Resources
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Geometric Subitizing: A Different Kind of Number Talk
The discussion cards posted on this site can be used to discuss counting and grouping strategies with students. This could be a great way to engage students using vocabulary around numbers and shapes.
The Story of Two Words and One Simple Tweak to Get Students Talking
Teacher Sarah Van Der Werf shares some observations about attending to vocabulary in math instruction and shares a strategy for helping students access unfamiliar vocabulary in math class.
Thinking Routines
A variety of instructional strategies that can be used with various levels of math instruction. Prepared by Minnesota teacher Joe Cole.
Tweet Me, Maybe
Max Ray-Reik of the Math Forum suggests using Twitter for personalized professional development in this 5-minute talk.
Visual Patterns
A gallery of visual patterns can be used with students exploring algebra. Fawn Nguyen, the teacher behind the site, also documents her students' discussion of the patterns at mathtalks.net. You can also read about how ABE teachers are using the patterns.
Rethinking How We See Mistakes
Math teacher Audrey McLaren writes about encouraging students to make and learn from mistakes. She recommends specific strategies for changing a classroom's culture around mistakes.
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.
Purposeful Numberless Word Problems
In these blog posts, Brian Bushart addresses types of word problems and a strategy for instruction.
Problem Strings
Problem Strings are an instructional strategy where the teacher facilitates students working through and thinking aloud about a set of math problems (for example: 5 x 6, then 5 x 60, and so on...) as a method for students to learn from each other about math strategies. The strategy offers a way to pack significant math learning into a short time in class.
Playing Uno: The “Combine Like Terms” Version
Instructions and printables for a "combine like terms" UNO game.
One Formula to Rule Them All
Before you teach another formula for area of a 2-D shape, check out the "applets" on this page. Teachers who do not have access to internet in their classroom can learn from the animations and do a similar demonstration with paper.
Math Visuals
Imagine that a math teacher made simple, attractive visuals to spark student discussion around counting and basic operations. Berkeley Everett did - and here it is!
Instructional Strategies for Counting
These three blog posts from an elementary math coach describe instructional strategies around basic counting that may be useful for some ABE teachers addressing very basic numeracy.
Introducing the Orangamallow
A quick reading about a quick strategy a teacher uses to make "like terms" meaningful to her students.
Let’s Laugh About Math
In this 11-minute video is Laila Nur's talk from ShadowCon 2015, where she suggests using humor to build students' relationship with math.
Linear Matching
A printable matching activity for matching graphs to equations.
Listen to Your Students
Description of video: "Teachers are busy—so busy we often don’t hear what students say. Sometimes we hear things that students don’t say. I’ll make a case for the importance of listening carefully to students of all ages. I’ll encourage you to make time to listen more carefully, and I’ll give you some simple strategies for doing it."
How much did the temperature drop? Absolute Value
Robert Kaplinsky describes the lesson this way: "This lesson uses a time lapse thermometer video as a context for discussing integer operations and absolute value. The video should provide some added meaning to the classic temperature drop problem."
If Graphing Linear Inequalities Is Aspirin, Then How Do You Create the Headache?
Brief blog post by Dan Meyer that addresses teaching students not just the procedure for how to graph linear inequalities, but providing the opportunity for them to consider why the conventional representation (graph) is an efficient way to go.
Ignite Videos – Math Forum
Ignite is a presentation format where each presenter speaks for 5 minutes. This site has some excellent talks from the Math Forum at Drexel.
New Resources
Physical Science Task
This task provides an opportunity for an adult diploma student to demonstrate diploma competencies in Physical Science. The resource includes teacher-facing instructions, student-facing instructions, and materials needed to complete the entire task. Components of this task are also appropriate for use with GED learners.
Nature of Science & Engineering Task
This task provides an opportunity for an adult diploma student to demonstrate diploma competencies in Nature of Science & Engineering. The resource includes teacher-facing instructions, student-facing instructions, and materials needed to complete the entire task. Components of this task are also appropriate for use with GED learners.
Life Science Task
This task provides an opportunity for an adult diploma student to demonstrate diploma competencies in Life Science. The resource includes teacher-facing instructions, student-facing instructions, and materials needed to complete the entire task. Components of this task are also appropriate for use with GED learners.
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
September 21, 2021
12:30 pm–1:15 pm
Online
MN Lunch & Learn: Using Progress to Engage Students
Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 9/21/21 In this session, we will have an overview of how to use Progress and also go over the reports feature. We will go through helpful tips on how to increase student usage. NOTE: Attendees must have current login credentials for their BE account. Learn More
Online
September 22, 2021
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
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Web Chat with MNABE
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Registration Deadline: WED. 9/22/21 Web Chat with MNABE is a webinar discussion led by state ABE staff from the Minnesota Department of Education. Web Chat webinars provide updates from the state ABE office on new and emerging issues and an opportunity for local ABE staff to ask questions… Learn More
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September 22, 2021
6:30 pm–8:30 pm
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I Hear You! Effective Listening Instruction for English Language Learners
Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 9/22/21 Learn how explicit listening instruction builds a foundation for literacy skills and fosters independence for language learners. This workshop will identify authentic learning tasks that English learners encounter daily, try out a variety of listening activities across multiple levels, and discuss which explicit listening… Learn More
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