This book reexamines dominant notions of what literacy is and challenges the problem-solution reflex approach to the issue. The book looks in detail at five principles advocated as central to the education of people who often can read, but wish they could read better, or who can write but wish they could write better. These principles focus on…

A project offered special training to instructors and volunteer tutors for adult basic education classes in recognizing and helping adults who are enrolled in adult education programs with learning disabilities. These instructors and tutors were taught the necessary skills through a series of three 3-hour inservice sessions. The regular…

A discussion of issues concerning the feasibility of conducting a Spanish version of the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) is presented. The discussion is based on a 1992 seminar to address linguistic, political, and logistic concerns in such an undertaking. While the experience with the NALS guided discussion, the primary focus was on special…

This publication presents the results of the Iowa State Adult Literacy Survey as referenced in the publication "Adult Literacy in Iowa: Results of the State Adult Literacy Survey" in graphic form. The State Adult Literacy Survey was a research project in which 12 states assessed the literacy skills of their adult populations. As a…

Information was collected about the current status of state literacy and basic skills efforts through a comprehensive survey of state literacy initiatives conducted in the summer of 1990. A total of 390 responses were received from the more than 400 surveys sent to governors' offices, state agencies, and Statewide literacy organizations. Results…

The importance of considering social contexts--workplace, family, and community networks--in devising adult literacy programs has emerged over the past decade as the clear consensus of adult literacy research. Equally important have been the attempts by field researchers and federal policymakers to use these findings in setting up demonstration…

The Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council offered a pilot program for instruction in mathematics in conjunction with its literacy program. The small group collaborative model was used. The council trained 20 tutors in a 12-hour basic reading workshop, then started 13 groups in 9 neighborhoods. Groups of about five students and a tutor met once each…

This paper reviews results of a questionnaire distributed to literacy workers in rural Alberta (Canada) to ascertain their views on rural literacy. The questionnaire was designed to identify: (1) distinctive features of the issue of adult illiteracy in rural areas; (2) the strengths of literacy efforts in rural Alberta; (3) the weaknesses of…

Based on a series of clear lines workshops, this guide about clear language in the workplace was written for people concerned about literacy and clear communication at work. The materials and activities help not only people with reading problems to design documents, memos, letters, and bulletins, but help, also, people who read well. The guide's…

Results of a statistical analysis of New York City's adult literacy database for its fourth year are reported. Data is derived from a citywide unit-record database that includes extensive information about enrollees in city- and state-funded classroom and tutorial programs and information on hours of instruction received by each student,…

Applicable to all levels of education, the eight digests and four FAST (Focused Access to Selected Topics) bibliographies included in this special collection focus on testing and assessment in the fields of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The material in this special collection is designed for use by teachers, students, administrators,…

This index of workplace and adult basic skills computer software includes 108 listings. Each listing is described according to the following classifications: (1) teacher/tutor tools (customizable or mini-authoring systems); (2) assessment and skills; (3) content; (4) instruction method; (5) system requirements; and (6) name, address, and phone…

The purpose of the Calcasieu Parish (Louisiana) literacy project was twofold: (1) to pool the resources of the existing local adult education agencies in the area; and (2) to perpetuate the advancement of literacy in the area by bringing together adult education students, qualified volunteer tutors, and needed adult education materials in an…

This monograph focuses on the use of dialogue journal writing for developing the literacy skills of adult English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students. A rationale is presented for making open and continuing dialogue a central part of any work with adults, and various approaches are suggested for promoting this dialogue with students, tutors, and…