--- title: Professional Development Guides | Essential Education description: Use these guides for Adult Educators for strategies, studies, and ideas to improve student retention and completion rates in any Adult Education classroom. --- - [I'm a student](https://www.passged.com/students?__hstc=17574758.e44bc15386493dffa6594a9b8d649155.1601026525583.1601026525583.1601026525583.1&__hssc=17574758.31.1601026525584&__hsfp=2348900750) - educators - PRODUCTS - - [Adult Basic Education](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/adult-basic-education-courses) - [ABE Essentials Workbooks + Virtual Tutor](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/abe-essentials-virtual-tutor) - [TABE 11/12 Academy](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/tabe-academy) - [CASAS GOALS Academy](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/casas-academy) - [Measurable Skill Gains Accelerators](https://go.essentialed.com/all-msg-accelerators?hsLang=en) - [TABE 11/12 Curriculum Guide](https://go.essentialed.com/tabe-curriculum-guide?hsLang=en) - [Workforce Readiness](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/workforce-readiness-courses) - [Computer Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/computer-essentials) - [Work Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/work-essentials) - [Money Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/money-essentials) - [Dream Catcher Advance](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/dreamcatcher) - [The WIOA Manual](https://go.essentialed.com/wioa-manual?hsLang=en) - [Professional Development](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series) - [Identifying and Remediating Reading Skill Difficulties](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#IdentifyingRemediatingReadingSkillDifficulties) - [Motivating the Adult Learner](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#MotivatingtheAdultLearner) - [Blended Learning in Adult Education](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#BlendedLearninginAdultEducation) - [Distance Learning Series](https://go.essentialed.com/educators/distance-learning?hsLang=en) - [Teacher Toolkit](https://go.essentialed.com/educators/get-toolkit?hsLang=en) - [Tuesdays with Essential Education (TWEED)](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#TWEED) - - [High School Equivalency](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/high-school-equivalency-courses) - [GED Academy™](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/ged-academy) - [GED Ready® Practice Test](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/ged-ready-vouchers) - [HiSET Academy®](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/hiset-academy) - [HiSET Academy® Official Practice Test](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/hiset-opt) - [Essential Workbooks](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/essential-workbooks) - [High School Equivalency Curriculum Blueprints](https://go.essentialed.com/all-curriculum-blueprints?hsLang=en) - [College Readiness](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/college-essentials) - [College Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/college-essentials) - - For Corrections Education - [ABE Essentials Workbooks Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/abe-essentials-offline) - [TABE 11/12 Academy Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/tabe-academy-offline) - [CASAS GOALS Academy Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/casas-goals-academy-offline) - [GED Academy™ Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/ged-academy-offline) - [HiSET Academy® Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/hiset-academy-offline) - ADULT BASIC EDUCATION - - [Adult Basic Education](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/adult-basic-education-courses) - [ABE Essentials Workbooks + Virtual Tutor](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/abe-essentials-virtual-tutor) - [TABE 11/12 Academy](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/tabe-academy) - [CASAS GOALS Academy](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/casas-academy) - [Measurable Skill Gains Accelerators](https://go.essentialed.com/all-msg-accelerators?hsLang=en) - [TABE 11/12 Curriculum Guide](https://go.essentialed.com/tabe-curriculum-guide?hsLang=en) - For Corrections Education - [ABE Essentials Workbooks Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/abe-essentials-offline) - [TABE 11/12 Academy Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/tabe-academy-offline) - [CASAS GOALS Academy Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/casas-goals-academy-offline) - HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY - - [High School Equivalency](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/high-school-equivalency-courses) - [GED Academy™](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/ged-academy) - [GED Ready® Practice Test](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/ged-ready-vouchers) - [HiSET Academy®](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/hiset-academy) - [HiSET Academy® Official Practice Test](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/hiset-opt) - [Essential Workbooks](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/essential-workbooks) - [High School Equivalency Curriculum Blueprints](https://go.essentialed.com/all-curriculum-blueprints?hsLang=en) - For Corrections Education - [GED Academy™ Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/ged-academy-offline) - [HiSET Academy® Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/hiset-academy-offline) - WORKFORCE READINESS - - [Workforce Readiness](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/workforce-readiness-courses) - [Computer Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/computer-essentials) - [Work Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/work-essentials) - [Money Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/money-essentials) - [Dream Catcher Advance](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/dreamcatcher) - [The WIOA Manual](https://go.essentialed.com/wioa-manual?hsLang=en) - COLLEGE READINESS - - College Readiness - [College Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/college-essentials) - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - - [Professional Development](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series) - [Identifying and Remediating Reading Skill Difficulties](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#IdentifyingRemediatingReadingSkillDifficulties) - [Motivating the Adult Learner](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#MotivatingtheAdultLearner) - [Blended Learning in Adult Education](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#BlendedLearninginAdultEducation) - [Distance Learning Series](https://go.essentialed.com/educators/distance-learning?hsLang=en) - [Teacher Toolkit](https://go.essentialed.com/educators/get-toolkit?hsLang=en) - [Tuesdays with Essential Education (TWEED)](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#TWEED) REVOLUTIONIZING LEARNING SINCE 2002 - [All Products](https://www.essentialed.com/educators#AdultBasicEducation) - Adult Basic Education - [ABE Essentials Workbooks](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/abe-essentials-virtual-tutor) - [ABE Essentials Workbooks Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/abe-essentials-offline) - [TABE 11/12 Academy](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/tabe-academy) - [TABE 11/12 Academy Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/tabe-academy-offline) - [CASAS GOALS Academy](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/casas-academy) - [CASAS GOALS Academy Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/casas-goals-academy-offline) - [Measurable Skill Gains Accelerator](https://go.essentialed.com/all-msg-accelerators?hsLang=en) - [TABE 11/12 Curriculum](https://go.essentialed.com/tabe-curriculum-guide?hsLang=en) - [All ABE Products](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/adult-basic-education-courses) - High School Equivalency - [GED Academy™](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/ged-academy) - [GED Academy™ Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/ged-academy-offline) - [GED Ready® Practice Test](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/ged-ready-vouchers) - [HiSET Academy®](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/hiset-academy) - [HiSET Academy® Offline](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/hiset-academy-offline) - [HiSET® Official Practice Test](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/hiset-opt) - [Essential Workbooks](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/essential-workbooks) - [HSE Curriculum Blueprints](https://go.essentialed.com/all-curriculum-blueprints?hsLang=en) - [All HSE Products](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/high-school-equivalency-courses) - Workforce Readiness - [Computer Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/computer-essentials) - [Work Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/work-essentials) - [Money Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/money-essentials) - [Dream Catcher Advance](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/dreamcatcher) - [The WIOA Manual](https://go.essentialed.com/wioa-manual?hsLang=en) - [All Workforce Products](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/workforce-readiness-courses) - College Readiness - [College Essentials](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/college-essentials) - Professional Development - [Identifying and Remediating Reading](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#IdentifyingRemediatingReadingSkillDifficulties) - [Motivating the Adult Learner](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#MotivatingtheAdultLearner) - [Blended Learning in Adult Ed](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#BlendedLearninginAdultEducation) - [Distance Learning Series](https://go.essentialed.com/educators/distance-learning?hsLang=en) - [Teacher Toolkit](https://go.essentialed.com/educators/toolkit?hsLang=en) - [TWEED](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series#TWEED) - [All Pro Development Products](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/professional-development-series) - [Search](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/search) - [Contact](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/contact-us) - [Resources](https://go.essentialed.com/educator-resources?hsLang=en) - [PD Log In](https://www.essentialed.com/start/epd-indie) - [My Cart](https://lg189.infusionsoft.app/app/manageCart/showManageOrder?styleThemeId=122) - - [contact us](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/contact-us) - [resources](https://www.essentialed.com/educators/free-resources) - [PD Log In](https://www.essentialed.com/start/epd-indie) - # Free Professional Development Guides for Adult Educators ## Discover current research, gain insight through reflection exercises, and learn practical strategies to transform your classroom and learning outcomes. [![The 6 Anchors of Student Retention\_flat](https://go.essentialed.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/Educator/Cover%20Images/Retention%20Guide%20covers/The%206%20Anchors%20of%20Student%20Retention_flat.webp?width=300&height=388&name=The%206%20Anchors%20of%20Student%20Retention_flat.webp "The 6 Anchors of Student Retention_flat")](https://go.essentialed.com/educators/retention-guide?hsLang=en) ## The 6 Anchors of Student Retention ### Proven Strategies for Long-Term Student Success & Engagement in Adult Education A one-of-a-kind resource that outlines research conducted by a year-long Professional Learning Community of adult educators who set out to identify and resolve the most pressing barriers to student retention and completion. This guide outlines attendance-boosting strategies, experiments, thought exercises, activities, and more to help adult educators create a supportive, motivating environment that keeps their students on track toward program completion. [![Download Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8125094/interactive-212831524443.png)](https://go.essentialed.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLI1Mi6uUlbrs7JiwyD3xYdOocI295thj0heNmIL5M6IuXMvB57Ycm3y7GZlzU60xwVDPzGA63aVzvxsauISvHaUbMADhm50hWpiPffyrpIOGz3UxZRLv8pDqlot2pWaoyQiuVUunoAjFSqL9yYDCh31%2FRVZrCw1S%2FQNQ4yHAI17hjUNBfR7cDxp1pOT3J2J83bqIHT%2BXgoqlk2syg%2FS%2Ba8KZS2W8dAcEQXJ&webInteractiveContentId=212831524443&portalId=8125094&hsLang=en) ## Overcoming Adult Learning Challenges ### An Educator’s Guide to Boosting Engagement and Accelerating Gains A rich resource applies the findings of a Professional Learning Community of adult education professionals who investigated four key challenges for adult learners: literacy difficulties, learning challenges, trauma, and essential skills gaps. This workbook-style guide provides actionable strategies, resources, and techniques to uplift, support, and empower adult learners to overcome their challenges with determination. [![Download Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8125094/interactive-212822635075.png)](https://go.essentialed.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLId%2FPJOAcBL%2FwRYHbZ8YprAXsTYsDOaq9JI%2BRHNX6encQwujYC%2FCIdOdAaVjtWox8p8bUq%2BJd%2B1n46oK6CCio7%2F3hIYM%2FJRhGM5BSMDZem1HLrklK9rBNz28mEm03vZl2%2BEnBKwc%2B67V8TdJ23qrhbt9CnTlCL6DCR7pMgAhjJdXlEsgXzoygdZ6cTs4%2BjznkVJ5EaaLvLkOG%2BBmRm078cZ5OaxUnpc%2B9wOU9bZQR7o0%2BlkCa9tj9%2F6dbfd6FteaLhYJDNQ&webInteractiveContentId=212822635075&portalId=8125094&hsLang=en) [![Overcoming Adult Learning Challenges\_flat](https://go.essentialed.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/Educator/Cover%20Images/Overcoming%20Adult%20Learning%20covers/Overcoming%20Adult%20Learning%20Challenges_flat.webp?width=300&height=388&name=Overcoming%20Adult%20Learning%20Challenges_flat.webp "Overcoming Adult Learning Challenges_flat")](https://go.essentialed.com/educators/overcoming-adult-learning-challenges-guide?hsLang=en) [![3D Differentiation Guide cover\_flat](https://go.essentialed.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/Educator/Cover%20Images/3D%20Guide%20covers/3D%20Differentiation%20Guide%20cover_flat.png?width=300&height=388&name=3D%20Differentiation%20Guide%20cover_flat.png "3D Differentiation Guide cover_flat")](https://go.essentialed.com/educators/3d-differentiation-guide?hsLang=en) ## 3D Differentiation Guide ### How to Plan and Create Engaging Instruction for All Adult Learners A practical resource that shows adult educators how to promote learning progress in diverse classrooms. Complete with practical strategies for instructional design, implementation, and assessment, this guide provides a simplified model for planning and delivering a streamlined curriculum that speaks to the varied needs of adult learners. [![Download Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8125094/interactive-212831524502.png)](https://go.essentialed.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLJam3h4tmPUck%2FfzO%2FhWhdsjQo1TubpF%2B6U98mUZIvAOieu%2Bkjy25b6FeeYLLz7rqELQO%2BnPrwZya8yYgtWVjS5ObgnK0ki902wSuzvlFJvQT5lji6W9Ewa2IbaQl%2BkLnBIeAXGhEP2hC6%2FzJR%2FgkbReYoudzMyF2pIAjqi0yrKGEdPYvGOfE0dNT3RWjZQGFqSBeEnkqm5SL3IAUoohU%2FblmYcVRlfhj1zd6veZg0UhVhk&webInteractiveContentId=212831524502&portalId=8125094&hsLang=en) ## Digital Literacy Implementation Guide ### An Educator’s Guide to Implementing Computer Essentials into the Classroom A guide to bridging the gap between why adult educators need to teach digital literacy skills and what to use to teach them. Learn how to integrate digital literacy into your everyday classroom through activities, lesson plans, and templates that are easily adaptable to many learning environments. 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