VALRC

GEDTS: Mobile GED Testing: Expand the Reach of the Exam
2023-12-13 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Every state has regions that could use better access to GED testing. Want to increase opportunities to test but have a fixed testing center? One solution might be to set up Mobile Testing.
Tune into this session to learn all the details of how Mobile Testing works, how to put together a Mobile site, and how to address common questions and concerns.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

*Please note that this is a GEDTS offering and not a VALRC offering. We are unable to assist in registration or to provide archives of the event.

LINCS: Partnering with Programs to Improve Student Outcomes in Rural America
2023-12-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Are you interested to learn more about reaching rural students? Join the Professional Development LINCS Group and guest presenter Lori Looney of Partners for Rural Impact to deepen your understanding of the unique needs of rural students. Learn about grant-funded initiatives in rural America that intersect with adult education and explore innovative opportunities for adult education services in rural areas of the United States.
Register here.

EdTech Center @ World Education: EdTech Strategy Sessions: ChatGPT for ESOL
2023-12-15 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
During the December Strategy Session, hear two lightning talks highlighting the practical ways adult educators are finding use for generative AI in the classroom. Yeonjai Rah has uncovered a variety of uses for ChatGPT in her ESOL class, including strategies that help learners build AI awareness with language skills. When Shawn Chattin saw the disruption caused by generative AI in his work with international students, he decided to focus on a more localized approach. In his new role at Literacy Pittsburgh, he’s using GAI tools to leverage stories that draw from the local community and learners to promote language learning. Join the EdTech Center to hear their insights from 1-2:00 and don’t forget both speakers will be available in a breakout room from 2-2:30 to answer your questions and continue the conversation. You don’t want to miss this!
Register here.

Literacy Minnesota: Reading Activities for Beginning Literacy and Beginning English Language Learners
2023-12-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Teaching and tutoring very beginning level ESL readers can be intimidating for volunteers and professional teachers alike. Attend this webinar to get practical activities and ideas for one-on-one, remote and in-person instruction with tech and no-tech options. Leave feeling ready to provide your learners with meaningful and effective reading activities.
Register here.

LINCS: Walking the Walk, and Talking the Talk: One State's Work to Put DEI in Action
2023-12-18 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are the topics of conversation in many organizations, but how do you go beyond words to action? During this session, we will be joined by Evonne Peters, Director, and Karen Greaves, Instruction and PD Specialist of Massachusetts’ SABES ELA Curriculum, and Instruction PD Center, as they share how their organization demonstrates its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in adult education.
Register here.

LINCS: What can ABE Math Instructors Learn from Each Other?
2023-12-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Don’t miss this opportunity to advance adult education practices in math and numeracy by joining the LINCS community for this exciting event. We will discuss the research from a dissertation study conducted in Fall 2023, where 38 Adult Basic Education (ABE) Math and Numeracy Instructors were interviewed about their math identity. We will share lessons learned from these interviews to include valuable insights into the experiences, perspectives, and challenges ABE Math and Numeracy Instructors face. This event will foster a sense of community and collaboration among math and numeracy practitioners, allowing them to learn from each other’s experiences, exchange ideas, and discuss best practices for promoting a positive math identity among adult learners.
Register here.

COABE: How to Utilize Paid and Free Resources to Boost Student Enrollment in your Local Program
2023-12-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
Do you have $1,000 to spend on recruiting new students to your program? Do you have no money at all? Come learn both free and paid ways to boost the number of students you have in your program. Hear what the Connecticut Association for Adult and Continuing Education did as a state, and what several local programs did with limited funding. Print, TV, mail, digital marketing, and social media will be discussed. Presented by Dr. Anthony Mangiafico and Kristin Hempel.

ProLiteracy: Starting from Scratch: Working with Low-level ELL Students with Little-to-no First Language Literacy
2024-01-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Research has shown that one of the primary indicators of how quickly an adult will learn a new language is their educational level in their first language. Those with high literacy levels in their first language will almost universallyoutperform their peers with lower levels of education. Working with preliterate adults presents unique challenges for English language educators. Join the webinar for proven strategies and activities based on academic research and observation to help educators working with preliterate adults learning to speak, read, and write in English. In addition, learn about the causes of low L1 literacy and how this impacts L2 acquisition.
Register
This webinar is part of the ProLiteracy Teacher Training Plus Series

VDOE 2024 Data Office Hours
2024-01-09 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-02-06 14:00 - 15:00

LACES Demo Webinars
2024-01-09 15:00 - 16:30
As part of the statewide transition from SSWS to LACES by LiteracyPro for our adult education data management system, Shannon Stangis will be providing webinars at the days and times below to preview some of the features and functionality of the new system. All are welcome to join the webinars which will be recorded and archived. We hope you can join!

The Zoom link may be used to join both sessions – there is no registration form.

Save these dates:

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 3 pm EST

Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 3 pm EST

VALRC: Lessons from the Field with Ed Sadler: Teaching Digital Literacy to Immigrants
2024-01-18 15:30 - 16:30 | Online
The Blue Ridge Literacy organization provides many services to its learners. One among them is delivering comprehensive digital literacy instruction, which encompasses basic computer operation, internet basics, using email, and basic Windows operating system use. Digital literacy class instruction is instructor-led and provided in person. The primary audience and participants are immigrants who desire to learn computer skills while, in many cases, concurrently learning English. All of the lessons are taken from our Northstar Digital Literacy partner-provided syllabus and presented and applied in every class.
In this webinar, Ed Sadler will share how Blue Ridge Literacy’s digital literacy classes are structured and how they have been successful, even when working with learners who often arrive with limited English proficiency and no past experience using computers. He will focus on the unique manner in which the digital literacy material is presented and demonstrated to help learners understand the concepts.
Register here.

ProLiteracy: Back To Basics: Using Phonics to Improve Reading and Engagement Regardless of Students’ Reading Level
2024-01-23 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Alphabetics is the first of the four components of reading, yet phonics in the classroom is easily overlooked because we assume students know their letter sounds. Join us for a basic review of phonics and syllables and how to include these foundational skills in an ABE classroom in a way that is applicable to all levels of readers, engaging, and meets the standards.
Register
This webinar is part of the ProLiteracy Teacher Training Plus Series

Literacy Minnesota: Developing and Practicing Reading Fluency
2024-01-23 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Come and review the important role of fluency in reading instruction. We will discuss the three key components of reading fluency and look at a variety of activities tutors and teachers can try. We will talk about the mechanics of doing fluency practice via Zoom, Google Meet, Teams or any other remote tutoring tool (including the phone!). Participants will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and share resources.
Register

DARS WINDMILLS: Harness the Power of Inclusion
2024-01-25 14:00 - 15:30
Windmills has a proven history of assisting those with and without disabilities to better understand the culture of disability in the workplace.
We will be rotating the following modules:

Fact or Fiction: Jan 25
Whose Fault: Feb 22
Perspectives: Mar 28
Taking Emotions out of Emotional Disabilities: Apr 25
Profiles (coming May 23)
AT and Reasonable Accommodations (coming June 27)

Pre-registration is required. Register HERE.

LINCS Coffee Break: Learner Goal Setting
2024-01-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Take a coffee break to join the LINCS Professional Development and English Language Acquisition moderators for a conversation about learner goal setting. Did you know research indicates that writing down goals increases the likelihood of achieving them? During this discussion, we will explore frequently asked questions of adult educators, such as: Do adult learners struggle with goal setting and how can we facilitate goal setting? Come to listen, share your experiences and strategies, and learn more about LINCS resources on goal setting.
Register here.

LINCS: The Legacies of Systemic Inequities
2024-01-29 15:00 - 16:00 | Online
Many stereotypical narratives exist for why adult literacy learners are unsuccessful in earning a high school diploma. Those narratives seldom include the systemic roots that lead to generational poverty and generational illiteracy. Join our presenter, Greg Deegan of Teaching Cleveland, as he highlights the origins of stereotypical narratives. Mr. Deegan with provide practitioners with useful strategies to adjust their personal dispositions/biases toward adult literacy learners, and ways to support adult learners with stakeholders who misunderstand them.
Register here.

LINCS: Better Serving Deaf Learners in Adult Basic Education and English Language Acquisition Programs
2024-01-30 15:45 - 16:45
Join guest speakers Gemma Gabor and Tonya Stremlau from Gallaudet University’s English Language Institute and English Department in a conversation about best practices for serving Deaf learners with varying levels of literacy participating in Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English Language Acquisition (ELA) programs. This impactful discussion will include ASL interpretation. Please bring your questions and experiences. Co-hosted by LINCS Learners with Disabilities and English Language Acquisition community groups.
Register here.

Online Course - ESOL Basics: Instructional Strategies
2024-02-01 08:00 - 2024-02-28 23:59 | Online
Register Now!

Online Course - Foundations of Reading: Meaning Skills
2024-02-01 08:00 - 2024-03-13 23:59 | Online

VALRC: Teaching Civics for Democracy and Foundational Skills with Cynthia Peters
2024-02-01 15:30 - 16:30 | Online
How can adult educators teach civics content along with foundational skills? How can civic engagement be meaningfully explored with adult learners?
Join facilitator Cynthia Peters as she addresses these questions. Learn about teaching the history of voting rights and how to train students to become Voting Ambassadors.
Register here.

Literacy Minnesota: Teaching Intermediate Alphabetics
2024-02-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Online
Teaching intermediate alphabetics (syllables, prefixes, suffixes, root words) is a great way to help students build their decoding and comprehension skills. Come learn a variety of fun and easy-to-use routines and activities for helping intermediate-level readers develop these important tools.
Register

LACES Demo: Overview of the Student Record, continued from January 9
2024-02-06 15:00 - 16:00

VALRC: Lessons from the Field with Xavier Muñoz: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Reduce Lesson Planning Time
2024-02-06 15:30 - 17:00 | Online
In this interactive webinar, explore free AI tools (ChatGPT, Bing Chat, Bard, Claude) that can help you spend less time on lesson planning and more time on learner engagement. Whether you need to write lessons from scratch or adapt textbook activities, we’ll have fun trying out strategies for giving prompts to an AI tool.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

identify at least two ways that generative AI tools can help tackle challenges they face in lesson planning;
write an effective prompt or iterate back and forth with a generative AI tool to create materials, activities, or lesson plans;
and, identify some limitations of generative AI tools.

Register here.

Literacy Minnesota: Teaching Reading Vocabulary Remotely or In Person
2024-02-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
Vocabulary is everyone’s favorite reading component! And helping students master reading vocabulary is a key to helping them master comprehension. But how many words should you teach? And which words are the most important? What strategies are best for helping students learn new words? How do you get students to make new words part of their receptive and productive vocabularies? This webinar will focus on the theory and best practice behind choosing, teaching and reviewing reading vocabulary. You’ll get a chance to learn about (and practice) a variety of activities that can be done remotely or in person. Links to great online resources will also be provided.
Register

LINCS: A Civics Preview for 2024
2024-02-08 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
What challenges and opportunities do you look forward to in the area of civics education, citizenship preparation, and immigrant education? Join the discussion as LINCS looks ahead to 2024 and beyond.
Register Here

EdTech Strategy Sessions: Integrating Digital Literacy Into the Classroom & Using Tech in Correctional Settings
2024-02-09 13:00 - 14:30 | Online
Integrating digital literacy into IET classrooms? Using tech in correctional settings? Sign us up! Susan Grochowski of Virginia’s Peninsula Regional Education Program and Mary Hayes from Workbay join the EdTech Center @WorldEducation for the next EdTech Strategy session to share their insights on these two topics.
Register here.

LINCS: Retention Strategies for Classroom Instructors
2024-02-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Are you passionate about adult education and looking for ways to increase student retention in your classroom? Join LINCS in this engaging and informative session, led by two renowned experts in the field of adult education from Western Illinois University, Anita Kerr, Language Arts Resource Specialist, and Amber Fornaciari, Math Resource Specialist. Our presenters will share their extensive knowledge and practical strategies for enhancing student retention in adult education settings. Whether you’re an experienced educator or just starting your teaching journey, this webinar is packed with insights that can transform your classroom and make a lasting impact on your students.
Register Here

Virtual WIOA Combined State Plan Title II Stakeholder Engagement Event
2024-02-12 14:30 - 16:00 | Online
The next 4-year WIOA Combined State Plan will be open for public comment in February. This February 12 event is designed to capture feedback from adult education practitioners, state and local advisory committee members, stakeholders, partners, students, and graduates. Please share this notice with your partners and staff. Materials for review will be shared with registrants in advance.

LINCS: Get Them Writing Everyday: Simple Strategies for Bringing More and Better Writing into Your ABE Classroom
2024-02-12 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
We all want our adult education students to write but finding class time to do this can be challenging. Join the guest presenters from Hamline University, Stephanie Sommers, Adult Education Instructor, and Kristine Kelly, Literacy and English Language Arts Coordinator as they share concrete ways to bring writing instruction in your ABE classroom and ways to leverage technology in writing instruction.
Register Here
