To obtain a fuller picture of the efficacy of reading instruction programs for adult literacy learners, gains by individual students were examined in a sample (n = 148) in which weak to moderate gains at the group level had been obtained in response to tutoring interventions that focused on strengthening basic decoding and fluency skills of low…

To compare the efficacy of instructional programs for adult learners with basic reading skills below the 7th-grade level, 300 adults were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 supplementary tutoring programs designed to strengthen decoding and fluency skills, and gains were examined for the 148 adult students who completed the program. The 3 intervention…

Scholars of adult basic literacy curricular materials have argued that the skill-based, deficit-oriented approach of many such materials denies the interests and motivations of adult learners. Exploring why these kinds of curricular materials are prevalent in adult basic literacy education, this article focuses on the case of ProLiteracy, a…

Library-based adult literacy programs rely on volunteers to provide tutoring services to adult learners. A high percentage of volunteer tutors are matched with a reading-disabled adult literacy learner. Although all tutors are required to complete preservice tutor training, there is a limited amount of research that documents whether they utilize…

Describes British program in which adult illiterates are taught individually in the tutor's home. (SP)

A case history of a female literacy student examined how journal writing about her literacy experiences increased her metacognitive self-knowledge, reading comprehension, writing performance, and self-esteem. With one-to-one tutorial guidance, she learned to assess her literacy learning from her own perspective. (SK)

This Final Performance Report provides information and data to the U.S. Department of Education for the federally-funded Library Literacy Program. The report includes the following sections: general information; quantitative data; and narrative report. The Chester County Library (Chester, South Carolina) serves a community of 25,000-50,000 people.…

Describes a university literacy tutorial program in which older adult college students received tutor training and then carried out one-to-one reading tutorials with adult male learners who were rehabilitating addicts. Offers two case studies, and shows that the program had a significant impact on tutors' commitment to community volunteerism and…

A study was conducted to identify the literacy needs of adults with disabilities and to examine the extent to which these needs are being met by community-based adult basic literacy programs in the metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada area. Data for the study were gathered through questionnaires used to interview 15 potential adult learners with…

This handbook provides practical information about the special needs of adult students (especially in literacy programs) who are being treated for mental disorders. The handbook includes teaching strategies for meeting these needs, as well as basic information about mental disorders and their treatment. The handbook is divided into six chapters…

The Bitterroot Public Library (Hamilton, Montana) serves a county of 50,000-100,000 people. The Bitterroot Public Library conducted a project that involved recruitment, coalition building, public awareness, training, rural oriented, basic literacy, tutoring, employment oriented, intergenerational/family, and English as a Second Language (ESL)…

A project was conducted at the Adult Learning Center in Erie, Pennsylvania, to help clients who had recently failed (and almost passed) the General Educational Development (GED) examination to reapply themselves to specific curriculum materials, correct deficiencies, and retake the GED test. Intense guidance was provided to each student in the…

The instructional concept guide is part of a system developed for tutor training and support. It is primarily designed for volunteers, but it can also be adapted to the training of paraprofessional tutors for any type of adult literacy program. A key component in the system is the Tutor Support Library, consisting of Instructional Concept Guides…

The Literacy Learning Center Project, a project of the Meriden Public Library (Connecticut), targeted the educationally underserved and functionally illiterate, and involved recruitment, retention, space renovation, coalition building, public awareness, training, basic literacy, collection development, tutoring, computer assisted services, and…

This report describes a project to develop a tutor training model for teaching adults who manifested signs of learning disabilities. A needs assessment was done by surveying previously trained tutors. Existing adult literacy materials and instructional materials specifically developed for individuals with learning disabilities were reviewed and…