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Pathway to Literacy Level Teacher Training
This training module explores definitions of adult EL emergent readers, best practices, lesson planning and learning activities, and showcases the Adult ELL Pathway to Literacy curriculum and assessment; a free resource for adult literacy level teachers.
Antiracist Praxis Study Circle Facilitator Guide
Many of us have heard the terms antiracist and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), but how do we actually implement these large frameworks into our adult English classrooms? This study circle goes beyond defining antiracism and explores how the research around Translanguaging by Ofelia García and Culturally Responsive Teaching by Zaretta Hammond provides us with tools to change the way we approach teaching. The Facilitator Guide provides step-by-step suggestions for conducting a study circle no matter where your program is based.
Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package
According to the website: "The Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package offers school and district administrators and staff a framework and roadmap for adopting a trauma-sensitive approach school- or districtwide. The Training Package includes a variety of resources for educating school staff about trauma and trauma-sensitive practices and for providing school leaders with a step-by-step process for implementing a universal, trauma-informed approach using package materials."
Secondary Traumatic Stress and Self-Care Packet
Educators, counselors, and other support staff who work with students exposed to trauma are at risk of being indirectly traumatized as a result of hearing about their students’ experiences and witnessing the negative effects. In the first section of this packet, learn about secondary traumatic stress and related conditions; in the second section, use the tools and strategies provided to help you create individual and schoolwide plans to promote staff self-care and resilience.
Self-Care Wheel
This infographic provides teachers with concrete examples of ways that they can incorporate self-care in the areas of psychological, physical, spiritual, personal, professional, and emotional.
Stress Reduction in the Adult Basic Education Classroom
Teachers recognize the value of their classrooms as safe venues for adults to practice healthy coping skills and to develop supports, but they are not always comfortable knowing how to respond to the emotional needs of students. While teachers are not therapists, they can be educated in approaches that promote emotional and psychological well-being, and incorporate strategies into the classroom that help students to learn more efficiently.
The 3 R’s: Reaping the Rewards of Routines
Participants in this workout will establish a learner routine that aligns to one or more CCR standards. This workout includes looking at some videos about instructional routines on the Teaching Channel website.
Notice and Wonder about Data: Using Slow Reveal Graphs
Participants in this workout work with slow reveal graphs to notice and wonder about data and experience the activity just as they would present it to students.
Math Practices in the Virtual Classroom
Participants in this workout have the opportunity to experience a task as a student (making origami shapes!), and to reflect on how to use this task with learners to develop a classroom culture (virtual or otherwise) that embeds the math practices.
Taking Care of Yourself: A Checklist
This checklist outlines the three basic aspects of self-care – awareness, balance, and connection – and offers a list of ideas for self-care strategies to use after a difficult event. As the resource indicates, "There are several ways you can find balance, be aware of your needs, and make connections. Use this list to help you decide which self-care strategies will work for you."
Implicit Bias Test
The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is an initiative of Project Implicit, an international nonprofit collaborative that researches "thoughts and feelings outside of conscious awareness and control." The IAT consists of a series of tests that can be taken to measure personal attitudes on race, religion, gender and sexual identity, ability, age, etc., as a first step towards addressing implicit bias.
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.
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.
Teaching ABE Students About Mental Health
This virtual workshop is provided by PANDA - Minnesota ABE Disability Specialists. Workshop participants will reflect on questions regarding teaching ABE students of all levels about mental health and common mental health concerns. Participants will also review "What is Mental Health?" and "Common Mental Health Concerns" lesson plans and resources to consider uses within their own contexts.
CCRS in Action PLC (Professional Learning Community)
The CCRS in Action PLC is a "light" version of the CCRS Implementation Cohort that includes a facilitation guide, Google Slides presentations, and all accompanying materials needed to lead the PLC in your program - for ELA, Math, or both. The PLC uses the same tools for instructors to practice analyzing lessons, units, instructional tasks, and resources that are used in CCRS Cohort. There are many opportunities to customize the PLC to fit the needs of your program. It was designed for eight 90-minute meetings, but can be adjusted to fit your needs. [NOTE: This PLC is currently being reorganized and the materials are being revised.]
New Resources
Tapping into Diverse Perspectives and Teaching Materials
This video discusses what “diverse perspectives and teaching materials” mean, and why this is important to learner success in the classroom. Using diverse materials makes class more relevant to learners’ lives and helps them bridge information they already know to new information. Utilizing diverse perspectives in class content is also key to building up critical thinking skills. We take a look at numerous resources that can help each of us diversify the visuals, videos, audio, and written materials we use.
Being a Warm Demander
This video takes a look at a spectrum of different kinds of teachers and asks you to reflect on where you would place yourself. We argue, based on Zaretta Hammond’s work, that the “warm demander” is the sweet spot of the spectrum which focuses on building trust with learners while also holding them to high standards to meet their learning goals. We then discuss tools to practice building relationships with learners, creating a learning partnership pact, and giving quality feedback so learners can meet their goals.
Discovering Learners’ Funds of Knowledge
In this video, we define and discuss the terms “funds of knowledge” and “an asset-based perspective.” A key element of equity in the classroom is acknowledging learners have a wealth of knowledge based on their own experiences, and we should provide opportunities for learners to be the experts in the room. Once we learn what students’ assets are, we can weave this information into class content, which helps learners be more successful. We take a look at an example lesson.
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
August 6, 2024
10:00 am–12:00 pm
Online
Racial Equity 101 Presented by Jimmie Heags
Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 8/6/24 Join presenter Jimmie Heags, Jr., MA, LSC, LPCC, LADC, ACS, for this session that exposes how race is defined and how racism impacts individuals and institutions. The session will provide learners with a framework for understanding and disrupting the attitudes and structures that perpetuate… Learn More
Online
August 6, 2024
6:30 pm–8:30 pm
Online
Volunteer Core Training Module 1: Overview of Minnesota Adult Education and Program Accountability
Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 8/6/24 Participants learn about Adult Basic Education programming in Minnesota, demographics of learners, instructional content standards as well as initial and on-going assessment. This session wraps up with learner motivations, barriers and persistence. Learn More
Online
August 13, 2024
6:30 pm–8:30 pm
Online
Volunteer Core Training Module 2: Understanding Adult Learners
Online
Registration Deadline: TUE. 8/13/24 Participants develop their personal cultural awareness and learn how expectations around school culture shape how people teach and learn. Guiding principles for effectively delivering instruction to adults are also covered. Finally, participants increase their sensitivity to the challenges of learning English and developing literacy… Learn More
Online