Presents 10 tips for effective adult literacy programs, which were culled from presentations at the 1988 annual conference of American adult education directors. States that the key to success is having a sense of mission--nurturing a team spirit among the literacy program's staff and students. (RS)

Describes a whole school supplemental reading program for secondary schools based upon the development and use of a schoolwide reading list that includes titles of books, the types of teachers (chemistry, history, physical education, etc.) who sponsor the books, and the "linked courses" that bestow academic credit for each title. (SR)

Suggests that secondary school reading specialists desiring to establish a school-based, schoolwide reading program form a reading committee composed of content area teachers who propose ideas and help implement them. (MKM)

Emphasizes that since adults seek basic reading instruction for a variety of reasons (e.g., to further job status, to improve skills for their children's sake), planning programs should provide theory-based instruction that focuses on learner needs. (NKA)

Discusses 19 suggestions for improving the effectiveness of inservice programs, including conducting a needs assessment, developing clear objectives, showing examples of students' work, encouraging building supervisors to attend, and finding a good location for the inservice program. (RS)

Describes a research project to evaluate the progress of adult beginning readers. States that the project gave the authors insight into designing and carrying out research; broadened their understanding of how students learn about the learning process; enriched their teaching; and helped them view others' research in a new light. (RS)

Highlights the need for occupational literacy programs and provides brief guidelines for reading specialists interested in helping to develop such programs. (Auth/ARH)

Reviews Patrick Shannon's "Broken Promises: Reading Instruction in Twentieth Century America," which presents arguments to demonstrate that basal readers have led to a reversal of the roles of teacher and textbook in reading instruction. Relates the author's experiences in trying to help teachers turn away from basal readers. (RS)

Describes an experimental Young Author's conference for secondary school students. Notes that bringing together young writers and professional authors provides incentive for writing, as well as an authentic audience and purpose. (RS)

Examines assumptions (such as "every adult can read to some extent" and "adult students will be well motivated") held by a veteran high school social studies teacher before he began teaching adults how to read. Discusses how some of the assumptions were valid, some invalid, and others partly valid. (RS)

Presents a computerized readability scoring system that allows for the calculation and comparison of several formulas with no corresponding increase in teacher effort. (FL)

Describes a one-day Exemplary Writers' Workshop designed to recognize the writing products of secondary students. Lists workshop goals: providing students with opportunities to interact with professional writers; letting students interact with higher education faculty; and providing students with information about becoming a published writer. (RS)

Discusses materials in the ERIC system that offer definitions of basic skills, describe secondary basic skills programs, and provide competency standards and catalogs for basic skills. (MKM)

Describes the Los Angeles Theatre Center's program, "Theatre as a Learning Tool," which brings students from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and educational backgrounds to see fully staged theatrical productions. Notes that the program integrates the plays into daily lesson plans in reading, writing, critical thinking, and communication…

Describes a model for a comprehensive reading program that identifies critical elements of a program and their relationship to one another. (MKM)