Spring Volunteer Mini-Conference - In person at Open Door Minneapolis

Please note, all sessions are in-person and will NOT be recorded.

Spring Volunteer Mini-Conference

What: Ten engaging and useful sessions for volunteers and teachers working in the Adult Education space. Sessions take place concurrently across three hours and you pick the classes most relevant to your work. The skills learned at this conference will help volunteers teach English language, reading, writing, math, citizenship and computer skills. This is the first occurrence of this spring kickoff event since 2019, and we are so excited to see you at the revival! 

When: Saturday, April 26 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Light breakfast and beverages provided! 

Where: In-person at Open Door Minneapolis — 627 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55411 (not online, not recorded). The building is fully ADA compliant.

Why: Learn new skills, connect with other volunteers, teachers and staff, earn CEUs and fulfill the annual volunteer training requirement. 

Cost: Free! (but your tax-deductible donation will support our tutor training program and literacy learners across Minnesota!)

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, April 23

Logistics:  

• Free, security-patrolled parking lot adjacent to the building.
• Enter on the corner of Lyndale and Broadway and take the elevator to the second floor.
• Designated prayer rooms are available.
• We offer free high-speed WiFi using the LiftZone network.
• The building is fully ADA compliant.

Event schedule 

8:30 – 9 a.m. Registration, light breakfast and beverages 

9 - 9:50 a.m. Concurrent Session 1 

10 - 10:50 a.m. Concurrent Session 2 

11 - 11:50 a.m. Concurrent Session 3 

Confirmed sessions 

All sessions are created and led by Literacy Minnesota staff unless otherwise noted. 

All-Morning Session 9-noon:

Making Phonics Multisensory at All Levels 

Susan Johnson (she/her), ESL Teacher 

**This is a three-hour session from 9 a.m. to noon, participants must attend the entire session.** 

Through an interactive, hands-on demonstration, participants will learn how to use multisensory materials and strategies to teach phonics skills of decoding and encoding. While appropriate for learners at all levels of ESL, this approach has been especially effective with learners who didn't have the opportunity to develop literacy in their country of origin. We will explore how this approach might easily be embedded into your program, even in leveled classes where phonics and literacy skills vary.  

9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. 

Preparing Learners for Success: Effective Strategies for Teaching to Pass the Citizenship Interview 

Mya Shaftel (she/her), Learning Quality Program Manager 

This session will provide a framework for teaching about the different parts of the citizenship interview, including providing ideas for engaging learners around the 100 questions in one-on-one settings. In this session we will also share resources related to teaching citizenship. 

See it, Feel it, Know it: Pronunciation Beyond Repetition 

Suzanne McCurdy (she/her), PhD, Instructor at Hamline University 

Description: Pronunciation comes to life when learners can see it, feel it, and experience it! Improve your learners' pronunciation skills with strategies that go beyond "repeat after me." Participants in this workshop will engage in hands-on activities, apply concepts to their own classroom setting, and share best practices for all levels of ESL. 

Tapping into Each Learner's Languages as Assets 

Cydnee Sanders (she/her), Cultural Literacy & Belonging Training Specialist 

A lot of recent research has shown that tapping into all of students’ languages while learning a new target language is actually an asset, not a hindrance, in language learning like the field used to believe. We will discuss why this concept is important in not only understanding how brains learn, but also because we believe it’s a necessary practice to honor learners’ identities and experiences in the classroom. We will also look at concrete examples of what this can look like in the classroom, so participants will leave this session with several possible activities to apply in their contexts.  

10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. 

Navigating Immigration Statuses: Building Supportive and Inclusive Learning Spaces 

Clark Roman (he/him), Literacy Services Director 

Understanding immigration and refugee statuses is essential for creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment. This training will provide a foundational overview of the different types of immigration statuses, including lawful permanent residency, refugee and asylum status, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), DACA, and undocumented immigration. Volunteers will learn how immigration status can impact learners' access to education, employment, and resources. Through real-world scenarios and discussion, participants will gain practical strategies for supporting students while respecting privacy and cultural sensitivities. This session will equip volunteers with the knowledge and confidence to foster an inclusive and welcoming classroom for all learners. 

Activities for Teaching Vocabulary 

Rob Podlasek (he/him), Training Director 

Everyone loves learning vocabulary! But while it is fun to learn new words, it is just as important that students have lots of opportunities to review and use the words they've learned. Come explore three types of fun activities you can integrate into your tutoring sessions, classes and small group work to help learners move towards vocabulary mastery at all levels of English and adult education.

"But I don't know computers!" Teaching Digital Literacy with Confidence 

Nick Houlson (he/him), Digital Navigator

If you’re nervous helping to coach or tutor basic computer skills, then this is the session for you. We’ll open up conversations about volunteer anxieties around teaching with technology and address these concerns by providing pedagogical tips for digital literacy instruction, liberally cribbed from two curriculum resources: DART and ELDES. Several digital literacy objectives and settings will be addressed.

11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. 

Say Less, Teach More: Streamlining Teacher Talk for Adult English Language Learners

Meghan Boyle (she/her), Training Specialist

How much are your words helping—or hindering—learning for the students you work with? In this session, we’ll explore practical strategies for reducing and refining teacher talk to boost comprehension, engagement, and confidence among adult learners. You’ll learn how to recognize and avoid five common teacher talk mistakes that can overwhelm or confuse students, and discover simple, effective ways to reframe your language for clarity and impact.

Five (or so) Great Pre-Reading Activities

Rob Podlasek (he/him), Training Director

Taking time to preview and pre-teach before jumping into a reading assignment is key to maximizing comprehension. Come learn a handful of quick and easy activities to get your students warmed up for their reading task.

Maximizing Engagement in Online ESL Classes 

Ollie Radovic (any pronouns), ESL Teacher 
Want to make your online ESL classes more dynamic and effective? In this session, we’ll cover essential Zoom tools that can enhance your work with learners. We’ll also explore simple strategies to keep your volunteer sessions running smoothly and share no-prep and low-prep activities to keep students engaged when you have extra time. Whether you're a new or experienced volunteer, you'll leave with practical tips to make your lessons more interactive and stress-free! 

More sessions to be announced!  

Registration questions? Contact Kelly at [email protected] or 651-251-9074.

Literacy Minnesota is committed to providing access for people with disabilities at our trainings and events. To request accommodations, please contact Kelly at [email protected] or 651-251-9074 at least two weeks in advance.