LINCS Resource CollectionsBasic Skills
Reading This handbook is based on the results of "The Literacy Practices of Adult Learners Study" which focused on the nature and impact of two dimensions of classroom practice in adult basic education.
This resource introduces adult education practitioners to fluency's definition, importance, and effective techniques, and recommends guided reading through modeling, simultaneous reading, assistance and correction, and combinations of these methods.
This resource is an interactive website where students can practice their reading fluency with leveled passages of high interest topics to adults (e.g. "Tom lost his job", "Wanted: A good repair shop", "A healthy pregnancy", "Safe at home").
This very comprehensive study circle guide provides all that one would need to conduct a study circle for teachers of adults to give them the background research on reading instruction as well as opportunities to reflect on their practice. The guide provides detailed descriptions of how to conduct study circles, including lesson plans for each of the three days, do's and don'ts, general facilitation tips, class readings, and homework readings.
This resource introduces adult education practitioners to the components of reading that are part of making more fluent readers. It provides details, including objectives, audience, time, agendas, session preparation, and resources for 13 lessons designed to help learners understand the research-based components of reading.
Title: Teaching Reading to Adult English Language Learners: A Reading Instruction Staff Development Program
This comprehensive and self-contained resource was developed by the Center for Applied Linguistics for the Adult ESOL Program, Office of Adult And Community Education, Fairfax Co. Public Schools. The resource contains materials for four workshop sessions, including a Facilitator Guide, Facilitator Notes, and Participant Handouts. The sessions include: Introduction to Teaching Reading, Selecting Appropriate Texts and Developing a Good Reading Lesson, Focus on Pre-Reading, Putting a Reading Lesson Together.
Motivated by issues of intergenerational literacy, the researchers investigated the extent to which the use of authentic materials and the level of collaboration between students and teachers affect learners' literacy practices outside the classroom. The researchers used mixed methods and provide data as well as learner snapshots in this resource.
This report examines whether research on children's reading acquisition can inform adult literacy instruction. It first considers the implications of both narrower and broader concepts of literacy . The report then reviews the literature on (a) how children learn to read, (b) characteristics of low-literate adults, and (c) the practices of adult literacy programs. This review concludes that there are both important commonalities and differences between how children learn to read and how adults can be taught to read in literacy programs.
Vocabulary has long been recognized as a key factor in reading comprehension. In this chapter, Curtis analyzes research and theories on vocabulary, vocabulary acquisition, and reading comprehension. She presents approaches to vocabulary instruction that have been proven effective and also makes recommendations for practice, research, and policy.
Writing Products/Materials
The author presents five current approaches to teaching second language writing, the theoretical perspectives on which they are based, their implications for practice, and the messages they send learners.
This resource is an interactive website where students can practice their reading fluency with leveled passages of high interest topics to adults (e.g. "Tom lost his job", "Wanted: A good repair shop", "A healthy pregnancy", "Safe at home").
Title: Writing Next: Effective Strategies To Improve Writing Of Adolescents In Middle And High Schools
This report identifies 11 elements of current writing instruction found to be effective for helping
adolescent students learn to write well and to use writing as a tool for learning.
Research Papers/Articles
Title: Using Research on Writing
This article is not a research study, rather a brief literature review of writing research and its applicability to basic skills adults. It is part of a publication focused on writing and adults, and examines mostly the k-12 and college research base, applying it to improving adults' writing.
This resource is chapter three, volume 2 in the NCSALL publication, Review of Adult Learning and Literacy. It is a meta analysis of various studies and trends about the "forgotten of the three R's-writing."
Mathematics & Numeracy Products
Mathematics-based learning disabilities- or dyscalculia- are described along with common problems that learners with dyscalculia may encounter. Some teaching strategies and accommodations are summarized for instructors working with adults with such learning disabilities.
This document is a manual for teaching basic math to adults. Written as part of a project funded by the Canadian National Office of Literacy and Learning (NOLL), it was designed for use by adult basic education instructors who are interested in changing their teaching practice.
The web site, Famous Problems in the History of Mathematics, discusses seven math problems that have puzzled mathematicians throughout history.
Research Papers/Articles
This environmental scan examines recent and current numeracy professional development initiatives in the United States and informs numeracy research and other initiatives at the state and federal levels.
Title: The Components of Numeracy
The research article examines the nature of numeracy. After a thorough review of curricular and assessment frameworks and standards documents from adult education, K-12, and community college the authors discuss the definitions of numeracy and its difference from mathematics.
The article discusses the importance of using the components and subcomponents of numeracy when planning math instruction.
This review is the first major product of the Adult Numeracy Initiative, a two-year project funded by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of Education, and conducted by the American Institute for Research. The report provides a synthesis of research on several facets of adult numeracy, including instructional approaches, interventions, and assessment.
The article, "Using Part-Whole Thinking in Math" by Dorothea Steinke, discusses the importance of teaching students this approach to understanding mathematics.
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The Basic Skills Resource Collection focuses on reading, writing, mathematics and numeracy resources that can improve instruction in basic skills. Resources in this Collection can be used directly in the classroom or can provide the research findings necessary to develop contextualized instruction (e.g., work, family, health, civics) to build adults' basic skills.
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