The CUNY HSE Curriculum Framework provides direction, structure and materials for teaching math, science and social studies (integrated with reading and writing) in the new era of HSE instruction. The complete framework is available for free download.

The framework was written by the CUNY Adult Literacy PD Team to respond to the challenges facing high school equivalency (HSE) teachers and their students. It is a guide for planning your instruction – including topic recommendations, model lessons, guiding questions, readings, and problems. The framework prioritizes depth over breadth. It does not address all of the content that might potentially be included on an HSE exam, but instead models a focused and coherent study of high priority topics within each content area.

As teachers in adult literacy and HSE education, our work has always been demanding. Now that our students face a new and more challenging HSE test, the demands on teachers are even greater. Teaching students to read, write and do math at the HSE level is no longer enough. Students need specific, deep and coherent content knowledge, as well as the capacity to apply this content knowledge to analysis and problem solving.

As the demands on our students and teachers are increasing, it is important that we don’t lose sight of one of our greatest strengths — our practice of starting from where students are and our serious respect for their learning processes. As a student of ours once said, “You can’t make a plant grow by pulling on it, you only make it rootless.”

The Social Studies section integrates reading and writing through a focus on U.S. history, with extensions to civics, economics and geography. This section has a curriculum map, 12 unit descriptions, six model lesson plans and additional resources.

The Science section provides an introduction to matter and basic chemistry with extensions to science/math connections. This section includes a curriculum map with 23 topic descriptions and key questions, and three complete inquiry-based model lesson plans.

The Math section focuses on problem-solving in functions and algebra. It integrates problem-solving strategies, productive struggle, perseverance and mathematical discussion into content learning. This section includes a curriculum map, model lessons, rich engaging math problems, samples of student work, powerful routines for math classrooms, classroom videos, and more.

This kit provides teachers and other educators with the materials and guidance to help fourth grade students understand the reasons that the British colonists elected to declare their independence from King George III between the years 1763-1776. As a part of these lessons students will be encouraged to consider the intent and impact of media documents from a variety of points of view including those of the colonists, King George, patriots, loyalists, slaves and Native Americans.

Students view three short videos on Rules of Exponents and practice applying those rules using two different interactive sites.

Throughout my career I have created hundreds of educational files for my students. I am sharing those that I am able to. I have PowerPoints, and custom worksheets available here in the link attached. I have more resources for Science & Math. My classroom is considered Adult Basic Education/ Corrections.
I have modified dozens of publisher-developed materials to make them more LD-friendly so to speak.
Take a look, I hope you find something that you can use.

This resource is an ordered outline for teachers who need guidance on what to cover for the geometry portion of the GED math test. Downloadable links are embedded in the outline as well as emphasis suggestions. The outline lists concepts to cover in a logical order for success on the geometry portion of the GED.

This science resource covers a variety of topics; however, the specific URL is on Genetics. It has significant explanations on the basic Principles of Genetics, Co-dominance, Incomplete dominance, and Sex-Linked traits. The units have precise and manageable explanations, and there are numerous links and additional resources to support instructors and students to advance learning. The access to videos and online simulations enhances particular areas, and the diverse assessments support mastery of skills.
This is a very purposeful resource on genetics; it is useful to make learning more effective either as an overall instructional method or as an individualized learning supplement.

This is an instructional video demonstrating how to plot data to create a scatterplot and then find the correlation and equation of the line of best fit.

Whether information is needed for study or daily life, the Internet has developed into an essential source of knowledge. Collecting information from the Internet may seem simple, however, at times one may get an overwhelmingly large number of results for simple queries, some of which may not be relevant or reliable. This lesson teaches learners a step-wise approach that prepared them to conduct a basic search with internet. By exploring different types of search engines and inputting key words into the search bar, the learner will gain experience and confidence using the steps needed to successfully search the internet. It prepares learners to conduct Internet searches effectively and prepares them to take the next step in their learning.

Whether information is needed for study or daily life, the Internet has developed into an essential source of knowledge. Collecting information from the Internet may seem simple, however, at times one may get an overwhelmingly large number of results for simple queries, some of which may not be relevant or reliable. This lesson teaches learners a step-wise approach to defining keywords, using search parameters to refine a search, and evaluating the appropriateness of sources. It prepares learners to conduct Internet searches effectively, and collect relevant information in the least amount of time.

Learners use the internet to collect information for school or daily life. Search engines can produce an excessive number of potential sources, even when filtering the search. This lesson will teach the adult learner a stepwise approach to defining key words, specifying criteria, and evaluating the appropriateness of sources. The learner will develop a customized checklist for the search and demonstrate the acquired knowledge of selecting appropriate sources.

Learners are using the internet on their smart phones everyday to collect information for school or daily life. The problem is that search engines can produce an excessive number of potential sources, even when filtering the search. This lesson will teach the adult learner how to use a smart phone to define key words, specify criteria, and evaluate the appropriateness of sources. The learner will develop a customized checklist for the search and demonstrate the acquired knowledge of selecting appropriate sources.

Students learn how to use Google Slides to make a simple presentation about a career they have researched on www.mynextmove.org.

Lesson designed for use in a one-room schoolhouse ABE/GED program, where volunteer tutors and instructors work with students one-to-one.

Many GED/ESL students have a lapse in education.  As a result, the concept of fractions is a difficult task to teach to the adult learner. This OER will give the student the basic introduction to the concept of fractions.  Gaining confidence the student can move on to higher level mathematics.

This was a revised OER Fact Sheet from OER Commons targeting GED STEM instruction.

I have spent the past five or so years giving conference presentations on the topics of learning disabilities, technology, use of visuals and media. I am a seasoned teacher of Adult Basic Education within Corrections.
I am hoping that someone can find a few ideas here they may want to build into their own curriculum.
These are PowerPoint collections mostly.
The conferences I shared them at were CEA, or Correctional Education Association and our State GED / Literacy Conference.

Open ELA is a complete course for the Reading and Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science portions of the GED exam. It also includes GED Study Guides and lessons contextualized to college and career exploration and readiness. There are six units covered in Open ELA:

- Understanding Literature
- Intro to Communications
- Metacognitive Reading
- Film & Television Studies
- Reading for Science & Social Studies
- Journalism

Each unit includes six-eight chapters, each containing an interactive presentation, assigned readings, and two assignments. Each unit is meant to be studied over the course of eight weeks (most instructors assign two units concurrently). However, students are always welcome to navigate these materials at their own pace and in their own way. In the final unit, you will find GED study guides specific to the RLA, Social Studies, and Science exams. These are appropriate for review as you prepare to take on a specific portion of the GED.

Adult education classrooms are commonly comprised of learners who have widely disparate levels of mathematical problem-solving skills. This is true regardless of what level a student may be assessed at when entering an adult education program or what level class they are placed in. Providing students with differentiated instruction in the form of Push and Support cards is one way to level this imbalance, keeping all students engaged in one high-cognitive task that supports and encourages learners who are stuck, while at the same time, providing extensions for students who move through the initial phase of the task quickly. Thus, all
students are continually moving forward during the activity, and when the task ends, all students have made progress in their journey towards developing conceptual understanding of mathematical ideas along with a productive disposition, belief in one’s own ability to successfully engage with mathematics.

This lesson will be a real-world scenario-based reading module for Reading Scientific and Technical Text, for readers at level 7. Through an interactive visual scenario, learners will be introduced to a sample loan application form, and will be walked through the meaning and purpose of primary portions of the form and challenging terminology in it.