Resources
Results
Cracking the Code: The Wilson Reading System
The materials developed and presented on the English Reading Demystified website were based on the Wilson Reading System. Learn more about the Wilson Reading System here.
English Reading Demystified – ESL
The content for this multi-modal resource stemmed from work done by several adult English teachers, who noticed similarities between the difficulties experienced by English learners and those experienced by learners in another field of literacy: dyslexia. While the two contexts are different in many ways and these language learners were likely not dyslexic (there is currently no way to diagnose ELLs), they found much that overlaps. By purposefully learning more about instruction for learners with dyslexia, they enhanced their own teaching of adult language learners across all levels.
ESL Literacy Readers (Bow Valley Readers)
This collection of beloved theme-based readers for beginning levels of ESL literacy has been discontinued (in late 2024). They are no longer available at the Bow Valley College site. However, colleagues at the Immigrant Welcome Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, have a number of the readers posted (with permission) on their Adult ELL Pathway to Literacy website. This document outlines the changes and how to find these materials.
CollectEdNY.org – ELA
This site hosts resources in all content areas, including English Language Arts. Some of the materials are taken from K-12, but they are all framed and explored in the context of adult education classrooms. The site is divided into four main parts: 1. Resource Reviews Find free, quality teaching resources…
Ideas for Providing Distance STAR Instruction
This March 2020 document provided early ideas from STAR trainers across the country for implementing distance STAR instruction. Not all may be appropriate or reasonable for your ABE program; however, they were intended to inspire creative thinking about how to "carry on" with evidence-based reading instruction (EBRI) during the pandemic and school closings.
Promoting Collaborative Accountability to Text Evidence
Participants in this workout will collaborate with peers to practice and reflect on a routine to hold learners accountable for supporting text-dependent questions with evidence from the text.
Emergent Readers
This website contains instructions for scaffolding reading texts and speaking activities for literacy level learners, resource lists, and videos of literacy level classroom instruction.
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.
Activities for Tutoring a Beginning ESL Literacy Student
Find activity ideas for Beginning ESL Literacy level learners in phonics, pattern based reading, meaning-based reading, checking comprehension, and vocabulary in this handout.
Global Oneness Project
According to their website, “We aim to connect, through stories, the local human experience to global meta-level issues, such as climate change, water scarcity, food insecurity, poverty, endangered cultures, migration, and sustainability. Through featuring individuals and communities impacted by these issues, our stories and lessons provide opportunities to examine universal themes that emphasize our common humanity... Our lessons facilitate the development of students' critical thinking, inquiry, empathy, and listening skills."
Morpheme Matrices Crosswords
These crossword puzzles and answer keys accompany Morpheme Matrices, an ATLAS resource focusing on morphological awareness. Six of puzzles target Latin morphemes (prefixes, roots, suffixes) and two target Greek forms and related suffixes.
Making Sense of Decoding and Spelling: An Adult Reading Course of Study
This scripted, ready-to-print, curriculum package is designed to improve accurate and fluent word reading and word spelling. It is useful for Intermediate level students.
CCRS Reading Standards: Foundational Skills K-5
Free, reproducible student activities aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Reading Foundational Skills (and other ELA standards). They are organized by grade levels (K-5), provide teacher pages outlining objectives/materials/steps, and include student pages without a childish appearance.
Newsela – Multilevel
This website provides several “levels” of the same newspaper articles on a wide variety of topics, along with accompanying online quizzes, that students can read and take.
Text-Dependent Question Stems & Frames to Reach CCRS Reading Anchors (Levels A-B)
How can we ask text-dependent questions (TDQs) at lower levels, when students' English language and literacy is still emerging? This handout offers a range of question stems and TDQ ideas for teachers at low-levels (CCRS A & B).
CollectEdNY.org – Math
This site hosts resources in all content areas. Some of the materials are taken from K-12, but they are all framed and explored in the context of adult education classrooms. The site is divided into four main parts: Resource Reviews (by and for ABE instructors); Framework Posts (lessons, problems, activities, & readings organized by HSE subjects, domains & subdomains); Math Memos (addressing non-routine math problems); and Career Posts (activities and supplementary materials for the NYSED/CUNY CareerKits).
Reading Skills for Healthcare Workers – ESL
A free online Career Pathway literacy curriculum based on CNA and general healthcare content, including 175 selections for intermediate-level readers between 5.5 and 8.5 grade levels.
Phonics Pull-Out Kit
English language learners at many levels need additional assistance with building their phonetic awareness and strengthening their phonetic decoding abilities. The Phonics and Phonemic Awareness Kit provides a variety of activities that can be used with low-beginning to high-intermediate levels of English language learners.
News in Levels: World News for Students of English
This website has articles collected from around the world available in three different levels. Each level has highlighted vocabulary words and a listening track so that readers can hear a native English speaker reading the article.
New Resources
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
October 19, 2026
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Online
Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency
Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 10/19/26 Venue: Online (see details below) 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… Learn More
Online
October 19, 2026
2:00 pm–3:00 pm
Ask ATLAS in the ATLAS Lounge – One Room Schoolhouse Office Hour with Carly!
Join the ATLAS Lounge for Ask ATLAS Office Hours. Passcode to join the meeting: lounge2026 Welcome to a new endeavor for ATLAS – open office hours! Join the Zoom on Monday, October 19, between 2:00 – 3:00… Learn More
October 21, 2026
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Online
The Art of Small Group Facilitation
Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 10/21/26 Venue: Online (see details below) Small group work can be one of the most effective ways to increase student engagement and language practice, but facilitating a group isn’t always easy. Volunteers are often asked to lead discussions, support practice activities, or facilitate group work. Learn More
Online