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The Joy of ESL with Teacher Kelly
Find great examples of lower level assessment tools, including needs assessments, rubrics and checklists, and self-assessment resources that can be adapted for various topics and content.
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.
Making Sense of a Standard
Participants in this workout break apart a given standard into meaningful sections, and articulate the relationship between the content of the sections. They then brainstorm strategies, objectives and learning targets for a given standard.
Visible Thinking
Visible Thinking is a flexible and systematic research-based approach to integrating the development of students' thinking with content learning across subject matters. This website provides a convenient way to learn about Visible Thinking as well as thorough descriptions of the ideals, routines and activities that were developed from research in K-12 schools.
Teaching Grammar to Adult English Language Learners: Focus on Form
This brief from the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) provides a research-based rational as to why there is a need to teach grammar within a meaningful context. Teachers who struggle with questions of how much, when, and how to teach grammar will find this brief both informative and thought-provoking.
Teaching Language Through Content: CAL Resource Guides Online
This Resource Guide provides links to publications, websites, teaching resources, and email discussion groups that offer information about teaching language through content-based instruction in K–12 and adult ESL programs and in foreign language programs.
Supporting ELLs in PBL Projects
This article from Edutopia outlines how Project-Based Learning (PBL) is valuable for English Language Learners (ELLs) when it teaches academic vocabulary, encourages collaboration, scaffolds structure and function, allows assessment and differentiation, and leverages their native language.
Project-Based Learning: Buck Institute for Education
The Buck Institute for Education (BIE) website was created to show teachers how to use Project Based Learning (PBL) in all grade levels and subject areas. The website provides articles and books, research summaries on PBL, videos, a library of sample projects, downloadable teaching tools, and more.
Looking at the Bigger Picture: 7 Tips for Using Project Based Learning in the ESL Classroom
This article gives an overview of project-based learning, including why it is good for ESL students and what the teacher's role is. It also provides seven tips for successful project-based learning implementation in the ESL classroom.
Incorporating Goal-Setting in Adult ESL Classrooms
This PowerPoint outlines goal-setting projects and their results in beginning level adult ESL classrooms. Images of handouts and descriptions of activities are provided.
Learner Goal-Setting
This article addresses the question, "What can instructors do to help students set goals, monitor progress, and reach goals?" with research-backed strategies and suggestions for practitioners.
LINCS ESL Pro Module 3: Preparing English Learners for Work and Career Pathways
This self-paced professional development module from LINCS provides the foundational concepts related to designing and implementing an adult ELA program contextualized for career pathways.
ELL-U: Formative Assessment to Inform Quality Adult ESL Instruction
This online course helps teachers select and design formative assessment activities that engage learners in setting goals and monitoring their own progress, as well as using appropriate oral and written feedback techniques with learners.
3 Tips to Make Any Lesson More Culturally Responsive
This article by Zaretta Hammond discusses three easy strategies that teachers can use to leverage the brain’s memory systems and information processing structures and make their lessons more culturally responsive to the diverse learners in their classrooms.
New Resources
Racial Equity in ABE
This is a group of people committed to applying a racial justice lens to Minnesota ABE (Adult Basic Education) programming.
Implicit Bias Test
The Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures attitudes and beliefs that people may be unwilling or unable to report. The IAT may be especially interesting if it shows that you have an implicit attitude that you did not know about. Being aware of personal implicit bias is the first step towards addressing them.
Anti-Racist Educator Self-Examination and Questionnaire
This working document is intended be used as a tool for educators to reflect on their own pedagogical assumptions, biases, backgrounds, and preconceived notions, with a view to enabling teachers to intentionally create anti-racist classes.
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 2, 2020
10:00 am–11:30 am
Online
Practicing Reading Fluency from Afar
Online
Registration Deadline: FRI. 10/2/20 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… Learn More
Online
October 6, 2020
10:00 am–11:30 am
Online
Remote Tutoring 101
Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 10/6/20 Join Literacy Minnesota Adult Basic Education and ESL trainers for a virtual workshop on how to be an effective tutor from a distance! Learn best practices for connecting and communicating one-on-one with adult learners on the phone or online, get suggestions for correcting errors… Learn More
Online
October 6, 2020
2:00 pm–3:00 pm
Online
SiD and the Adult Literacy Hotline Will Include Disability Accommodations
Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 10/6/20 Literacy Minnesota, PANDA and Urban Planet are teaming up to co-present a webinar announcing new disability accommodation search options integrated into SiD and the Adult Literacy Hotline. These expanded search options will allow your ABE program to add currently offered accommodations and give… Learn More
Online