ABE Handbook Section 4: Programs of Instruction

The program has three programs of instruction to assist students in achieving their goal(s):

  • English language learner classes: designed for non-native English speakers to increase their listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. The goal is to aid students in obtaining or retaining employment that offers livable family-sustaining wages, receiving their HSE certificate, or earning a post-secondary credential. The program has developed seven levels of instruction, including various special topic classes.
    • Distance Education – preparation classes are also offered through online asynchronous learning for all levels. Students can design their learning schedule and pacing based on the modules within each level. These classes are offered through the Canvas learning management system.
      • Instructors are assigned to courses and keep students engaged, motivated, and productive. Attendance is monitored and tracked through module completion.
      • Students need a desktop computer or laptop and a reliable and stable internet connection to make the most out of the distance learning course.
  • High School Equivalency preparation classes: designed for students who want to prepare for the GED® and HiSET®. Instruction focuses on mathematics, English language arts (ELA): reading, science, social studies, and writing. The goal is to help students receive their HSE certificate, obtain or retain employment that offers livable family-sustaining wages, or earn a post-secondary credential. The program has developed six levels of instruction.
    • Distance Education – preparation classes are also offered through online asynchronous learning for all levels. Students can design their learning schedule and pacing based on the modules within each level. These classes are offered through the Canvas learning management system.
      • Instructors are assigned to courses and keep students engaged, motivated, and productive. Attendance is monitored and tracked through module completion.
      • Students need a desktop computer or laptop and a reliable and stable internet connection to make the most out of the distance learning course.
  • College and Career Training: designed to strengthen and improve the Washoe County’s public workforce development system and help students with barriers to employment, including individuals with disabilities, or English language needs, into high quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers. Our efforts include activities with our students such as job exploration, counseling, work-based learning experiences, advising on opportunities for enrollment in integrated education and training programs or other industry certification and post-secondary education programs at TMCC, workplace readiness training, and instruction in entrepreneurship. Services are designed to help the student build skills relative to the labor market demand in a career pathway that has multiple on and off ramps. Grant funding is used to help support the cost of the certificate based training so that many opportunities are at no cost for the student.

Class Descriptions

Classes are designed to address the student’s needs based on pre-tests in reading, writing, math, speaking and listening for English. Additional classes are offered with college and career transition focus:

Class Description
Reading and Writing This class allows students to read, analyze, and discuss a wide variety of texts and materials. Pulling from the internet, supplemental materials, and real-life examples, students are exposed to multiple types of passages. Students are guided through answering text-dependent questions and then segueing into writing with the ability to cite evidence from a text. The connection between reading and writing is emphasized as a college and career readiness skill.
Listening and Speaking This multi-level listening and speaking class allow students to discuss a wide range of topics, many of which are selected by students. This class is highly interactive with dynamic group work. Students are exposed to multiple speaking situations, including in-class presentations as a culminating activity, pulling from the internet, supplemental materials, and real-life examples. Students in this class are taught to value strong and active listening skills as a vital component of a good discussion.
Math and Science This class allows students at different levels to understand the real number system, radical expressions, using and interpreting units in problem-solving, and attending to precision. Attention to algebra and geometry is done, with an emphasis on reading, writing, and interpreting equations. Also, students will analyze geometric properties such as parallelism, perpendicularity, and symmetry. This class will emphasize techniques for data collection through statistical questioning and will notions of statistical variability, summary statistics, and distribution. Students will be exposed to analyzing two and three-dimensional figures using distance, angle, similarity, and congruence. Through exposure to Science and technology students will be exposed to the following topics: human anatomy, cellular biology, ecosystems, space, and physics.
Rights and Responsibilities of U.S. Citizenship This course covers the prerequisites for the United States Naturalization class and relevant information on civics, U.S. Citizenship, U.S. History, and government, including reading, and vocabulary. Students will also explore the historical and cultural development of our rights as citizens of the United States and the significance of citizenship issues in a diverse society, both in a domestic and international context, in the modern world. The individual’s duties and responsibilities as workers, consumers, voters, leaders, and human beings will be explored to understand the various perspectives and conflicting demands on people in their citizenship roles.
Workplace Readiness Students will build competency in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and level-appropriate math skills to increase their ability to communicate proficiently in English in the workplace. This class will also help students become employable through soft skills training in time management, critical thinking, conflict management, proper workplace communication, and more.
College Bridge The bridge class teaches English and/or Math in the context of CTE and career pathways to address remedial needs of eligible participants. The class covers general vocabulary and concepts in high-demand careers in Washoe County, familiarizing students with TMCC training options. Students participate in class dialogues, activities, discussions, and other assigned instruction as a precursor for real-life experiences in preparation for academic, professional, and personal success in the world of work.
Integrated Education and Training Program This class offers additional reading, writing, listening, and speaking assistance to students that concurrently enroll in a workforce training program in a high demand industry. This is a contextualized course where students practice in real life essential college and career readiness skills and earn an industry recognized credential. Students prepare to transition into the workplace by working to develop these competencies:
  • Critical thinking/problem solving
  • Oral/written communication
  • Teamwork/collaboration
  • Digital technology
  • Leadership
  • Professionalism/work ethic
  • Career management
Workplace Literacy Activities offered by an eligible provider in collaboration with an employer or employee organization at a workplace or an off-site location designed to improve the productivity of the workforce. Milestone completion or workplace certifications achieved through a workplace literacy activity would be considered an MSG. All workplace literacy activities must be approved by NDE prior to the start date and could include these competencies:
  • Critical thinking/problem solving
  • Oral/written communication
  • Teamwork/collaboration
  • Digital technology
  • Leadership
  • Professionalism/work ethic
  • Career management
  • Global/intercultural fluency

Class Information

The program offers classes based on student demand/enrollment. Not all levels are offered at every location. Program management may combine levels due to low enrollment instead of canceling classes.

Schedules

Students select a class schedule that is conducive to their personal lives. We offer morning, afternoon, and evening classes and services. Dates and times vary by program of instruction, location, and service.

ELL classes typically run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays HSE classes typically run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays Career and College Transition* classes typically run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays
  • 9 a.m.–Noon
  • 6–9 p.m.
  • 9:30 a.m.–Noon
  • 6–8:30 p.m.
  • 7:15–9:15 p.m.
  • 9–11:30 a.m.
  • 6–8:30 p.m.

*College and Career Transition class dates and times may vary.