Five Educator Resources to Refresh and Reinvigorate Your Curriculum in The New Year
Written by Julie Slack, First Literacy Marketing and Communications Director
And just like that, we turn the page to a new chapter and a new year.
In 2023 we saw a shift from virtual to in person and continued advances in technology that impacted both adult learners and educators. Hybrid classrooms are more common, and the rapid acceleration of AI has created both opportunities and challenges in the field of education.
While change is often necessary and inevitable, there are some things that remain constant. The need for teachers in the field of Adult Basic Education persists and the resources and training needed to help educators provide new and engaging curriculum continues to be essential.
To help educators welcome 2024 with a fresh set of innovative tips and insights we are offering our top five resources downloaded in 2023.
1. Dyslexia and the Adult Learner
The number one resource download in 2023 was Dyslexia and the Adult Learner. This is not surprising considering that in the United States alone it is estimated that 41 million adults have dyslexia and only 2 million receive a diagnosis. Many people live their entire lives struggling to read and they don’t know why. For educators, chances are high that there is an individual struggling with dyslexia in your class right now. Learning the common signs of dyslexia and how to ensure that adult learners struggling with dyslexia have the appropriate accommodations and interventions to thrive in the classroom is something every educator should take the time to learn about. To download this resource, search the “Teaching Adults with Disabilities” category on the Resources for Educators page.
2. Introduction to Morphology: Word Study for Vocabulary Development
Morphology study is important to incorporate in the classroom to help adult students increase vocabulary and comprehension skills. Learning about the relationships between words, how they sound and how they are spelled can help students problem solve words they do not know. The Word Study and Vocabulary Development materials explore the utility of teaching morphology to students; how to label words from the Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Greek layers of the language and identify base words, root words, prefixes, suffixes; and introduces strategies to teach basic Latin morphemes and how to plan lessons to practice them in isolation and in context. To download this resource, search the “Pronunciation” category on the Resources for Educators page.
3. Improving Accuracy: Literacy Basics for Your Adult Learners
Helping adult learners understand how to differentiate voiced from voiceless consonant sounds and discriminate all vowel sounds by their tongue placement in the mouth is necessary for learning how to accurately decode and spell words. Literacy Basics for Your Adult Learners includes activities and strategies to assist adult learners with tricky sounds. The materials also provide six syllable types in English that can be used to improve accuracy in decoding and spelling. This resource will help educators set students up for success and minimize frustration when starting out on their journey to improve their literacy skills. To download this resource, search the “Phonics” category on the Resources for Educators page.
4. High School Equivalency (HSE) Test changes in Massachusetts
For many adult learners, the High School Equivalency exam is a culmination of a lot of hard work and studying. Passing the HSE is a big deal, so educators are often looking for ways to help students be as prepared as possible for this important exam. HSE Test Changes in Massachusetts is always one of our most popular workshops. The material addresses the policy changes to the High School Equivalency Exams in Massachusetts, the differences between the GED and HiSET Exams, and strategies to help students pass the exams with higher scores. To download this resource, search the “High School Equivalency Tests” category on the Resources for Educators page.
5. From Novices to Navigators: Cultivating Agency in Beginning English Language Learners
Many beginning level English language learners are new to classroom learning. Unlike one-on-one learning, group and classroom learning can be an adjustment. Creating a space for adult learners to learn and grow in a classroom setting will benefit them throughout their entire educational journey. The Novices to Navigators resources explore simple tools, activities, routines, and classroom systems to develop “learning-to-learn” skills, so students may become more effective, confident, and self-directed learners. To download this resource, search the “ESOL” category on the Resources for Educators page.
Resolve To Innovate and Refresh
The new year is often a great time to reflect, refresh, and set goals. To view and download each of our top five resources of 2023 visit our Resources for Educators page. All the resources are free and are generated by the presenters of our free professional development workshops.
If you’re inspired to increase your knowledge even more, be sure to register for an upcoming professional development workshop – space is limited so early registration is encouraged.