The author analyzes four informal reading inventories (IRIs) designed for adult students. Evaluative data presented for each IRI include the following: information on word lists and passages and on comprehension questions, estimates of difficulty based on the Fry index of readability, and a summary of scoring and evaluation guidelines. (SK)

The relationship established between the Adult Basic Education (ABE) student and teacher in the first minutes of the student's first visit is crucial to the student's motivation and future learning. An ABE instructor suggests strategies to achieve immediate rapport and at the same time determine the student's needs and wanted skills. (MF)

Explores government adult basic education (ABE) statistics in one fundamental area, the present level of illiteracy in the United States, concentrating particularly on changes in illiteracy levels during the 1960's. (WL)

Reviews the research on the teaching of English to undereducated adults, suggests various factors that might account for the language-based problems of educationally deficit adults, and draws implications for classroom teachers. (JG)

Analyzes the five most widely used sets of adult basic education materials. An inquiry into socioeconomic class focuses on four ideological concepts: the "harmony of interests,""blaming the victim,""individualims," and "the happy consciousness" of society as a rational provider of people with satisfying lives. (Author/JM)

Describes a case study involving the reading development of an adult nonreader (a woman in her early fifties) and discusses this growth in comparison with children beginning to read. Discusses the student's background and her literacy development and progress. Notes similarities and differences to children's learning. (SR)

This article describes three aspects of visual communication in the context of training parents to communicate more effectively with a deaf child. The communication strategies described are appropriate to a deaf child's need for visual information: visual listening, visual expression, and visual cuing. Specific skills for enhancing parents' visual…

Suggests that the competitive economy of education has led to particular ways of implementing family literacy and a view of families as education consumers rather than users. Notes literacy education thus is used for reproduction of school-based literacy usage and cultural norms. (SK)

Interviews and observations in literacy programs for welfare recipients indicated that, when learners tried to discuss problematic issues, teachers deflected discussion, upholding official discourses and ideological beliefs about learners and program purposes. The curriculum-in-use supported dominant discourses about meritocracy and racist and…

The University of Missouri's Video Instructional Program aired a telecourse on adult basic education teaching methods via satellite nationwide. Analysis of the videotaped lessons and audio teleconference found that participants talked 41 percent of the time and instructors 22 percent. Participants found the audio interaction made the course more…

Presents a last resort technique for teaching reading to adolescent and adult illiterates. (RS)

Notes that while a number of viewpoints about adult literacy assessment exist, no one perspective dominates the field. Argues that both standardized tests and competency-based assessment poorly serve the adult learner. Argues that assessment of the adult learner can be conducted on an informal, nonthreatening basis. (RS)

States that the study of world literacy experience illuminate literacy issues that are often sidelined or ignored in the United Kingdom. Discusses literacy and oral language, literacy and religion, and literacy and gender. (JOW)

Significant changes in the General Educational Development Math Test require a change in teaching methods. A structured problem-solving approach focused on applying principles and interpreting abstract data will stress process as well as content as required by the test. (SK)

Three groups of 26 people each (low-literate adults, ninth graders, and sixth graders) wrote on any topic whereas an observer noted their behavior and later discussed their writing. Although the writing behavior of adults was more like that of sixth graders, adults tended to be less efficient. Ninth graders' behavior was considered a prototype.…