Humans have an instinct not only to tell stories but also to listen to them. When the message is passed from storyteller to audience, lessons are frequently transmitted. The stories serve as vessels for cultural transmission. Yet there is a gap in the research evaluating how their effectiveness in teaching informally might be leveraged in a…

Engaging with children as research informants and supporting their participation in research is increasingly recognised as valuing children's views on matters that affect them. Less attention, however, is given to the ways in which children co-construct and manage their participation in child-researcher interactions. Drawing on sociology of…

This case study of multimodal pedagogies within an intergenerational (IG) art class addresses questions about the learning opportunities that were created therein and what the fixing of participants' ideas within a semiotic chain said about their facility with communicative modes and media, interests, and identity options. Key findings include:…

In this article, we share real-world literacy activities that we designed and implemented in two early literacy classes for preschoolers from two inner-city neighbourhoods that were part of an intergenerational family literacy program, Literacy for Life (LFL). The program was informed by research that shows that young children in high literate…

The questions and answers in this document focus on the way that families affect and create the conditions for literacy development and use among family members. The following questions are addressed: (1) What is family literacy? Is it the same as intergenerational literacy? (2) What are the goals of family and intergenerational programs, and what…

A project to promote collaboration between child and adult literacy educators in a family English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) literacy program is described. It arose from conflicting opinions and concerns voiced by teachers familiar with different student groups and with different instructional frames of reference. Quarterly teacher preplanning…

A method for increasing interaction between students and older adults in a geriatric pharmacy course uses an instructional module on stereotypes, age and personality, role changes, and nursing home living. The course requires students to conduct a life review of someone over age 65. The exercise improves student communication skills and…

This booklet, which is intended for educators interested in establishing service learning programs, examines the benefits, development, and operation of intergenerational service learning programs. Discussed are the benefits of intergenerational programs in view of recent changes in family life and society as a whole. Three types of…

This five-chapter guide for coordinators of community-based literacy groups working with prisoners is illustrated with prisoners' drawings. The first chapter examines issues affecting learning behind bars. Topics covered include similarities to and differences from other programs, respecting the learner's culture, links between poverty and…

This document, one of a series of guidebooks that were developed for educators of homeless adults in New York, presents program development strategies and sample lesson plans that promote a holistic, contextualized approach to teaching. After a brief introduction, the importance of family literacy is discussed, and 25 publications devoted to…

This guide describes various tutoring methods and supportive roles performed by volunteers in adult literacy programs. The practices described usually complement instruction in adult education and literacy classes as well as expand the delivery system of programs and services to the adult learner. The 25 practices described are grouped under the…

A panel of experts from a variety of disciplines was convened to advise policymakers about what is known about instructional effectiveness in adult and family literacy situations. The panel concluded that, although little research examining instructional effectiveness in family and adult literacy programs is available, a great deal of "best…

These conference proceedings provide summaries of 84 presentations on various aspects of the High/Scope active learning approach for high-risk students, as well as related topics. Topics addressed include active learning, music education, language role, portfolio assessment, teacher training, special needs students, High/Scope in Portugal,…

This document contains information about and from a study of the experiences of 41 adults enrolled in adult basic education/English for speakers of other languages (ABE/ESOL) programs that was conducted to determine what their learning meant to them and to identify strategies for developing a new pluralism in ABE/ESOL classrooms and teaching to…

A staff development program was conducted to provide adult educators in Pennsylvania with information about adults with learning differences and information about using alternative instructional tools and techniques to instruct such adults. The following four training sessions were developed: (1) Teaching GED (General Educational Development) Math…