This paper describes Project FORWARD, funded by the Texas Education Agency to develop a life skills curriculum for JOBS (Job Opportunities and Basic Skills) participants. The Project FORWARD curriculum is designed to promote individual self-worth and independence so that participants can achieve self-sufficiency and eliminate dependency on welfare. The 100 lessons stress the importance of developing academic skills and real-world competencies that will give learners access to further education and training opportunities and high performance in the workplace. This teaching guide provide teachers with background information about adult learners and teaching techniques to help them. The 12 sections of the guide provide information on the following: (1) techniques for increasing student motivation; (2) techniques for increasing self-esteem; (3) meaningful learning; (4) assessment; (5) portfolios; (6) techniques for guiding meaningful learning; (7) a five-step whole language model for teaching; (8) journals; (9) personal dictionary; (10) metacognitive reading techniques; (11) techniques for teaching writing; and (12) techniques for teaching mathematics. (KC)