This study by Louis Harris and Associates was designed to determine the percentage of Americans lacking the functional or practical reading skills necessary to survive in this country. A test on reading and filling out application forms indicated that from 4.3 million to 18.5 million Americans are functionally illiterate. The average range of…

The use of readability formulae to estimate the difficulty levels of vocational reading materials, the determination of relationships of reading skills to job proficiency, and the relationship of general reading ability to performance on specially constructed job reading task tests (JRTT) are discussed to define the literacy skill demands (i.e.,…

Examines two features that the "Philadelphia Daily News" has employed on behalf of Philadelphia's adult literacy campaign, (1) "The Savvy Reader," a column which reports news stories to lower level readers, and (2) "Fresh Start," a nine-week series designed to give adults daily practice toward the Grade Equivalency…

Urges that a complete science education curriculum should teach the communication skills of reading, listening, writing, and speaking, as well as the practice of literacy in scientific areas. (AEA)

Discusses seven guidelines for programs to teach functional reading skills and meet minimum competency standards. (AEA)

Points to the need to teach children the reading skills they require in their present lives. Lists information-finding skills and critical reading skills children need, based on an informal survey of children's reading, and suggests ways of teaching the skills. (GT)

Reports on research probing job-related literacy demands and on programs promoting job literacy. (JT)

Details a study indicating that the minimal level of literacy necessary for adults in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is very high. Provides a master list of vocabulary words, symbols, numbers, abbreviations, computational skills, and writing skills needed for functional literacy. (MKM)

This guide is intended for use in developing informational materials intended to be read by adults with limited reading skills. Most of the examples used throughout the guidelines relate to food and nutrition; however, the concepts they illustrate are applicable to any topic. The following topics are covering: knowing a written message's intended…

This document describes the British Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit (ALBSU) because information on the ALBSU experience might be useful to planners working to establish a similar national literacy center in the United States. (The ALBSU was formed in London in the mid-1970s to support the BBC's television-based national adult literacy…

The 1973 statewide (Maryland) educational accountability plan, for which this report was compiled, called for the development and establishment of statewide and local goals in reading, writing, and mathematics; a comprehensive and uniform statewide testing program; procedures for collecting data on student, home, community, and school…

The Free University of Iran (FUI) operates by means of a multimedia teaching system, teaching students at a distance and developing a learning environment based near the place of residence or work of its students. This document reviews the development of the Foundation English Course according to the systems approach to instruction adopted by FUI.…

This paper reviews research which indicates that (1) more adults spend more time at job related reading than at any other type of reading; (2) materials written for functional purposes (job manuals, newspapers) are often too difficult for the people who are supposed to read them; (3) secondary English courses focus more on teaching reading and…

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)

This paper presents a series of reading and writing activities centered around a 19-item word list suitable for use in tutoring adults. The activities in the paper involve short stories, writing exercises, and take-home exercises. Included with the activities is a guide that presents, in addition to the word list and the exercises, instructions…