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Once Upon a Picture: The Thinking Collection
This website provides a collection of images, photo and illustrations, with prompts to inspire learners to write or speak using critical thinking skills about the image.
Once Upon a Picture: The Thinking Collection
A collection of images, photo and illustrations, with prompts to inspire learners to write or speak using critical thinking skills about the image.
ESL Conversation Questions
Find conversation questions grouped by topic or by grammar point. The site also contains ideas for icebreakers and additional online resources for teachers.
Print Discuss
This relatively new website contains printable lists of conversation questions arranged by topic or grammar point. Most conversation lists contain simple warm-up questions and a vocabulary word list.
Clear English Corner with Keenyn Rhodes – for learners
This channel is dedicated to helping learners speak American English with clarity and confidence. Video resources are uploaded weekly. This channel is a great resources for learners, and can also be used by teachers as supplemental resources for class, and can help teachers gain a greater understanding of English pronunciation.
Clear English Corner with Keenyn Rhodes
This channel is dedicated to helping learners speak American English with clarity and confidence. Video resources are uploaded weekly. This channel is a great resources for learners, and can also be used by teachers as supplemental resources for class, and can help teachers gain a greater understanding of English pronunciation.
Rachel’s English YouTube Channel – for learners
Americans speak fast and conversation can be hard! This channel is a great resource for learners, where they can unpack pronunciation features with videos on all aspects of spoken English – from dropped sounds and linked words to idioms, phrasal verbs, and conversation study. It can also be used by teachers as supplemental resources for class, and can help teachers gain a greater understanding of English pronunciation.
Rachel’s English YouTube Channel
Americans speak fast and conversation can be hard! On this channel, unpack pronunciation features with videos on all aspects of spoken English – from dropped sounds and linked words to idioms, phrasal verbs, and conversation study. This channel is a great resource for learners! It can also be used by teachers as supplemental resources for class, and can help teachers gain a greater understanding of English pronunciation.
Baruch College: Tools for Clear Speech – for learners
"TfCS offers a variety of practice exercises and online resources for remote access. From individual English sounds to overarching features like intonation and stress, these exercises are an excellent way to preview, practice, and maintain what you learn." The tools are made to support learners taking classes at Baruch College, but anyone can access and learn from their excellent Tools to Go!
Baruch College: Tools for Clear Speech
"TfCS offers a variety of practice exercises and online resources for remote access. From individual English sounds to overarching features like intonation and stress, these exercises are an excellent way to preview, practice, and maintain what you learn." The tools are made to support learners taking classes at Baruch College, but anyone can access and learn from their excellent Tools to Go!
The Pronunciation Doctor YouTube Channel
Marsha Chan demonstrates how teachers can use multiple textbooks to improve language learners' pronunciation through a variety of techniques. Teachers will also find videos of professional development workshops on pronunciation instruction, and examples of adult ESL learners engaging in pronunciation activities in the classroom.
Getting Started with Effective Math Talk in the Classroom
Using mathematical discussions in the classroom is a powerful way to increase our students’ critical thinking and communication skills. This article explores ways to get your students thinking and communicating mathematically from the very first days of school. The article is written for K-12 teachers, but the language and strategies work well with adult learners.
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.
Adult ESL Beginning Level Instruction Videos
Find Low-Literacy Instruction and Classroom Activities videos that feature Minnesota teachers working with ESL Beginning Level learners on a wide variety of activities and skills, including phonics, TPR, speaking skills, and numeracy.
The Teachers’ Room: Correcting Errors
This video shares different things teachers should to take into consideration when correcting errors, and gives suggestions for ways to do learner-friendly error correction in the classroom.
Ten ESL Activities to Teach Perfect Pronunciation and Get Mouths Moving
This article from the FluentU English Educator Blog provides ten activities for teachers to use when students have difficulty differentiating between two sounds (known as minimal pairs).
- Assessment
- Beginning ESL
- Beginning ESL Literacy
- Listening
- Reading
- Speaking
- Teaching Strategies
- Writing
Making It Real: Teaching Pre-Literate Adult Refugee Students
This book is a great place reference for both new and experienced teachers. It covers a variety of effective practices for teaching low-literate adult refugees, and describes techniques and activities that support these practices.
Literacy Minnesota Pre-Beginning ESL Story Bank and Curriculum
This curriculum builds literacy skills and incorporates level-appropriate Transitions skills identified by the ATLAS program's Academic, Career & Employability Skills (ACES) initiative, as outlined in the Transitions Integration Framework (TIF), into every life skill unit.
Give It a Go: Teaching Pronunciation to Adults
This interactive PDF resource provides "a brief and accessible overview of how pronunciation works in English, some explanations of the particular difficulties faced by learners from different backgrounds, and activities that teachers can use to help adult language learners to improve their pronunciation."
Error Correction
This article provides strategies for how and when to correct learners' mistakes and suggestions for how to make error correction a part of your classroom routine.
New Resources
Employer Engagement Toolkit – Workplace
This Employer Engagement Toolkit contains flyers designed to assist Adult Education programs connect with local employers regarding workplace education programs or more generalized collaboration strategies. All flyers describe the short and long term return on investment (ROI) that is possible through collaborations with ABE. Customize each flyer with your ABE program’s contact information, logo, and preferred wording. A free Canva account is required to copy and edit the view-only files. New to Canva? A brief tutorial is included.
Employer Engagement Toolkit
The Employer Engagement Toolkit contains flyers created to assist Adult Education programs connect with local employers regarding workplace education programs or more generalized collaboration strategies. All flyers describe the short and long term return on investment (ROI) that is possible through collaborations with ABE. Customize each flyer with your ABE program’s contact information, logo, and preferred wording. A free Canva account is required to copy and edit the view-only files. New to Canva? A brief tutorial is included.
The Literacy Centre of Expertise
This is a collection of customized materials, practical tools, and effective research-based strategies for teaching adult English as a New Lanugage (EAL) learners. The resources are created to strengthen language skills, address literacy barriers, and boost learner confidence. Materials are geared towards helping students develop the essential skills needed for daily life and active participation in their communities. There is a curated list of useful websites and teacher training. Additionally, view internally developed content such as Adults Learn to Print. Developed by The Immigrant Education Society (TIES) in Canada.
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
December 8, 2025
2:30 pm–4:00 pm
Online
Holding Space: Healing-Centered Routines and Practices for Classroom Instruction
Online
Registration Deadline: MON. 12/8/25 For many learners and teachers, stress and trauma can seem like insurmountable barriers to developing academic skills. However, the resilience and empathy that many people in adult education have developed can form a foundation for a learning community grounded in curiosity and compassion. Incorporating… Learn More
Online
December 9, 2025
1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Online
Getting Started with Workplace Literacy
Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 12/9/25 Getting Started with Workplace Literacy is a two-hour webinar designed to introduce the foundations of Workplace Education, including key terms such as program definitions, milestones, and MSGs. Participants will hear from a panel of local ABE managers and workplace literacy partners who will share… Learn More
Online
December 10, 2025
2:30 pm–3:30 pm
Online
Ellii December Webinar: Keepin’ It Real: Examples from Your Minnesota Colleagues
Online
Registration Deadline: WED. 12/10/25 Venue: Online (see details below) In this session, we’ll showcase examples of how Minnesota adult education teachers are using Ellii in their classes and for distance learning. Come learn from your peers about the activities and resources that they and their learners have… Learn More
Online