NIFL Discussion on Comprehension Monitoring Strategies for Adult Readers
From February 4-8, 2008, please join the NIFL Family Literacy Discussion listserv for a discussion moderated by Susan McShane and Donna Elder on the topic of comprehension monitoring strategies for adult readers. To sign up for this discussion, go to: http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Familyliteracy
Please read the details below, think about the questions, raise questions of your own, and prepare for an exciting look at some strategies to help adult readers monitor their comprehension.
Guest Moderators
Susan McShane is a Reading Initiative Specialist at the National Center for Family Literacy. She has more than 20 years of experience in adult education and family literacy. She has taught adult reading students in an adult basic education reading program, a private community-based organization, and a community college developmental reading program. She also worked for the Virginia Adult Learning Resource Center. In her current position, she authored a book for adult education instructors, Applying Research in Reading Instruction for Adults: First Steps for Teachers, developed with funding from the National Institute for Literacy. As project manager for the Kentucky Adult Education Reading Pilot Project, she provided training and assistance to facilitate adult education teachers' implementation of scientifically based reading instruction.
Joining Susan in the discussion will be Donna Elder, a Reading Specialist at the National Center for Family Literacy. Donna served as a reading coach for the Kentucky Adult Education Reading Pilot Project, assisting adult education instructors in the implementation of reading strategies, materials and activities to improve reading instruction and learner outcomes for participants in the project.
Discussion Questions
What comprehension monitoring strategies do you use with your adult learners? Have you ever tried any of those mentioned on pages 80 -82 of Applying Research in Reading Instruction for Adults: First Steps for Teachers (which is available free at http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/publications.html ). What worked, what didn't?
How do you as instructors introduce/make the case for comprehension strategy instruction with adult learners who may consider themselves to be competent readers?
What strategies do you, as a reader, use? How can you become more aware of the strategies you are using automatically, so you can teach them to others?
Suggested Reading
Pages 80-82 (Comprehension Monitoring) and Chapter 7, "Comprehension Strategy Instruction," Applying Research in Reading Instruction for Adults: First Steps for Teachers. You may view it as a pdf document at: http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/applyingresearch.pdf
Research-Based Principles for Adult Basic Education Reading Instruction by John Kruidenier. The publication is available free from http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/publications.html
National Institute for Literacy Webcast: From Assessment to Practice: Research-Based Approaches to Teaching Reading to Adults, Part 1: Instructional Strategies for Alphabetics and Reading Comprehension. Both the webcast and the PowerPoint slides are available at: http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/webcasts/assesspractice/webcast0928.html.
National Institute for Literacy Webcast: From Assessment to Practice: Research-Based Approaches to Teaching Reading to Adults Part 2: Specific Instructional Strategies for Fluency and Vocabulary. January 11, 2008. Webcast and PowerPoint slides are available at: http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/webcasts/assesspractice2/webcast0111.html.
Assessment Strategies and Reading Profiles (ASRP): Research-based assessment practices for the adult education classroom website at: http://www.nifl.gov/readingprofiles/