Teaching Skills that Matter Toolkit Overview

TSTM Overview

We all use them every day — the transferable skills that help us be effective in work and in life. But what are these skills? In what areas do students need to be able to apply them? How can we incorporate teaching the skills into our Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English Language Learners' (ELL) classrooms? These tools provide high-level answers to these important questions.

Download these tools in a single combined file: All TSTM Overview tab tools

TSTM Instructional Videos

The TSTM Project is developing a series of eight instructional videos focused on improving teacher practice. The first three of these videos focus on the three approaches that work. The other five videos will be developed around each of the five topic focus areas. They will be found under their related topic—civic education, digital literacy, financial literacy, health literacy or workforce preparation—as they are developed.

  • Teaching the Skills That Matter: Approaches That Work—Project-Based Learning
    This video shows the steps and structure of a project-based learning lesson in the context of a financial literacy lesson called "Eating Healthy on a Budget." You’ll see Lia Olson guide her multilevel ESL class through each step of the process as they plan a meal that is both low cost and healthy. Dr. Olson is a Teaching Skills that Matter Coach in addition to being an ABE and ELL teacher at The Ronald Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning. In the video, you'll also hear from Dr. Patsy Egan, an adult education subject matter expert and the director of the Adult Basic Education Training and Learning System (ATLAS) at Hamline University. For more information about project-based learning, check out documents on the approaches above. You can also find the lesson that Lia taught her class in the Financial Literacy section of the toolkit.
  • Teaching the Skills That Matter: Approaches That Work—Problem-Based Learning
    This video provides the steps and structure of a problem-based learning lesson in the context of a workforce preparation lesson titled "Unmet Workplace Performance". You’ll see Lia Olson guide her multilevel ESL class through each step of the process as the students decide how to respond to an angry boss. Dr. Olson is a Teaching Skills that Matter Coach in addition to being an ABE and ELL teacher at The Ronald Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning. In the video, you’ll also hear from Dr. Patsy Egan, an adult education subject matter expert and the director of the Adult Basic Education Training and Learning System (ATLAS) at Hamline University. For more information about problem-based learning, check out documents on the approaches above. You can also find the lesson that Lia taught her class in the Workforce Preparation section of the toolkit.
  • Teaching the Skills That Matter: Approaches That Work – Integrated and Contextualized Instruction
    This video shows the components for integrating and contextualizing instruction in the context of a financial literacy lesson titled “Household Cash Flow.”  You’ll see Stephanie Sommers guide her intermediate and intermediate-high (NRS levels) students through each component of integrated and contextualized instruction as the students decide how to save and manage money. Ms. Sommers is a Teaching Skills that Matter Coach in addition to being Adult Diploma Coordinator & Writing Curriculum Lead for Minneapolis Public Schools. In the video, you’ll also hear from Dr. Patsy Egan, an adult education subject matter expert and the director of the Adult Basic Education Training and Learning System (ATLAS) at Hamline University. For more information about integrating and contextualizing instruction check out documents on the approaches above.  You can also find the lesson that Ms. Sommers taught her class in the Financial Literacy section of the Toolkit.