ABE: Adult Basic Education

If your students are in need of a helpful tool to get organized in their daily lives, Evernote could be the answer. With a free account, they can download Evernote to their computer, which allows them to take text notes with images included, clip a Web page, grab a screenshot, save a recorded voice memo, and even organize their “notes” into searchable indexed notebooks by tagging them. Best of all, they can access their notes from any computer, Smartphone, or mobile device.

See how to make notes at Getting Started with Evernote See Web Site Example link above. See also numerous video tutorials and demos (see Teacher Tips below) on the many uses for Evernote. The “Evernote Trunk” details more applications you can use with an Evernote account, including many that you can use with an iPhone or iPad.

Evernote has many applications, but to introduce it to the students, use theExample Document: Getting Started with A ToDo List. Assign students to make a TO DO LIST for their class for the upcoming month.

In this activity, students listen to a conversation about job hunting in which a number of slang terms and idioms are used. Students learn the meaning of these words and phrases, read sentences, select the best expression for each, complete a listening gap fill activity, practice using some of the terms and phrases to retell a story, and create their own sentences using this vocabulary.

Source: FactMonster Black History Month Homepage (License: Protected by Copyright (c) [i.e. screenshot])

 

Ever wonder who was the first elected African-American governor, or the first African-American General? The Infoplease site has the answer to that plus many other firsts.

The Fact Monster has a page devoted to Black History Month. Under Special Features you'll find 500 Notable African-American Biographies which can be browsed by occupation (see the right hand column). It has a list of Black Scientists and Inventors with a paragraph stating what they are known for. History and Timelines and Contemporary Issues & Facts have various Civil Rights topics. Further down the page you will find some Quizzes and Crosswords you could use as an activity. You could also use the Example Document and have students select a famous Black American and write a summary.

This site offers in excess of 150 lessons/activities using biographies and profiles of famous people. For this activity we have chosen Cesar Chavez, but if another famous person fits better with your goals/topic, feel free to select a different one. Each offers a transcript with an MP3 audio file for listening practice, and the following activities: a synonym match, a phrase match, a listening gap fill, a correct word choice, spelling, organizing the text, scrambled sentences, discussion, and writing. Reading level varies from Beg. High - Adv. ESL. There are also online activities to go with the lessons.