Perhaps we need an "illiterates anonymous".

Cheers from Chiswick,

John

John Nissen
Cloudworld Ltd - http://www.cloudworld.co.uk
maker of the assistive reader, WordAloud.
Try WordAloud with synthetic phonics:
http://www.cloudworld.co.uk/teaching-synthetic-phonics.htm
Tel: +44 208 742 3170  Fax: +44 208 742 0202
Email: info at cloudworld.co.uk



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Toni-Ann Mills" <tamill2 at uky.edu>
To: "The Focus on Basics Discussion List" <focusonbasics at nifl.gov>
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 3:06 PM
Subject: [FocusOnBasics 380] Re: FOB article on self-esteem



> Hi

> This is Toni-Ann from Kentucky.  It is interesting that we just had a

> similar discussion here yesterday with a number of people, including a

> legislator interested in how we tap the community who most needs literacy

> services.  One of the contributors to the discussion provided anecdotal

> evidence of people he has worked with who believed that they were the only

> people in their community who had literacy problems. He was convinced that

> it was not so much a self-esteem issue but more  that people viewed their

> lack of literacy skills like a taboo disease - something they should cover

> up, not talk about and not seek help through public areas.  Those with low

> levels of literacy often learn remarkable coping skills which for them are

> easier to build and maintain than it is to build and grow literacy skills.

> So - what can be done to assure these people that they are not alone and

> that there are resources available that will provide more services to them

> than continuing to "hide" a problem that in their minds exist for them 

> alone.

> Toni-Ann

>

> At 02:57 PM 6/27/2006, you wrote:

>>There is another consideration, as well. I've worked with adolescents and

>>adults who experience high self-esteem when it comes to working on cars,

>>playing the guitar, or cooking, etc., but when it comes to reading, it's

>>an entirely different story. Self-esteem seems to fluctuate dependent upon

>>how comfortable one is with his/her skills/attributes in that area. Just a

>>thouoght. barb given

>>

>>Barbara K. Given, Ph.D.

>>Director, Adolescent and Adult Learning Research Center

>>Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, and

>>Director, Center for Honoring Individual Learning Diversity, an

>>International Learning Styles Center

>>George Mason University

>>Fairfax, VA 22030-4444

>>Fax: 703-993-4325

>>Ph:  703-993-4406