Same Room, Different Needs: Differentiation Strategies for In-Person Adult ESL

Friday, November 20, 2026
10:00 PM – 12:00 PM at BRACE Framingham

Adult ESL classrooms are wonderfully diverse, with students bringing different language levels, educational backgrounds, learning preferences, and goals. This hands-on workshop will explore practical differentiation strategies that make instruction more accessible without requiring teachers to create multiple lesson plans. Through demonstrations, collaborative activities, and lesson makeovers, participants will experience differentiation from a student’s perspective and leave with ready-to-use techniques for increasing engagement and supporting learners at varying proficiency levels. *Participants are encouraged to bring a lesson plan from a class they’re currently teaching, as it will be used during the workshop.

Workshop Learning Objectives:

• Understand the principles of differentiated instruction.

• Differentiate content, process, product, and support.

• Learn practical strategies that require minimal extra planning.

• Modify an existing lesson using differentiation.

• Leave with ready-to-use classroom activities.

Presenter:

Janice Batista is an experienced educator, program director, and professional development trainer specializing in adult ESL instruction. With over 25 years of experience in curriculum design, teacher training, and classroom instruction, Janice is passionate about equipping educators with practical tools that spark engagement and foster meaningful learning. Her workshops are known for their energy, interactivity, and immediately applicable strategies.

Micocredential Categories:

• Advanced Skills (A)

This workshop is free to staff of all Massachusetts non-profit ABE and ESOL Programs.

First Literacy does not receive any state or federal funding and we work very hard to raise 100% of our budget from private sources. Please consider making a donation to First Literacy so we can continue to offer FREE high quality professional development workshops.