This appraisal of the readability of materials used by Adult Basic Education (ABE) teachers determines readability by using the Dale-Chall Readability Formula, the Fry Readability Graph, and the Gunning Fog Readability Formula. An introductory chapter states the problem, defines terms, and presents the importance, hypotheses, design, limitations,…

Public librarians are provided with annotated listings of selected materials for both students and teachers involved in adult literacy programs. The student materials listed are suitable for use by a teacher in a classroom, by students in independent study, or by tutors in one-to-one situations. The list also includes professional reading for…

This volume contains selections from the first, second, and third yearbooks of the Southwest Reading Conference for Colleges and Universities. Articles discuss various aspects of college reading programs, including program establishment and administration, recent research on college reading, student reaction, vocabulary development, evaluation of…

Reports on a study of the reading strategies of 14 black adult college students who were nonproficient readers; compares results with those from earlier studies of children's reading strategies. Offers suggestions for remedial reading courses at the college level. (TJ)

Updates and extends an analysis of material in the postsecondary remedial/developmental reading field, indicating that the field is gaining professionalism. (JD)

Reviews physical and mental factors that influence the reading habits of older Americans. Discusses their motivations for reading, reading programs for institutionalized elders, ways to encourage older people to use the public library, and other ways to encourage older people to read. (SKC)

Surveys, interviews, and group discussions with 18 inmates enrolled in adult basic education elicited the inmates' perceptions of important factors in effective literacy classes: teacher behavior (explaining, giving examples); instructional environment (informal but well organized); and type of text (short stories and novels rather than…

Describes the Teachers as Readers project sponsored by the Association of American Publishers Reading Initiative to promote the reading of children's books by elementary school teachers. The role of children's books is considered, a pilot program in Virginia is described, and factors in forming a successful program are discussed. (LRW)

Introduces the standardized safety sign system being established in the United States. Argues that these safety signs, symbols, and warnings may be a good place to begin a workplace literacy project for workers with limited reading skills. (SR)

Based on ethnographic, participatory research in two Salvadoran villages, this article analyzes how features of the sociocultural setting bred discord and mistrust among the participants in an adult literacy program and other community residents, thereby undermining the program's goal of equipping "campesinos" to work together to improve…

Fluctuations in cognitive task performance in older individuals have been reported. To examine intraindividual variability as a function of practice, 34 younger and 34 older female participants, aged 20-30 years and 70-82 years, respectively, performed a reading span task 16 times over four sessions. Each individual's recall accuracy was analyzed…

The Michigan Council on Vocational Education conducted a comprehensive review of all secondary-level vocational education (VE) programs for adult criminal offenders. The review focused on the programs that were delivered through the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) in fiscal years 1994 and 1995. Data were collected from the following:…