1. Functionally Illiterate Adults
Rochelle Ford did not learn to read in
school:
“I didn‟t know I couldn‟t read, I was just
waiting to learn how to read.”
(NPR, 2007)
2. Functionally Illiterate Adults
Nelson Lauver feared being humiliated
every time he had to read in school:
“The other kids were reading well, but I
couldn‟t get through a sentence. A few kids
snickered, and soon most of the class was
laughing.”
(Lauver, 2011)
3. Functionally Illiterate Adults
John Corcoran always wanted to read:
“There wasn‟t a day that went by that I
didn‟t want to read. . . . When I was about
eight years old I can remember
praying, „Please God when it‟s my turn to
read tomorrow let the words come out of
my mouth, let me read.‟”
(Corcoran, 2008)
5. % of Functionally Illiterate Adults
30 million American adults perform at below-
basic literacy level
(http://nces.ed.gov/naal/kf_demographics.asp#3)
40 million Americans are functionally
illiterate
(http://www.wallacefoundation.org/Pages/default.aspx)
88 million Americans lack the proper
education or have English-as-a-second-
language barrier
(http://www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org/)
6. Literacy Definitions
Functionally Illiterate -
Functioning with basic or below-basic
literacy skills
Basic Literacy -
Having some high school education,
reading occasionally, locating pertinent
information on a form
Below Basic Literacy -
No more than the most simple and
concrete skills such as signing a form or
adding two numbers
7. How Does This Happen?
• Lacking in third-grade reading skills
• Undiagnosed learning disability
• Lack of support in the home
• Poverty - 30 million word gap
(Hart & Risley, 2003)
8. Libraries Creating Bridges
Rochelle Ford found help in the library -
“I went to a library, and I walked up to this
young lady and I said, „Do you have any
information about any reading classes for
adults?”
(NPR, 2007)
9. Libraries Creating Bridges
John Corcoran found help in the library –
“I remember well that summer day when I
drove up to the Carlsbad City, California
Library Adult Learning Center.”
(John Corcoran, 2008)
10. Public Libraries
A natural place to offer
adult literacy classes –
• Safe and neutral ground
• Already in the community
• Not the same as school
11. Tutor Training
• Understanding the problems associated
with illiteracy
• Learning how to work with adult learners
vs. working with children
• Understanding the importance of positive feedback
• Understanding the importance of learner-centered,
social-humanistic lessons
• Understanding the importance of creating a trusting
relationship with the student
• Understanding the importance of setting goals
with the student
12. Learner Assessment
• Assess level at which the student is reading
• Assess student‟s personality for tutor
placement
• Assess commitment level and goals of the
student
• Assess days and times available
13. Variety of Programs
• Below Basic Skills Group Tutoring
• Basic Skills I Group Tutoring
• Basic Skills II Group Tutoring
• One-on-One Tutoring
• Family Literacy Training
• Job Skills Tutoring
• Resume Writing
• Interview Tutoring
14. Tutor/Learner Expectations
Contract created for both tutor and student –
• Days of the week
• Times
• At-home practice
• Stay in program for six months
• Post-assessment after six months
15. Leaders Trained in Treating
Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities
• Trained in either Lindamood Bell or
Orton Gillingham
• Trained in treating auditory problems
• Trained in treating sensory problems
• Trained in treating Asperger‟s syndrome
16. Standardized Data Collection
• Number of years completed in school
• Age of dropping-out (if applicable)
• Reason for dropping-out (if applicable)
• Current age
• Sex/race
• Reason for seeking help
• Ultimate outcome of literacy tutoring
17. How does this issue affect Americans?
27% of Medicare recipients and
30% of Medicaid recipients
have a Below Basic level of Health Literacy
(Miller, McCardle, Hernandez, 2010)
$225 billion is the cost to Americans each year
because of non-productivity in the workforce,
crime, and loss of tax revenue due to
unemployment
(http://proliteracy.org/)
18. Can the Cycle be Broken?
$57.2 billion spent on public education
with
< 1% spent on adult literacy programs
This translates to
$10,000 spent per student in elementary
and secondary education
with
$225 per student to educate 2.5 million
adults
(Zachry, 2010)
19. The Cycle CAN Be Broken
“Education in its purest form is for the
good of the individual and for the good of
the world.”
(Elliot Galloway)
“A library outranks any other one thing a
community can do to benefit its people. It
is a never-failing spring in the desert.”
(Andrew Carnegie)
20. References
Corcoran, J. (2009). The bridge to literacy: No child – or adult – left
behind. New York, NY: Kaplan Publishing.
Greenberg, D. and Perin, D. (2007). Researched-based reading
instruction in an adult basic education program. Adult Basic
Education and Literacy Journal, 1(3), 123-132.
Hart, B. and Risley, T. (2003, Spring). The early catastrophe: The 30
million word gap by age 3. American Federation of
Teachers. Retrieved from
http://www.aft.org/newspubs/periodicals/ae/spring2003/
Hernandez, R., McCardle, P., & Miller, B. (2010). Advances and
remaining challenges in adult literacy research. Journal of
Learning Disabilities, 43(2), 101-107. doi
10.1177/0022219409359341
21. References
Lauver, N. (2011). Most unlikely to succeed: The trials, travels, and
ultimate triumphs of a ‘throwaway kid’. New York, NY: Five
City Media. [Kindle].
News and Notes. (National Public Radio). (2007, August, 16).
Grappling with realities of illiteracy. [Audio podcast].
Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12840593
Zachry, E. M. (2010). Who needs a second chance? The challenge of
documenting k-12 dropout and why adult educators
should be concerned. Adult Basic Education & Literacy
Journal, 4(2), 75-85.
