MAEL-PDC WORKSHOP TOPICS
Professional Development Events 2-6 PD Hours
Teachers: If you are interested in participating in any of our training sessions, please contact your local program director. All training events need to be authorized and coordinated through the director. Your director will notify us that you wish to participate.
If you are an independent participant, please see the information on our Independent Participant page. (The online and video trainings are only offered to teachers who are employed by state funded AEL programs. Click here for more information)
Academic Workshop Topics
*Content Standards Follow-Up: PD Credit-4 HOURS
The follow-up sessions are for instructors who would like to delve deeper into how to use Content Standards in the AEL classroom. They will learn new strategies plus share ‘tried and true’ lessons from their own classroom. Instructors receive basic Content Standard information while attending the PCW and the BTAP.
*Enthusiastic About Reading: PD Credit-4 HOURS
This workshop uses the books The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence and The CAFÉ Book: Engaging All Students in Daily Literacy Assessment and Instruction for content. Based on literacy learning and motivation research, participants will come away from the workshop with daily literacy tasks for students to complete. The CAFÉ system, based on research into the habits of proficient readers, is an acronym for Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency and Expanding vocabulary. Participants will review teaching strategies that recognize various learner needs.
*Explicit Instruction-Mini Lessons for Reading Comprehension: PD Credits- 4 HOURS
Now that your students know how to decode and read words, how do you teach reading comprehension? This workshop explains/shows strategies from the evidence based reading workshop strategies. Participants will be able to help students connecting to the text in a meaningful way. Mini Lessons help to build a community of students and help students to gain deeper understanding of the printed word through questioning strategies.
*Financial Literacy: PD Credits- 2 HOURS
Financial Literacy is the ability to read, analyze, manage and communicate about the personal financial conditions that affect material well-being. This workshop looks at information teachers can introduce to help students discern financial choices, discuss money and financial issues, plan for the future, and respond competently to life events that affect everyday financial decisions. This is an ONLINE workshop.
*Math Institute Part I: PD Credits-4 HOURS
Understanding the GED Test addresses the three types of math problems on the GED test: procedural, conceptual, and application. Applying Basic Math Principles to Calculation addresses the GED candidate skill gaps in calculating percentages, visualizing reasonable answers, calculating squares and square roots, recognizing and calculating positive and negative exponents, and selecting the correct equation to a conceptual problem. Reading & Interpreting Data, Charts and Graphs addresses the GED candidate skill gaps in transitioning between text and graphics, interpreting and comparing graphical data from multiple sources, interpreting and selecting tabular data for computation, and identifying how graphs can show different types of information. Approximately half of the workshop consists of activities and games.
*Math Institute Part II: Geometry & Measurement: PD Credit-4 HOURS
Geometry and Measurement addresses the GED candidate skill gaps in recognizing visual cues, understanding and applying the Pythagorean Theorem, Partitioning irregular shapes to calculate area, comparing properties of geometric figures of different shapes, expressing a mathematical problem using variables, and understanding the relationships between angles and parallel lines.
*Math Institute Part III: PD Credits-4 HOURS
Algebra, the mere mention of the word conjures up horrible images of equation solving, factoring and story problems. For some Algebra brings back images of failure. As teachers, we instruct our students to not be afraid of Math. However, some of us lack the basic math skills to be competent in our teaching. The Math Institute was created to help teachers at all skill levels. This workshop is designed to give teachers the confidence to face head on the algebra skills necessary for students to pass the GED test.
Math Institute Part IV: PD Credits-4 HOURS
Fractions, decimals and percents are the focus of this workshop. It is designed to lay a solid foundation for the math skills needed in daily living situations. Included are tips for estimating answers, problem solving, place value, using manipulatives to make fractions come to life, and conversions of fractions, decimals and percents.
*Numeracy: PD Credit-4 HOURS
This presentation addresses the three components of numeracy identified by the Adult Numeracy Network (ANN): context, content, and cognitive and affective.
This interactive workshop has activities geared to the lower level math/literacy student. The context component addresses “real” vs. “realistic” problem situations. The content component addresses (1) number and operation sense, (2) patterns, functions and algebra, (3) measurement and shape, and (4) data, statistics and probability. The cognitive and affective component addresses conceptual understanding, adaptive reasoning, strategic competence, procedural fluency, and productive disposition. Approximately half of the workshop consists of activities and games.
*Shovel Ready Math: PD Credit-4 HOURS
This workshop addresses the “why do I have to learn this math” you might hear from your students. It is designed to go into details why we learn the math skills we do and how to use them on the job site. Math skills for certain jobs are discussed, such as nursing, carpentry, plumbing, electrician and farming.
*Health Literacy Workshop I: PD Credit-4 HOURS Skills for Disease Prevention and Screening
The overall goal of the Health Literacy in-service is to build the capacity of adult education instructors to incorporate health literacy into their curriculum and instruction. One of the goals will be to prepare participants to help their students develop basic skills needed to engage in disease prevention and screening activities.
*Health Literacy II: Get on the treadmill to a healthier lifestyle PD Credit-4 HOURS
In recent years health literacy has garnered increasing attention in the fields of adult education, English as a second language (ESL), and health care. Research findings indicate a correlation between low literacy and poor health in adults and a correlation between poor health and difficulties in participating in educational programs (Hohn, 1998). This workshop defines health literacy and its importance and discusses implications for our classrooms. It will also offer classroom lessons addressing health literacy concerns regarding nutrition, exercise, and advocacy.
*Health Literacy III: Nutrition: PD Credit-4 HOURS
Learn how to help your students to make better decisions when it comes to nutrition for themselves and their families. How can you use “Upsize it” for health, writing and math lessons? This workshop can be done ONLINE.
*STAR: PD Credit – 30 HOURS
The STudent Achievement in Reading (STAR) Project is a project that Missouri added for teachers and students in 2008. STAR training includes translating and disseminating evidence-based reading practices through a series of three two-day training sessions. Teachers and administrators will receive intensive training on reading strategies and on implementing a data-driven change model. Participants learn about diagnostic reading assessments, strategies to use in the classroom with intermediate readers, how to implement a STAR program, and have access to a STAR Toolkit.
*Transitions Math: From the GED to the University: PD Credit-4 HOURS
Transitions Math: From the GED to the University, is designed to provide Students and Teachers opportunities to place into college-level math courses. Adapted from Summer 09 workshops. This workshop can be delivered online or face to face.
ESL Workshops
*ESL Manipulatives: PD Credit-4 HOURS
Description: We’ll look at some research support for the use of manipulatives in the language classroom, and then explore a variety of activities that include manipulatives. Teachers will focus on how they can incorporate more manipulatives into their curriculum, as well as how they might adapt the activities presented to their unique classrooms.
*ESL Reading & Writing: PD Credit-4 HOURS
We’ll look at the 2002 National Reading Panel’s findings on the key components necessary for fluent reading and discuss the application of those findings to ESL Adults. Participants will experience activities designed to foster the development of the key components, and think critically about creating activities that will fit their classrooms and levels. In addition, we’ll engage in writing activities appropriate for all levels of ESL Adults, and teachers will spend time evaluating and developing writing activities that they might use in their own classrooms.
*Language Subskills: Integrating Grammar, Pronunciation, and Vocabulary: PD Credit-4 HOURS
It’s fairly easy to design listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities for the ESL classroom, but how do grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary fit in? We’ll discuss techniques for integrating these sub skills into ESL instruction and after taking part in various grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary activities as ESL students, participants will work on developing activities that will work in their classrooms. Finally, in a structured discussion format, participants will have the opportunity to work with other teachers in processing the activities, as well as sharing ideas and classroom experience.
*ESL Writing Across the Levels: PD Credit-4 HOURS
This workshop looks at the meaning of writing across the levels, from the purely mechanical aspect of forming letters on a page to fluid writing for a variety of purposes. Discussion will focus on ways that students use writing, from the practical (grocery lists, tracking appointments on a calendar) to the production of connected written text (letters, emails, and writing for academic purposes), as well as how students may move in and out of writing for various purposes. Participants will take part in a variety of writing tasks, share in small groups the writing activities that each has implemented successfully, and brainstorm writing tasks appropriate for the classroom.
*Classroom Management for the ESL Teacher: PD Credit-4 HOURS
In this workshop, we’ll start by discussing some general theory with respect to second language acquisition; participants will consider how their classrooms operate in light of theory discussed. We’ll then move on to the practical issues that teachers deal with, including the multi-level classroom, students who, for one reason or another, are challenging to teachers, and cultural issues in the classroom. Teachers will participate in a round table discussion with their peers, strategizing with regard to a number of issues that can be problematic in the adult education ESL classroom. With any luck, participants will leave with some good ideas from their colleagues to put to use in their own classrooms.
*Culture in the ESL Classroom: PD Credit-4 HOURS
Adult Education ESL teachers struggle with teaching U.S. culture as well as integrating students’ cultures into the classroom. In this in-service we will discuss cultural issues and their impact on the classroom, managing the multi-cultural classroom, and taking advantage of the rich cultural diversity that makes up our classrooms. Participants will network with other teachers regarding culture in the classroom, and we’ll start a list of cultural No-No’s (behaviors or gestures that one culture or another find offensive) to be posted on the MAEL PDC website for teachers to access at will.
*Speaking and Listening: PD Credit-4 HOURS
The presenter will provide a variety of activity types at multiple levels for teaching speaking and listening, with an emphasis on expanding the activities beyond the classroom. Participants will experience the activities themselves and network with other teachers regarding their issues and successes with teaching speaking and listening.
*CASAS Testing: PD Credit-6 HOURS
ESL Instructors learn and become certified in the use of the CASAS. The Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems test is the tool used in Missouri to assess ELL students’ levels. After attending the six hour workshop, instructors earn certification needed to use the CASAS and to order materials from the CASAS company.
*Yikes! It’s the ESL Plague! PD Credit-4 HOURS
Discuss and strategize with your colleagues concerning the issues which somewhat perennially plague adult education ESL classrooms—multi-level classes, fluctuating attendance, learning difficulties, differences and challenges. Presenter will provide some basic research and activity suggestions, but participants will do much of the work, strategizing with fellow-teachers about techniques that work or don’t work; those that haven’t worked in the past but might work given different circumstances; conditions that support or undermine useful classroom techniques; and personally identifying a few reasonable goals that each might work on throughout the coming year. While none of these issues have the quick and easy fix that we all wish for, we can make a dent in the frustrations they represent to us and our students if we share what we know and do in our classrooms already, and brainstorm together for further potential fixes.
*Strategies for Teaching in a Multi-Level ESL classroom: PD Credit-4 HOURS
This in-service will help teachers who teach in an AEL classroom, but have a few ESL students. It is designed to show different activities that can be used in a Multi- Level ESL classroom.
*LifeSkills for the ESL Classroom: PD Credit-4 HOURS
What do they need to know, and how do we teach it? Most ESL students want English to survive in the everyday world. ESL teachers need to be able to assess what those everyday world needs are and then design authentic instruction to meet those needs. Participants will discuss various needs assessment models, then work on developing thematic units designed to assist students in meeting their own real world needs in the real world.
*Citizenship Test: PD Credit-2 HOURS
The one-hundred questions used on the Naturalization Test will be discussed and it will be explained. October 1, 2008 was the start date for the new Naturalization Test. Instructors will Compare and Contrast the old Naturalization Test to the New Naturalization Test, along with explaining the application process of the Naturalization Test.
*Reaching out to Immigrant Populations: PD Credit-4 HOURS
This workshop is taken from the Gates Foundation Spanish Language Outreach Program and will identify eight steps in finding community leaders, compare and contrast different cultures, describe the Iceberg Model of cultural diversity, learn to market to immigrant populations and look at the peaks and waves of immigration to the United States. This workshop may be done ONLINE.
*EL Civics: PD Credit-4 HOURS Everybody Loves Civics provides the curriculum needed to develop content knowledge, process skills, and understanding that adults need in order to become active and informed citizens. This may be done online.
Video Training Options
Beyond F.A.T. City, A Look Back, A Look Ahead: (DVD) Another favorite by Richard LaVoie about LD students and how to help them in the classroom. 2 hours PD credit.
How Difficult Can It Be? One of Richard LaVoie’s F.A.T. City videos which allows you to spend 70 minutes experiencing life the way a learning disabled student does. A discussion guide comes with the video. 4 hours PD credit.
People Like Us: A stirring DVD from Aha! Process (Framework for Poverty) that is 2 hours in length. This is sure to evoke lots of discussion. This option is suggested for small groups of teachers. A guide of questions is included for discussion. 4 hours PD credit. The PDC is limited on number of DVD to loan out.
Helping Students Who Learn Differently: Highlights of Dr. Richard Cooper’s ETW session from 2004 emphasize strategies for teaching adults with learning difficulties. Participants will watch the video and complete an activity on Blackboard to receive four hours of professional development (Workshop) credit.
Learning For All Kinds of Minds: Dr. Rochelle Kenyon’s ETW session from 2004 is the basis for this video Workshop. She discusses strategies for teaching adults including those who have difficulty learning. In addition to viewing the video, participants review her PowerPoint slides for additional information. Participants will watch the video and complete an activity on Blackboard to receive four hours of professional development (Workshop) credit.
Reading: Taking Adult Education Students to the Next Level: Presented by the trainers from the Florida Human Resources Development, Inc. at the summer 2004 ETW is the basis for this video Workshop. The video packet is designed to be an interactive, hands-on training containing materials and ideas that teachers of adult learners can transfer directly into their classrooms.
Technology Training
Information Literacy& Technology in the AEL Classroom: (4 Hrs.)
This workshop refers to skills revolving around information research and use. Students are faced with an endless assortment of informational possibilities from a variety of resources. This workshop is designed to help teachers guide students in deciding which information is credible and how to utilize it. Participants will learn computer and Internet tips and techniques to enhance the use of technology resources.
Aligns with ProNet Competencies: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 19, 21, 22
Windows Vista: PD Credits: 2 HOURS or 4 HOURS combined with Word/Excel 2007
Windows Vista is somewhat of a radical evolution from Windows XP- not only the look, but with new features and system requirements. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced Windows user, you won't want to miss out on everything this powerful new version has to offer. In this workshop, specifically designed for beginners and casual users, you'll learn to use Vista's best and most important features. The Word/Excel 2007 option introduces users to the new Ribbon and offers tips and tricks for these Office programs.
Aligns with 4, 5, 7, 8 19, 21, 22
PLATO (Independent PLATO lab or PLATO On-Line): This is a 1 day training (6 hours) for teachers who will be using the PLATO system. Teachers who will be working with a PLATO lab should to attend this workshop. Teachers will learn how to incorporate TABE prescriptions into PLATO lessons.
PLATO ADVANCED: A 4 hour training for teachers who are currently using PLATO labs and have previously attended the initial PLATO training. The format is basically question and answers plus learning to create reports.
BLS Tutorsystems (Standalone or On-line): This 2 hour session will help teachers take a closer look at the lessons in BLS and see how they can help students master TABE 7 & 8 objectives.
HUMAN ASSET IMAGING: HAI is a non-academic software helping the student with topics such as Civility, Respect for Others, Cleanliness, Attitude, Punctuality, and some work scenarios. The training is a two hour session. Teachers will be shown how to use the software, along with ideas for incorporating it into the classroom.
Customized training may also be requested. Contemporary’s GED Interactive, Official Practice GED Test, and other ESL software may be topics for trainings. Please contact the Missouri AEL Professional Development Center to schedule trainings.
Back to topics
Customized training may also be requested. Contemporary’s GED Interactive, Official Practice GED Test, and other ESL software may be topics for trainings.
Please contact the Missouri AEL Professional Development Center to schedule trainings. You may e-mail Beth Gross at bgross@mail.ncmissouri.edu