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ESL Literacy Readers (Bow Valley Readers)
This collection of 40 theme-based readers features adult ESL learners engaging in everyday work and life activities. The learner page provides ESL students with access to seven levels of stories written specifically for adults. Each story focuses on a different learner and has an accompanying listening track so learners can listen as well as read the story.
CCRS in the ABE Classroom: Beginning ESL
This lesson focuses on Shift 2: Evidence; Reading Anchors 1, 3, and 7, Level A; Speaking and Listening Anchors 1 and 6, Level A; and Language Anchor 1. The learners: 1) Ask and answer questions about key details in a text, 2) Describe the connection between individuals, 3) Use illustrations to describe key ideas, 4) Speak audibly, express thoughts clearly and succinctly, 5) Follow rules for discussions & responding to comments/questions in an exchange, and 6) Understand and use question words, possessive pronouns, and the progressive verb tense.
A Digital Workbook for Beginning ESOL
This free online book contains three levels of interactive grammar lessons and reading activities for beginning students of ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). The grammar section includes a select set of YouTube videos, and the three original readers include short picture or chapter stories. Each lesson is accompanied by self-correcting exercises.
We Speak NYC – learner activities
Provides videos and practice activities (such as quizzes) for learners to develop listening and vocabulary skills in an independent learning setting. Topics include education, health, emergency preparedness, domestic violence, workforce development, adult education, early childhood education, worker rights, mental health, and immigration legal help. Appropriate for high beginning to high intermediate learners.
We Speak NYC
These videos and accompanying materials (including short stories, study guides, and glosses) develop listening and vocabulary skills in a classroom or independent learning setting. Topics include education, health, emergency preparedness, domestic violence, workforce development, adult education, early childhood education, worker rights, mental health, and immigration legal help. Appropriate for high beginning to high intermediate learners.
Learn English Free: EnglishClub
EnglishClub is a free website designed to help beginning to advanced English Language Learners develop their English skills. Learners can find activities and materials to learn about and practice listening, reading, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Teachers can also find materials and lesson plans.
iPads and Tablets in the LESLLA Classroom
With suggestions of iPad/tablet apps that build reading foundations skills, numeracy, and digital literacy for ESL learners with limited or interrupted formal education, this list can help integrate ABE standards in a targeted, self-paced, and differentiated manner.
Numeracy Units: Beginning Level
The Hubbs Center has created a series of Beginning Level Numeracy Units based on real-life applications such as consumerism, temperature, time, health, and work. Find lessons and handouts (in Dropbox folders) under the Numeracy Units link on the main webpage.
Story by Story Phonics Lessons
Find phonics based readings on this website that can be read on the computer or printed off to read in class. There are also typing lessons, and links to other resources that support beginning literacy development.
Literacy Education and Second Langauge Learning for Adults (LESLLA)
This website provides information about current research with low literacy level adult English language learners, as well as numerous resources for teaching and supporting beginning level learners.
Adult ESL Beginning Level Instruction Videos
Find Low-Literacy Instruction and Classroom Activities videos that feature Minnsota teachers working with low literacy and beginning level learners on a wide variety of activities and skills, including phonics, TPR, speaking skills, and numeracy.
Adult ESL Pronunciation Activities Videos
Find six different Pronunciation Classes videos that feature teachers delivering integrated pronunciation instruction in beginning and intermediate adult ESL classrooms. Some of the topics covered include word stress, intonation, and voice quality settings.
Our School Garden
This project-based unit of instruction leads students through a process of writing, filming, editing, and showcasing their own videos about a community garden they have tended all summer.
Diana’s ELL Writing Practice
This website is used as a companion to classroom writing instruction for Low Intermediate ELLs. Each of the 3 sections (Parts of Speech, Verb Tenses, and Sentences) has multiple lessons; all include a voiced-over video (based on class handouts) and quiz (multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank) with immediate feedback.
Diana’s ELL Writing Practice – Grammar
This website is used as a companion to classroom writing instruction for Low Intermediate ELLs. Each of the 3 sections (Parts of Speech, Verb Tenses, and Sentences) has multiple lessons; all include a voiced-over video (based on class handouts) and quiz (multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank) with immediate feedback.
New American Horizons: Adult ESL Teacher Training Videos – Low Literacy
This collection of 12 teacher training videos were filmed in adult ESL classes and feature a variety of teaching strategies and activities. For teachers interested in learning more about working with low-literacy learners, there are three videos that address this level.
Describing & Distinguishing Shapes
This beginning ESL Math Lesson/Unit Plan focuses on acquiring and using vocabulary to describe the attributes of shapes and groups of objects.
A New Home
This beginning ESL ELA Lesson/Unit Plan and accompanying evaluation tools covers a lesson on housing.
Fruit Splat: Numbers to Words
Can your student match the word and the digit (for example - "five" and "5")? This fun online activity will let them practice.
New Resources
Taking Care of Yourself: A Checklist
This checklist outlines the three basic aspects of self-care – awareness, balance, and connection – and offers a list of ideas for self-care strategies to use after a difficult event. As the resource indicates, "There are several ways you can find balance, be aware of your needs, and make connections. Use this list to help you decide which self-care strategies will work for you."
SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach
The authors explain, "The purpose of this paper is to develop a working concept of trauma and a trauma-informed approach and to develop a shared understanding of these concepts that would be acceptable and appropriate across an array of service systems and stakeholder groups.... The desired goal is to build a framework that helps systems 'talk' to each other, to understand better the connections between trauma and behavioral health issues, and to guide systems to become trauma-informed."
Call to Mind: Spotlight on Childhood Trauma
According to the website, Call to Mind is an initiative by MPR to inform and generate conversations about mental health. This podcast explores the impact of childhood trauma on mental health and suggests ways to build resilience in children. The impact of childhood trauma on adults is applicable to ABE practitioners.
Presenter Information
Get information about stipends, reimbursements, and other instructions for presenters.
MN ABE YouTube Channel
The MN ABE 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.
Upcoming ABE Events
October 26, 2020
1:30 pm–3:00 pm
Online
ABE Foundations at a Distance: Special Pandemic Edition! – Webinar 3
Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 10/26/20 This fall, due to the inability to hold the in-person ABE Foundations Workshop, the online course is a great option for those new to ABE! However, it’s a lot of information, and we recognize that having the in-person… Learn More
Online
October 27, 2020
2:30 pm–4:00 pm
Online
CCRS at a Distance: Seriously?!
Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 10/27/20 Implementing CCRS is challenging enough in the best of circumstances, and 2020 has been anything but typical. How can we do standards-based education (math and ELA) when we can’t even see our students in person?! Join CCRS leaders Kristine Kelly and Lindsey Pust… Learn More
Online
October 28, 2020
6:30 pm–8:00 pm
Online
Please Say That Again: Virtual Pronunciation Instruction for Adult ESL Learners
Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 10/28/20 It can be challenging to make yourself understood over the phone, even for native English speakers! In this webinar, learn about three different pronunciation features that can be taught and practiced during virtual video instruction. Participants will learn how the three features impact speakers’… Learn More
Online