Three personal stories illustrate how dominant narratives deny women's voices: (1) women silenced the literacies of the changing workplace; (2) writing workshops in which older women describe age stereotypes; and (3) a courtroom in which a rape victim is silenced. Ways to intervene in prevailing literacy practices must stem from policy as well as…

Explores two forms of workplace literacies that served as instruments of management in a community mental health boarding home established for middle-aged women, and summarizes key issues that emerged from analysis of textual ethnography. Examines the record of textual mediation of workers and residents in an extensive, anecdotal workplace text…

Argues for a richer, more varied English Instruction experience for "vocational track" students. Suggests several methods for creating a more powerful vocational/English curriculum. Concludes that it is not the place of any teacher or school to decide what kinds of literacy students will or will not need or want in their futures. (SG)

Research examining the relationship between workplace literacy and training-related factors is virtually nonexistent. This study examined how variations in individual learning transfer system perceptions were associated with job-related workplace literacy skill differences. Results indicated significant differences in learning transfer system…

Leaning Communities at Craven Community College provide unique avenues for student growth. Using quality learning and brain research, we have developed environments that engage students and instructors in continuous improvement, teach academic accountability, and offer students the opportunity to learn and practice employment skills in academic…

In the 21st century concerns about workplace language and literacy skills, particularly in the service and manufacturing sectors, continue to drive education and testing policy in many OECD countries. Employers tend to adopt deficit assumptions about service workers' skills, conflating social identities and language and literacy, which can blind…

The Convenience Store Workplace Literacy Curriculum was developed for English-as-a-Second-Language classes offered by the Southland Corporation, 7-Eleven stores, through a national workplace literacy grant. It is based on an analysis of the tasks and interactions common to a convenience store worksite. Store employees, managers, field consultants,…

Workplace education curriculum models may be based on the functional context, ethnographic/student-centered, or participatory approach. Curricula based on the functional context approach focus on the abilities (functions) needed by workers at a specific worksite, and workers are unlikely to have much input in deciding what or how they will study.…

The Massachusetts Workplace Literacy Consortium sought to upgrade work-related literacy skills at 22 partner sites in the state. Members included manufacturers, health care organizations, educational institutions, and labor unions. In its third year, the consortium served 1,179 workers with classes in English for speakers of other languages, adult…

This guide raises and discusses questions to guide workplace literacy. The historic context for this handbook is the progress of Project REACH from its inception in 1986 to the present. An introduction considers how an workplace literacy. An introduction considers how an organization's history affects program decisions. Chapter 1 looks at…

This reading curriculum for the Education for Employment Project (a project based on business and education partnerships, with the goal of producing the finest, best educated, and most skilled work force in the United States has as its purpose the development of strategic readers critical thinkers who view reading as a lifelong interactive process…

Representing a selection from the American Newspaper Publishers Association (ANPA) Literacy Conference, these seven papers include: "Remarks Prepared for Delivery ANPA Literacy Conference" (Labor Secretary, Elizabeth Dole); "National Education Goal #5: A Challenge for Everyone" (Assistant Secretary of Education, Ted Sanders);…

Sociocultural concerns have provided the framework for literacy expectations throughout the history of the United States, and have determined the extent to which national emphasis has been placed on adult literacy programs. Early literacy programs have been traced to the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. The next surge of interest in…

Investment in literacy upgrading can pay rich dividends in both quality of life for individuals and benefits to society. Literacy can become the gateway to a fuller understanding of ideas and responsible participation as citizens. Unfortunately, academic abilities of schooled youth are not keeping pace with the skills/knowledge requirements of…

This paper is a summary of existing literature on the literacy requirements of various businesses and industries, including the Federal Government. The findings came from a spring 1979 search for literature on the literacy requirements of various businesses and industries during 1969-1979. The report contains information on the following topics:…