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Curriculum Update, February 2009

Useful Resources

The most recent issue of Field Notes (fall/winter 2008) focuses on Transitions, and has a number of great articles as well as helpful resources on the topic.

Update on Revisions to the Reading Strand in the Massachusetts ABE English Language Arts Curriculum Framework

Also located in the most recent Field Notes issue is an article on page 22, "A Sneak Peek at the Revised Reading Strand of the ELA Curriculum Framework." In it, the expected revisions and next steps are outlined, as well as a rough timeframe for implementation.

At the moment, final drafts of materials have been developed by the nine-member revision committee, including Reading Standards and benchmarks for Levels 2-6 (GLE 2-12.9), resources for selecting level appropriate texts and the importance of diagnosing adult learners' strengths in word recognition and word meaning, and more.

Three experts in the field of reading instruction are reviewing the materials: John Strucker, of NIFL and World Education, Mary Beth Curtis, Director Special Education, Centers and Institutes at Lesley University, and Amanda Marcotte, Assistant Professor in the School of Education at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In addition, three groups of forty practitioners have agreed to provide feedback. The groups are made up of:

1. Experienced ABE practitioners who teach ABE, Pre-GED and GED classes
2. Experienced practitioners who teach in transitions programs or at Community Colleges
3. Experienced ESOL practitioners who also teach non native English speakers in ABE classes

The goal of these three practitioner groups is to ensure that the revised Reading Strand will meet the needs of teachers and adult learners at all levels of ABE classes, whether learners are native English speakers or not. The revision committee greatly appreciates their colleagues' feedback, and is looking forward to their comments.

The review process will be complete by the end of February and then the committee will compile the results in March and make final adjustments. Before any new Reading Strand materials will be rolled out for implementation, practitioners will have opportunities for professional development to introduce them to the changes and provide background in reading instruction where needed.

Questions? Please contact Jane Schwerdtfeger at janes@doe.mass.edu