MN ABE Connect Archive

Recent Newsletter Articles

Blended Learning Implementation Pilot Project Success in Southern MN Adult ESL Programs

Blended Learning Implementation Pilot Project Success in Southern MN Adult ESL Programs

This article outlines findings from two southern Minnesota programs who participated in a recent implementation of blended learning, highlighting what was successful in order to share these strategies with the field. Read More

From Mimicking to Sense-Making in Math: Insights from Pam Harris

From Mimicking to Sense-Making in Math: Insights from Pam Harris

Learn how nationally known educator Pam Harris helps teachers reframe instruction, nurture student reasoning, and make math truly "figureoutable"—and plan on attending the Math Institute on November 7 to hear from Pam live! Read More

Goodbye Lexile, Hello ATOS: Shifts in Measuring Quantitative Text Complexity

Goodbye Lexile, Hello ATOS: Shifts in Measuring Quantitative Text Complexity

No Lexile? No problem. The ATOS Analyzer makes it simple to check quantitative text levels for your learners. Read More

A Story of Leveled Readers

A Story of Leveled Readers

In response to the disappearance of the Bow Valley readers for beginner-level learners, ATLAS and Immigrant Welcome Center partnered to create additional leveled readers for practitioners to use with students in their multi-level classes. Practice test questions are available at the higher levels. We hope these resources are beneficial! Read More

TABE and CASAS Updates

TABE and CASAS Updates

Welcome to the 2025-26 school year! It’s time to review and update your student assessment policies. There are changes taking place in the assessment world that may require your program to make some changes as well. Read More

Apply to Host an AmeriCorps Digital Navigator

Apply to Host an AmeriCorps Digital Navigator

The Digital Navigation Corps project addresses the digital equity crisis by placing members as Digital Navigators to help people overcome barriers to connectivity, device access and digital literacy. Minnesota Adult Education programs can apply now to host an AmeriCorps Digital Navigator in 2026! Applications are due September 1, 2025. Read More

Registered Apprenticeship Programs in Nontraditional Sectors

Registered Apprenticeship Programs in Nontraditional Sectors

This three-part newsletter series is designed to support educators by providing clear information about registered apprenticeships, guidance on the search process, and practical talking points for discussing these opportunities with adult learners. In this installment, we consider apprenticeship programs in nontraditional sectors. Read More

How Can I Help Students with the Registered Apprenticeship Search Process?

How Can I Help Students with the Registered Apprenticeship Search Process?

This three-part newsletter series is designed to support educators by providing clear information about registered apprenticeships, guidance on the search process, and practical talking points for discussing these opportunities with adult learners. In this installment, we consider the apprenticeship search process. Read More

National Promising Practice Awarded to MDE and SPARC

National Promising Practice Awarded to MDE and SPARC

Exciting news! The Minnesota Department of Education was awarded a National Promising Practice Award by CASAS and Essential Education during the CASAS Summer Institute in June. The award was in recognition of the work of SPARC, the Support Professional Advisory Resource Committee. Read More

What Is an Apprenticeship Program and How Are They Beneficial to Adult Learners?

What Is an Apprenticeship Program and How Are They Beneficial to Adult Learners?

This three-part series is designed to support adult educators by providing information about registered apprenticeships, guidance on the search process, and practical talking points for discussing these opportunities with adult learners. Read More