Literacy Online

Search this site

Recent site activity

  • There are no recent activities.

Supporting Adult Learners

"My learning's held me back. I've been in labor jobs, health care...you don't have the freedom to pick your jobs, where you live, how you live. You're just kind of stuck in a grind. It was painful. I mean, it's humiliating being called stupid on your job. Being illiterate, it has its problems and I'm getting older. I just don't want to keep living like this."

    -- Alysia (age 41), Literacy Source Student
 
The characteristics and needs of adult learners differ in many ways from those of young learners. Adults are used to making decisions on their own, have a wealth of life experiences and many responsibilities, and typically want to apply what they learn to their present lives.  Sometimes, though, leearners may fear school, may sometimes feel insecure about using new skills on their own, may have special physical needs, may have problems meeting basic needs because of unemployment or poverty, and may be ashamed about being unable to read and write (5).
 

Literacy Source serves a diverse community of adult learners.  In 2008, 357 adult learners received at least 12 hours of instruction in basic skills or ESL at Literacy Source.  Of these learners:

  • 328 were very low or low-income adults
  • 116 were traditionally underserved adults
  • 88 were adults actively seeking work
  • 145 were employed adults hoping to advance in the workplace
  • 230 were adults with limited English
  • 127 were English-speaking adults with inadequate basic skills
  • 46 were students seeking a GED or high school diploma
  • 52 were offenders or ex-offenders 
Because adult learners do not face the same learning obstacles as traditional students, they often need support that goes beyond instructional resources or lesson plans in order to persist.  As you work with Literacy Source learners, you may find that you need additional resources to support them in the following areas:
The goal of Student Support Services is to help students identify personal barriers to their success at Literacy Source and to provide them with the information and guidance they need to address these barriers and move toward reaching self-sufficiency.  Staff advisors work with students to address challenges surrounding childcare, housing, public assistance, and much more.  If you are aware of a barrier that is impeding a student's success at Literacy Source, please see the student's advisor for additional resources.
 
Literacy in Life: A Handbook for Volunteer Literacy Tutors: See a staff member for a copy of this comprehensive manual that provides a great description of the adult learner and his/her needs in addition to suggestions for setting goals, teaching reading, teaching writing and planning lessons.
 
Glossary of Key Terms in Adult & Family Literacy: Provides definitions for common terms used when discussing adult and family literacy, such as ESL, ABE, GED and more.
 
Principles of Adult Learning: This article provides a concise summary of the content of this page.
 
National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy: This site compiles research on best practices in teaching adults, including articles, access to NCSALL’s quarterly publication, and teaching materials.
 
Center for Literacy Studies Learning Skills Curriculum: This curriculum is designed to help learners build the skills they need to be more adept learners, from study skills to time management to taking notes.