Suggests that the teaching of reading and writing to adults is difficult but not impossible, especially with a carefully planned and executed program; outlines four sequential stages of such a program. (JM)

Case studies of five participants in a community-based literacy program revealed three themes: extent to which they reproduced or resisted the dominant discourse on literacy, the extent to which they used social networks inside and outside the program, and the extent to which they were individually empowered. Some differences between men and women…

An instrument for evaluating extension teaching effectiveness was developed for low literate audiences and tested for content and face validity and reliability. The nine-item instrument used a pictorial scale and open-ended statement to assess six dimensions of teaching: learning, enthusiasm, organization, group interaction, individual rapport,…

Describes the development of a general equivalency diploma (GED) preparation program at the New York Institute for Special Education, which serves students who are visually impaired. It reports that as of June 1996, 19 students (all over age 19) with visual impairments had participated in the GED program. Thirteen of these students have received…

A survey of 200 volunteer monitors in literacy centers in India identified problems they had, particularly in acquiring suitable materials and securing cooperation from agencies and communities. Some relationship between monitors' personal characteristics and problems was found, suggesting a need for preservice and inservice training. (SK)

Reflects upon the development, implementation and research of specific intergenerational family literacy initiatives in the Anglophone section of New Brunswick. Presents four initiatives and discusses working with the community, working in the neighborhood, and working within a university context. (SG)

Aims to determine the cognitive processes of adult literacy acquisition. Assesses the progress of 59 women in an intensive adult literacy program in Turkey. Finds that after only 90 hours of instruction, there were significant improvements in letter and word recognition, phonological awareness, and spelling levels. Notes results are consistent…

Addresses the question of the role of general speed/rate of processing in reading impairment in adults. Compares 95 adults varying in word-recognition ability. Shows significant and pervasive speed/rate differences among groups, as well as differences in accuracy performance. (SG)

Case studies of six adult literacy students revealed factors that had influenced them to stop and restart formal education: family conditions, traumatic events, initial schooling experiences, social networks, personal motivations, and informal learning experiences. The influence of contextual factors on literacy learning and characteristics of…

Results of the Deterrents to Participation Scale completed by 119 General Educational Development participants aged 16-23 revealed the following: (1) no differences between black and white students; (2) statistically significant differences between men and women and urban and rural residents; and (3) family constraints as the only factor with…

Adult literacy students (n=344) read, retold, and answered questions about two narrative and/or expository passages. Miscue analysis revealed few differences across nine reading levels. Results of the three tasks indicate adults at all stages of literacy development make effective use of their knowledge as they read. An integrated, spiral…

Describes the phenomenon of the writing workshop as it developed in the early days of the British adult literacy campaign. Discusses the history of the workshops, how a writing event works, organizational concerns, educational implications, and contrasts with other methods of teaching adult literacy. (RS)

A class of 15 adult literacy students was provided reading instruction and training in self-evaluation skills; a control group of 15 did not receive such training. Data revealed both groups to be overestimators of their reading performance. More experimentals overestimated their performance after training. No differences were found in reading…

Describes the Vermont Skills Bank/Futures Project, FUTURES, which provides a supportive atmosphere for people to voice their dreams, examine the effect of change in their lives, and to begin to set realistic goals with measurable outcomes for success. Participants explore career options, work with adult basic education tutors, and gain access to…

The multitext approach to teaching reading to diverse groups of adults involves the teacher in selecting a topic and several books. Students follow a seven-step process that actively engages them in defining their knowledge of the topic and taking responsibility for choosing a text and reading to answer questions about the topic. (SK)