Decision making should be viewed as a deliberate process that can be taught as a basic classroom skill. Common myths and problems surrounding decision making are discussed. The purpose of initiating decision making opportunities is to promote creativity, not conformity. Five suggested steps for the process are: (1) explore the many alternatives…

This booklet provides guidance on the support of volunteers in adult literacy and basic skills work. It outlines recommendations that provide practical advice as well as a framework for action to ensure that the quality of basic education provision is maintained and improved. Topics include financial implications in providing support for…

In 1978, the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families, through its Head Start program, designed and implemented the Basic Educational Skills (BES) project to foster Head Start children's readiness for school and their subsequent achievement in elementary school. The purpose of this document is to disseminate elementary-level BES materials.…

Part of the Home Secrets Program for children in Head Start preschool programs and the first four elementary grades, this packet of 18 teacher-developed activity sheets is intended for use at home by parents and their first-graders. Activities include color and shape games, cut/trace/paste activities, word games, stories, writing, health…

A functional approach to the assessment of learning disabilities (LD) is proposed in the light of confusing and ambiguous guidelines for identifying students with LD. Problems in the current evaluation procedures include the concept that ability and achievement are separate dimensions of intellectual functioning and the potential for biased…

Board games parents may use to improve their child's basic skills in reading, math, spelling, and reasoning are reviewed. The article describes eight games along with suggestions about how each game may be used to improve skills. Suggested ages and manufacturer of each game are listed. (JL)

One Pennsylvania district's experiences suggest that key factors in improving education are (1) redefining education's purpose, focusing on the basics, (2) defining the core curriculum, (3) restructuring the existing curriculum, (4) presenting the plan to the community, (5) responding to fears, (6) maintaining commitment, and (7) keeping…

This manual applies marketing concepts and methods, selling techniques and principles to the workplace literacy program for the purpose of assisting individuals involved in promoting and selling these programs. Part I provides a rationale for marketing and discusses the following: the role of the sponsor in marketing, market versus marketing,…

Community education has the capacity to teach the basics to thousands of adults and to present these skills in a palatable manner. (Author/JM)

Defines literacy as the ability to make good-mannered sense in reading and writing to the satisfaction of those in power with respect to the task at hand. Lists educational essentials necessary to produce a literate populace, offers a critique of current schools, and recommends an experiential approach to teaching reading and writing. (AEA)

Reviews the guidelines established by the College Outcome Measures Project with regard to evaluating general education programs in areas of (1) identifying knowledge and skill areas, (2) measuring abilities, (3) insuring fairness, (4) gaining cooperation with other institutions, and (5) reducing costs. (AYC)

To teach the New Basic Skills to all students, schools can adopt the five principles of high-performance firms: (1) develop clear goals; (2) provide opportunities to solve problems and the incentives to do so; (3) provide the training needed to pursue solutions effectively; (4) measure progress toward goals regularly; and (5) persevere and learn…

Explores three different kinds of university-school collaboration. Describes how the traditional boundaries between universities and schools are being bridged. Advocates collaborative relationships that engage participants in cooperative efforts to design alternative practices and models of teaching. (HB)

Presents a dialogue between a university faculty member and an elementary teacher. Explores the rich relationship afforded by collaborative efforts. (HB)

This guide, which is intended for project directors, coordinators, and other professional staff involved in developing and delivering workplace education programs, explains the process of conducting a job task analysis to create customized curricula to meet the workplace education students' needs. After a brief discussion of the rationale for…