Literacy Links

Family Literacy

Welcome to Our Library ...

Each issue of Literacy Links features some of the materials available for loan from the Adult Literacy Clearinghouse. Borrowers must be affiliated with a program providing adult education services. Availability of these resources depends on Clearinghouse supplies. Annotated bibliographies of the literacy resources are available upon request. Call the Clearinghouse at (800) 441-7323 or (979) 845-6615 or use our e-mail: tcall@tamu.edu to request materials or bibliographies.

Family Literacy: Program and Professional Development

Delivering Family Literacy in the Context of Welfare Reform: Lessons Learned. Alamprese, Judith A. and Voight, Janet D., Abt Associates Inc. (1998). Case studies were conducted at five sites to analyze the ways in which family literacy programs were working with local welfare offices and adjusting their services so that welfare recipients could continue their family literacy program participation while meeting the new requirements.

The Family Literacy Answer Book: A Guidebook for Teachers and Administrators of Family Literacy Programs. National Center for Family Literacy (1997). The contributors to this book give an overview of family literacy, including curriculum development, adult, infant, and early childhood education, parent and child together time, parent groups, and home visits.

Head Start, Even Start, and Adult Education: Developing Effective Partnerships, Part 1: Families First Grant Teleconference #6. Texas Education Agency (1998). Video of 2 hour, 45 minute teleconference presented by Child, Inc. and Fort Bend ISD. Presenters discussed collaboration with Head Start, serving TANF recipients and serving individuals with special needs.

Head Start, Even Start, and Adult Education: Developing Effective Partnerships, Part 2: Families First Grant Teleconference #8. Texas Education Agency (1998). Video of 2 hour, 45 minute teleconference describes the Region IX Even Start Family Education Program, which is unique in that it serves seven school districts in the thirty-six counties. The team of directors and coordinators of Head Start, Even Start, and Adult Education have the goal of collaborating for effectiveness in childcare, recruiting, retention, counseling, funding, etc.

Immigrant Learners & Their Families: Literacy to Connect the Generations. Weinstein-Shr, Gail and Quintero, Elizabeth Eds. (1995). Authors such as Elsa Roberts Auerbach, and Heide Spruck Wrigley contribute chapters in the following categories: Program Design; Focus on Collaboration; Curriculum; Drawing on Learner Strengths; and Where We Are: Where We're Going.

Guide to Improving Parenting Education in Even Start Family Literacy Programs. Powell, Douglas R. and D'Angelo, Diane (September 2000). This guide provides a framework and suggestions for strengthening the quality and impact of parenting education services. Included are: a content framework for parenting education in Even Start; illustrative practices for putting the content framework into action; and suggestions for measuring parenting education outcomes.

Program Resource Manual: Even Start Family Literacy. Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (Fall 2000). This manual includes materials developed over the first 12 years of Even Start. Resources show how to: make the most of home visits; integrate the "pieces" of an Even Start program; support parents within a family literacy perspective; aid children and their families with important life transitions; develop collaborations; improve recruitment and retention; use learners' lives as curriculum; and utilize mentoring.

Family Literacy: Involving Fathers

Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood. Pitts, Leonard Jr. (1999). In addition to his own story, Pitts writes about other African-American men who grew up with absent fathers, and their struggle to become decent and honorable fathers themselves. While not written at a reading level appropriate to adult literacy students, the book may be of interest to parenting educators working with African-American fathers. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Fatherhood USA Part 1: Dedicated Not Deadbeat. Lipschutz, Marion and Rosenblatt, Rose (1998). This 56-minute video deals with real dads - men struggling to stay involved with their kids despite a legacy of fatherlessness, poverty or incarceration - and what it takes to keep men connected to their families. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Fatherhood USA Part 2: Juggling Family and Work. Lipschutz, Marion and Rosenblatt, Rose (1998). This second segment of Fatherhood USA looks at men from across the country as they confront the daily dilemma of being a dad while handling the pressures of a workplace that isn't always "father friendly." (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Fatherhood USA Part 3: Fatherhood Workshop. Lipschutz, Marion and Rosenblatt, Rose (1998). A Workshop for Effective Fatherhood is built around the use of four 5 - 10 minute video segments on four key issues: The Importance of Fathers; Father-Mother Communication; Juggling Work and Family; and Fathers and Social Support. Facilitator's Manual provides ways to use the video modules with a group, as well as relevant background and resource information. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

FATHERS Program Guide: Fathers As Teachers: Helping, Encouraging, Reading, Supporting. Curtis, Jane (1999). The thirteen lessons in the FATHERS Program were designed for soon-to-be-released male inmates in California's state prisons. The program can be adapted for use with mothers. List of recommended books includes suggestions for women as well as for men. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Getting Men Involved: Strategies for Early Childhood Programs. Levine, James A., et al (1998). Sections include: Creating a Father-Friendly Environment; Recruiting Men to Your Program; Operating a Father's Program; Sustaining Male Involvement; and descriptions of several model programs around the nation, including Avance-San Antonio and Texas Migrant Council in Laredo.

Family Literacy: Parenting

The Black Parenting Book. Beal, Anne C., M.D., M.P.H., et al (1999). Created specifically for parents of African-American children through age five, this book combines pediatric expertise, cultural wisdom, insights from experts, and anecdotes from parents, tackling issues of race not found in other parenting books. While not written at a reading level appropriate to adult literacy students, the book may be a useful resource to parenting educators working with African-American families. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Black Pearls for Parents: Meditations, Affirmations, and Inspirations for African-American Parents. Copage, Eric V. (1995). 365 quotes range from African proverbs to wisdom and insight from Marian Wright Edelman, Martin Luther King, Jr., Maya Angelou, and Oprah Winfrey, among others. From the daily quote, the author suggests specific attitudes and actions to help parents deal with the pressures and joys of raising children.

Grandparents as Parents: A Survival Guide for Raising a Second Family. deToledo, Sylvie and Brown, Deborah Edler (1995). This is a resource book for parents who find themselves acting as long- or short-term parents/caregivers to their grandchildren, and for social service personnel who work cross-generationally with families.

I Am Your Child. The Reiner Foundation (1997). 45-minute video, hosted by Tom Hanks and with many celebrity appearances, takes an in-depth look at what one town does to ensure that its future generations will grow up to be healthy, well-adjusted members of the community. The video offers three case studies: a single, at-risk mother looking for a new start; a family saved from disaster by parenting classes; and a single custodial father who must learn to care for his small daughter.

Kids First! Family Education Program. Bauer, Jennifer Barton (1997). Parents are instructed through nine modules: Home Environment; Expectations/Goal Setting; Homework; Study Skills; Parent-Teacher Relationships; Teaching Children Discipline and Responsibility; Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences; Reading; and Learning is Fun/Activities That Promote Learning.

Multicultural Parenting Educational Guide: Understanding Cultural Parenting Values, Traditions, and Practices. Bavolek, Ph.D., Stephen J. (1997). This book covers fourteen different cultures found in the United States such as African American, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino. Each chapter discusses values, family life, parenting and childbearing traditions, expression of emotions, and special topics.

Sesame Street Beginnings: Language to Literacy. Betancourt, Jeanette, Ed.D. and Livesey, Joanne (2000). New York, NY: Children's Television Workshop. Using video, audio, and print materials, Sesame Street Beginnings is designed to highlight the importance of the period from birth to age three. In this fully bilingual program (in English and Spanish), parents learn ways to take advantage of the many daily opportunities to help children develop language and learn to love books. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Shaking, Hitting, and Spanking: What to Do Instead. Bavolek, Stephen J., Ph.D. (1990). This thirty-minute presents four common scenarios that often lead to shaking, hitting, or spanking a child. After each scene, viewers are directed to stop the video and brainstorm alternatives. When the program resumes, common-sense, proven parenting techniques are presented. A Leader's Guide is included with the video. Also available in Spanish-language version, Golpes Y Gritos... C oEvitarlos. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Something to Remember Me By: An Illustrated Story for Young and Old. Bosak, Susan V. and McGaw, Laurie (Illustrator) (1997). Children's book tells the story of a grandmother and her granddaughter, celebrating the importance of memories as legacies across generations. Loan item includes 10 copies of the hard-cover book and a Reader's Companion, "How to Read and Extend a Story." (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Teen Dads: Rights, Responsibilities and Joys. Lindsay, Jeanne Warren. (1993). This book is a guide to responsible and joyful parenting for all young fathers who want to be good dads. Named one of the "Top Titles for Adult New Readers" by the Public Library Association, the book is written at Fry Reading Level 6. Chapters include: Parenting Starts With Pregnancy; Caring for Your Newborn; Health and Safety for Your Child; Discipline From Birth to Three; The Partnership Challenge; Your Future - Your Child's Future; and more.

The Values Book: Teaching Sixteen Basic Values to Young Children. Schiller, Pam and Bryant, Tamera (1998). Filled with everyday activities and ideas, chapters follow an easy-to-use format, addressing each value through definition, suggestions for thought and discussion, and numerous activities and books to reinforce each value.

Family Literacy: Other Classroom Resources

500 Five Minute Games: Quick and Easy Activities for 3 to 6 Year Olds. Silberg, Jackie (1995). Games, songs, and learning-fun ideas suited for three to six year olds. Quick and easy ideas, organized by theme and designed to capture the energetic enthusiasm for learning of young children.

Black Families. McAdoo, Harriette Pipes Ed. (1997). Book includes five parts: Historical and Theoretical Conceptions of African American Families; Family Patterns: Economics and Social Mobility; Socialization Within African American Families; Gender Relations Within African American Communities; and Advocacy and Family Policies for African American Families.

Celebrations Around the World: A Multicultural Handbook. Angell, Carole S. (1996). Background and context of more than 300 cultural observations and celebrations, providing activities for families or students to explore selected celebrations further. Appendix includes recipes and music.

Family Celebrations. Patrick, Diane (1993). Named one of the "Top Titles for Adult New Readers" by the Public Library Association, the book is written at Fry Reading Level 6. Family celebrations, not holidays, are the basis for this book that ranges from birth to death in scope and encourages respect for all traditions.

A Heart Full of Turquoise: Pueblo Indian Tales Retold by Joe Hayes. Hayes, Joe (1988). The author is a renowned bilingual storyteller. Illustrated by Lucy Jelinek, this mid-level reader in English includes eleven stories echoing many of the popular traditions of the Pueblo Indians. A 46-minute audiocassette has stories on one side in English "enriched with Spanish," and on the other side in Spanish "enriched with English." Written for children, the story could be used in a family literacy reading program for parents to read to children. Book and Audiocassette. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Other bilingual story books by Joe Hayes:

Watch Out for Clever Women: Hispanic Folktales in Spanish and English

Where There's A Will, There's A Way: An Hispanic Folktale in Two Languages

eamos! Let's Read! 101 Ideas to Help Your Child Learn to Read and Write, Bilingual Edition, Revised. Behm, Richard and Mary (2000). With text in both English and Spanish, the suggestions in this book enable parents to help their child develop a lifelong love for reading and writing. Tips show how to make learning fun, help children succeed in school, and at the same time, build the parent-child relationship.

Money on the Bookshelf: A Family Financial Literacy Program: Curriculum Guide. University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (1997). This curriculum helps parents teach their children money management through reading children's books and completing accompanying activities. The children's books used are commonly available, and are referenced but not included in the curriculum guide. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

More Than Counting: Whole Math Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten. Moomaw, Sally and Hieronymus, Brenda (1995). This book provides dozens of ways to encourage children to construct a rich understanding of number, thus providing the solid foundation needed for more advanced number concepts. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

ESL/Citizenship

Living in the USA , Fifth Edition. Lanier, Alison R. (1996). A guide to attitudes, customs, manners, and daily life in the United States. Includes advice for doing business; understanding American behavior; obtaining health care; getting along at work, in school, at home, the supermarket and the bank; meeting new friends; and enjoying leisure time.

Preparing for Citizenship. Roy, Phillip (1998). Designed for adult beginner-level ESL students, this book can be used in the classroom or for self-study. Chapters on US history and government include exercises for learners. Appendices include: answer keys; information about the citizenship exam; application for naturalization; the oath of allegiance; and agencies that administer the citizenship exam.

US Citizen Yes: Interactive Citizenship Preparation. Magy, Ronna (1996). This program is designed to prepare adult students of Citizenship and English as a Second Language (beginning to intermediate level) for the naturalization process. Ten chapters present the content a student is required to learn to become a citizen of the US. Activities encourage group interaction and conversation. The book builds on students' life skills and knowledge by encouraging them to systematically compare political systems and historical events in the US with those in their native countries.

Teaching High Order Thinking Skills

Aha! Gotcha: Paradoxes to Puzzle and Delight. Gardner, Martin (1975). "A humorous and engaging collection of puzzles ... this book challenges the reader's reasoning power and intuition while helping to develop problem- solving ability." Activities could be used to enrich an adult education math class.

Aha! Insight. Gardner, Martin (1978). "A confounding collection of brain-twisters in six categories - combinational, geometric, numerical, logical, procedural, and verbal..." These problem-solving activities could be used to enrich an adult education math class.

Celebrate Writing: A Collection of Narratives, Poems, and Essays. Literacy Volunteers of America-Chippewa Valley (1994). The Celebrate Writing project was designed to help adult literacy students improve their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Its immediate result is this collection of original essays produced by LVA-CV students with the encouragement of their tutors.

The Fabric of History. Merson, Martha and Gluckman, Amy (1998). This series of units presents a skeleton of US History enhanced by information and activities about fashion, clothing, and textiles in each period. Practice in reading comprehension and critical thinking is also provided.

How to Lie With Maps, Second Edition. Monmonier, Mark (1991, 1996). This illustrated essay on the use and abuse of maps teaches the reader how to evaluate maps critically and "promotes healthy skepticism about these easy-to-manipulate models of reality." Contains many ideas that the creative adult education teacher could use to develop lessons in critical thinking.

How to Lie with Statistics. Huff, Darrell (1954). The Atlantic calls this classic bestseller "A pleasantly subversive little book, guaranteed to undermine your faith in the almighty statistic." There are lots of high-interest, relevant ideas in this book to share with an adult literacy class, and could serve as a mini-course in everyday logic.

Investigating Mathematics: The Touchstones Approach.Zeiderman, Howard (1994). An interesting supplement to the mathematics textbook for advanced adult secondary level students. Provides philosophical discussions about and by mathematicians, and asks students to consider thought-provoking questions.

Job Savvy: How to be a Success at Work. Ludden, LaVerne L. Ed.D. (1998). Includes thirteen basic areas of job success such as employment relationship, making a good impression, learning on the job, meeting the customer's expectations, and problem-solving skills. Each chapter has several reading selections and exercises for each reading selection. Student Book and Teacher's Guide are included.

Language Arts for the GED Classroom. Region 20 Education Service Center (AEPDCC) (1999). Three-hour video and participant packet are from a TETN professional development videoconference. The first segment is on "Uses of the Newspaper and Other Environmental Print in the GED Classroom." The topic of the second segment is teaching critical thinking through popular literature. Third segment is about the writing process.

Motivating Adult Learners

Coffee Break Inservice: Motivating Adult Learners Parts I and II. Gerstner-Horvarth, Ed.D. Marilyn (1994). A self-directed professional development packet for educators of adults. Following group preparation and discussion, individual teachers formulate their own action plans to apply strategies in their classrooms. After practicing the motivational techniques, participants evaluate the effect of their revised practice.

A Compendium of Icebreakers, Energizers, & Introductions. Kirby, Andy (1992).This volume brings together 75 training exercises contributed by six different authors. All are designed to facilitate training, increase learner motivation, and encourage group formation. Most are not specific to any particular training/learning content.

Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn. (Revised Edition). Wlodkowski, Raymond J. (1999). Offers advice and strategies in a jargon-free style for teachers and trainers who want learning to be a motivating experience for adults. Drawing from recent research in the fields of cultural and ethnic studies, communications, cognitive psychology, systems theory, and multiple intelligences, Wlodowski gives examples of how to use this information in practical ways, taking into account cultural and gender differences in learner motivation. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Get Off My Brain: A Survival Guide for Lazy Students. McCutcheon, Randall (1998). This book is designed to assist bored or frustrated students in taking an unconventional and humorous approach to school. Through new ideas, encouragement, and creative self-motivation, it encourages students to feel better about school.

An Introduction to Helping Adults Learn and Change. Robinson, Russell D. (1995). This book has an easy to read format and covers all aspects of adult learning. Some sample chapter titles are: Adult Motivation: Needs, Perceptions, Affect; Adult Experience: Interests and Values; and Conducting Evaluation: Instructional Improvement.

The Learner-Centered Classroom and School: Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation and Achievement. McCombs, Barbara L. and Whisler, Jo Sue (1997). The book includes examples and suggestions for implementing learner-centered concepts in any school or classroom, and can help educators examine beliefs and assumptions related to learner-centered practices and make changes that enhance student motivation and achievement. (For loan to Texas educators only.)

Learning to Read in the Computer Age: Volume 3 in the Series "From Reading Research to Practice." Meyer, Anne Ed.D. and Rose, David H. Ed.D. (1998). The authors present extensive knowledge both about computers and about the process of learning to read, relating computers to theories of the brain and to the teaching of reading skills and strategies. It also shows how computers can enhance student motivation and engagement.