2025

Presenter: David A. Housel, CUNY Language Immersion Program, LaGuardia Community College

Topics like neurodiversity, trauma, and students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE) are not sufficiently addressed despite their prevalence in our programs and classrooms. Similarly, there is no easy access to psychoeducational testing nor in-house resources to support the learning needs of these students effectively. The presenter will share the findings from his research, create interactive activities and discussions with participants, and provide practical suggestions for administrative policies and instructional practices in adult educational settings. 

Category: ABE/HSE, ESL Literacy, ESOL, Family Literacy

PowerPoint is attached

Presenter: Andrea E. Oliver, Brooklyn Public Library 

This workshop introduces educators to an engaging, hands-on approach to teaching probability and statistics to adult learners through an interactive game called 0, 1, 2 or 3, 4, 5. The workshop aims to equip participants with strategies to help students explore concepts such as fairness, theoretical and experimental probability, and data analysis. By engaging in this activity, students will develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of statistical tools and data visualization, fostering their ability to evaluate real-world scenarios.

Category: ABE/HSE

Presenters: Alex Pence, The English Language Center (TELC) at LaGuardia Community College, City of New York; T. Leo Schmitt, Independent Consultant

Contrary to the quote in the title, there is an inevitable need in the classroom to address controversial topics when learners, materials, and educators bring them to class. Drawing from theory, research, and personal experience, this workshop will unpack how “taboo” topics arise and how educators can handle them when they do. Participants will have the opportunity to share their own experiences with politically charged topics in the classroom and then collaborate to explore how they would handle hypothetical controversies in the future.

Category: Civics, ESOL (applicable beyond ESOL)

Presenter: Madeline Cohen, All Write! / Symphony Space

Starting with the most basic facts about the street where they live, participants will add sensory and other details to create a vivid evocation of their street. After hearing and discussing two contrasting poems about streets, each participant will choose two new pieces of information from a hat: a time (e.g. “a very cold winter morning,”) and an image (e.g. a puppy, a hot air balloon, a clown, etc.) which they will incorporate in a poem or short story about their street. Straightforward description will evolve into poetry, fiction, and perhaps fantasy.

Category: ABE/HSE, ESOL (Intermediate and Above), Creative Writing

Presenter: Regina Mazzola-Snyder, Cambridge University Press

Explore how the Ventures series equips ESOL teachers to prepare students for the new BEST Plus 3.0 and BEST Literacy 2.0 Tests.  Gain insights into strategies for teaching vocabulary, reading comprehension, and listening skills with practical lesson examples. Learn how Ventures fosters contextual learning and aligns instruction with the New NRS Educational Functioning Level Descriptors to build students’ language skills and confidence for real-life applications.

Category: ESOL (Commercial)

Presenter: Scott Salesses, GED Testing Service

This interactive session will present key information relevant to ABE programs in NYC to help teachers in working with students who are preparing to take  and pass the GED test. Presenter will ask questions of participants in order to gather feedback on topics related to the GED testing program. Participants will leave the session equipped with more in depth knowledge of the GED testing program as well as resources to help them  with their teaching and to connect with a representative of GED Testing Service.

Category: ABE/HSE (Commercial)

Presenters: Monique Scrubb & Nana-Afua Boyd, Brooklyn Adult Learning Center

This workshop will address the benefits of utilizing technology to instruct adult ESL learners effectively. This session will include hands-on activities from three learning platforms, creating activities, and highlighting best practices for integrating technology. Interactive group discussions will be used to generate ideas for implementing crafting lessons. Participants in this workshop will be able to identify the needs/challenges of adult ESL learners, create content for language learning using various learning platforms, and discuss strategies for integrating technology in creating lessons.

Category: ESL Literacy, Instructional Technology

Presenters: Toni Foster, Southern New Hampshire University

Building meaningful connections with students from diverse backgrounds is key to creating successful learning experiences in adult education. In this workshop, you will learn how to identify students’ cultural capital (e.g. social expectations, language, or connections) and connect it to the cultural capital of the academic institution. We will explore the historical context of equity in education, examine how cultural capital impacts student engagement, and delve into how emotions play a role in student-teacher interactions. We’ll discuss real-world examples of how cultural capital manifests in the classroom. Join this workshop to gain valuable insights and practical strategies for creating a more inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive.

Category: ABE/HSE, ESOL

Presenters: David Hellman & Sam Seifnourian, City University of New York

"This year, there will be an important election in our city. We will choose our mayor. We will choose our City Council and others who will lead our home into the future: What kind of people do you want to choose? The choice is in your hands, in your vote." In a time when civil rights and democracy itself are again under assault, these words from We Speak NYC’s "Shola's Voice" speak directly to the consequential act of democratic engagement. In this workshop, we model visual-thinking and inquiry-based learning to teach the language of civics and advocacy in precarious times.

Category: ABE/HSE, Civics, ESOL (Mid-Level and Above)

Presenter: Leo Mintek, Brooklyn Public Library / Independent

How can we succeed as teachers of a mixed-level HSE math class which includes struggling, intermediate, and advanced students? In this workshop, we will discuss the challenges and realities of teaching in the mixed-level adult ed HSE math classroom.  Strategies and lesson materials will be shared to simultaneously engage struggling students while activating and challenging more experienced students.  We will practice making ‘scaffolded’ or ‘extension’ lesson plans. We will workshop and develop ‘leading prompts’ and the ‘language of math’ to help the most challenged students make breakthroughs.

Category: ABE/HSE

Presenters: Asel Dorombaeva, Brooklyn College;  Leah Clay-Youman, The City University of New York

Are you juggling a classroom of learners with varying levels of English proficiency and learning needs? In this interactive workshop, we’ll introduce the basics of differentiation and explore how to make your lessons work for everyone. Participants will discuss real-world scenarios from multi-level classrooms, collaborate to offer practical solutions, and observe a demo lesson designed to support students of different proficiency levels. By the end of the session, they will gain hands-on practice and leave with strategies they can use right away to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment.

Category: ESOL

Presenter: Robert Allen, Department of Continuing Education, Lehman College

This workshop draws on info from the Literacy and Justice Institute, Literacy Assistance Center, and asks attendees to reflect and expand on their classroom practice to promote student-centered learning and case management. Through a series of activities and brainstorming exercises we will discuss advocacy, popular and culturally responsive education, as well as conceptions of literacy as it applies to students' lives (e.g. financial, professional, cultural, etc.).

Category: Civics, ESOL, ESL Literacy, Family Literacy, ABE/HSE

Presenter: Greg Stultz, ProLiteracy New Readers Press

Journey to Success is a nine-level series that helps adult learners build reading, writing, vocabulary, and comprehension skills with contextualized nonfiction and fiction passages. Themed units include Work and Life Skills, Social Studies, Science, and Literature. In this session, the presenter will demonstrate  how evidence-based reading instruction (EBRI) is implemented in the series, calling out important instructional strategies that not only align with CCR Standards and satisfy WIOA guidelines, but increase engagement, support increased differentiation, and yield higher reading achievement.

Category: ABE/HSE, Civics, ESL Literacy, Work Readiness (Commercial)

Presenters: Geovanni Castillo & Michele Sweeting-DeCaro, The City University of New York

This workshop empowers adult education practitioners with practical strategies for integrating culturally responsive teaching (CRT) into reading and writing instruction. Participants will explore CRT principles, analyze real-world examples, and engage in a hands-on activity to adapt written materials to reflect learners' diverse cultural and linguistic identities. Tools like collaborative platforms and resource lists will be shared. Attendees will leave with actionable techniques to promote equity, validate learners' experiences, and foster self-advocacy in their classrooms, ensuring that literacy instruction is inclusive, engaging, and empowering for all adult learners.

Category: ABE/HSE, Advanced ESL

Presenter: Cynthia S. Wiseman, Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York

This presentation will demonstrate the application of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, Gemma, and Grammarly, in course and materials preparation, in organizing and conducting class activities, and in assessment. Participants will engage in interactive collaborative activities using generative AI and take away ideas for how to use AI to facilitate preparation and foster engagement among learners.

Category: Instructional Technology

Presenter: Kate Brandt, City University of New York

Research on schema theory tells us that in order to build and retain academic knowledge, students need to receive information in an organized way.  As teachers, we also know that students need many chances to review new information until it "sticks." In this workshop, teachers will have the chance to try out review activities which involve sequencing.  These activities focus on helping students review and retain key information in the areas of fiction, nonfiction, history, and science. 

Category: ABE/HSE

Presenters: Satie Movesesian & Eugenia D. Coutavas, SPELL at Hunter College, City University of New York

This presentation introduces Hunter College’s SPELL Book Club, a model designed to enhance language learning through reflective reading, discussions, and journaling. Presenters will highlight both the administrative and practical aspects of running a book club, including selecting relevant themes, scaffolding texts with vocabulary and thematic activities, and fostering critical thinking and cultural understanding. The session will also feature a live demonstration of one reading & discussion activity, and one writing activity. Participants will gain practical strategies to implement a similar model in their own classrooms.

Category: ESOL (High Intermediate to Advanced)

Presenter: Victor Pajarito Xochmitl, Adult Literacy Program, Brooklyn College

Come and play board games with other ESOL instructors and learn how to adapt them for the ESOL classroom. Participants will learn how to make or adapt everyday board games to review and practice various ESOL topics. Games will include: dice, spinners, puzzles, dominoes, board games and more. Participants will brainstorm how these games can be adapted for different learning levels and have a chance to ask questions. 

Category: ESOL (Beginner to Intermediate)

Presenter: Valentina Michelotti, NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs

The We Speak NYC curriculum has always focused on exposing immigrant learners to vital City resources and information. Showcasing realistic experiences of New Yorkers via compelling narratives, WSNYC provides a model for learners encountering similar situations. But how can we ensure the narrative is brought home? In this workshop, we outline theories of language and information accessibility that guide WSNYC’s civic engagement focus, discuss best practices for connecting learners to resources, and introduce new Know Your Rights and language access presentations.  We’ll also introduce the WSNYC beginner-class lesson plans, focusing on the presentation of City resources integrated into each plan, and discuss initial adaptations to ensure engagement among lower-level learners. Workshop participants will receive materials for implementing the methods and activities in their classrooms.

Category: ESOL (Beginner to Low Intermediate)

Presenters: Cody Netzband & Barry Nitzberg, Burlington English

Join us as we highlight and discuss the topic of reading and listening comprehension on a digital device and the strategies we can use in the classroom to cultivate student success.  In our session, we will review current digital reading and listening comprehension trends, how they relate to our students studying the English language and/or trade credentials, and the methods we may employ within the classroom to give students the framework they need. 

Category: Civics, ESL Literacy, ESOL, Family Literacy, Instructional Technology (Commercial)