Southwest ABE Spring Regional

Friday, April 24, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Jackpot Junction – Convention Center
39375 Co. Hwy. 24, Morton, MN 56270

This ABE training opportunity is being offered in conjunction with the MN Department of Education and the ATLAS program at Hamline University.  CEUs indicating attendance will be provided.

Agenda

8:30-9:00       Registration & Coffee/Rolls

9:00-10:30     Concurrent Session 1 (choose one):

1) ESL – Pre Beginning – Beginner Level Classroom Tips and Best Practices
Join us for a hands-on presentation of best practice for teaching low-level ESL students.  Joni Gilman teaches in the Mankato ABE program and uses a wide variety of methods and materials for teaching ESL.  You’ll go home with good handouts and great ideas from this session.

2) Technology Test Drive: Using Jing to jazz up your lessons
This hands-on session will give participants the opportunity to test drive a free version of Jing software.  Jing allows for easy screenshots of you computer and simple-to-create narrated videos of computer tasks.  In a few short steps you will be able to add giant leaps of information to your lessons and handouts.            

10:40-12:10   Concurrent Session 2 (choose one):

1) Teaching Phonics through Alphabetics
Have you ever had a student come into your classroom and say, “I can’t remember anything I read.”  Recent publications from the National Institute for Literacy state that “research has identified five components of reading: phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension.”  This session will touch on the main methods provided in the Reading Horizons program for phonics instruction, phonemic awareness training, and decoding.

2) Employment Development Services at the Workforce Centers
Participants will get an interactive tour of DEED's labor market information and new regional career websites, learning how to access and use the different online resources for information on hot jobs, careers, education/training requirements, and wages throughout our region.  You will also learn about WorkForce Center resources and services and have the opportunity to use MinnesotaWorks.net to post resumes and search for jobs.  Bring your resume and learn to upload it to MinnesotaWorks.net.

12:15-1:00     Lunch

1:00-2:30       Concurrent Session 3 (choose one):

1) I Gave the Test – Now What? 
Do you know what to do with the CASAS test results?  The CASAS assessment system is designed to provide the instructor with information that can guide their instructional choices.  This hands-on session will introduce CASAS QuickSearch, a web-based database, filled with links to instructional resources.  Additionally, we will explore numerous websites that have lesson plans and activities that are linked to the CASAS competencies.

2) Beyond the Horizon – Transitioning Students to Higher Education
Staff from Minnesota West in Marshall and South Central College in Mankato will discuss transitioning students to post secondary including the admissions process, Accuplacer, financial aid.  They will talk about the college environment in 2009.  Specific information will be discussed as to what is available at their respective institutions.

2:30-2:45      Closing, Evaluations, CEU’s

 Workshop Information

• Workshop cost: $15
• Please address any event questions to Bev Mountain or Pat Thomas, the Southwest Regional Professional Development Coordinators
• For questions concerning registration, please contact: Marisa Squadrito Geisler, ATLAS Program Assistant

NOTE: Registrations must be received by FRI. APR. 17, 2009

 Registration Form:  Word / PDF     Register Online     Print Map