[AAACE-NLA] Good Instruction

[John Comings]

In the last two weeks, I've had the opportunity to talk with and observe a teacher in California 
who had participated in the OVAE's STAR training (for teaching reading to mid-level readers GLE 
5-8 or pre-GED students) and talk with teachers in New York who had participated in NCSALL's 
health literacy study circles and with some of their students.  I was impressed with how effective 
these two professional development efforts have been.

It made me think that combining the two, one that helps teachers improve their teaching of skills 
and the other that helps teachers contextualize learning around the interests and needs of 
students, could be an exteamly effective way to improve instruction. The Department of Education 
might consider replicating the STAR approach for low level readers, math, writing, ESOL, and the 
other skill areas we address, and someone might expand the study circles to address other areas of 
interest. While waiting for that, I urge states that want to improve instruction to look at these 
two professional development approaches.



John Comings
National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy
Harvard Graduate School of Education
7 Appian Way
Cambridge MA 02138
(617) 496-0516, voice
(617) 495-4811, fax
(617) 335-9839, mobile
john_comings at harvard.edu
http://ncsall.gse.harvard.edu