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Borrowing/Carrying –> Regrouping

Participants in this workout learn to teach strategies that support conceptual understanding of place value instead of the algorithm.

Rational Number Project: Fraction Operations and Initial Decimal Ideas

Free lessons from the Rational Number Project about fraction concepts: adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Understanding of decimals is introduced as well. Teacher's guide, worksheets and colored fraction templates included. These resources help develop conceptual understanding.

Rational Number Project: Initial Fraction Ideas

Free lessons about fractions: concept, equivalencies, ordering, adding and subtracting. Teacher's guide, worksheets and colored fraction templates included. These resources help develop conceptual understanding.

Building Conceptual Understanding

Participants in this workout consider the conceptual understanding behind the traditional algorithm for long division and then recognize the importance of building students’ conceptual understanding beyond this example of long division and into every area of math.

Why Before How

Teachers can use this book to build the concept of place value, encourage students to consider multiple methods for solving problems, and build real understanding of the meaning behind addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division paving the way to beginning algebra.

The Best Way to Learn Math is to Learn to Fail Productively

Manu Kapur's research finds that students are more successful when teachers allow them to have a period of (teacher-planned) productive struggle with material before the teacher provides direct instruction on the math strategies.

Progression of Addition and Subtraction

What is a progression that builds to a conceptual understanding of addition and subtraction? In this 7-minute video, Gfletchy demonstrates strategies that teachers can use to develop students' conceptual understanding as a building block to fluency.

Progression of Division

What is a progression that builds to a conceptual understanding of division? In this 8-minute video, Gfletchy demonstrates strategies that teachers can use to develop students' conceptual understanding as a building block to fluency.

Progression of Early Number and Counting

What is an instructional progression that leads to conceptual understanding of counting and numbers? This 8-minute video lays out a progression for children learning these concepts, but ABE teachers of students with beginning numeracy will find useful ideas here.

Progression of Multiplication

What is a progression that builds to a conceptual understanding of multiplication? In this 6-minute video, Gfletchy demonstrates strategies that teachers can use to develop students' conceptual understanding as a building block to fluency.

Fluency Without Fear

Turns out memorization, timed tests and flash cards are not the most effective ways to learn math facts! This article from Jo Boaler addresses developing students' fluency with math facts (such as times tables), including confidence and how some common approaches to math facts can be related to anxiety and loss of perseverance.

For Teachers: Please Don’t Teach Exponent Rules

A teacher writes about how he approaches operations with exponents so that the students make meaning and discover the rules for operations with exponents for themselves.

Concept, Method, Procedure (The Secret Formula for Math Success)

Max Ray, of The Math Forum, explores developing procedures from conceptual understanding. His 5-minute video uses dividing by fractions as the topic for instruction.

Math Ceiling

This post from Math with Bad Drawings blog explores the following questions related to the Key Shift of rigor: Do we have a "math ceiling" where some math is beyond our ability to comprehend? If a student can perform the math task I am targeting without conceptual understanding (i.e., they know the procedure, but not why it works), do they really need more?

New Resources

Transitions 101: ABE/Post-Secondary Partnerships

In this excerpt from the 90-minute Transitions 101 webinar, ATLAS and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) give an overview of hot topics related to ABE/post-secondary partnerships.

Video #8: Utilizing Learners’ Linguistic Toolboxes

This video deepens the conversation of the previous video “Intro to Translanguaging.” You can watch this one as a stand alone because we provide a brief review of the meaning of “translanguaging;” however, if you are looking for a deeper introduction, be sure to check out the previous video, #7. If you’re looking for practical translanguaging activities you can try, this is the video for you! We will take a look at vocabulary, writing and reading activities, plus discuss some additional things to consider during implementation.

Video #7: Intro to Translanguaging

A term circling a lot of language education spaces right now is “translanguaging”, but many of us aren’t really sure what this means. In this video, we will discuss its meaning of utilizing all of learners’ language skills to enhance the learning of a new target language. This includes GED and Career Pathways learners who speak English as their primary language, but they may speak a dialect that isn’t seen as “standard academic English.” All of these language skills are valuable. There are several reflection questions included because a key part of our work as educators is deeply reflecting on our own beliefs around languages.

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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

March 21, 2025 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Literacy Minnesota
Online

Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices for Adult Learners Presented by Andrea Echelberger

Online

Registration Deadline: FRI. 3/21/25 Learning new languages and skills as an adult is a challenge for most people, and that challenge grows when trauma and stress are present. Trauma and chronic stress can come in many forms, and impact people’s ability to learn new skills and process information… Learn More

Online
March 24, 2025 6:30 pm–8:30 pm
Literacy Minnesota
Online

Volunteer Core Training Module 4: Instructional Best Practices: Working with Materials

Online

Registration Deadline: MON. 3/24/25 Participants will engage in a couple of classroom activities to experience scaffolding, checking comprehension and the gradual release of responsibility. These aspects of teaching and tutoring are then defined, explained further and participants get opportunities to practice them. Learn More

Online
March 25, 2025 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Literacy Minnesota
Online

Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency

Online

Registration Deadline: TUE. 3/25/25 Come and review the important role of fluency in reading instruction. We will discuss the three key components of reading fluency and look at a variety of activities tutors and teachers can try. We will talk about the mechanics of doing fluency practice via… Learn More

Online