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Building Academic Vocabulary Knowledge with Semantic Maps

Participants in this workout will consider the types of knowledge needed to thoroughly know a word and use semantic maps to build understanding of academic vocabulary.

Finding Academic Vocabulary in a Text

Participants in this workout will analyze vocabulary in a text using 3 different online vocabulary tools, two aligned with the previous and current Academic Word Lists and one aligned with the first 2000 most common written words.

Vocabulary Workouts

This evidence-based curriculum provides 60 workouts for the most common Tier 2 words from the Academic Word List. Each one-page, vocabulary workout presents a headword (e.g., analyze), 1-2 related words (e.g., analysis), parts of speech, definitions, contexts, conversation practice, and writing prompts.

Vocabulary Units

Tier 2 words are essential for ABE students to know in order to read and understand the academic language used in print or online text. For each Lesson in this curriculum, there are Teacher Notes for modeling, Student Activities for guided practice and application to context, and Teacher Answer Keys for checking. Each Unit also has a Review activity.

Vocabulary Lessons

This online vocabulary curriculum includes 38 lessons. Each lesson is focused on 5 Tier 2 (or academic) words and provides a Knowledge Rating Scale, definitions, synonyms/antonyms, examples, and guided practice activities. It is useful for Intermediate level students.

Vocabulary 2 – Academic Word Lists

Academic word lists 1-10, presented in order from most frequent to least frequent usage across content areas.

What does text complexity mean for English learners and language minority students?

In this paper, the authors demonstrate how English learners can be provided with strategies for accessing complex texts, such as closely examining one sentence at a time, and argue that instruction must go beyond vocabulary and should begin with an examination of our beliefs about language, literacy and learning.

New Resources

Once Upon a Picture: The Thinking Collection

This website provides a collection of images, photo and illustrations, with prompts to inspire learners to write or speak using critical thinking skills about the image.

Assessing Student Writing

Dr. Derek Rodgers details how the number of correct writing sequences (CWS) and incorrect writing sequences (IWS) students generate during a timed writing are sensitive and effective measures of student writing.

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PD Catalog

Get an overview of all MN Adult Education professional development (PD) activities in one convenient, searchable place!

PD Catalog

Presenter Information

Get information about stipends, reimbursements, the MN Adult Ed policy on use of images in presentations, and other instructions for presenters.

 

MN Adult Ed YouTube Channel

The MN Adult Education YouTube Channel is a free online PD resource that you can use to explore teaching techniques and classroom ideas in action! Find out more in this MN ABE Connect newsletter article.

 

ATLAS Announcements & Future PD

Check out the latest list of ATLAS professional development announcements and opportunities! This is the document that is shared at all ATLAS events.

 

Virtual Meeting Resources

Find resources for conducting online meetings/events/presentations! You are welcome to use and adapt these materials to fit your own needs and context.

 

Upcoming ABE Events

November 17, 2025 6:30 pm–8:30 pm
Literacy Minnesota
Online

Teaching Intermediate Alphabetics

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… Learn More

Online
November 18, 2025 10:00 am–11:00 am
Literacy Minnesota
Online

Ellii November Webinar: Admin & Support Staff Coffee Break

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… Learn More

Online
November 18, 2025 3:00 pm–4:00 pm
Literacy Minnesota
Online

AI Crash Course – Session 3

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… Learn More

Online