Family & Community Adult Education
Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

Curriculum Resources

New to this section of the ACLS web page is an area for resources devoted to curriculum development. For programs funded by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, there are curriculum and instruction points to follow as outlined in the Guidelines for Effective Adult Basic Education for Community Adult Learning Centers. The Guidelines include:

• Curriculum development and instruction must be aligned with and incorporate learning standards from the Massachusetts ABE Curriculum Frameworks and contribute to students' progress toward achieving their goals.
• The program must be working toward one unified program-wide curriculum for each service type (e.g., ABE or ESOL).
• The curriculum should be reviewed on a regular basis (at least annually) to ensure that curriculum, instruction, and assessment are aligned with the Massachusetts ABE Curriculum Frameworks.

Related to the 2nd bullet above regarding a unified program-wide curriculum for each service type is a document developed by staff at Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS) and the System for Adult Basic Education Support (SABES). In it is what we define as the basics of curriculum for ABE /ESOL Programs. The document may be used as a checklist to help program staff in developing curriculum. This checklist divides what the minimum requirements for curriculum.

The Basics of Curriculum for ABE / ESOL Programs

  

Chart of Basic Components of Curriculum for ABE/ESOL Programs

  

Table Index to the Massachusetts ABE Mathematics Curriculum Frameworks: Strands, Topics, and Benchmarks
The Massachusetts ABE Math Benchmarks can be overwhelming at first sight, as there are quite a few of them. This document simplifies the task of locating specific Benchmarks. All Benchmarks are organized by topic, such as Decimals, Map skills/coordinates, or Integers, for example. The first page of the Table of Contents allows users to see the Benchmarks organized by topic within the Strands. The second page of the Table of Contents allows users to see the Benchmarks organized alphabetically by topic. With either format, users will be directed to the appropriate page number in the document in which to find all the benchmarks related to a specific topic.

Curriculum Frameworks

The following frameworks address the question, "What do adult learners need to know and be able to do to function successfully in their roles as parent/family member, worker, citizen, and life-long learner?" They give teachers a structure from which to develop lesson plans and curricula. We hope you'll find the frameworks useful and helpful. Learn more about the goals of the curriculum frameworks.

Note for Teachers using the Curriculum Frameworks:
The English Language Arts, Mathematics, and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Curriculum Frameworks were revised and updated in December 2005. If you have any questions about using them, please email me at janes@doe.mass.edu. Thank you!

Jane Schwerdtfeger
Curriculum and Assessment Development Specialist
Adult and Community Learning Services

  

English Language Arts

December 9, 2005

  

Massachusetts ABE Reading Standards and Benchmarks, Levels 1 through 3

February 13, 2012

  

Level 1 Beginning ABE Literacy (0-1.9 GLE) Massachusetts ABE Reading Standards and Benchmarks

February 13, 2012

  

Describing ABE Level 1 Learners: Supporting Research and Implications for Teaching, by John Strucker, Ed.D.

February 13, 2012

  

Math and Numeracy

November 8, 2005

  

ESOL

December 9, 2005

  

History and Social Sciences

updated October 2001

  

Health

updated October 2001

  

Common Chapters

updated October 2001