Our program uses a theme-based curriculum in which all of the skills and lessons we teach are linked by a topic. \u00a0A theme-based classroom helps keep the teaching and learning centered on the life skills that are at the core of our curriculum. \u00a0It also gives the teachers flexibility in choosing to shorten or extend a theme based on student interest and motivation. \u00a0Most importantly, it’s a great way to teach a multi-level class since different level groups can\u00a0have a shared theme and work across groups for projects. \u00a0This\u00a0way we can build a sense of community in a class of very diverse ages, interests and levels. \u00a0For a sample class taught this way, see this excerpt from Jill Bell’s Teaching Multilevel Classes in ESL<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n A theme is typically one or two weeks long, but is really at the discretion of the teacher and students. \u00a0In a student-centered classroom, we provide the class with a list of themes and allow them to choose which ones to work on and in what\u00a0order. \u00a0Some teachers may want to choose\u00a0all the themes for the quarter with their students in the first week, and some may prefer to give the students time to work together on the first theme and decide the rest later. Our core text,\u00a0Ventures, <\/em>has\u00a0themes and topics<\/a>\u00a0similar to the content areas of CASAS competencies<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0 For example\u00a0syllabi, see the Basic Skills Curriculum Guide 2015<\/a>.<\/p>\n In order to find specific tasks and topics within a theme, the students could choose from the CASAS Competencies<\/em>, \u00a0from Ventures<\/em>, or\u00a0they could\u00a0generate their own topics \u00a0through discussion.\u00a0 For example, maybe they choose to start with Health as a theme, and from Ventures<\/em>, they choose eating healthy, going to the doctor, and an emergency room visit<\/em>.\u00a0 Or from the CASAS competencies, they might choose to Identify information necessary to make or keep medical and dental appointments, fill out medical health history forms, and interpret information on medications and their proper and safe use.<\/em> You don\u2019t have to use Ventures<\/em>, but it\u2019s an easy base to build curriculum from, it\u2019s already leveled, and there are tons of great collaborative <\/a>and online activities <\/a>to supplement the book.\u00a0 You also don\u2019t have to stick to the themes in Ventures, CASAS, <\/em>or the Curriculum Guide,<\/em> but they do cover just about everything in life skills.<\/p>\n A fantastic source for task ideas based on the College and Career Readiness Standards is brought to us by the wonderful World Education: the Guide to ELA Classroom Activities That Promote Life Skills, College, and Career Readiness<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ventures<\/em> was made for a classroom like ours: a one-room schoolhouse teaching life-skills to adults. \u00a0It has six levels, from beginner to advanced. \u00a0It is theme-based, aligned to national standards, and based on CASAS life-skills competencies.<\/p>\n Ideally, you would begin the class with a whole-class activity as a warm up. \u00a0Then you would break into like-ability groups based on levels, and the teacher, tutors and tech could rotate through the groups as they work on different lessons. \u00a0Then the class could be brought back together for a wrap up activity and review. \u00a0The\u00a0Multilevel Lesson Planner<\/em>\u00a0is an excellent tool for helping you organize this. \u00a0See the Lesson A Multilevel Organizer<\/a><\/em>\u00a0as an example.<\/p>\n The Teacher’s Guide<\/em>\u00a0has excellent ideas and tips for teachers to use the content. \u00a0It also has lots of supplemental activities which can be found through the online link above or on the CD-ROM at the back of the book.<\/p>\n Writing our own lessons is very rewarding. \u00a0We can cater to student needs immediately with authentic materials that are relevant. \u00a0Please refer to the Washington State Adult Learning Standards<\/a>\u00a0and the College and Career Readiness Standards<\/a>\u00a0when designing your own materials. \u00a0Also, please consider contributing your lessons to our library by sending them to Sean. \u00a0We have them all saved and organized by theme on the Sharepoint site. \u00a0Feel free to browse the lessons and use them in your class.<\/p>\n Theme-based curriculum Our program uses a theme-based curriculum in which all of the skills and lessons we teach are linked by a topic. \u00a0A theme-based classroom helps keep the teaching and learning centered on the life skills that are at the core of our curriculum. \u00a0It also gives the teachers flexibility in choosing to shorten … Continue reading Curriculum and Lesson Planning<\/span> Life, workplace, and academic skills content<\/h3>\n
Using Ventures<\/em><\/h3>\n
Write your own lessons<\/h3>\n
Sample Curricula<\/h3>\n
Florida Department of Education\u00a0(ESOL)<\/acronym><\/h5>\n
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