This article reports the results from a randomized control field trial that investigated the impact of an enhanced decoding and spelling curriculum on the development of adult basic education (ABE) learners' reading skills. Sixteen ABE programs that offered class-based instruction to Low-Intermediate-level learners were randomly assigned to either…

Six suggestions are offered to help adult basic education teachers to develop adults' critical thinking skills. The suggestions recommend that teachers (1) seek reasons for an answer, (2) look for alternative answers, (3) take a passive role in discussion, (4) do not give an opinion unless asked, (5) ask students to back up their opinions, and (6)…

"Focus on Basics" is the quarterly publication of the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy. It presents best practices, current research on adult learning and literacy, and how research is used by adult basic education teachers, counselors, program administrators, and policymakers. "Focus on Basics" is…

Language experience in adult basic education serves a variety of purposes: emphasizing communication, providing an atmosphere of sharing and personal growth, and most importantly, allowing students to confront their own learning blocks rather than ignoring them. Case histories support the fulfillment of those purposes. There are basic methods to…

This two-page lesson plan for Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) uses a children's book ("Jip: His Story,"' by Katherine Paterson) to provide an integrated learning experience for students. The lesson plan includes a synopsis of the story and general suggestions for using the story in a basic skills class. It also…

This report identifies 13 instructional strategies for teaching adult numeracy skills that address issues of assessment, development of mathematical skills, and development of problem-solving skills. The rationale and suggestions regarding the following 13 instructional principles are described: address and evaluate attitudes and beliefs about…

The aims of this project have been to collect and analyze information on existing Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs, to identify types of programs which are successful in job-related settings, and to recommend promising new models for job-related ABE. Eighty programs were selected as possible for the study. When it was found impossible to…

The purpose of this project grant was to develop an innovative system which will recruit, motivate, and retain the undereducated adult in the Western Maryland region of Appalachia. The evaluation of staff changes in attitude toward the device was made with positive results. The evaluation of class interaction between the experimental and the…

This manual provides suggestions for planning and organizing literacy programs; samples and illustrations of course content; and suggested criteria for setting up such programs. The seven chapters of the manual are as follows: 1. Things Which You Can Do; 2. Learning to Talk English; 3. Reading; 4. Writing; 5. Spelling; 6. Teaching Arithmetic to…

"Cooperative Student Instruction" (CSI) is a form of peer instruction providing reinforcement, immediate application, and personal attention to adult literacy and basic education students. CSI builds self-concept; the learner takes responsibility for his/her own education and that of others. Included are a model for lesson design and…

Analysis of the Project ALERT (Adult Literacy Enhanced & Redefined through Training) Workplace Literacy Project produced a description of the needs assessment process, steps, and instruments that can be used for needs assessment in other workplace education projects. The data for the needs assessment were collected through the following methods: a…

This handbook was designed to help adult literacy education teachers to understand the plastics industry, develop a curriculum, and teach basic skills classes in a plastics company. The book contains four main sections. The first section, on the basics of plastics, contains a brief history of the industry, an elementary description of the…

This manual contains materials for a numeracy course for adult industrial workers. In addition to assessment tests, seven units are provided. Unit topics are whole numbers; fractions; decimals; percents, median, and range; measurement and signed numbers; ratio/proportion and introduction to algebra; and computer literacy using algebra software.…

This short guide examines three types of syllabi that can be used in helping adult English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students develop functional communication skills--grammatical, topical, and functional syllabi. Examples of the types of vocabulary that would be introduced in each curriculum are provided, and the main approaches that would be…

This manual is intended to be a survival guide for newly assigned teachers who have had little or no preservice training in teaching English as a second language (ESL) and who do not have access to such training prior to being assigned. The manual contains a set of beginning and intermediate lessons that can be used for the first 20 to 30 hours of…