A high school English teacher provides examples of teaching reading to educationally disadvantaged students through the use of meaningful vocabulary about things and peoples these students can identify with, a vocabulary that is both relevant and educational. (EH)

This article is intended to provide adult basic education teachers with examples of functional learning activities for their students through use of the newspaper. It lists activities which are illustrations of those that can be used to teach functional skills in the key areas of reading and computation. For reading, suggested activities include…

Originally intended for students with reading problems, this booklet may also be helpful to anyone who wants to make use of newspaper want ads. The eight teaching units discuss the following topics: (1) purposes for want ads, (2) finding want ads, (3) letting the alphabet help in reading want ads, (4) looking for a job, (5) looking for an…

After reiterating the findings of an earlier examination of job literacy, this paper discusses the results of a job literacy survey involving interviews with 107 individuals representing 100 occupations ranging from short-order cooks and assembly-line workers to lawyers and corporation vice-presidents. Other aspects of the research findings…

Demonstrates that many three- and four-year olds' attempts to read familiar print are highly organized, and indicate attention to graphic detail in some contexts. Also concludes that letter name knowledge alone does not explain children's shift from using meaning-oriented strategies to using both meaning and print-oriented strategies. (JAD)

Discusses the importance of combining functional reading with meaningful daily activities in the student's home, school, community, and vocational training areas. Emphasizes the need for severely handicapped and severely handicapped autistic students of limited English proficiency to be provided instruction in English as well as Spanish.…

To maximize effectiveness of instruction in daily living skills, teachers need procedures that are applicable to small group instruction, that promote generalization, and that can be replicated across skills. Eight moderately mentally retarded adults acquired and generalized daily living skills through a combination of instructions in reading…

The concept of content area reading (CAR) is introduced and implications are drawn for the teaching of reading in adult literacy and basic education programs. Included are (1) a definition of the concept, (2) background of reading-related problems, (3) practical approaches to functional reading instruction, and (4) the relationship between CAR and…

Describes how to select functional materials and techniques for teaching reading survival skills. (DD)

Provides a rationale for developing document literacy--the ability to read and use the many printed forms of information encountered on a regular basis, such as applications, forms, and instructions. Offers practical suggestions for using such documents in middle school classrooms. (EV)

These statements, letters, and supplemental materials were provided by: (1) Janet Jones Ballard, Assault on Literacy Program; (2) Representative Jim Cooper, Tennessee; (3) Mitch Snyder, Center for Creative Non-Violence; (4) Garrett Murphy, Division of Adult and Continuing Education Programs, New York; (5) W. Wilson Goode, mayor of Philadelphia;…

The Fry Readability Graph was used to assess the approximate readability level of each of 23 selected instructions, publications, and forms commonly used by adults in order to compare their readability levels with the minimum literacy level as defined by the United States Office of Education (approximately the eighth grade level). The results…

A study of the reading rate and comprehension of 10 aerospace engineers and analysis of the readability of sample company communications were undertaken. The Nelson-Denny Reading Test comprehension scores for the engineers, when compared with scores of a norm group provided by the Nelson-Denny Test Manual, were nearly the same in mean and standard…

The purpose of this project, begun in July 1970, was to learn what American adults read, and what they are able to read, as they go about their ordinary activities in the course of a normal day. A national survey of the reading activities of adults was administered to 5,096 individuals. Some conclusions drawn from the survey data are as follows:…