MN ABE Connect Archive
Recent Newsletter Articles
5 Sites for Reading & Language Online Instruction
Looking for ready made activities to use for online instruction? Here are 5 excellent, free sites that can be used online or in person to build Reading and Language skills. Read More
Suicide Prevention Awareness
Fear, worry, and isolation from the COVID pandemic has increased depression, anxiety and the suicide rate in Minnesota. Suicide is the 8th leading cause of death in our state. Find out how to recognize potential warning signs of suicide and what you can do as an ABE practitioner. Read More
“Teacher, Only You Understand Me” – Pronunciation Study Circle
All adult EL teachers have heard stories from learners of struggling to make themselves understood outside of the classrooms, but it can be difficult to know where to begin to help. Pronunciation is such a large topic; how can a teacher tackle it in a multicultural classroom when there are already a hundred other skills to teach? Never fear: the Pronunciation Study Circle is here! Read More
An Introduction to Blended Learning with CommonLit: Part 3
This is Part 3 of a three-part series introducing Blended Learning using the state-approved platform CommonLit. Part 1 provided practitioners a simple exemplar of what instruction would look like with Blended Learning. Part 2 delved into the "how" and "why" of using CommonLit for Blended Instruction. Part 3 explains how to build a course in CommonLit and highlights some of its available features. Read More
Distance Learning Support Email: A Resource for YOU!
Need DL help? The distance learning support email is the best way to quickly get your questions answered, get connected to resources, and request training. Use this email to ask us any and all questions about distance/blended/hybrid learning, technology, DL platforms and proxy hours, digital instructional tools and resources, DL policy, best practices, DL courses in SID, webinar trainings, and so on. Read More
Journeys 2021: Special Chapter Open to Submissions from ABE Staff and Volunteers!
Literacy Minnesota is excited to announce a special Journeys 2021 chapter, “Teaching and Learning during the Pandemic." We invite anyone affiliated with Minnesota ABE – whether they be learners, teachers, tutors, support professionals, volunteers or interns – to submit a piece for publication. We want to share the stories of challenges, lessons learned and unexpected surprises that you’ve experienced this year. Read More
Re-Imagining Instruction Part 2: Flipping the Classroom
As we look to lessons learned from the past 8+ months of Emergency Remote Teaching, now is a great opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned and how we can continue to innovate our practice to better serve adult learners both within and beyond our classrooms. In Part 2 in this series, Joey Lehrman explores the flipped classroom as a means of enhancing the ways we engage students in meaningful learning. Read More
Speaking and Listening Opportunities for Beginning ESL: Phone Instruction with Worksheets
Remote learning and instruction by telephone automatically lends itself to several rich opportunities for speaking and listening. Using this mode of instruction provides unique learning opportunities to the student that may not be readily available in the traditional classroom setting, and it can be achieved by utilizing the same worksheets already used in class. Read More
An Introduction to Blended Learning with CommonLit: Part 2
This is Part 2 of a three-part series introducing Blended Learning using the state-approved platform CommonLit. Part 1 provided practitioners a simple exemplar of what instruction would look like with Blended Learning. In Part 2 we delve more deeply into the "how" and "why" of using CommonLit for Blended Instruction. Read More
Re-Imagining Instruction Part 1: Independent Learning with Technology
As we look to lessons learned from the past 8+ months of Emergency Remote Teaching, now is a great opportunity to reflect as a field about what we’ve learned and how we can continue to innovate our practice to better serve adult learners both within and beyond our classrooms. In this 2-part series, Joey Lehrman proposes a few options for how we might leverage this moment to rethink and enhance the ways we engage students in meaningful learning. Read More