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by John Trerotola
CILIA-T (Content Integrated Language Instruction for Adults with Technology Support) is a comprehensive curriculum that has been designed for adult learners with the goal of enhancing students’ academic English skills, civic understanding, and digital literacy. (While the CILIA-T curriculum is primarily leveled for adult ESL classrooms, it also includes many elements that can be effectively adapted for pre-HSE and HSE settings. As a GED English and Social Studies teacher—and as a member of the team that developed CILIA-T—I have incorporated many of the reading texts and corresponding activities into my lessons to support key skills necessary for GED success. While I currently teach in a county detention center, I have taught for many years in a traditional adult education setting and recognize how CILIA-T will be a valuable resource for a variety of classroom environments.
What is GED?
The GED is not a traditional “history test.” Instead, it uses social studies content as a foundation for assessing critical reading skills. However, students still need sufficient background knowledge in history and civics to connect meaningfully with reading passages and interpret visual information such as charts and graphs. As I often remind my students, this foundational knowledge not only helps them pass the test but also deepens their understanding of America’s complex history and strengthens their ability to connect past events to current issues. Already, students have shared that the CILIA-T materials have helped them fill background knowledge gaps, particularly in U.S. history and government.
How do I use CILIA-T with GED students?
The GED Social Studies test spans major topics in history, government, geography, and economics. Given that instructional time is always limited—and that I teach in a correctional facility where technology access is minimal—the CILIA-T reading texts provide an efficient and practical way to introduce essential content. I have also used the text-based and “big questions” as quick-write prompts to reinforce comprehension and build analytical thinking skills.
Condensing major social studies topics—such as the Civil War or the three branches of government—into accessible instructional segments is no small task. Too much information can overwhelm students, while too little may not adequately support first-time exposure. Each CILIA-T module strikes a thoughtful balance. When students read the texts aloud, they gain targeted background knowledge aligned with GED expectations. At times, the material sparks genuine curiosity. Recently, a student was seemingly surprised that the Civil Rights Movement did not happen “that long ago” and wanted to learn more—a powerful reminder that engagement often begins with accessible content.
Beyond the readings, I have integrated many of the activities to refresh and enrich lessons I have taught for years. For example, I regularly use a module’s timeline activity in which students match historical events with their correct descriptions. This activity not only allows students to assess their own background knowledge but also provides me with valuable insight for lesson planning. While anecdotal, one student credited this timeline exercise with helping him finally pass his GED Social Studies test!
In addition to strengthening civics and history knowledge, CILIA-T supports the development of critical reading skills—essential for GED success and for navigating today’s information-rich environment. Identifying claims, reasons, and evidence is foundational to both academic and civic literacy. The curriculum intentionally includes activities that guide students away from accepting information at face value. Many modules introduce structured opportunities to examine arguments, evaluate evidence, and assess strengths and weaknesses—skills that extend well beyond test preparation.
Of course, my students’ ultimate goal is passing the GED, and supporting that achievement is my primary objective. A frequent question I hear is, “Will this be on the test?” While no instructor can predict specific test items, I consistently connect CILIA-T content—and any supplemental materials—to actual GED-style questions. This approach reinforces relevance while strengthening students’ reading comprehension and test-taking confidence.
Currently, CILIA-T is being piloted in several programs. Natalie Seger at Literacy Minnesota, for example, is working to implement much of the curriculum with her predominantly pre-GED class, both in-person and online. As instructors continue to explore the modules, their feedback will be invaluable in refining how CILIA-T serves diverse adult education settings. Stay tuned for future updates and classroom insights.
Ultimately, CILIA-T can function as a comprehensive stand-alone curriculum, particularly for ESL classrooms. At the same time, many of its components integrate seamlessly into HSE-level instruction. Its flexibility makes it a dynamic resource for adult learners with different goals and across instructional environments—online, in-person, or hybrid.
John Trerotola is a member of the CILIA-T development team and is also a GED English/Social Studies teacher at the Fairfax County (Virginia) Adult Detention Center.
