer at the Centro Guadalupano program in Minneapolis. Read More
Word Level Analogies
Add word level analogies to your classroom routine to revisit vocabulary. With opportunities to build/reinforce knowledge and use supporting evidence, coupled with varying degrees of complexity and rigor, this versatile tool enables us to combine vocabulary with other concepts embedded in the CCRS! Read More