Subject: New Staff Orientation

Description: This orientation is primarily intended for all new staff at adult basic education programs funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. ("New" is defined as having worked in adult basic education in Massachusetts for less than a year.) It is meant to serve as a broad introduction to the field, looking at such topics as the adult learner, adult learning theory, approaches to teaching, curriculum development and assessment, literacy and language acquisition, and an overview of the field. It is therfore not a basic course in teaching. This orientation is required for all new staff DESE-funded adult basics education programs; staff from other programs are also welcome as space permits.

Subject: New Staff Orientation

Description: This orientation is primarily intended for all new staff at adult basic education programs funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. ("New" is defined as having worked in adult basic education in Massachusetts for less than a year.) It is meant to serve as a broad introduction to the field, looking at such topics as the adult learner, adult learning theory, approaches to teaching, curriculum development and assessment, literacy and language acquisition, and an overview of the field. It is therfore not a basic course in teaching. This orientation is required for all new staff DESE-funded adult basics education programs; staff from other programs are also welcome as space permits.

Subject: Counseling

Description: This workshop will introduce ABE program counselors to the basic elements and processes of working with and assisting adult learners in ABE programs to meet their goals. It is intended especially for new or less-experienced counselors; it is also appropriate for teachers and other staff who are involved with providing support to students.

Subject: ABE,ESOL,GED

Description: Boston has a wealth of museums and other cultural institutions that can serve as educational resources for ABE/ESOL programs and teachers as well as students and their families. This workshop will give ABE/ESOL practitioners in Boston and surrounding communities an opportunity to: 1) learn about some of these great resources (including the Boston Children's Museum, the Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium; 2) explore how these museums can connect to your curriculum and help with teaching about science, social studies, health, literacy, cultural awareness, promoting your students' children's school success, and many other areas; and 3) learn how ABE/ESOL programs and students' families can access Boston's cultural institutions at low or no cost. The workshop is intended for both ESOL and ABE/GED teachers and other staff. At the end of the workshop, the museums will raffle off tickets that participants can use with students at their programs. Light refreshments will be provided.

Subject: New Staff Orientation

Description: This orientation is primarily intended for all new staff at adult basic education programs funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. ("New" is defined as having worked in adult basic education in Massachusetts for less than a year.) It is meant to serve as a broad introduction to the field, looking at such topics as the adult learner, adult learning theory, approaches to teaching, curriculum development and assessment, literacy and language acquisition, and an overview of the field. It is therfore not a basic course in teaching. This orientation is required for all new staff DESE-funded adult basics education programs; staff from other programs are also welcome as space permits.

Subject: ABE,ESOL,GED

Description: This session is part of a one of a two-part workshop focused on the algebra strand of the Curriculum Frameworks. The second session focuses on algebra instruction. Some brief homework tasks will be assigned between sessions.

Subject: New Staff Orientation

Description: This orientation is primarily intended for all new staff at adult basic education programs funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. ("New" is defined as having worked in adult basic education in Massachusetts for less than a year.) It is meant to serve as a broad introduction to the field, looking at such topics as the adult learner, adult learning theory, approaches to teaching, curriculum development and assessment, literacy and language acquisition, and an overview of the field. It is therfore not a basic course in teaching. This orientation is required for all new staff DESE-funded adult basics education programs; staff from other programs are also welcome as space permits.

Subject: Technology

Description: Technology Sharing Group for Boston area teachers and Tech Coordinators

Subject: Work Force Development

Description: Experience this career planning process in a one-day, 6-hour training with lots of interactive hands-on activities. Teachers and counselors will learn how to integrate career awareness lessons in ESOL and ABE classrooms and counseling/advising activities. The Integrating Career Awareness Guide can be used creatively as a stand-alone component such as a non-rates based class, or integrated into existing curricula or counseling activities. This workshop is a revision of the previous “Integrating Career Awareness into the ABE/ESOL Program” and focuses on how you can use this curriculum guide in many aspects of your program, including counseling/advising and instruction. This workshop will provide you with a valuable tool to help learners in your program to begin exploring their skills, values, interests and abilities so they can achieve their next steps goals and move toward realizing their career dreams.

Subject: New Staff Orientation

Description: This orientation is primarily intended for all new staff at adult basic education programs funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. ("New" is defined as having worked in adult basic education in Massachusetts for less than a year.) It is meant to serve as a broad introduction to the field, looking at such topics as the adult learner, adult learning theory, approaches to teaching, curriculum development and assessment, literacy and language acquisition, and an overview of the field. It is therfore not a basic course in teaching. This orientation is required for all new staff DESE-funded adult basics education programs; staff from other programs are also welcome as space permits.

Subject: Trainings for Directors

Description: This session of the Boston region's Program Directors Sharing Group will focus on how programs handle the intake and orientation of new students. What sort of orientation process does your program use? What activities or meetings do you hold? Who presents your student orientations? What information do you provide to new students? Do you have a student handbook? This session will give you an opportunity to talk with, learn from, and share ideas with your fellow program directors about doing student orientations at your programs. Come join us!

Subject: ABE,ESOL,GED

Description: Most teachers in adult basic education programs are faced with the challenge of working with multi-level classes. The methods of differentiated instruction can often help teachers become more effective at meeting the needs of their students in these multi-level classes. Participants in this mini-course, intended for ABE, ESOL, and GED teachers, will learn and practice strategies long used successfully in the K-12 setting and adapted for use in the adult education classroom. Participants will share ideas and experiences in two face-to-face meetings as well as four weeks of supported, interactive online work, developing their own lesson plans. The mini-course begins with a 4-hour face-to-face session on February 22, which will include an orientation to the online aspects of the course. The following four weeks will involve about an hour a week online plus roughly another hour a week of off-line work on lesson plans. The course ends with this 2-hour face-to-face meeting. (This course is adapted from an online course originally developed by the presenter for World Education.)

Subject: ESOL,Other Curriculum & Instruction

Description: (This is a workshop sponsored by Boston and North East.) Laurel Pollard, co-author of the Zero Preparation teacher resource books, is returning to Massachusetts. This hands-on workshop will provide you with activities you can use tomorrow and for the rest of your teaching career -- activities that help students take charge of their own learning while giving you more time to think, breathe, relax, and recover your vision.

Subject: Assessment

Description: This training is intended only for staff at programs funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education/Adult and Community Learning Services that are required to use this test. Check with your program director to see if you should attend and then be sure to pre-register, since there are limits on the number of participants. Also, be sure to read the Prerequisites section below.