Literacy Links
Volume 8, No. 2, March 2004

Links, addresses, personnel, email addresses, and other items or information in this issue may not be current. This is an archived issue and is to be used for that purpose ONLY.

IN THIS ISSUE

Technology Integration

Welcome to our Library...

HOW DOES THIS MAIL ORDER LENDING LIBRARY WORK?

Books and other resources described in the Library section may be requested for a 30-day loan. We will mail each borrower up to five loan items at a time (just two for first-time borrowers), and even include a postage-paid return address sticker for mailing them back to us! Borrowers must be affiliated with a non-profit program providing adult or family literacy services. Annotated bibliographies of our entire library of resources are available in hard copy by request, or can be viewed on our website Click Here to view. Call 800-441-7323 or e-mail tcall@tamu.edu to check out materials described here or to request hard copy listings of even more resources.


Integrating Technology Into Instruction Of Adults

10 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the English Classroom. Firek, Hilve (2003). Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook.
Learn how to integrate both familiar technologies and the latest technological innovations in the classroom. Features include rubrics for assessing student learning, margin links to online resources, and interviews with teachers who use technology to enhance instruction.

Internet for English Teaching. Warschauer, Mark, Shetzer, Heidi, and Meloni, Christine (2000). Alexandria, VA: TESOL, Inc.
The authors summarize the latest developments in research, theory, and curriculum development for online language learning. Intended audience is teachers who have yet to begin using the Internet in teaching, as well as those who have used the Internet in their classroom, but want to expand their repertoire of ideas, projects, and activities. Supplement offers tips on creating and storing web pages. Book is available on loan for Texas educators ONLY.

Just in Time Technology: Doing Better with Fewer. McKenzie, James (2002). Worthington, OH: Linworth Publishing Co.
Collection of essays and articles describes strategies to make the most of new technologies while preserving the best of classical tools and practices. McKenzie outlines a practical approach to technology deployment and curriculum development designed to optimize use while avoiding wasteful bandwagons and trends.

Literacy in the Digital Age: Reading, Writing, Viewing, and Computing. Withrow, Frank B. (2003). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Book examines the effect on education of the transition from a book and library world to a digital world of electronic text, television, and the Internet. Withrow redefines literacy in that new world and addresses the questions: What does a digital world mean for schools? Can we provide a model of education that allows the learner access to learning at anytime and anyplace?

Literacy in the Information Age: Inquiries into Meaning Making With New Technologies. Bruce, Bertram C., Editor (2003). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Collection of articles from the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy examines critical aspects of literacy in the new information age and the complex issues surrounding the use of new technologies. The pieces build on specific examples from classrooms, Web use, and other experiences with new digital information and communication environments. Articles also addresses issues such as credibility, access, and privacy, and most centrally an understanding of what new media mean for teaching, learning, and literacy development.

Making Math Success Happen: The Best of Learning & Leading with Technology on Mathematics. Baugh, Ivan and Raymond, Anne, Editors (2003). Washington, DC: International Society for Technology in Education.
The editors selected 37 articles on mathematics from ISTE's periodical, Learning & Leading with Technology, as well as the editors' essays about integrating theory into practice and specific suggestions on how to integrate technology into math curricula. Resources include activities for making mathematics easy to understand and fun to do; resources keyed to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards; a companion Web site with ready-to-use mathematics spreadsheet activities; and ideas and materials useful for teacher education courses and workshops. Available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.

Planning Good Change With Technology and Literacy. McKenzie, James (2001). Worthington, OH: Linworth Publishing Co.
Book offers strategies to assure that in integrating technology, programs focus on student achievement; make the best use of networked information technologies and traditional resources such as books and libraries; and explore strategic hardware deployment to maximize readiness, staff use, and student success. Author describes how to make instruction better by combining technologies with an emphasis on literacy.

Riding the Technology Wave: Experiences of Adult Literacy Students and Teachers in Ontario. Kunz, Jean L. and Tsoukalas. Spyridoula (2000). Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Canadian Council on Social Development.
This report examines the extent to which adult literacy students and teachers in Ontario use computers and the Internet, the benefits and challenges of using computers in basic adult education, as well as students' and teachers' own views on computer-assisted learning. It also provides resources for practitioners and learners interested in using computers and the Internet to improve their literacy skills.

SOCALLT '03 : ALL is WELL: New Modalities in Web-Enhanced Language Learning. Lahaie, Ute S. (2003). Arlington, TX: Universe, Inc.
Conference proceedings summarize sessions presented during the annual conference of the South Central Association for Language Learning Technology (SOCALLT) held at the University of Texas at Arlington in March 2003. Articles focus on a variety of issues, such as new technologies for language learning, the integration of technology into the foreign language curriculum, the role of technology in the teaching and learning process, language media development, professional development, and language center management.

Technology-Enhanced Learning Environments. Hanson-Smith, Elizabeth, Editor (2000). Alexandria, VA: TESOL Publications.
Case studies describe teachers who have adapted and pioneered teaching innovations ranging from simple additions to traditional classroom teaching to radical alternatives that change the nature of language learning and teaching. Most chapters report that changes wrought by technology far exceeded the designers' original intentions, often leading to new ways of teaching and learning, enhanced cooperation among teachers, the creation of more satisfying work conditions for instructors, and more self-sufficiency for students. Book is available on loan for Texas educators ONLY.

The Tech-Savvy English Classroom. Kajder, Sara B. (2003) Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers.
The author does not value technology use as an end in itself, but focuses on pairing the right task with the right student and the right tool. Just as technologies are examined critically as a means of extending, enriching, and empowering student learning and understanding, Kajder also explores those moments where technology isn't the right answer. The book supports teachers and helps them become critical, reflective practitioners who ask difficult questions of technological resources, regardless of how technology-rich or poor the environment.

Virtual Peer Review: Teaching and Learning About Writing in Online Environments. Breuch, Lee-Ann Kastman (2004). Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
The author explores how computer technology changes our understanding of peer review in writing instruction. She defines "virtual peer review" as the use of computer technology to exchange and respond to one another's writing in order to improve it. Arguing that peer review goes through a remediation when conducted in virtual environments, the author suggests that virtual peer review highlights a unique intersection of social theories of language and technological literacy. Book is available on loan for Texas educators ONLY.

What Every Teacher Should Know About Media and Technology. Tileston, Donna E. Walker (2003). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Book is a resource for classroom teachers who want to use media, technology, and the Internet to strengthen student learning and higher-level thinking skills. Topics include: the effect of media on student motivation, behavior, and learning modalities; using media for lesson planning; using media for teaching - from the basics through creative thinking, critical thinking, and higher-level thinking skills; using media to enhance student research projects and learning products; and keeping up with the "Big Picture."

Family Literacy
...focusing on early childhood development and education...

Alphabet Antics: Hundreds of Activities to Challenge and Enrich Letter Learners of All Ages. Vinton, Ken (1996). Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing.
This book promotes creativity, stimulates curiosity, and invites exploration and discovery with an inventive approach to the ABC's. Includes an illustrated short story of how our alphabet came to be, 26 four-page mini-chapters, full-page illustrated versions of 10 different alphabets, plus a bonus section of 8 illustrated border pages featuring the complete English alphabet.

Discipline Without Shouting or Spanking: Practical Solutions to the Most Common Preschool Behavior Problems. Wyckoff, Jerry and Unell, Barbara C. (1984). Minnetonka, MN: Meadowbrook Press.
Easy-to-use text has been formatted like a first-aid manual for handling misbehavior, providing tips on dealing with misbehavior such as: temper tantrums, possessiveness, resisting bedtime; and playing with food. Each topic is divided into three sections: Preventing the Problem; Solving the Problem: What to Do; and Solving the Problem: What Not to Do.

Games to Play with Babies. Silberg, Jackie (1993). Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House, Inc.
This collection of 250 games for babies is intended to foster language development, coordination, problem-solving skills, imagination, confidence, dexterity and more. The author gives tips on how parents can use everyday activities to nurture and stimulate the growth of their child, as well as encouraging bonding between parent and baby.

Games to Play with Toddlers. Silberg, Jackie (1993). Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House, Inc.
This collection of games is intended to help toddlers develop skills such as language, creativity, listening, observation, coordination, confidence, and counting. Games are divided into four age groups: 12-15 months, 15-18 months, 18-21 months, and 21-24 months.

Games to Play with Two Year Olds. Silberg, Jackie (1993). Beltsville, MD: Gryphon House, Inc.
Parents or teachers can create opportunities for confidence building, language and social growth, coordination and problem-solving with 250 games that combine fun with learning. The games are divided into three age groups: young twos, middle twos, and older twos.

Playing: A Kid's Curriculum. Stone, Sandra J. (1993). Glenview, IL: GoodYear Books.
This book provides hands-on experiences, uses many materials commonly found around home and school, considers the development of the ‘whole child,' integrates content areas, and provides opportunities for children to try out real-life experiences.

Yardsticks: Children in the Classroom Ages 4-14. Wood, Chip (1994). Greenfield, MA: Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc.
Because developmental "yardsticks" help teachers and parents better understand children, this book describes the universal characteristics of children at different ages. Teachers can use these "yardsticks" to shape curriculum and parents can use them to determine whether their child's developmental needs are being met at school.

Videos For Classroom Use
...in English Language/Civics

A Day in the Life of the Gonzalez Family. Van Duzer, Carol and Burt, Miriam (1999). Washington, DC: Center for Applied Linguistics and Delta Publishing Company.
Using video as a spark, this resource offers high beginning through intermediate adult English language learners an opportunity to develop communication skills and acquire cultural knowledge relevant to their daily lives. Video and accompanying textbook focus on the five members of an immigrant family from Mexico who live in the Napa Valley of California, portraying typical experiences such as exploring educational options, looking for work, helping children in school, communicating with co-workers, and giving and receiving job evaluations. Textbook consists of ten thematic units derived from the video experiences. Set includes video, student textbook, teacher's guide, and a script of the fourteen scenes featured in the video, and is available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.

America, My New Home: A Workshop for Immigrants and Non-Immigrants. Media Outreach Initiative (2003). Malibu, CA: National Latino Children's Institute and Outreach Extensions.
Materials are designed for conducting a 2-1/2 hour workshop drawing on one of the stories featured in the PBS series "The New Americans", broadcast beginning in fall 2003. The workshop is intended to reach Latino parents and other caregivers of Latino children, particularly Latino immigrants. Activities range from helping participants to reflect on their own journeys and create journey albums, to writing their own "I Am From" identity poems and assisting young children with life changes. Storybook used in the workshop, "Un Nuevo Sol/A New Sun" (by Max Benavidez and Katherine Del Monte), evokes feelings and memories through comparisons between the country of origin and the new one. Loan set includes one copy of this bilingual storybook, videotape with clips of the Flores family story from "The New Americans" PBS series, and both Spanish and English language versions of the workshop curriculum. The curriculum also suggests utilizing brief segments from the "La Llorona" episode of the PBS series "American Family", but that video is not included with this loan set. Video, Book and Curriculum Materials are a loan set available to Texas educators ONLY.

Videos For Classroom Use
...in Family Literacy

Catch ‘Em Being Good: Happier Kids, Happier Parents Through Effective Praise. Father Flanagan's Boys' Home (1988). Boys Town, NE: Boys Town Press.
Boys Town Videos for Parents offer practical, how-to advice to parents with children struggling through the often difficult preadolescent and teenage years. This title shows parents how to focus on the good things their youngster does, rather than having to frequently scold or punish them for misbehavior. Ten-minute video is accompanied by a booklet summarizing the ideas presented. Videotape with booklet are a set available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.

Fatherhood USA Part 1: Dedicated Not Deadbeat. Lipschutz, Marion and Rosenblatt, Rose (1998). New York: Cin Qua Non, Inc. and The Fatherhood Project.
This 56-minute video is the first hour of a two-part documentary exploring fatherhood beyond the stereotypes of deadbeat dads and Mr. Moms, aired on PBS in 1998 and hosted by Senator Bill Bradley. Fatherhood USA deals with real dads with real problems; some are part of an intact family and some are trying to establish a family under tough circumstances. Absent fathers, unmarried fathers, deadbeat dads - negative depictions of fathers have become a media staple. But what about men struggling to stay involved with their kids despite a legacy of fatherlessness, poverty or incarceration? Video is available on loan to Preferred Borrowers ONLY due to cost. Ask us how to become a Preferred Borrower.

Fatherhood USA Part 2: Juggling Family and Work. Lipschutz, Marion and Rosenblatt, Rose (1998). New York: Cin Qua Non, Inc. and The Fatherhood Project.
56-minute documentary hosted by Senator Bill Bradley explores fatherhood beyond the stereotypes of deadbeat dads and Mr. Moms. Fatherhood USA deals with real dads with real problems; some are part of an intact family and some are trying to establish a family under tough circumstances. These men must not only juggle children and work but attitudes toward fatherhood in the factory and office and on the street. All are succeeding at fatherhood and all get support from other dads. This program 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." Video is available on loan to Preferred Borrowers ONLY due to cost. Ask us how to become a Preferred Borrower.

Fatherhood USA Part 3: Fatherhood Workshop. Lipschutz, Marion and Rosenblatt, Rose (1998). New York: Cin Qua Non, Inc. and The Fatherhood Project.
A Workshop for Effective Fatherhood is built around the use of four short video segments, each a 5 to 10 minute vignette on these key issues: The Importance of Fathers; Father-Mother Communication; Juggling Work and Family; and Fathers and Social Support. Video modules and accompanying guide are designed to stimulate discussion among groups that want to expand their understanding of contemporary fatherhood and of ways to support men's involvement in the lives of their children. Facilitator's Manual provides ways to use the video modules with a group, as well as relevant background and resource information for group leaders. Video and Facilitators' Manual are a loan set available to Preferred Borrowers ONLY due to cost. Ask us how to become a Preferred Borrower.

Setting Your Child Up for Success: Anticipating and Preventing Problems. Father Flanagan's Boys' Home (1989). Boys Town, NE: Boys Town Press.
Boys Town Videos for Parents offer practical, how-to advice to parents with children struggling through the often difficult preadolescent and teenage years. This title shows parents how to help their children be more successful in daily situations they may encounter. By helping children anticipate events in their lives, parents who use this method are teaching the importance of planning ahead. 12-minute video is accompanied by a booklet summarizing the ideas presented. Set is available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.

Vamos Juntos a la Escuela: Tips to Help Parents Ensure their Children's Educational Success. U.S. Department of Education (2000). Washington, DC: U.S. DOE Information Resource Center.
Vamos Juntos a la Escuela (Let's Go to School Together) is an 18-minute Spanish language video distributed by the U.S. Department of Education. The video offers tips for Spanish-speaking parents to support their efforts to ensure their children's success in school. Includes easy-to-follow suggestions for engaging in children's learning from infancy through adolescence. Reading, mathematics, and college preparation are all included in the presentation, which features real-life vignettes of Hispanic Americans parents and families. Video Kit is available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.

Videos for Professional Development …in Teaching Adults with Learning Disabilities… Assessing and Accommodating Adults with Learning Disabilities. PBS Adult Learning Service & University of Georgia (1999). Athens, GA: PBS Adult Learning Service.
This is the video and participant packet for a two-hour teleconference aired on March 11, 1999. Program focused on how to choose the right accommodation (including assistive technologies) for adult students with learning disabilities in different scenarios. Presenters discussed what to expect from a formal learning disabilities evaluation and how to differentiate between formal and informal assessment tools. A final topic was school-to-job transition plans, including workplace accommodation.

Bridges to Practice: A Research-based Guide for Literacy Practitioners Serving Adults with Learning Disabilities. National Adult Literacy and Learning Disabilities Center (NALLD) (1999). Washington, DC.
Guide is designed for use by literacy programs to enhance the quality of services provided to adults with learning disabilities. Five guidebooks are included in the loan set: #1-Preparing to Serve Adults with Learning Disabilities; #2-The Assessment Process; #3-The Planning Process; #4-The Teaching-Learning Process; and #5-Creating Professional Development Opportunities. An 11-1/2 minute video is also included, which serves as a "call to action" to adult literacy programs, to initiate systemic reform so that adults with learning disabilities will experience greater success in meeting their educational goals. Set of one video and five books is available for loan to Texas educators ONLY.

A Different Kind of Smart: Video and How-To Manual. Levene, Helene (2001). Grayslake, IL: College of Lake County.
Working with Adult Basic Education (ABE) students, Levene used a program of "interactive activities to motivate returning adult readers and build their confidence through non-threatening experiences that do not use print and [would] prepare them to approach learning to read with a positive attitude. ... for adults who have had limited success learning to read in the past." The program included storytelling, pantomime, poetry reading, group creative writing, and theater games. Accompanying "how-to" manual describes the process and how to utilize the video with an ABE class. Set of video and book is available for loan to Texas educators ONLY.

From Brain Scan to Lesson Plan. Nowinski, Valerie (May 2001). Macomb, IL: Center for the Application of Information Technologies.
In this 90-minute teleconference from the Star Schools series, "Adult Education: New Vision, New Promise", neuropsychologist Dr. Valerie Nowinski offered a glimpse at the human brain and delved into the complexities of adult learning. Dr. Nowinski offered strategies for working with students with specific learning problems, and at the same time visually and graphically demonstrated the obstacles some brains face during the learning process. Video is available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.

Sturomski's Straightforward Strategies for the Adult Education Classroom. Sturomski, Neil (2000). Macomb, IL: Center for the Application of Information Technologies.
This is the videotape of a one-hour interactive broadcast aired on October 25, 2000. These broadcasts in the "Adult Education: New Vision, New Promise" series are designed as a video magazine or news show bringing a national audience best practices and discussion on "hot topic" issues in adult education. Featured guest was Neil Sturomski, former Director of the National Adult Literacy and Learning Disabilities Center. Sturomski is currently a trainer who helps teachers enable learning disabled individuals to use learning strategies. Video is available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.

Teaching Literacy to Adults With Learning Disabilities: A National Satellite Teleconference presented by PBS Adult Learning Series and The University of Georgia. PBS Adult Learning Service & University of Georgia (1999). Athens, GA: PBS Adult Learning Satellite Service.
This is a videotape and facilitator's guide from a 2-hour satellite teleconference held on February 11, 1999 and presented by PBS Adult Learning Satellite Service and the University of Georgia. The facilitator's guide includes program schedule, program outline, panelist profiles, and a bibliography. Components of the program include characteristics of learning disabilities, learning processes, instructional strategies, classroom accommodations, resources, and case studies. Two-hour video plus Facilitator's Guide can be loaned as a set to Texas educators ONLY.

Teaching Reading and Functional Writing to Adults With Learning Disabilities - Basic Level. The University of Georgia (March 23, 2000). Athens, GA: PBS Adult Learning Service.
Videotape records the first of a pair of live, interactive PBS satellite events taking an integrated approach to teaching reading and writing to adults with learning disabilities. In the Basic Level teleconference, participants learned: what to do if you suspect a learning disability; how to screen for reading and writing problems; how to apply a variety of instructional techniques in a lesson plan; how to structure a reading program; how to differentiate instructional needs of different learners; and how to locate appropriate resources on the Web and elsewhere for both learners and teachers. Two-hour video and participant print materials are included in the loan set available to Texas educators ONLY.

Teaching Reading and Functional Writing to Adults With Learning Disabilities - Intermediate Level. The University of Georgia (September 28, 2000). Athens, GA: PBS Adult Learning Service.
This PBS satellite events addressed teaching intermediate reading and writing skills and linking them to employment needs. Participants learned: how to help learners at the sentence level and in paragraph development; how to focus students on practical, job-related skills; how to decide between remediation and accommodation; how to assess high- and low-tech accommodation strategies; and how to develop a resource base with local agencies. Presenters were Nancy Mather, Ph.D. of University of Arizona in Tucson and Noel Gregg, Ph.D. of The University of Georgia. Two-hour video is available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.

 


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