Are you going to the MCAE virtual conference on March 25-26? Please check out the SABES "table" and our many sessions:

Thursday, March 25

Science Teaching Now: What? How?

Workshop Code: 1-B 9:15 am – 10:45 am

Presenters: Lakshmi Nayak, SABES ELA Coordinator and ABE Science Teacher, SABES; Christina Dennis, ELA Teacher, SCALE; Marie LeBlanc, ASE and Computer Technology Teacher, Mass. Department of Correction at NCCI-Gardner; Tessa Peixoto, Adult Diploma Pathway Science Instructor, JVSBoston

Description: Science is about observing, asking questions, and learning from mistakes—perfect for these times. We share some struggles, strategies, resources, and specific lessons that have worked for us during this year of remote teaching and learning.

Leveraging Lessons Learned from IDEAL-MA Distance Education Programs

Workshop Code: 1-D 9:15 am – 10:45 am

Presenters: Diana Satin, Coordinator, SABES; Luanne Teller, Director, SABES Program Support PD Center

Description: Since the pandemic, program staff have been making strides in delivering high quality learning experiences and supports. Join us to hear programs share successful practices for empowering staff and students to build their skills and ability to work together in a distance and blended manner with positive results.

Teaching the Skills that Matter 

Workshop Code: 2-C 11:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Presenters: Dana Varzan-Parker, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Policy Coordinator, MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education/Adult and Community Learning Services; Laura Porter, Program Coordinator, SABES ESOL Curriculum and Instruction PD Center; Brooke Machado; Christa Exter Lena Marecki

The Teaching the Skills That Matter in Adult Education project (TSTM) trains teachers to integrate the skills that matter to adult students using approaches that work across critical topics. Using the project's tools and training, adult education teachers can teach the transferable skills students need in these critical contexts. See also: https://lincs.ed.gov/state-resources/federal-initiatives/teaching-skill…;

​​​​​​​The Revised ESOL Professional Standards

Workshop Code: 3-D 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm

Presenters: Dori McCormack, Director, SABES Curriculum and Instruction PD Center for ESOL; Dana Varzan-Parker, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Policy Coordinator, MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education/Adult and Community Learning Services

Description: The MA ESOL Professional Standards provide guidance to teachers in meeting learners’ needs. Originally developed in 2014, the Standards were revised to reflect changes in adult ESOL: increased attention to workforce and academic preparation, digital literacy, civics, cultural responsiveness, and research. Teachers can use the standards to identify their strengths as instructors and their PD needs.

Help Us Help You: Good to Know (GTK) Guides Working Session (NRS Assessments)

Workshop Code: 4-B 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Presenters: April L. Zenisky, Research Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst; Jennifer Lewis, Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts Amherst Description: UMass Center for Educational Assessment (CEA) staff have been developing two-page Good-to-Know (GTK) Guides about all of the NRS assessments used in Massachusetts for teachers AND for students. Come, see what they’re all about, and work with us during this collaborative session to identify potential improvements and to develop use cases for programs!

Introducing National College Transition Network's (NCTN) Personal and Workplace Success Skills Library

Workshop Code: 4-F 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Presenters: Dani M. Scherer, Curriculum and Professional Development Specialist, National College Transition Network and SABES Program Support PD Center; Sandy Goodman, NCTN Director, World Education

Description: Personal and Workplace Success Skills (aka "Workforce Preparation" under WIOA) are essential to surviving and thriving in our world. These are the critical and creative thinking, communication, self-management, teamwork and collaboration, and other skills that enable us to be adaptive and agile lifelong learners. In this engaging and interactive session, participants will explore NCTN’s new Personal and Workplace Success Skills Library and discuss strategies for integrating free library resources into academic and language instruction and advising. The better equipped instructors and advisors are to teach Personal and Workplace Success Skills, the better students will be able to develop and apply these foundational, transferable skills in all areas of their lives, in order to achieve their education, career, and personal goals.

Friday, March 26

For “Non-Math” People … Who Teach it Anyway

Workshop Code: I-B 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Presenter: Allison Reid, Teacher, Holyoke Community College for the SABES Mathematics & Numeracy Curriculum and Instruction PD Center

Description: Anyone can learn math, but for teachers who did not have positive math experiences themselves, teaching it can be stressful. Still, it’s part of the job for many multi-subject adult educators. We’ll explore research on math, math anxiety, and learning; and discuss how teachers who don’t identify with math can use their unique strengths to help their students succeed.

Using the CCRSAE for Beginning-Level ELA Instruction

Workshop Code: I-E 9:00 am – 10:30 am

Presenters: John Strucker, Ed.D, Consultant, SABES ELA Curriculum and Instruction PD Center; Evonne Peters, Director, SABES ELA Curriculum and Instruction PD Center; Pamela Dempsey-O’Connell, Coordinator of Instructional Technology, SABES ELA Curriculum and Instructional PD Center

Description: Learn to use the College and Career Readiness Standards in Adult Education (CCRSAE) for beginning-level ELA learners, including key takeaways and resources from the new SABES Teacher’s Guide to the CCRSAE. Gain an understanding of instructional priorities for your students and implications for lesson planning and assessment in the in-person and remote classroom.

How to Obtain the MA ABE Teacher's License

Workshop Code: 2-D 10:45 am – 12:15 pm

Presenters: Carey Reid, SABES Program Support PD Center; Suzanne Caro, Intake Assessment Coordinator, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department; Nicole McNeil, Math Instructor at the Holyoke Public Schools Success Center

Description: This workshop will provide an overview of the MA ABE Teacher's License and specific information about SABES Program Support PD Center resources to help practitioners obtain either the provisional or professional level of the license. The Center is coordinating a skilled group of licensure coaches who work directly with license-seekers to help them meet license requirements. The Center has also developed a multi-module online course, which is currently running. Once it is again safe to meet face-to-face, SABES will begin convening monthly cohorts where license-seekers can meet and work together. Workshop participants will be able to ask questions and discuss their particular situations.

Numeracy Routines that Develop Language

Workshop Code: 3-F 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Presenter: Connie Rivera, Curriculum Development Specialist, SABES Mathematics and Adult Numeracy Curriculum and Instruction PD Center

Description: What math can you do with a class of students from varying math backgrounds who have a wide range of test scores? Help your students develop reasoning and thinking habits, practice and build language skills, and build community by regularly using short numeracy activities in your instruction.

Find Resources Using the MA Adult Literacy Hotline

Workshop Code: 4-E 2:45 pm – 4:15 pm

Presenter: Ruby Reyes, MA Adult Literacy Hotline Coordinator, World Education, Inc.

Description: The MA Adult Literacy Hotline includes over 300 literacy programs across the state. With third party translation and live staff available seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight, adult learners of any level can use the Hotline. Learn more about the Hotline as a resource for you and your students.