California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project

Hosted by Rowland Adult and Community EducationJoin us for an insightful webinar focused on promoting math identity in adult learners and embracing productive struggle in mathematics. Research shows that students who lack confidence in math often give up when faced with challenges, mistakenly thinking that struggling indicates a lack of intelligence. Although struggle can conflict with educators’ notions of successful teaching, struggle and mistakes are the best times for brain growth and are a necessary component of learning and understanding. Teaching that embraces and uses productive struggle helps students apply their learning to new problems and situations. This research forum webinar explores ways to foster a positive math identity and embrace productive struggle in adult education classrooms.

Hosted by MVLA Adult SchoolData-informed instruction empowers educators to make evidence-based decisions and positively impact student outcomes. Effective planning involves aligning instructional goals with student needs identified through data analysis. Critical questions we ask include (a) What do we want students to learn? (b) How will we know if they have learned it? (c) What will we do if they don’t learn it? (d) What will we do if they already know it? In this introductory workshop, participants will review how to build assessments to measure outcomes and investigate data types needed to find trends and gaps.The second part of the session focuses on inclusive teaching strategies to address the outcome gaps. Participants will walk away with evidence-based instructional strategies. Participants may choose one of the strategies to incorporate into their classroom routine and design a lesson plan using backward design.

In today's world, media literacy is an essential skill for adults to participate in academic, professional, and community activities. This webinar will explore the importance of media literacy in adult education, providing practical tools and strategies to help learners critically evaluate media sources, understand the impact of media on society, and navigate the digital landscape with confidence. Participants will gain insights into fostering critical thinking and media analysis skills among adult learners, empowering them to become informed and engaged community members.

Join us for Part 2 of our two-part series on enhancing math instruction in adult education. This webinar focuses on the concept of productive struggle in mathematics, building on our previous session on Promoting Positive Math Identity. Reframe mistakes and struggle as part of natural learning. Discover strategies to help students persevere through challenging problems, fostering deeper understanding. Join us to enhance your teaching practices to support student growth.

Course Description:This course takes place entirely online and runs for four consecutive weeks. Weekly participation is required, though participants may, during a given week, log in whenever they wish. Two live webinars will be scheduled during the course; dates and times will be announced and posted. This course is intended to (1) build teachers’ capacity to identify the skills and knowledge required for excellent teaching as presented in the Adult Education Teacher Competencies, (2) evaluate in which areas participants are strong and in which areas professional development could support improvement, and (3) plan for increasing effectiveness of instruction. Participants who successfully complete this course will receive a certificate of participation (14 hours); they are also eligible to apply to CSUS for 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) if they wish. Goals:By the end of the course participants will be able to: • Explain the background and rationale for Adult Education Teacher Competencies • Recognize performance indicators in practice • Create a sample illustration related to a specific program area • Identify the competencies from Domains 1 and 3 in practice • Relate selected competencies to classroom practice • Create an initial professional development goalRegistration Information:There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees. Registered participants will receive final confirmation and details by Friday, October 24, 2025. Waitlisted participants will also receive an update regarding their enrollment status by that date.

Workshop Description: Discover innovative strategies to transform math instruction in this one-week CALPRO math course designed for adult educators. Through a blend of engaging activities and a live webinar, participants will explore the Standards of Mathematical Practice (SMPs) and their practical application in fostering student success. This course delves into the science of brain-based learning to address math anxiety and promote long-term retention. Participants will learn how to create lessons that encourage productive struggle, persistence, and confidence in tackling challenging concepts. Additionally, the course provides tools to integrate technology and evidence-based instructional routines that enhance engagement and align with the SMPs. With a total commitment of 4.5 hours, this dynamic course equips educators with actionable strategies to inspire and empower their students.Goals: The goal of this course is to equip educators with effective strategies and tools to enhance math instruction by fostering student engagement, promoting mathematical proficiency, addressing math anxiety, and integrating technology and evidence-based practices aligned with the Standards of Mathematical Practice (SMPs).Registration Information: There is no registration fee to participate; CALPRO professional development opportunities are available to all California Adult Education Program (CAEP) agencies and employees. Registered participants will receive final confirmation and details by Friday, November 7, 2025. Waitlisted participants will also receive an update regarding their enrollment status by that date.

Hosted by San Joaquin Adult Education Consortium How can you prepare your learners to succeed in the workforce? Find out what employers say are essential skills for today's workforce. This 2-hour session shows you how to integrate transferable skills seamlessly in the adult education classroom. It also offers examples of contextualizing instruction by using workplace activities and forms.Registration Information:This training is offered as part of the professional development day for the San Joaquin adult education consortium. Event registration through the consortium may be required. For more information, visit https://www.sjadulted.org/