Using the data from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), this Data Point summarizes the number of U.S. adults with low levels of English literacy and describes how they differ by nativity status and race/ethnicity. PIAAC is a large-scale international study of working-age adults (ages 16-65) that assesses…

From interviews with 18 low-literate prisoners, the following observations were made: few could function effectively without assistance, which was most likely to come from fellow prisoners; functioning depended on type and importance of literacy tasks to the individual and individual abilities and characteristics. The complexity within this small…

A study was conducted to determine: (1) characteristics of illiterate adults enrolled at St. Teresa's VIP, and (2) implications of these characteristics for training volunteer tutors. A review was conducted of related research and opinion articles. A total of 48 students were interviewed concerning educational background, reasons for attending…

IN THE MISSOURI ADULT VOCATIONAL-LITERACY MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MATERIALS WERE DEVISED FOR TEACHING ADULTS TO READ, WRITE, AND SPELL AT THE FUNCTIONAL (SIXTH GRADE) LEVEL. IN THE RESEARCH PHASE, THE NEEDS, CHARACTERISTICS, LITERACY LEVEL, OCCUPATIONS, AND INTERESTS OF THE ILLITERATE ADULT WERE STUDIED, AND TEACHING MATERIALS AND METHODS…

THIS GUIDE PRESENTS A VARIETY OF MATERIALS, METHODS, AND IDEAS FOR TEACHING FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE ADULTS (WITH LESS THAN GRADE 4 READING ABILITY). EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON HELPING ADULTS TO READ INDEPENDENTLY AND TO ATTAIN A LEVEL OF SKILL SUFFICIENT FOR EVERYDAY READING TASKS. THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS DEAL WITH THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM OF…