Professional Development Opportunity for Adult Education Program/Project Managers

Are you an adult education manager or coordinator who has been looking for ways to examine best practices in program management topics and share ideas with other colleagues facing similar challenges? The Adult Education Professional Development Center will offer a series of working sessions that will help you do just that!

The Program Administrators Working Group will be offered between July 18and September 12, 2008. Through a series of five 2-hour working sessions, participants will explore selected topics in program management and work with tools that can help them begin to address these topics and related issues within their own programs. Sessions will include: examples of approaches and best practices related to the topics; presentation of a tool or activity that participants can use with their program colleagues to approach the topic; and a sharing of practices and ideas currently being used by local programs to address the topic. Possible topics for the individual sessions include student persistence, recruitment and retention of staff, staff succession planning, gathering and using relevant data for planning and management, or evaluating new opportunities in program planning.

Participants will be compensated for their participation.

For more information on the project, go to http://www.dclearns.org/aepdc/PAWorkingGroupDescription.doc

For the registration form, go to http://www.dclearns.org/aepdc/ProgramAdminWorkingGroupAPP.doc

Or if you prefer, you can contact MaryAnn Florez (mflorez@dclearns.org, 202-331-0141, x25) for more information or copies of the information sheet or registration form.

Registration forms are due July 14, 2008. A limited number of participant spaces are available.

Workshop: Using Websites in the Classroom

Using Websites in the Classroom will be offered Friday, July 11, 9:45am-1pm, at the Martin Luther King Library, 901 G Street, NW, room 302.

If you are an ABE, GED or adult ESOL teacher or tutor who has been thinking about how to
- find websites with information and resources for your focus area
- evaluate the quality of websites that you find
- integrate websites in your lessons so that they support or enhance your activities

then this workshop is for you!

You can download a flyer with all the information about the workshop at http://www.dclearns.org/aepdc/UsingWebsitesintheClasroomflyer.doc

The workshop is free, but we ask that you complete and submit a registration form (PDF version or Word version. You can email the form to training@dclearns.org or fax it to 202/331-0143.

Upcoming Free Workshop on Integrating Multimedia Technology: Introduction to GED Connection

Are you interested in learning more about a multimedia package, available through the D.C. Public Library, that can help learners prepare for the GED?

Integrating Multimedia Technology: Introduction to GED Connection will be offered Friday, June 6, 9:45 am-1:00 pm, at the Martin Luther King Library, 901 G Street, NW, room 302. GED Connection is a series of books, videos/DVDs and internet activities, published by KET Television (a division of PBS) and is designed to help adult learners study for the GED exam on their own or in a classroom setting. The workshop will introduce the series, describe how it can help adult learners and how it could be used in the classroom. Participants will have the opportunity to create a lesson plan incorporating activities using GED Connection books and materials. The GED Connection books and videos are available to check out from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.

A printable flyer is available so you can share the information about this workshop with colleagues and friends.

As always, the workshop is free, but we ask that you do complete and submit a registration form (PDF version or Word version. You can email the form to training@dclearns.org or fax it to 202/331-0143.

Free AEPDC Workshop on Basic Lesson Planning for ABE, GED, and Adult ESOL

Does planning lessons sometimes feel like an overwhelming task? Learn more about the basic process of lesson planning and some of the strategies and resources that can help you prepare instruction for your learners.

Basic Lesson Planning for ABE, GED, and ESOL will be offered Friday, April 18, 10:00 am-1pm, at the Martin Luther King Library, 901 G Street, NW, room 302. Good lesson planning is essential to meeting learners' needs and maximizing learners' educational gains. This interactive workshop will focus on components of a good lesson plan and different lesson planning formats. Participants will discuss and practice how to incorporate EFF, CASAS competencies, formal and informal assessments, learners' goals, different learning styles, and learning disabilities.

As always, the workshop is free, but we ask that you do complete and submit a registration form (PDF version or Word version. You can email the form to training@dclearns.org or fax it to 202/331-0143.

AEPDC-Sponsored Workshop on Foundations of Reading

Begin to unravel the mysteries of the reading process and techniques for helping learners learn to read in the next AEPDC-sponsored workshop:

Foundations of Reading 1 will be offered Friday, March 28, 9:45am-1pm, at the Martin Luther King Library, 901 G Street, NW, room 302. This workshop is the first in a series of two that focuses on elements in the reading process and reading instruction. It covers how to teach phonemic awareness (the ability to focus on and manipulate sounds in words) and word analysis (methods that help students figure out words) as well as research based methods for teaching reading and spelling. There will be a discussion of the Phono-Graphix method for teaching reading and attendees will receive a free book that offers lesson plans and stories to help learners at various reading levels.

Download a flyer about the workshop and share it with colleagues.

As always, the workshop is free, but we ask that you do complete and submit a registration form (PDF version or Word version. You can email the form to training@dclearns.org or fax it to 202/331-0143.

Next AEPDC Workshops on March 14

The Adult Education Professional Development Center will offer two workshops on Friday, March 14 that deal with basic instructional techniques and classroom management:

ABE Instructional Techniques and Classroom Management will be offered Friday, March 14, 1:00pm-3:00pm, at the Carlos Rosario International Charter School, 1100 Harvard Street, NW, Room 103. In this workshop, facilitator Rita Daniels helps participants explore various techniques and approaches that will help them create a safe, respectful, and effective classroom environment. While the workshop is geared for less experienced instructors, it is also a great opportunity for experienced instructors to add to their repertoire of strategies and methods for classroom management. Teachers and volunteers working with GED learners in a classroom setting may also find the general instructional and classroom management strategies informative.

Basic Classroom Management for Adult ESOL will be offered Friday, March 14, 1:00pm-3:00pm, at the Carlos Rosario International Charter School, 1100 Harvard Street, NW, Room 106. To create and implement effective, engaging instruction for an Adult ESOL classroom, you have to be able to manage a group of people with diverse needs, interests, proficiency levels, and personalities. In this workshop, facilitator Jose Gonzalez offers some general techniques and strategies that focus on the following: facilitating intercultural interactions; dealing with multilevel classes; creating a safe, supportive environment; and building community among your learners.

As always, the workshops are free, but we ask that you do complete and submit a registration form (PDF version or Word version. You can email the form to training@dclearns.org or fax it to 202/331-0143.

Hope to see you at one of the workshops!

Workshop on Teaching Reading Skills for GED Language Arts

A new workshop for teachers and tutors working in GED preparation:

Teaching Critical Reading Skills for the GED Language Arts, Reading Test: Fiction, Drama and Poetry will be offered Friday, February 29, 9:45am-1pm, at the Martin Luther King Library, 901 G Street, NW, room 302. This workshop is for new and experienced GED instructors and other practitioners who want strategies, activities and lesson plans that will help them help their learners read critically and respond more successfully to fiction, drama, and poetry items on the fiction portion of the GED Language Arts, Reading Test.

Download a flyer about the workshop that you can share with colleagues or friends.

As always, the workshop is free, but we ask that you do complete and submit a registration form (PDF version or Word version.

Join us and add to your GED instructional toolkit!

AEPDC Workshop on Learning Disabilities

Learning disabilities are a reality in adult education, and teachers, tutors, and other educators need to develop awareness and strategies to work with learners who may have them.

Join us for a workshop that addresses learning disabilities. Learning Disabilities in Adult Education will be offered Friday, February 1, 9:45am-1pm, at the Martin Luther King Library, 901 G Street, NW, room 302. This workshop provides an overview of learning disabilities in adults, including what learning disabilities are (and aren’t); how learning disabilities are addressed in adult education; and basic teaching strategies that can increase accessibility of instruction for learning disabled adults. The workshop facilitator is Rita Daniels.

To download a flyer about the workshop to post for colleagues or share with friends.

The workshop is free, but if you would like to participate, please complete the registration form (PDF or Word) and fax (202-331-0143) or email (training@dclearns.org) it to reserve a space.

AEPDC Core SKills Workshop Schedule for January-June, 2008 is Available

Welcome to a new year and a new set of opportunities to expand your skills and knowledge. The AEPDC is excited to announce its new schedule of Core Skills Workshops for adult education practitioners. These workshops will offer training in foundational topics and skills for teachers, tutors, and program staff working in ABE, GED, and adult ESOL.

To find times and locations of the workshops that will be offered between January and June, 2008, check out this downloadable schedule of workshops, or visit the DC LEARNs events calendar. The schedule gives you a chart of all the workshops with their dates, times, locations, and facilitators. The entries on the calendar (as well as the brochures listed below) will also give you descriptions of the individual workshops.

Workshops are free, but if you would like to participate, please complete the registration form (PDF or Word) and fax (202-331-0143) or email (training@dclearns.org) it to reserve a space.

If you are unfamiliar with the Core Skills Workshops in general and the workshops planned for each area (ABE, GED, and adult ESOL), you can choose the appropriate informational brochure and learn more:

The Core Skills Workshops (overview)
Core Skills Workshops for ABE
Core Skills Workshops for GED
Core Skills Workshops for Adult ESOL

We hope to see you at some of the workshops! And please share this information with anyone you know who might benefit from it.

First AEPDC Sponsored Workshop of 2008!

The Adult Education Professional Development Center is pleased to announce its first sponsored workshop for 2008:

Teaching Critical Thinking Skills in the GED Content Areas: Science, Social Studies and Reading will be offered Friday, January 25, 9:45am-1pm, at the Martin Luther King Library, 901 G Street, NW, room 302. This workshop is for new and experienced GED instructors and other practitioners who would like to learn more about the types of critical thinking items on the GED test, lesson plans and specific activities that can help students develop and practice their critical thinking skills, and ideas for diagnosing problems that students have in answering critical thinking items.

Download a flyer about the workshop to share with colleagues.

As always, the workshop is free, but please complete and submit a registration form (PDF version and Word version are available). You can return the form to MaryAnn Florez at mflorez@dclearns.org or 202/331-0143 (fax).

The AEPDC is working on the remaining details of its workshop calendar for 2008 and plans to release that schedule within the next week. Watch this spot for our announcement!

The AEPDC Core Skills Workshops and Fall Workshop Schedule

The AEPDC is excited to launch its Core Skills Workshops for adult education practitioners. These workshops will offer training in foundational topics and skills for teachers, tutors, and program staff working in ABE, GED, and adult ESOL.

Whether your program takes an official summer break or not, the approach of Fall always signals “back to school”. While you focus on how you’re going to support your learners this fall, don’t forget to support the learner in you!

To read more about the Core Skills Workshops in general and the workshops planned for each area (ABE, GED, and adult ESOL), choose the appropriate brochure:

The Core Skills Workshops (overview)
Core Skills Workshops for ABE
Core Skills Workshops for GED
Core Skills Workshops for Adult ESOL

To find times and locations of the workshops that will be offered through December, 2007, check out this
list of workshops, or visit the DC LEARNs events calendar. Both the list and the events calendar have descriptions of the individual workshops.

Workshops are free, but if you would like to participate, please complete the registration form (PDF or Word) and fax (202-331-0143) or email (training@dclearns.org) it to reserve a space.

Respond to our Adult Ed Resources Survey

The Adult Education Professional Development Center would like to know your opinions on resources you find useful for adult education professional development.

Please take a moment to respond to this brief (only 5 questions!) survey about adult education professional development resources and information. Give us your input on preferred topics and formats and help us as we work with collaborators to target materials that will best support your work and your program's work in ABE, GED, ESL, workforce, or family literacy education.

You may have already completed a paper copy of this survey. If so, thank you. If you haven't, go to the DC Adult Education Professional Development Resources Survey and give us your feedback as an individual or as the representative of a program.

Thank you in advance for your time and comments!

AEPDC Activity Report (5/15/07)

Have you been wondering what progress has been made in the Year 1 Plan for the Adult Education Professional Development Center? This report outlines Center activities through May 31, 2007.

AEPDC Activity Report (5/15/07)

Research Rationale for the AEPDC

The planning and implementation of the Adult Education Professional Development Center Year 1 Plan has relied not only on the input and wisdom of practitioners in the District, but also incorporates research and promising practices in professional development for adult educators. In this report, read more about the components of the Plan and what informed it.

Building a System for Professional Development for DC Adult Educators and Programs: Research Rationale behind the D.C. Adult Education Professional Development Center