Research studies and theoretical works on the following aspects of professionalization of adult literacy teachers were reviewed: preparation, certification, and licensure of adult educators; history of the professionalization process of other occupations; state certification requirements for adult basic education (ABE) teachers; and preparation…

This theme issue for people working in the field of adult literacy focuses on the impact of learning disabilities (LD) on an adult's social skills. It explores various social, emotional, and daily living concerns which adults with learning disabilities may face. The following articles are included: (1) "Social Skills and Adults with Learning…

This booklet is part of a series on state-level family support and education policy published by the Harvard Family Research Project. It is based on a more detailed set of studies collected in "Innovative Models to Guide Family Support and Education Policy in the 1990s." Connecticut's Parent Education Support Centers program offers…

A 3-day working conference on adult mathematical literacy took a first step toward ensuring that all adults acquire the mathematical skills they need to function on the job and in society, to achieve personal goals, and to support their children's education. Participants were adult educators involved in numeracy-related instruction, teacher…

An adequate description of the infrastructure system of adult literacy education needs to address three levels: national, state, and local. At the national level, infrastructure is currently shaped primarily by the Adult Education Act (AEA), amended by the National Literacy Act of 1991. Given that the AEA is a state grant program, state literacy…

This handbook, which is intended for workplace literacy practitioners and trainers, examines how to develop and evaluate workplace literacy. Discussed in chapter 1 are the following: current practices in workplace literacy programs, literacy demands on workers and ways of addressing them through workplace education programs, and the importance of…

A study critically reviewed current literature on gender and literacy learning as a foundation for the development of theory and further research on gender issues in adult literacy learning. One of the most surprising findings was the real lack of serious attention to gender issues in recent scholarship on early literacy and reading education. The…

This brief report describes a 1-year project to develop a curriculum on career exploration for adult basic education (ABE) students. The project components included developing and administering a needs assessment, developing and testing a curriculum during six workshops, and revising and packaging the curriculum. The curriculum was used with 35…

A project operated a model, adaptable family literacy program in a housing authority that served 35 residents. Its objectives were to improve parents' basic skills and help them improve their ability to assist their children, to assist parents in learning appropriate expectations for their children and understanding individual differences, and to…

As part of a project to improve professional development for adult basic and literacy educators in Pennsylvania, a literature review was conducted of studies of professional competencies needed by adult educators. Extensive review of previous studies showed that hundreds of competencies had been identified. Some states also had generated their own…

This book offers Paulo Freire's retrospection on his life and work. These reflections, conceived in the form of 18 letters to his niece, Cristina, provide a backdrop for a deeper understanding of the experiences--including his exile---that have informed his thinking and teaching. The first 10 letters look back on Freire's childhood and youth. The…

A longitudinal study focused on a weekly writing workshop for a group of active older adults ranging in age from 67-91. The core group consisted of 14 elders. The research that explored elders' literacy confirmed the importance of its social nature and its grounding in specific cultural and historical contexts; varying perceptions and uses of…

This issue of the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) News is devoted to "Equipped for the Future" (EFF), the organization's long-term collaborative initiative for system reform. The newsletter contains the testimony of people who have been involved in the process over the past 2 years, speaking of the promise they see in EFF. The…

The 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) examined three types of literacy--prose, document, and quantitative--among the entire older adult population and various subgroups thereof. Of the nationally representative sample of 26,091 adults interviewed during the NALS, 2,267 were aged 60-69, 1,005 were aged 70-79, and 442 were at least 80 years…

The first volume in this two-volume report outlines the nine educational principles on which the competence statements for adult reading and writing are based. The four literacies--for self-expression, practical purposes, knowledge, and public debate--are defined and some representative text types and common genres are provided. The four levels…