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Update on State Initiatives
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Welcome to our Library...
TCALL Student Worker Ashley Matus, Librarian Susan Morris, and Student Worker Jenna Burden (not pictured) are ready to fill your order for Clearinghouse Library resources. Call them at 800-441-READ (7323) or e-mail tcall@tamu.edu to request materials by mail or information on the Library’s services.
FUN IN THE CLASSROOM WITH ADULT LEARNERS
Callan’s Thematic Jigsaws: Interactive, Multilevel Stories for ESL. Callan, Nancy (2006). Vancouver, Canada: ESL Jigsaws.
Callan’s Thematic Jigsaws 1 is aimed at beginner adult ESL and Callan’s Thematic Jigsaws 2 is aimed at high beginner and intermediate adult ESL. These are photocopiable books of group stories and exercises for the classroom. Stories focus on vocabulary building along common themes and stimulate discussion through controversial questions in the areas of relationships and ethics. Themes addressed in these books include family relationships, health, transportation (driving, taking a bus and taking a plane), immigration and adjusting to life in a new country, shopping, personal descriptions, banking, housing, daily routines, gender roles and housework, and Christmas. Clearinghouse Library loan set includes books 1 and 2.
Dramatizing the Content With Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre. Flynn, Rosalind M. (2007). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Unlike traditional Readers Theatre, which is typically limited to literature-based scripts, Curriculum-Based Readers Theatre (CBRT) allows you and your students to create scripts based on any topic, any work of literature, any textbook, or almost any collection of facts. It can be easily incorporated into your existing curriculum, and because this method emphasizes spoken words and gestures, not staged action, no theatrical training or background is necessary. Author Rosalind Flynn takes a clear and straightforward approach, and the following special features make this already practical resource even more accessible: Reproducible sample scripts spanning a range of topics and content areas, Script templates to aid scriptwriting, “CBRT in Action” sections describing students’ and teachers’ firsthand experiences, and Easy-to-use instructions on computer formatting scripts. Aimed for teachers of grades 6-12, this approach has great potential in the adult basic or secondary education classroom.
Dream Series Reading Program. Hodus, Brett and Blumenthal, Scott (2006). La Jolla, CA: Scobre Press.
The Dream Series Reading Program is designed to entice the most reluctant readers to read independently and practice the skills used by proficient readers. Using graphic organizers provided in Teacher’s Resource Guide as they read independently, struggling readers can begin to improve comprehension, and ultimately, their love of reading. Each High-Interest Book is available on two reading levels. This allows students with varying reading proficiencies, but similar interests, to read the same book. “Home Run” editions (red covers) are written at the 3rd grade reading level, and “Touchdown” editions (black covers) are written at the 5th grade reading level. Both editions have the same story, but differ in length, vocabulary, sentence length, font size, and difficulty of questions for reading comprehension and discussion. This loan set includes the Teacher’s Resouce Guide and a sample of four readers from the Home Run series and three from the Touchdown series, all on sports-related themes.
Graphic Novel Series.
In an article for the June 2006 English Journal, Gretchen Schwarz says about graphic novels: “In an increasingly visual culture, literacy educators can profit from the use of graphic novels in the classroom, especially for young adults. The term graphic novel includes fiction as well as nonfiction text with pictures—
”comics” in book format.” The Clearinghouse Library has several sets of graphic novels published by ABDO publishing in 2008. Each novel is 22-30 pages long.
Graphic Novels: Biographies.
Set of 8 biographies by Joe Dunn and Rod Espinosa is written on a 3.9 to 4.4 reading level contains biographies of Abraham Lincoln, Anne Frank, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Jackie Robinson, Lewis and Clark, Patrick Henry, and the Wright Brothers.
Graphic Novels: Classics.
Set of 6 classic graphic novels by Rod Espinosa, Joe Dunn and Joeming Dunn is written on a 2.2 to 3.5 reading level. It contains the titles: Around the World in 80 Days, Moby Dick, Peter Pan, Robin Hood, The Time Machine, and White Fang.
Graphic Novels: Comics: Fantastic Four.
Set of 4 comics by Jeff Parker is written on a 2.4 to 2.9 reading level. The 4 books follow the adventures of the Fantastic Four in Come Out and Fight Like a (Molecule) Man; Doom, Where’s My Car?!; Law of the Jungle; and The Master of Sound.
Graphic Novels: Comics: GI Joe Sigma 6.
Set of 6 comics by Andrew Dabb is written on a 2.0 to 2.7 reading level. The 6 books follow the adventures of G.I. Joe Sigma 6 in Big Time, Depth, High Fashion, Homecoming, Kumite, and Widgets.
Graphic Novels: Comics: Spider-Man.
Set of 4 comics by Fred Van Lente is written on a 2.8 to 3.6 reading level. They follow the adventures of Spider-Man in Breaking Up is Venomous to Do, Dust-Up in Aisle Seven!, Fashion Victims!, and World War G.
Graphic Novels: Comics: The Avengers.
Set of 4 comics by Jeff Parker is written on a 3.0 to 3.6 reading level. The 4 books follow the adventures of The Avengers in Finding Zemo, The Leader Has a Big Head, The Masters of Evil, and The Replacements.
Graphic Novels: Comics: X-Men First Class.
Set of 4 comics by Jeff Parker is written on a 2.5 to 3.2 reading level. The 4 books follow the adventures of X-Men First Class in The Bird, The Beast, and the Lizard; A Life of the Mind; Seeing Red; and X-Men 101.
Graphic Novels: History.
Set of 8 histories by Joe Dunn and Rod Espinosa is written on a 3.7 to 5.7 reading level. It contains the titles: The Battle of the Alamo, The Bombing of Pearl Harbor, The Boston Tea Party, The California Gold Rush, Miracle on Ice (1980 U. S. Olympic hockey team), Moon Landing (1969 landing), The Titanic, and The Underground Railroad.
Graphic Novels: Horror.
Set of 6 horror stories by Jeff Zornow, Mark Kidwell, Jason Ho, Elizabeth Genco, and Bart A. Thompson is written on a 2.4 to 5.1 reading level. It contains the titles: The Creature from the Depths, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Mummy, and Werewolf.
Hip-Hop Poetry and The Classics. Sitomer, Alan and Cirelli, Michael (2004). Beverly Hills, CA: Milk Mug Publishing.
This book links the great poets of the past to the contemporary Hip Hop poets of today. It compares Robert Frost to Public Enemy, Shakespeare to Eminem, and Shelley to the Notorious B.I.G. The book’s interactive workbook-style format allows teachers and students to engage in analysis of poetic literary devices, writing activities, and other innovative methods. The author is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, greeting card author, and a winner of California Literacy’s Teacher of the Year award.
Innovative Activity for HCC Community and Adult Education: Bless Me, Ultima, Second Edition. Ankenbauer, Jenny and Romero, Lorraine (December 2007). Houston, TX: Houston Community College.
HCCS Adult Education based a program-wide Hispanic Heritage Innovative Activity on the 1972 novel, Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya, featured novel of the 2007 Books on the Bayou celebration in Houston. Lesson plans to accompany the novel were written by Jenny Ankenbauer (ABE/ASE) and Lorraine Romero (ESL), based on the Texas Adult Education Content Standards and Benchmarks for ABE/ASE and ESL Learners. The lesson plans are intended as sample activities that other instructors might adapt to fit their own settings. Loan set includes a copy of the novel itself, and the lesson plans in both print and on a CD-ROM.
Junkyard Dan. Leonard, Elise (2008). Tampa, FL: Nox Press.
Junkyard Dan is a series of easy-to-read books for adult emergent, struggling, and ESL readers. They are also great for GED students, adult literacy programs, and any individual who wants to strengthen their reading skills. This series is written on a first-grade reading level. The books are adult stories with adult characters, written for adults. Clearinghouse loan set includes ten books. Workbooks for the series can also be ordered from Nox Press.
Keep Talking: Communicative Fluency Activities for Language Teaching. Klippel, Friederike (2005). Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.
This is a practical guide to communication activities in the language classroom, suitable for use with students from elementary to advanced level. Part I contains instructions for over 100 different exercises, including interviews, guessing games, jigsaw tasks, problem solving, values clarification techniques, mime, role play and story telling. For each activity, notes are also provided on the linguistic and educational aims, the level, organization, time and preparation required. Part II contains the accompanying worksheets, which can be copied. A comprehensive table of activities and an index are included for ease of reference.
Let’s Learn Together: Six Cooperative Learning Units. Bovin, Madeline (2006). Niagara Falls, NY: Full Blast Productions.
This book contains six reproducible jigsaw units. Based on the principles of cooperative learning, jigsaw refers to a method of instruction in which students, working in groups, are dependent on the others in the group to gather information on a topic and to complete a task. Using jigsaw ensures that every student is an active participant in the learning process. The units are designed for high school and adult students who need to improve their reading and discussion skills. These materials are designed for multi-level classes where the reading level ranges from intermediate to advanced level. The six topics in this book are: Illegal Gill Nets, Smoking Marijuana, Using Steroids, Immigration and Employment, Smoking Cigarettes in Public, and Seeing a UFO.
Math Magic: How to Master Everyday Math Problems, Revised Edition. Flansburg, Scott (2004). New York, NY: Perennial Currents.
Written by the Guinness World Record Holder as the “Fastest Human Calculator”, this book offers tips on how to: master the basics, including the “real way” addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division work; simplify calculations through estimation; quick-check answers; convert metric measures to more familiar ones; figure tips, taxes, and percentages; and master algebra using the “nine easy steps to algebra.”
“BIG PICTURE” IDEA BOOKS FOR ADULT LITERACY
PROGRAM LEADERS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPERS
Adult Education in the Rural Context: People, Place, and Change. Ritchey, Jeffrey, Editor (Spring 2008). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
This volume from the New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education series seeks to expand our concept of the rural United States as it explores the role that adult educators might play in this complex context. Indeed, complexity is the hallmark of this volume. Although rural areas are still composed of large expanses of open space, a continuing process of suburbanization is resulting in demographic, economic, and cultural changes that challenge those teaching and learning in rural places.
Bringing Community to the Adult ESL Classroom. Larrotta, Clarena and Brooks, Ann K. (Spring 2009). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Using the concept of community building as a framework, this volume in the New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education Series summarizes and updates readers on the state of adult English as a second language (ESL) education in the United States, providing a complete description of this population of learners and their learning needs. Chapters discuss possibilities for community building in the adult ESL classroom, combining research, theory, and practice. Several practitioners and researchers explain the ways in which they use community-building principles in adult ESL settings. Available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.
Collaborative Leadership: Developing Effective Partnerships in Communities and Schools. Rubin, Hank (2002). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, Inc.
The author suggests tools and models of collaboration among school, community, and government to boost performance and capacity. Key features include: 24 specific skills and attributes that foster successful collaboration; 12 phases of collaboration, including a framework and checklist; seven essential characteristics of effective collaborative leaders; and definitions and discussions of the contexts and purposes of collaboration.
Coping with Teacher Shortages. Murphy, Patrick and Novak, Erin (2002). Baltimore, MD: The Annie E. Casey Foundation.
This resource guide was prepared by researchers at the University of San Francisco for the Casey Foundation to assist education leaders in their effort to deal with the problem of teacher shortages. It provides insights to help educators think strategically about the issues affecting the supply of teachers and gives practical tips to help them develop a plan of action to address those challenges. Following a conceptual overview section, the guide then presents information on 25 specific programs all designed to address at least one particular element of the teacher shortage problem. This guide will be of interest and use to educators in communities struggling with teacher supply, demand, and recruitment issues and anyone involved in the education policymaking arena.
Educating Hispanic Students: Obstacles and Avenues to Improved Academic Achievement. Padrón, Yolanda N., Waxman, Hersh C. and Rivera, Héctor H. (2002). Santa Cruz, CA: Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence.
This report examines factors that must be considered in the development of effective educational programs that serve Hispanic students. It provides a synthesis of the research on the education of Hispanic students, summarizing the problems confronting them and suggesting possible practices and solutions for approaching them. The report is divided into five sections: 1) Factors in the Education of Hispanics, 2) Educational Status of Hispanic Students in the United States, 3) Factors Associated With the Underachievement of Hispanic Students, 4) Factors Associated With the Educational Success of Hispanic Students, and 5) Implications for Policy and Practice.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don’t. Collins, Jim (2001). New York, NY: Collins.
With potential application for leadership training in literacy programs, this book offers a model to explain why some organizations make the transition from “good to great” and others don’t. Based on a six-year study of high-performing companies and further study of the highest-performers among that group, Collins looked for similarities among the companies. Collins concluded that truly great companies share a corporate culture that systematically found and promoted disciplined people to think and act in a disciplined way. Examples and stories from “great” and “not so great” companies illustrate the author’s road map to organizational excellence.
How Are We Doing? An Inquiry Guide for Adult Education Programs. Bingman, Beth and Ebert, Olga (2001). Cambridge, MA: National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy.
From the Introduction: “What difference are we making? How do we know? How can we show it? This guide is designed to be used by local adult education programs to facilitate a systematic inquiry process answering these kinds of questions. In this process, program staff take part in activities that involve them in identifying and clarifying program goals, examining current documentation processes, addressing the challenges of performance accountability and outcomes documentation at the program level. They produce a number of documents that their program can use (a) to make a decision about implementing ongoing improvement work and (b) to conduct this ongoing work.” Available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.
Listening Up: Reinventing Ourselves as Teachers and Students. Martin, Rachel (2001). Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook Publishers.
Having taught literacy, writing, and ESL in a neighborhood women’s literacy program, a community college, and community writing and publishing projects, the author seeks to describe her “movement back and forth between theory and practice, one constantly causing the other to shift” (from the Introduction). Some chapter titles include: Images of “The Illiterate”; What’s Missing From Critical Pedagogy; Another Look at Freirian Pedagogy; A Freire-Inspired Curriculum; Community College Teaching; The Working Conditions of Teaching; Teaching in Multicultural Classrooms; and several chapters on teaching writing and creating theme-based curricula.
Managing Change: Lessons Learned from Nonprofit Leaders. BoardSource (2002). Washington, DC: BoardSource.
Every nonprofit organization experiences a variety of changes such as a chief executive transition, reorganization, an affiliation or merger, expansion, or re-branding. In this book, leaders from a variety of nonprofit organizations share their experiences in dealing with change and offer real-life solutions that you can apply to other organizations. Each section offers an examination of key issues, illustrative case studies and abstracts, and important action steps.
Popular Culture and Entertainment Media in Adult Education. Tisdell, Elizabeth J. and Thompson, Patricia M., Editors (Fall 2007). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Scholars and practitioners have paid relatively little attention to the role of popular culture in the field of adult education, even though many educators of adults use it in their work to teach critical media literacy, to discuss diversity and equity issues, and to explore many aspects of adult development and learning. In this volume, several practitioners illustrate and explain the ways in which they use popular culture in various adult education settings. In this volume from the New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education series, a chapter by Barbara P. Heuer describes the informal use of popular culture by literacy workers to break open new possibilities for building literacy.
FAMILY LITERACY
One Child, Two Languages: A Guide for Early Childhood Educators of Children Learning English as a Second Language, Second Edition. Tabor, Patton O. (2008). Baltimore, MD: Brookes Publishing.
Reflecting 10 years of dramatic change in early education—this fully revised edition gives teachers up-to-date research, usable information, and essential tools to meet the needs of second language learners in today’s learning environments. Teachers will get updates on all the key topics covered in the first edition, including working with parents, understanding the process of second-language acquisition, and using the curriculum and classroom organization to facilitate English language and literacy learning. This can be used as a professional development tool for teachers to use to support the language and literacy development and school success of second language learners while honoring their home languages and cultures
What To Do For Healthy Teeth. Sadie S. Mestman and Ariella D. Herman (2007). La Habra, CA: Institute for Healthcare Advancement.
Poor oral health and tooth decay can lead to malnutrition, behavioral problems in children, and infections that spread to other parts of the body. Dental care has been identified as the greatest unmet need in children. This resource provides easy to read and easy to use information on the importance of good dental hygiene for the entire family. Set of book and Teacher’s Training Manual are available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.
What To Do When You’re Having a Baby. Gloria Mayer and Ann Kuklierus (2007). La Habra, CA: Institute for Healthcare Advancement.
Book uses easy to read, everyday language and over 150 illustrations to explain every aspect of pregnancy, beginning with what a woman should do to get her body ready for pregnancy. Special features include a chart to write down doctor appointments and to keep track of weight gain, what the doctor will do on each visit, monthly body changes and baby’s size and appearance, and special tests that may be needed. Set of book and Teacher’s Training Manual are available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.
What To Do When Your Child Gets Sick. Mayer, Gloria, R.N. and Kuklierus, Ann, R.N. (2007). La Habra, CA: Institute for Healthcare Advancement.
Written to be easy reading, this illustrated book is intended as a home resource for parents. Subjects include: what to look for when a child is sick; when to call the doctor; how to take a child’s temperature; what to do when a child has the flu; how to care for cuts and scrapes; what to feed a sick child; how to stop the spread of infection; how to prevent accidents around the home; what to do in a medical emergency; and more. Also contains a teachers training manual. Set of book and Teacher’s Training Manual in either English or Spanish are available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.
You Make the Difference in Helping Your Child Learn. Manolson, Ayala and Ward, Barbara and Dodington, Nancy (2007). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: The Hanen Centre.
This easy-to-read guidebook is designed for parents of all young children, especially those who are at risk of developing a language delay. The simple language, colorful illustrations, and humorous cartoons help parents learn to connect with their children in ways that foster the child’s self-esteem and learning. Book in English or Spanish or DVD in English are each available on loan to Texas educators ONLY.
 
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