Training and support for tutors and teachers working with students
reading and writing at an 8th grade level or above, preparing for the
GED, HiSET, or other HSE test.
We’ve identified three areas of need and have designed webinars to address
each. Throughout all three topics, we will also address helping students
develop test-taking skills and keeping students engaged.
About the Presenter
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Kara Krawiec
earned her Master of Arts degree in Literature from John Carroll
University in Cleveland, OH. Upon graduation, she became an adjunct
professor at John Carroll University, Lakeland Community College, and
Cuyahoga Community College, teaching developmental reading and writing
courses to non-traditional learners. In 2017, she found Seeds of Literacy,
an adult literacy non-profit in Cleveland, OH. Following her passion, she
now serves as the Site Coordinator for the organization’s East side
location. During her time at Seeds, she has worked tirelessly to help her
students – focusing not only on students’ individual needs, but the need
for a strong learning community as well. To build that sense of community
and to share her love of reading with students, Kara launched a Book Club,
for which she received international acclaim. In 2018, Kara accepted the
inaugural ProLiteracy Hero Award on behalf of Seeds of Literacy in
recognition of their achievement in the adult education field. Kara's
dedication to creating a strong learning community extends beyond the
classroom and has driven her to share her experience and expertise with
her fellow educators by presenting at several local, state, and national
conferences.
Past Webinar(s):
"Do I Really Have to Write an Essay?" Making Writing Relevant for the HSE and Beyond
October 11, 2022
Although many students may argue that the math section is the most intimidating part of the HSE exam, the writing section seems to be the most avoided. Even some of the strongest readers shy away from writing. Why is that? How can adult educators help? In this webinar, Krawiec will share strategies on how to help students not only improve their writing composition skills for the HSE exam, but also see the necessity and fun of writing too.
"What Did I Just Read?" Improving Reading Comprehension by Connecting to the Text and Each Other
January 10, 2023
Most readers have experienced that moment when they read a sentence, a paragraph, an essay, or even an entire book, and look up and wonder, “what did I just read?” When we don’t connect to what we’re reading, we’re significantly less likely to comprehend or really even remember it. Connecting to the texts used in the HSE exams can be a challenge for students because they often feel so far removed from our everyday lives and language. In this webinar, Krawiec will discuss ways to help students connect to HSE texts and build a lifelong love of reading.
"But Why?” Building Critical Thinking Skills Through Questioning and Practice
April 11, 2023
This small question, with only three letters, can often feel like the most difficult, but crucial question to answer. That’s because asking why encourages us to go under the surface and dig deep – to really understand and consider. Like any other skill, students must put into practice the critical thinking skills that are needed for answering questions on the HSE exam, but may not be sure where to start. In this webinar, Krawiec will start with “why?” and offer other suggestions and strategies for how to help students answer HSE questions that require critical thinking skills.