This document provides reports of projects related to Internet use by adult learners and practitioners. Chapter 1 reports findings of an online survey of 113 adult literacy practitioners actively using the Internet, including difficulties encountered in learning to use the Internet; training or supports that helped; Internet features used by…

Describes a case study involving the reading development of an adult nonreader (a woman in her early fifties) and discusses this growth in comparison with children beginning to read. Discusses the student's background and her literacy development and progress. Notes similarities and differences to children's learning. (SR)

Offers ideas and teaching strategies to reach adolescents through poetry. Includes a complete poetry unit for use in middle or high school. Shows how poetry can be used to broaden the knowledge base and motivate children to learn. Describes how to build interest and motivation, and how to teach rhythm, sound, and imagery. (SR)

Examines how middle school students' literacy behaviors in the classroom relate to their academic achievement, how these behaviors reinforce their developing sense of self, and how teachers can support academic competence in their students. Discusses teachers' influence on efficacious behavior, how students and teachers work together, and…

Surveys 44 high school students regarding their textbooks: including how often they use textbooks; which is their least favorite text and why; which is their most favorite text and why; and what they would do to make textbooks more enjoyable and readable (discussing graphics\illustrations, teen interest topics, organizational patterns, vocabulary,…

Argues that to help students (including low achievers and those with learning disabilities) achieve high standards, teachers must collaborate with their students in learning and applying both content and the skills and strategies needed for learning. Presents two approaches for comprehension of content area concepts, and a learning strategy…

Describes the Rapid Retrieval of Information technique used with middle school students in order to satisfy students' desire to read aloud, achieve a purpose from oral reading, and teach adult silent reading patterns. Focuses on the strategy of oral rereading to answer a question, prove a point, or provide an example from the text after silent…

Notes the need for education on fertility in rural Ghana. Notes the success of the adult literacy group approach which provides family planning information and increases literacy. Discusses the significance and activities of the literacy facilitator (usually a woman) within this system who works with groups and individuals as a member of the…

Describes the use of some read-alouds from Alexandre Dumas'"The Count of Monte Cristo" which helped to demonstrate some principles of learning foreign languages. Describes briefly the read aloud selection, discusses some specific activities that relate to foreign language learning, and discusses specific language arts activities. (SR)

Describes a middle school lesson on the Holocaust. Tells how students concluded that it happened in baby steps, yet very fast, and thus that each person has to act when they first notice something is wrong. Relates how, shortly thereafter, two girls took a brave stand on the school bus in defense of a boy being picked on. (SR)

Finds that the supportive environment of "women helping women" was the hallmark characteristic of a local Even Start family literacy program and that participants were not consciously thinking about family literacy but joined the program for themselves and gave no indication of seeing the connection between the adult literacy component and the…

Tells the story of one student's experience in an adult literacy class to reflect on whether teaching practices can foster changes in adult literacy learners that are transformational. Finds mixed answers. (SR)

Begins an international conversation among reading teachers and other literacy educators about the intersection of literacy and the world of work. Describes the complex workplace literacy requirements of a front-line worker in Silicon Valley. (SR)

Uses data from the National Adult Literacy Survey to examine the relationship of literacy practices at school and at work with document literacy. Finds that the workplace (1) can be an alternative and/or compensatory learning environment for some skills; and (2) may be a preferred setting for learning for some individuals or for some tasks. (SR)

Intends to increase dialog about new communication and information technologies and explore what these media mean for literacy and literacy educators. Discusses whether the information age will transform literacy, and offers brief "boxes" containing data (regarding a literacy/technology topic), interpretations (quotes), a literacy Web page of the…