March 10, 2010 by farrellink
Back by popular demand is my most popular post of all time, original linked here: http://farrellink.com/2009/09/10/tutor-tip-forget-flash-cards-try-math-war/
Use an ordinary deck of playing cards to relax with math. Try Math War to practice basic math operations:
- Take out the Jokers, Kings, 10s, and Queens.
- Deal the remaining deck between two players.
- One rule: Aces are One, and Jacks are Zero.
- Each player flips up a card and the student has to add, subtract, multiply or divide the numbers.
- When the student is right, he or she keeps the cards until the whole deck has been won!
You can use this method of playing cards to practice any type of math, all the way to the high school or GED level and beyond. This includes algebra and geometry! But how, you ask? First of all, you will need to grab a pencil and paper for these brain workouts. I suggest starting with a round of the lighter stuff before getting started on the heavy lifting. Because of the element of chance, these problems often don’t work out to have easier answers…just like numbers in real life.
- More numbers: each player flips up more than one card at a time.
- Mixed practice: flip up a card and the tutor randomly chooses between add, subtract, multiply, or divide.
- More mixed practice: Take a blank piece of scrap paper and fold it in half 4 times. Unfold the paper and cut on the lines to make 16 pieces. Make one of the operation signs (+ – x ./.) on 4 pieces each.
- Fractions: one card (or more) is the numerator and one card (or more) is the denominator.
- Decimals: use a face card or a piece of scrap paper to make the decimal point.
- Percents & ratios: use a face card or piece of scrap paper to make the decimal point.
- Algebra: add the face cards back in to become your variables. You might also want to make pieces of scrap paper with (parentheses), square roots, and positive or negative signs.
- Geometry: start with your formulas and use the flash cards to get the numbers.
LOL FUN: Return to the simplest version of Math War. When each player flips up a card, make a real life word problem using the numbers. And since this article is meant for adult literacy tutors, you don’t have to censor the results. Trust me, this will hold your students’ interest and make math much less intimidating!
Posted in Farrell Ink Link, Tutor Tip | Tagged math, playing cards, tutor | Leave a Comment »
February 18, 2010 by farrellink
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Farrell Ink is working with the Literacy Cooperative and a group of community literacy providers to submit an AmeriCorps grant in April 2010. As an AmeriCorps Alum who has lobbied for years to expand national service, I was thrilled to see the Serve America Act passed last year and triple the size of AmeriCorps. We hope to bring some of the AmeriCorps passion & funding to expand literacy services in Cleveland.
To find more about AmeriCorps, please visit AmeriCorps.gov
Posted in Adult Education, Farrell Ink Link | Tagged Adult Education, americorps, cleveland, cooperative, farrell ink, literacy | Leave a Comment »
February 18, 2010 by farrellink
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USA Learns
Create FREE distance learning options for adult English Language Learners with USA Learns. Learners can take independent courses at their own pace or connect with a specific teacher & program. Interactive, multimedia lessons are relevant, engaging & effective. Works best with a fast, home broadband connection; slow in a computer lab. Learn more at USA Learns Teacher Registration.
Thanks to LearnQuest in Cleveland, Ohio for this tip!
Posted in Farrell Ink Link, Free Cool Online Tool | Tagged Adult Education, esol, free, learns, online, usa | Leave a Comment »
February 18, 2010 by farrellink
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Google Calendar can help organizations, individuals, and adult learners get organized!
Here are my Top 5 Features:
1. Share events: invite by email, mark public or private, sync with family or co-workers.
2. Create task lists with optional due dates.
3. Embed your calendar on your blog or website.
4. Print a weekly or monthly calendar or agenda.
5. Get email or text reminders so you don’t forget that important meeting, test, or class.
Printed calendars make this tool accessible for those who aren’t glued to their iPhone & web browser. As a consultant, Google Calendar lets me plan events & meetings with anyone by email, plus organize my tasks for committees & projects. How can Google Calendar help you connect, remember, and celebrate?
Posted in Farrell Ink Link, Free Cool Online Tool | Tagged agenda, calendar, ged, google, task, web 2.0 | Leave a Comment »
February 18, 2010 by farrellink
Mary Young, Director of Projects READ in Edmund, Oklahoma, had rave reviews for our recently published “Pocket Guide to Materials,” a resource FREE to all thanks to the Sandra Sullivan Learning for Life Program of the West Side Catholic Center in Cleveland, Ohio. First, the details as Mary first saw it on the ProLiteracy listserv:
Pocket Guide to Materials-Details on assigning materials in the 5 GED subjects for adult students from 0.0-10.9 grade equivalent as assessed on the TABE & TABE profile or similar skills breakdown. Associated trainings: Assigning Materials Based on TABE, Introduction to Online Instructional Materials.
Mary’s reply:
Hi Meagen – Thanks so much for the links you provided on the ProLit[eracy] List Serve. As a one-to-one program director/resource person/trainer I’m always inventing lesson plans and selecting materials for new pairs. Your pocket guide is a good starting place and the level descriptions should prove invaluable. We already have many of these materials and I’ll look at adding others you listed as $$ are available.
“Pocket Guide to Materials” is just one handout from six free trainings available through the Learning for Life Starter Kit online at: Scribd.com/farrellink. Our goal is to give program directors, site managers, and volunteers tutors the information they need to provide high quality, effective instruction to adults at all levels of basic education. Great volunteer-based programs like Project READ need our continued support and encouragement to bring our U.S. workforce into the 21st century!
Posted in Adult Education | Tagged esol, free, ged, pocket guide to materials, TABE | Leave a Comment »
February 11, 2010 by farrellink
Note: Right now you can NOT take the GED or any high school graduation test online! You can apply to take the GED test or study for the GED test online, but you MUST take the test at an Official GED Testing Center! Any website that is not connected to the Official GED Testing Centers in your state is a SCAM! To find the nearest official GED Testing Center to you, enter your zip code at the GED Testing Service:
In the future, the GED Test may be offered on the computer. You will still ONLY be able to take the official GED test at an official GED testing center, even on the computer.
Read more or download a PDF about the projected changes to the GED test, including the computer-based-pilot (CBP), at this website: http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/GEDTest_NatlNeed_FAQ.htm
Why is the American Council on Education piloting the GED test on the computer? They want to see if GED test-takers get the same scores on a computer version as they get on the paper version. The computer based pilot is currently going on in 11 states.
The GED test 5th edition was expected to be released on January 1, 2012 but that date has been postponed. The GED Testing Service has revised this estimate, stating it needs to re-evaluate its testing standards because:
- Research indicates that the current high school graduation tests, including the GED, do not measure college or workforce readiness.
- President Obama has set a national goal to dramatically increase the number of high school & college graduates by 2020, as well as make sure those graduates are ready for college & the workforce.
Some VERY GOOD news is that GED test takers who take the test before 2012 (or whenever the new version of the test is released) and do not pass all sections may still be able to keep their scores after GED 5th edition is released. Check back with the American Council on Education (and Farrell Ink!) for more updates in late 2010.
Posted in Adult Education | Tagged changes, computer, ged, graduate, online | Leave a Comment »
February 6, 2010 by farrellink
NOTE: YOU CANNOT TAKE THE GED OR ANY HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY TEST ONLINE!!! These websites are FREE sites to take practice tests, study for the GED test, learn English, get a better job, and reach other goals that you have.
If these sites say you are ready to take the GED test, then click on this link & enter your zip code to find where you can take the GED test in person. Visit GEDTest.org for more official information about the GED Test. You may have to pay a SMALL fee or pass a practice test in person to take the GED test for free, depending on the state you live in. ONLY PAY AN OFFICIAL GED TESTING CENTER to take the GED tests… and you can never take it online!!!
Most of these sites require that you download a plug-in player to view videos. You may also want to use headphones. Also, sometimes you need to register with your email or create a username & password. NEVER give out your password or pay money for these sites. Some websites link to workbooks that you can purchase & work on at home or with a tutor.
- LearningExpress Library: test preparation, study for job placement tests, instantly scored essays, college & career counseling. View the demo. To register or to log in: click this link.
- McGraw Hill GED Online Learning Center: these websites have practice tests & supplements for the Contemporary’s GED book series. GEDReading.com GEDScience.com GEDWriting.com GEDSocialStudies.com GEDMath.com
- GEDPractice.com: 10 question quizzes in subjects on the GED test, written by the folks who write the GED tests!
- GED & Workplace Videos: to get ready for a better job, click WORKPLACE ESSENTIAL SKILLS. If you don’t like to read, haven’t done math in a long time, or don’t feel ready, click PRE-GED CONNECTION. If you want something tough, click GED CONNECTION. First watch the video titled Orientation.
- Were the videos too hard? Try TV411.org They have lessons in reading, writing, math, vocabulary, and learning.
- Free printable worksheets, placement tools & word lists for classes using the series Challenger 2nd Edition.
- Learning English as a new language? Try USALearns.org If you are a teacher, create a class, log in & follow your students’ progress by clicking “Teacher Registration.”
Interactive online tools that GED, ESOL (or any) teachers can use in the classroom to communicate with students, create projects, and much more:
- BLOG. Create one using WordPress.com or Blogger.com
- Intel Thinking Tools. They really work your brain hard, for both teachers & students. Build the 21st Century skills employers & colleges are looking for! Free professional development, too.
- Google for Educators. I enjoy teaching students how to use Gmail & calendar so that they can communicate & keep track of their schedules. Great for job searching! In Docs, students can type up & save essays, make graphs & charts, presentations, and forms. Google also offers K-12 teacher trainings.
- TeacherTube.com Kind of like YouTube, but without the inappropriate junk. Won’t be blocked by your computer lab filters! Find not only videos, but also audio, documents, and other source material that connect to students’ interests & goals.
Posted in Adult Education, Free Cool Online Tool | Tagged Adult Education, english, esol, free, ged, learning, online, practice tests, study, tutor | Leave a Comment »
January 15, 2010 by farrellink
Are your students and tutors so comfortable with their paper GED books, you can’t get them on the computer? 
McGraw Hill offers FREE online supplements for their Contemporary’s GED satellite series that matches the book chapter by chapter.
Each book has a website with a Student Center and an Instructor Center:
GEDScience.com
GEDMath.com
GEDReading.com
GEDSocialStudies.com
GEDWriting.com
After you assign a book & chapter, go online to access the supplements in the Student Center:
Practice Tests
Chapter Overview, Outline, & Review Test
Interactive Flashcards
GED Practice Quiz
Web Links
The Instructor Center also offers:
More web links
Correlations to the GED practice tests
Teaching tips
Some subjects (like Writing) even offer Powerpoints for group instruction and Photocopy masters!
Comment below with how you use this resource.
Posted in Farrell Ink Link, Free Cool Online Tool | Tagged free, ged, mcgraw hill, online, science | 2 Comments »
January 15, 2010 by farrellink
What is green, windy, and literate all over? Hopefully Chicago in March 2010! Three national adult education organizations are sharing their annual conference: COABE, ProLiteracy, and IACEA.
Register before January 22nd (deadline extended) and get a big discount! If you are a member of COABE or ProLiteracy, you’ll save even more. With over 360 presenters (I’ll be presenting about our Sullivan Learning Center pilot in Cleveland, Ohio), awards ceremonies, a student rally, hundreds of exhibitors, and all the sights and culture of Chicago, you don’t want to miss this!
Posted in Farrell Ink Link, Program Tip | Tagged 2010, chicago, coabe, conference, proliteracy, st patrick's day | Leave a Comment »
January 15, 2010 by farrellink
We’ve all done it: class ends, you’ve run around all day, and forgot to even turn on the computer. How and when are you supposed to remember to use these cool free online tools?!?!
After class, take your physical book and open it while looking at the website you want to use. Find the appropriate page or lesson where the student or tutor should get online, and… *GASP* write the website in the book! Librarians, close your eyes.
If you have folks less computer literate, try typing up detailed directions about how to access the website & what to do when they get there. Make sure to type in your document what page in the book to stick the note in after you print it out. Staple the note to the book if you have to! Trust me, your students & tutors will thank you for the written reminders.
Posted in Farrell Ink Link, Tutor Tip | Tagged book, computer, ged, teacher, tutor tip | Leave a Comment »
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