Illiterate America

Illiterate America PDF Author: Jonathan Kozol
Publisher: Doubleday
ISBN: 0307800571
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 409

Book Description
It is startling and it is shaming: in a country that prides itself on being among the most enlightened in the world, 25 million American adults cannot read the poison warnings on a can of pesticide, a letter from their child’s teacher, or the front page of a newspaper. An additional 35 million read below the level needed to function successfully in our society. The United States ranks forty-ninth among 158 member nations of the UN in literacy, and wastes over $100 billion annually as a result. The problem is not merely an embarrassment, it is a social and economic disaster. In Illiterate America, Jonathan Kozol, author of National Book Award-winning Death at an Early Age, addresses this national disgrace. Combining hard statistics and heartrending stories, he describes the economic and the human costs of illiteracy. Kozol analyses and condemns previous government action—and inaction—and, in a passionate call for reform, he proposes a specific program to conquer illiteracy. One out of every three American adults cannot read this book—which is why everyone else must.

Improving Adult Literacy Instruction

Improving Adult Literacy Instruction PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309219590
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 504

Book Description
A high level of literacy in both print and digital media is required for negotiating most aspects of 21st-century life, including supporting a family, education, health, civic participation, and competitiveness in the global economy. Yet, more than 90 million U.S. adults lack adequate literacy. Furthermore, only 38 percent of U.S. 12th graders are at or above proficient in reading. Improving Adult Literacy Instruction synthesizes the research on literacy and learning to improve literacy instruction in the United States and to recommend a more systemic approach to research, practice, and policy. The book focuses on individuals ages 16 and older who are not in K-12 education. It identifies factors that affect literacy development in adolescence and adulthood in general, and examines their implications for strengthening literacy instruction for this population. It also discusses technologies for learning that can assist with multiple aspects of teaching, assessment,and accommodations for learning. There is inadequate knowledge about effective instructional practices and a need for better assessment and ongoing monitoring of adult students' proficiencies, weaknesses, instructional environments, and progress, which might guide instructional planning. Improving Adult Literacy Instruction recommends a program of research and innovation to validate, identify the boundaries of, and extend current knowledge to improve instruction for adults and adolescents outside school. The book is a valuable resource for curriculum developers, federal agencies such as the Department of Education, administrators, educators, and funding agencies.

Adult Illiteracy in the United States

Adult Illiteracy in the United States PDF Author: Carman St. John Hunter
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
ISBN:
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 232

Book Description


The State of Literacy in America

The State of Literacy in America PDF Author: Stephen M. Reder
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 454

Book Description
This document presents synthesized estimates of the rates of level 1 literacy by congressional district in the 50 states and District of Columbia. The estimates are extrapolations of the National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) that were based on the findings of approximately 26,000 interviews. The document begins with an introduction containing the following: overview of the NALS; examination of what it means to be literate in the 1990s; definition of level 1 literacy (ability to perform many tasks involving simple texts and documents but difficulty using certain reading, writing, and computational skills considered necessary for functioning in everyday life); and discussion of the impact of low literacy. Presented next are answers to 12 frequently asked questions about synthetic estimates of adult literacy proficiency. The remainder of the document consists of bar graphs and maps detailing the rates of level 1 literacy by state, congressional district, county, and municipality. A total of 119 figures/tables/maps are included throughout the document. Appended is a paper, "Synthetic Estimates of Literacy Proficiency for Small Census Areas" (Stephen Reder), that describes the extrapolation techniques, which are said to be relatively accurate for individual localities with at least 10,000 inhabitants. (MN)

Literacy and health outcomes

Literacy and health outcomes PDF Author:
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1428925449
Category : Health education
Languages : en
Pages : 259

Book Description


Illiteracy in America

Illiteracy in America PDF Author: Gary E. McCuen
Publisher: G E M/McCuen Publications, Incorporated
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 160

Book Description
A collection of essays presenting a variety of, often conflicting viewpoints concerning the problem of illiteracy and what can be done about it.

Why cant U teach me 2 read?

Why cant U teach me 2 read? PDF Author: Beth Fertig
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 1429942436
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 361

Book Description
Why cant U teach me 2 read? is a vivid, stirring, passionately told story of three students who fought for the right to learn to read, and won—only to discover that their efforts to learn to read had hardly begun. A person who cannot read cannot confidently ride a city bus, shop, take medicine, or hold a job—much less receive e-mail, follow headlines, send text messages, or write a letter to a relative. And yet the best minds of American education cannot agree on the right way for reading to be taught. In fact, they can hardly settle on a common vocabulary to use in talking about reading. As a result, for a quarter of a century American schools have been riven by what educators call the reading wars, and our young people have been caught in the crossfire. Why cant U teach me 2 read? focuses on three such students. Yamilka, Alejandro, and Antonio all have learning disabilities and all legally challenged the New York City schools for failing to teach them to read by the time they got to high school. When the school system's own hearing officers ruled in the students' favor, the city was compelled to pay for the three students, now young adults, to receive intensive private tutoring. Fertig tells the inspiring, heartbreaking stories of these three young people as they struggle to learn to read before it is too late. At the same time, she tells a story of great change in schools nationwide—where the crush of standardized tests and the presence of technocrats like New York's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, and his schools chancellor, Joel Klein, have energized teachers and parents to question the meaning of education as never before. And she dramatizes the process of learning to read, showing how the act of reading is nothing short of miraculous. Along the way, Fertig makes clear that the simple question facing students and teachers alike—How should young people learn to read?—opens onto the broader questions of what schools are really for and why so many of America's schools are faltering. Why cant U teach me 2 read? is a poignant, vital book for the reader in all of us.

Practical Guide to Functional Literacy

Practical Guide to Functional Literacy PDF Author: Unesco
Publisher: Paris
ISBN:
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 188

Book Description
UNESCO pub. Guide intended for adult education trainers on the theoretics and methodology of functional literacy training in developing countries - covers research methods, teaching methods, teacher recruitment, teacher training, etc.

Condition of Education 2009

Condition of Education 2009 PDF Author: William J. Hussar, Thomas D. Snyder, Michael Planty
Publisher: Government Printing Office
ISBN: 9780160876134
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 359

Book Description
NCES 2009-031. By Michael Planty, et al. To ensure reliable, accurate, and timely data, which are necessary to monitor the progress of education in the United States, Congress has mandated that the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) produce an annual report, The Condition of Education. This year’s report presents 46 indicators of important developments and trends in U.S. education. These indicators focus on participation and persistence in education, student performance and other measures of achievement, the environment for learning, and resources for education.

Shaking Up the Schoolhouse

Shaking Up the Schoolhouse PDF Author: Phillip C. Schlechty
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
ISBN:
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 280

Book Description
"Once again, Phil Schlechty demonstrates why I consider him to be one of the clearest minds in American education. He knows how important public education is to our democracy and has real ideas for making it better. This book is a must-read for policymakers at any level and for those who think and care about school improvement." --Paul D. Houston, executive director, American Association of School Administrators "Schlechty shares leading-edge insights and offers practical guidance to anyone who affects student learning. His suggestions are wonderful dialogue starters for educators searching for ways to make dramatic improvement in schools." --Dennis Sparks, executive director, National Staff Development Council In this visionary book, renowned educator Phillip Schlechty argues for change-adept school systems. He not only challenges educational administrators, teachers, teacher leaders, legislators, and policymakers to recognize the need for transformation, but also shows how they can grow into skillful leaders of lasting change. Shaking Up the Schoolhouse begins with an incisive discussion of the dangers and opportunities in reworking school systems. Drawing from decades of experience and from actual cases, the author describes the essential characteristics of change-adept organizations. He then presents a practical framework for helping teachers to overcome obstacles in the learning experience, from reviewing the competition to improving student engagement through more effective standards. Schlechty also focuses on empowering principals, superintAndents, and school board members as they struggle with structural and cultural change in their schools and communities.