This report describes the early childhood and elementary education systems in Latin America and the Caribbean islands, and examines obstacles to educational improvement in this region. Central to the report is the fact that although over 90 percent of the population enrolls in primary education at some point in their lives, 15 percent of the…

In order to help students learn mathematics skills and how to apply them, a staff development workshop for vocational tutors was held at Calderdale College (England). The workshop focused on three objectives: to identify and raise awareness of students' needs, to identify barriers to learning, and to identify ways of supporting students. Four key…

The argument is advanced that many literacy materials, such as basal readers and workbooks, do not allow literacy students to learn to read and write in the daily context in which the skills will be used, and an alternative is described. The limitations of phonics-based materials and the resulting controlled vocabulary of readers and workbooks…

The major accomplishments of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) for fiscal year 1984-1985 are grouped according to the Commission's four principal program areas. Activities addressing Access to Information included disseminating a report on the role of fees in supporting public and academic libraries and compiling…

A study replicated portions of the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council's pilot study that addressed the effectiveness of small group instruction. The study contrasted reading proficiency gain and personal goals accomplishment across two instructional modes: small group and traditional one-to-one instruction. Three group instruction sites were…

Phonics has been taught from the time of the ancient Greeks to make the written language more accessible. The first task of learning to read is learning to recognize in print the language used in speech. As a result of many studies conducted during the 1960s which demonstrated the effectiveness of phonics, its use as an instructional method…

In the context of multicultural Australia, bilingual education has generally become a viable educational option for all school age students, but there is less interest in developing bilingual skills in adults with a non-English speaking background (NESB). This paper arises out of a 1991 research study on "The Literacy Needs of NESB…

The Illinois Literacy Council's Long-Range Planning team interviewed more than 100 educators, business representatives, policy makers, and adult new readers to gather their thoughts about the state of literacy and how it might be improved. Their report raises 7 issues and presents 11 recommendations. The seven issues relate to the following: (1)…

By the year 2000, it is estimated that there will be 1 billion illiterates, 98% of whom will be in developing regions. Oral traditions and the preponderance of local languages and dialects are among the reasons the situation is so widespread. Illiteracy is linked to contextual factors in which social class distinctions, linguistic affiliations,…

Access to Learning for Adults (ALFA) links education providers and organizations in collaborative work to extend and improve access to education opportunities for adults underrepresented in the system. A survey followed the progress, performance, and experiences of 86 former ALFA students, aged 25 to 49, in London, England, in their seeking of…

This adult literacy curriculum best serves groups of students, but is also effective for one-on-one tutoring methods. The material covers the history of broad form deeds in Kentucky (instruments with which coal rights, but not the farmlands above the coal, were sold to mining companies) and includes four personal narratives of Kentucky residents…

Reflecting a holistic approach by introducing many sides of an issue, this anthology of 16 journal articles and conference papers dating from 1985 to 1990 represents a selection of the best research and practice concerning the intersections of adult literacies with elementary and secondary education. The papers and articles are divided among four…

This paper describes the whole language approach to literacy education in the context of teaching adults. Information is drawn from literature and from interviews with teachers and literacy students. Topics covered include the following: whole language--a framework, learning language, learning through language, learning about language, what people…

Grant funding enabled the Adams County Public Library (ACPL) in Colorado to hire permanent staff; build collections of library materials for literacy students, tutors, and the general public; provide workbooks to students at no cost; and expand the scope and effectiveness of the literacy program by enabling the development of collections of…

This bibliography focuses on research in adult literacy and basic education. The general categories, which were determined on the basis of the agenda of the conference for which it was prepared, include bibliographies; history of literacy/illiteracy; theory of literacy; literacy provision (examples from local to international); literacy and…