This report describes and evaluates an adult and family literacy education program at the Tom Green County Library (Texas). The project's objectives were to: provide a full-time library staff member to establish, coordinate, and promote an information, referral, and follow-up support system for literacy students; offer two in-service sessions in…

This report proposes a plan of action to help the United States meet its literacy challenges. Section 1 is a call to action that emphasizes the challenge posed by the 1993 National Adult Literacy Survey that found more than 40 million adults--over a fifth of the adult population--have low literacy skills. Section 2 presents literacy as a national…

Noting that an examination of play from diverse perspectives deepens understanding and opens up new avenues for research and educational practice, this book brings together studies, research syntheses, and critical commentaries that examine play-literacy relationships from cognitive, ecological, and cultural perspectives. Each set of chapters is…

Even Start programs integrate early childhood education, adult literacy or basic education, parenting education and support, and parent and child time to help break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy. This report describes the Even Start program in Colorado, and includes evaluation questions and methods. The report presents evaluation findings…

Federal legislation requires that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) facilitate American Indian control of Indian affairs in all matters related to education. Accordingly, the BIA schedules annual consultation meetings in which tribes, parents, schools, and other interested parties can discuss educational issues and current BIA proposals. This…

Describes a successful project in Turkey that promoted a literate family environment in low socioeconomic contexts, focusing on mothers and their young children. Notes long-term effects of the intervention, as a result of which the intervention program has been transformed into a large-scale adult education program. (SR)

Encourages teachers to share appropriate information about books and reading with parents in order to influence storybook reading in their students' homes. (MG)

Discussion of library activities at the Bensenville (Illinois) Public Library to promote lifelong learning focuses on services to the Hispanic community, including defining the target audience; family literacy programs, including home visits to help explain and promote library activities; and community involvement. (LRW)

The Malta World NGO Forum, which launched the International Year of the Family (IYF) 1994 presented many views supporting the theme of promoting families for the well-being of individuals and societies. This theme reflected the opinion that IYF should be an opportunity to integrate the achievements for family members of previous United Nations…

This booklet profiles seven participants in Colorado adult literacy and basic skills education programs and describes the effects that participating in literacy and adult basic education have had on participants, their families, and their communities. The first profile illustrates the positive effects that parents' participation in literacy and…

Through a participatory approach to adult basic education, a project was conducted to break the debilitating cycle of illiteracy that passes from low-income parents to their children. The approach included a family literacy book club designed to encourage parents and children to read together and to improve parents' literacy skills, interests, and…

No one denies that students have many more distractions today than in days gone by. The need for family involvement in a child's reading progress joins a surge in American society for parents to take more responsibility for their children's character and in the condition of their communities. Some hints for parents in establishing family literacy…

This booklet presents a collection of seven practitioner research reports conducted by individuals employed through adult basic education (ABE), Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED), and English as a second language (ESL) programs and funded by the Iowa State Staff Development Committee. The practitioner research presented in the collection gives…

A study examined the influence of an intergenerational approach on the literacy development of parents and on the practice of family literacy at home. During a 3-year period, 367 families enrolled in multilingual, multiability literacy classes for at least one instructional cycle. The adult basic education classes were held in a community center…

This series of booklets, each one focusing on a different topic, is intended for parents and children to read together as they listen to the companion audiotape that accompanies each booklet. Each booklet answers practical questions from parents, describes activities that can be undertaken at home, notes some books for parents and children, and…