I'm right with Toni on this. For our Next Steps Committee, the
transition from GED through the college placement test to credit-bearing
college courses is a major focus, but we have also identified several
other leaks in the transitions pipeline, specifically the low percentage
of Intermediate Readers who ever get to the all-important Advanced level
and the higher-level ESOL students having difficulty transitioning to
ABE. I think Transitions is the rising tide that lifts all boats.
 

Tom Mechem 
GED State Chief Examiner 
Department of Elementary & Secondary Education 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
781-338-6621 
"GED to Ph.D." 

 

________________________________

From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:assessment-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of Borge, Toni
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 10:23 AM
To: The Assessment Discussion List
Subject: [Assessment 1909] Re: Basic Reading Skills Discussion Begins
Today!



I can understand your concern that students at the lowest level will be
neglected with the focus on transitions but as someone who manages a
program that offers classes from Basic Literacy through transitions, I
believe that the focus on transitions highlights the need to provide
students at the lowest level the strongest foundation in reading skills
in order to successfully succeed in transitioning to higher education or
job training.   We know that one barrier our adult students are facing
in their quest for better jobs and education is their weakness in
reading skills and transitions classes have arisen to address this
deficit.  

 

What is needed is to focus more on strengthening reading skills in the
lower level which through time will eliminate the need for transitions
classes.

Toni Borge

Director Adult Education & Transitions Program

Bunker Hill Community College

Boston, MA

 

From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:assessment-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of Dianna Baycich
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 2:28 PM
To: 'The Assessment Discussion List'
Subject: [Assessment 1898] Re: Basic Reading Skills Discussion Begins
Today!

 

In response to Marie's question, the report shows that there is a
continuing need for adult literacy, especially at the lowest levels.
With the current focus on transitions in adult education, there is a
concern that students at these lowest levels will be neglected. 

 

The report also highlights the importance of reading fluency. Adult
literacy teachers often neglect fluency, saying their students would
"rather die than read out loud". How can we help students improve their
reading fluency in a non-threatening way?

 

Dianna

 

________________________________

From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:assessment-bounces at nifl.gov]
On Behalf Of Marie Cora
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 9:28 AM
To: Assessment at nifl.gov
Subject: [Assessment 1897] Basic Reading Skills Discussion Begins Today!

Hello everyone, I hope this email finds you well.

 

Today begins our discussion on


Basic Reading Skills and the Literacy of the America's Least Literate
Adults: Results from the 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy
(NAAL) Supplemental Studies


I am pleased to welcome Dr. Sheida White and Dr. John Sabatini as guests
for this 4-day discussion.  Please visit the URL below for the full
announcement and information on accessing the report.


http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/assessment/09readingskills.html

 

I hope you have had the opportunity to read through the Executive
Summary of the report.  Please send your questions and comments about
the report to the discussion list now.  

 

I will start us off with a question for subscribers:  What does the
report tell you about the need for adult literacy services today, and
how might this affect your program practice?

 

Thanks!

 

Marie

 

 

Marie Cora

Assessment Discussion List Moderator

 

 

 

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