See below for upcoming SABES PD events for English Language Arts. Or, check out the ELA Upcoming Events Calendar tab anytime!

Note: you are welcome to request ELA instructional coaching for program staff. If interested, please submit a Contact Us request.

All PD offerings are online and facilitated unless indicated otherwise.


Monday, May 6

Introduction to Diagnostic Assessment of Reading - May (Self-Paced Modules)

Introduction to Diagnostic Assessment of Reading is an online self-paced short course for anyone who wants to learn more about these diagnostic assessments and why they are so important to evidence-based reading instruction (EBRI). Practitioners who will actually administer these assessments should take the longer course, EBRI: Diagnostic Assessment of Reading

  • 8:00am (Self-paced course opens)

Monday, May 6

Introduction to Teaching Skills That Matter (Self-Paced Modules)

This introduction to the Teaching Skills That Matter in Adult Education (TSTM) Toolkit provides an overview of the toolkit framework. The introduction also provides materials and guidance to train teachers to incorporate the skills that matter into adult education programming by using instructional approaches that work across relevant topic focus areas that are connected to student needs. Using the TSTM project’s tools and training, adult education teachers can teach the transferable skills students need in these critical contexts. 

  • 9:00am (Self-paced course opens)

Tuesday, May 7

Win-Win Strategies for Career-Contextualized Teaching and Advising

Adult education programs are required to provide students with the skills to explore careers while simultaneously building academic and language skills. Providing integrated and contextualized career-focused instruction is a win-win and a huge time saver for students, but it is not always clear how to go about it.  

This offering provides advisors and ELA and ESOL teachers and advisors with the tools and strategies they need to incorporate career-focused content and academic standards into curricula, lesson plans, or advising workshops. Session 1 will focus on the skills and materials needed to build career-focused contextualized activities with integrated standards. Between sessions, you will develop a career-contextualized activity to use with students. You will share your activities in Session 2 and receive feedback from peers and facilitators. 

  • May 7 | 1:00 - 3:00pm
  • May 28 | 1:00 - 3:00pm

Tuesday, May 14

Innovations and Society: A Unit Plan Integrating ELA and Social Studies Instruction

Technological advancements profoundly shape society, revolutionizing our lifestyles and modes of communication. In this session, explore a new, contextualized ELA unit plan centered around the innovations and inventions of the Second Industrial Revolution and the societal forces that transformed the United States into an industrial giant.

  • 1:00 - 2:30pm

Wednesday, May 15

EBRI Comprehension Strategies

In this 1.5-hour workshop, you will learn two EBRI (Evidenced-Based Reading Instruction) strategies for teaching comprehension skills through summarization. The session will be facilitated by two nationally certified MA STAR trainers.

  • 1:00 - 2:30pm

Friday, May 17

New Program Directors: Meet and Greet With SABES Directors!

For new directors and veteran directors of newly funded adult education programs, the first months and years can be a unique challenge as you learn how to do your job, while also leading and supporting everyone around you. If you’re wondering where to even begin or are looking for resources and colleagues to support you, join us for this 60-minute meet and greet with SABES. 

At SABES, we strive to be a valuable resource and partner for you and members of your team. This “meet and greet” session is designed to provide new directors with an overview of the SABES professional development (PD) system. You will have the opportunity to meet directors from the five SABES centers—Math & Numeracy; English Language Arts (ELA); ESOL; Program Support; and the SABES Communication Center—and begin a conversation about the many ways we can work together in support of high-quality programs and student outcomes.

We also want to hear from you! While we will provide you with information about SABES, the primary purpose of this meeting is to build relationships as a first step of what we hope will be enduring collaborative efforts.

  • 10:30am - 11:30am

Monday, May 20

Overview of EBRI - May (Self-Paced Modules)

This self-paced course is the first step on your journey for evidence-based reading instruction (EBRI), providing an introduction to and an overview of EBRI. It is a prerequisite for all other EBRI offerings. (Note: STAR training also fills this prerequisite, so STAR-trained practitioners do not need to take this Overview.)

  • 8:00am (Self-paced course opens)
PD Team
SABES English Language Arts Curriculum & Instruction PD Team