The English Language Arts (ELA) Foundations Academy is a comprehensive course designed to equip ELA teachers with the skills needed to deliver effective and engaging ELA instruction to adult learners. Through self-paced activities, live facilitated sessions, and coaching, participants will explore topics including student engagement, lesson planning, evidence-based reading instruction, and differentiation to build an impactful, highly reflective ELA teaching practice.
- Primary: New Adult Basic Education (ABE) English Language Arts teachers from MA DESE-funded programs
- Secondary: Experienced ELA teachers interested in refreshing or expanding their instructional skills (as space allows)
This professional development activity/course is designed for:
Designed for new teachers, the ELA Academy lays the foundation for effective adult ELA instruction. Participants will explore essential teaching principles and immediately apply them to classroom practice through active learning, peer collaboration, and targeted coaching.
By the conclusion of this course, participants will integrate the following high-impact teaching strategies into practice:
- Inclusive Classroom: Cultivating a culturally responsive classroom that fosters student independence
- Rigorous Lesson Design: Planning and delivering relevant, engaging, and rigorous lessons
- Differentiated Support: Scaffolding instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners
- Real World Connection: Integrating workplace readiness tasks and skills
- Evidence-based Instruction: Utilizing evidence-based reading strategies
- Reflective Practice: Engaging in continuous professional growth through peer and coaching collaboration
To maximize flexibility and impact, the academy utilizes a blended learning model consisting of the following:
- Self-Paced Independent Work: Complete self-paced content, discussions, and activities in Canvas
- Live Virtual Sessions: Join facilitator-led sessions and breakout room discussions to build key skills
- In-Person Workshop: Attend a one-day workshop (6 hours, lunch provided) for engaging instruction and activities with facilitators, coaches, and peers
- Personalized Coaching: One-on-one coaching, classroom visits, and small-group cohort support
Module 1:
- Course opens with self-paced activities in Canvas (1/11/2027 to 1/16/2027)
- Virtual session on Zoom (1/19/2027, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
Module 2:
- Self-paced activities in Canvas (1/25/2027 to 2/7/2027)
- Virtual session on Zoom (2/9/2027, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
Module 3:
- Self-paced activities in Canvas (2/22/2027 to 2/28/2027)
- In-person session, Location TBD (3/2/2027, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
- Snow Date: 3/9/2027
- Independent work in Canvas (3/15/2027 to 4/18/2027)
- Coaching cohort meeting on Zoom (3/29/2027 to 4/9/2027, date/time TBD)
Module 4:
- Coaching class visits in-person or online (4/26/2027 to 5/14/2027)
- Virtual session on Zoom (5/4/2027, 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
- Course closes 5/21/2027
Total PD Hours: 23
PDPs: Available by request upon completion of all course requirements
Professional Standards Addressed: K1, K2, P1, P2, C2
Note that registration is capped at 20 participants. Practitioners from MA DESE-funded programs have priority.
- Apply inclusive, culturally responsive teaching approaches that foster engagement, community, and collaboration
- Design and teach ELA lessons with aligned learning standards, lesson objectives, and assessments
- Scaffold and differentiate content and instruction to support and challenge all learners
- Utilize evidence-based techniques for teaching reading
- Incorporate authentic workplace readiness tasks and texts into ELA instruction to prepare learners for future employment and/or career advancement
Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:
United States
