Ventures: Building Community in

the Adult Education Classroom

Presented by:K. Lynn Savage, Series Editor

Author team: Gretchen Bitterlin, Dennis Johnson, Donna Price, Sylvia Ramirez

Ventures: A five-level seriesVentures: A five-level series

• focuses on student-centered instruction• integrates 4 skills within each lesson• builds community• provides multilevel support • builds learner persistence• provides a standards-based syllabus• fosters student and program accountability

Ventures . . . . .Ventures . . . . .

Ventures Core PhilosophyVentures Core Philosophy

Hear it before you say it.

Say it before you read it.

Read it before you write it.

Components

•Student’s Book•Workbook•T.E. with Toolkit (Audio CD/CD-ROM)•AddVentures – multilevel reproducibles

Book Structure

• Same themes across all 5 levels• 10 units in each level• 6 lessons per unit• 2 page lessons• Review lessons after every 2 units• Self-assessment, self-study audio and

projects build learner persistence

Stages in Ventures’ lessons

• Warm-up and review• Presentation• Practice• Comprehension check• Application• Evaluation

Lesson A -- Get Ready page 44Lesson A -- Get Ready page 44

Maria

Unit opener: Lesson AUnit opener: Lesson A

• Introduces topic of unit• Activates prior knowledge• Assesses what students already know• Introduces vocabulary and grammar• Recycles grammar and vocabulary from

previous units• Provides guided listening in context

Grammar/Speaking p. 48 Grammar/Speaking p. 48

Grammar/ Speaking2 lessons in each unit

Grammar/ Speaking2 lessons in each unit

• Introduces grammar with examples, not rules

• Checks comprehension of grammar • Practices pronunciation through

listening and repeating• Provides guided practice • Builds to communicative activities• Includes “useful language” notes

Reading p. 50

Lesson D: Reading Lesson D: Reading

• Contextualizes vocabulary and grammar

• Recycles and expands on “Big Picture” from Lesson A

• Develops reading strategies• Features integrated skills approach• Included on self-study audio and class

audio programs

Reading p. 51

Lesson D:Picture DictionaryLesson D:Picture Dictionary

• Expands topic-related vocabulary • Practices pronunciation of new

vocabulary through listening & repeating

• Reinforces new vocabulary through conversation and writing

Writing p. 52

Writing and Peer Revision p. 53

Lesson E: Writing Lesson E: Writing

• Emphasizes writing for real life• Uses a process writing approach:

1. prewriting activities2. writing from a model3. peer review

• Reinforces unit grammar and vocabulary

Lesson F: Another View (pages 54-55) Practical, playful, and varied practiceLesson F: Another View (pages 54-55) Practical, playful, and varied practice

•

Self-Assessment p. 142Self-Assessment p. 142

Lesson F: Another View

• Reviews unit content • Familiarizes students with real-life

documents• Provides test-taking practice • Concludes unit with playful and varied

practice• Encourages reflection through self-

assessment

Projects (page 137)Projects (page 137)

Components

Workbook Unit 4Workbook Unit 4

Teacher’s Edition

• Presents lesson plan: warm-up and reviewpresentationcomprehension checkpracticeapplicationevaluation

• Suggests expansion activities:culture tipslearner persistence strategiescommunity building activities

• Guidance for 1, 2 and 3-hour classes

Toolkit CD-ROM including audio and reproducibles

• Collaborative Learning Activity Sheets

• Picture DictionaryCards and Worksheets

• Forms for Document Literacy

• Tests: Unit *Midterm *Final *

• Self-assessment Pages

* includes audio for tests

Student A: sampler p. 27Student B: sampler p. 28

AddVenturesAddVentures

AddVenturesAddVentures

What’s different?Look at SamplerPages 35-37

AddVentures multilevel worksheetsAddVentures multilevel worksheets

• Multilevel built into course

• 3 Activities per lesson1.Less challenging2.On level 3.More challenging

• ONE Answer Key

Reasons to use Ventures• Respect for adult learners• Flexibility• Community building • Integrated skills • Learner persistence• Teacher support• Multilevel reproducibles

Teacher’s Support Site

Thank you for coming!

We look forward to venturing with you . .

Join our Ventures Community

www.cambridge.org/ventures