[NLA] Peparing America's Future

[AndresMuro at aol.com]

David:

The idea that limited literacy is the only barrier and that it is not tied to 
any other barriers is absurd.  People are not just lacking literacy skills 
but doing dandy in all areas of their lives. People face limited literacy 
skills in combination with other worldly issues tied to poverty. At the same 
time, it is not possible to improve language skills in a decontextualized 
fashion. Language is something that is used to communicate with others about 
something. For some of us language is the means to plan a vacation, invest in 
the stock market, help our children with homework, fill out a form at a 
hospital, or health clinic, complete a credit card application, apply for a 
loan, etc. For others, language is the means seek day care, find 
transportation, put a roof over our head, learn that there is a place called 
the "shelter for Battered Women", etc, etc. It is up to the teacher, in 
teaching  new language skills, to decide what kind of information they are 
going to use in the class to explore issues that will be both meaningful in 
improving communication skills, while learning that language is a tool to 
understand and participate in society. So, for the knowledgeable, prepared 
and concerned teacher, literacy instruction becomes the means by which 
students begin to identify, address and resolve meaningful, real life 
programs. For the administrator, the role is to work with his/her teachers, 
so that they can acquire the ability to do this. Unfortunately, this requires 
a field with knowledge and expertise. There are other discussion listservs in 
which people explore instructional approaches and strategies.  You may want 
to visit www.nifl.gov, click on the ncle icon, click on discussions and you 
will find a list of  discussions. I am conducting workshops on how teachers 
can incorporate health issues into literacy and GED classes. I will be doing 
workshops in several communities including Texas. Workshops are free. If you 
are interested, let me know. You may be able to send some of your teachers or 
attend yourself. 

Andres




In a message dated 6/19/2002 8:31:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time, 
joost_d at hccs.cc.tx.us writes:


> If their barrier is literacy skills they are in the right place.
> 
> If their barrier is child care...cant help them.
> 
> If their barrier is transportation...cant help them.
> 
> If their barrier is learning disability...we can do precious little.
> 
> If their barrier is substance abuse, homelessness, physical abuse,
> mental illness or any if the other barriers that are rife among our
> target population...we just cant consistently do anything meaningful to
> address it. We just don't have the bucks to do it.
> 
> This is the the rationale I am suggesting in Texas for more funding.
> 
> 


andresmuro at aol.com
Visit my art webpage at: http://www.geocities.com/andresmuro/artwork.html
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