Virtual Academy

The Guide was developed by the Massachusetts Dept. of Adult and Secondary Education, the System for Adult Basic Education Support, and several Mass practitioners, with technical assistance from the Center for Applied Linguistics.  The Guide provides teachers with sample activities to use in their classrooms to help ESOL students develop the skills and knowledge they need to achieve their "next steps" employment, academic, or life skills goals.  This resource is NOT a list of skills, of which there are many examples, but a resource that translates those skills into interesting classroom activities.
 
The Guide is actually three guides, one each for Basic (SPLs 0-3), Intermediate (SPLs 4-5), and Advanced (SPL 6) ESOL learners.  The Guide developers felt strongly that even Basic Level ESOL students can practice next steps skills in the classroom.  While this resource was especially designed for ESOL learners, the activities can be easily adapted for ABE and Transitions students as well.
 
The Guide is available in PDF but also in Rich Text Format, so that teachers can isolate particular activities, add new ones, or amend those that are provided.  The RFT version also allows teachers to tailor listed activities for whole classes, groups of students working together, or an individual student.