Problem:  Where to find easy reading articles on health and other current events

Solution: Web site

www.keynews.org
More than 100 current events articles including a section on health that gives a great rundown on causes of disease.

Problem and solution contributed on 7/21/99 by:
Suzanne Zipperer
Project Coordinator
The Key Newspaper

Problem: "I need some high interest, low readability materials on the Internet."

Solution: Web site

The California Distance Learning Project http://www.otan.dni.us/cdlp/cdlp.html has articles and follow-up questions at several different difficulty levels on many topics.

Problem and solution contributed on 7/21/99 by:
A. Champagne
Adult Ed. Instructor,
St. Charles Parish, Louisiana

Problem: "How can multi-level readers in one class read, discuss, and write about the same material?"

Solution: Web site

 Learning Resourcesat  http://literacynet.org/cnnsf/ has new articles on current events as well as an extensive archive of articles on compelling contemporary topics (such as abortion, gun control, euthanasia) in both a full (more difficult to read) version and an edited (easier to read) version.

Problem and solution contributed on 7/21/99 by:
Ngaio Schiff
S.C.A.L.E.
Somerville, Massachusetts

Problem:  Reading and writing low literacy software for home computers

"I'm looking for adult software programs that can be used on home computers to increase reading, writing, and comprehension skills  of adults who are present at the 3rd to 6th grade levels."

Problem on the NIFL-Technology E-list Mon, 4 Jan 1999
Robert Long
Illinois Secretary of State Literacy Office
Springfield, IL

Solution 1: Web site, software

"The National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) has a multitude of on-line resources organized by topic.  Look under LITERACY RESOURCES  and then LINKS TO INTERNET RESOURCES.
 http://www.nald.ca/netlinks/ed_res_l.htm

Solution on the NIFL-Technology E-list Mon, 4 Jan 1999
Angela Acott-Smith
Canada

Solution 2: Software on disk and CD-ROM

"You can try Vocabulary Connections which has a variety of levels, A through G, I think. Activities include spelling, close exercises, fill in the missing word, definitions and several other activities. This comes on 3 1/2" disks. Each level is a different disk.

Curious Creatures is a good program that provides text as well as reads the text. Vocabulary words are underlined and linked to definitions/explanations. This is a CD-ROM. Activities include sentence starters which check comprehension and some comprehension questions as well.

Some of the new multimedia CD's on the market such as Cultural Achievements of
African Americans, National Geographic Mammals and Who Built America  provide
audio text and then interactive comprehension questions. These are CD-ROMs.

Some of the MECC software is also great to use because to continue in the
program you need to comprehend the directions, etc. These are great for
critical thinking skills and problem solving. These are not drill and kill but
simulations such as the Oregon Trail, Yukon Trail and Africa Trek. These come
on CD-ROMS and older versions can be had on disk."

Solution on the NIFL-Technology E-list Mon, 4 Jan 1999
Jackie Hamlett
Adult Learning Center

Solution 3: Software on CD-ROM

"I would like to suggest the use of the CD ROM program known as Language Tune-Up Kit.  It is a multisensory remedial reading skills program that teaches phonemic awareness and phonics to adults (and children) who are on a 0-4 grade level.  The program is available in a home or school version.  It uses the Orton-Gillingham method.  After completing over 80 lessons, the student should be able to decode 85-90 percent of the words in the English language. One can obtain the information at the web site www.jwor.com."

Solution contributed on August 16, 1999 by:
Sandra Rosenberger
Adult Education Coordinator
Marion County Adult and Community Education
Fairmont, West Virginia

Solution 4: Software on CD-Rom

"Try Reading With Phonics a CD ROM Product produced by Arrow  Educational Products, Inc  - Pembroke, NC phone- (910) 521-0840. Arrow Educational Products .They have a program for elementary and adult students which teaches phonics.  Includes pre and post tests in an accompanying workbook."

Solution contributed on November 10, 1999 by:
Debra Kelly - GED Coordinator
Manatee Community College

Solution 5:  Software on CD-Rom
Lexia's  Reading SOS http://www.lexialearning.com/sos.htm is a complete low level phonics software package designed for adults. It is beautifully designed to be thorough, effective, and entertaining. However, since it appears to have been designed for native speakers of English, I suspect that low-level beginning ESOL students will have difficulty understanding the directions. However, for those students with some understanding of spoken English, it might be appropriate.

Solution contributed on December 31, 1999 by:
Ken Tamarkin, Field Technology Coordinator
Northeast Regional Support Center
Massachusetts System for Adult Basic Education Support
Lawrence, MA

Problem: Easy-to-read Web sites

"Does anyone know of (a) Web site(s) on the Internet  designed for adults with a reading or language shortfall. I am looking for Web sites that have big text, lots of visuals, sound...?"

Problem on the NIFL-Technology E-list Tue, 11 May 1999
Susan M. Clair
Technology Specialist
Virginia Adult Education & Literacy Centers
Virginia Commonwealth University

Solution 1: Web Sites

"You can find various appropriate web sites through the NIFL special collections at http://novel.nifl.gov.  For example, the Science and Technology special collection gives many Web sites that are appropriate for adult learners and their instructors -- appropriate to teaching reform and learning basic skills in context. http://literacynet.org/science .  At first glance, some of the recommended sites may seem to be too high in reading level, but in my experience, the use of graphics, photos, and sound make these sites quite accessible to learners.

In the section Science and the News, this site recommends the Learning Resources site ...  http://literacynet.org/cnnsf

Another set of recommendations can be found in the webliography of exemplary sites.  Check out Bill Arnett's site, the Nine Planets: http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/. This site is one of the all-time favorites with learners in my program.

With Mr. Arnett's permission, a simple Nine Planets site has been created, emphasizing basic concepts and aimed at children with lower reading levels. One can avoid the words "for kids" by going directly to the introduction to this second Web site: http://www.tcsn.net/afiner/intro.htm .  This site also uses excellent graphics, but the site's use of frames may  make this a confusing place for many learners who are unfamiliar with using the Internet."

Solution on the NIFL-Technology E-list Wed, 12 May 1999
Susan Cowles
Basic Skills Instructor
Linn-Benton Community College
Albany, Oregon

Solution 2: Change your browser settings

For those who need large print.  Rather than going to specific web sites, if you have a MAC you can enlarge the text of any web page document by doing the following:

1.  go to the EDIT option on your menu bar
2.  choose  preferences
3.  choose  appearance
4.  choose fonts
5.  increase your "variable width"  font size to the desired size.
6.  you may have to fill in the radio button that says "override page specific fonts", but not usually.
     Just  try this if your change doesn't work.

If you are using Windows, to increase the font size of the text in your browser:

1.  click on EDIT on the Menu bar.
2.  select Preferences
3.  click on Appearance
4.  click on Fonts

Using the drop down box, change the font size to one that is appropriate.
 

You can also change your fonts to those that are more readable, serif type fonts are  easier to read because they give the eye more to "grab on to".

Solution on the NIFL-Technology E-list Tue, 11 May 1999, revised August 24, 1999 by:
Terri Ann Arnold
Project Specialist
National Center on Adult Literacy
University of Pennsylvania

Problem: Spelling

"Are there any good Web sites or other computer resources that help with spelling?"

Problem on the NIFL-Technology E-list Fri, 18 Jun 1999
Janet Brown

Solution 1: Web site

http://www.funbrain.com/spell/index.html  "gives students 24 screens with 4 words each, and asks them to identify the word that is misspelled.  It provides feedback immediately, telling the student if the answer is correct or not. If the student was wrong, it enables him/her to try again.  There are two levels -- easy and hard -- which makes it  good for students of different ages at different levels of ESL."

Solution on the NIFL-Technology E-list Fri, 18 Jun 1999
Loretta Kasper, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
KCC/CUNY

Solution 2: Spell check utility in a word processing program

"An effective way I have worked with students and spelling is to have students write  and then use spell check.  Some students prefer to write on paper  first.  Others prefer to write on the computer first.  Either way works.  Obviously you need to proofread the student's work too, pointing out that a spell check only recognizes if the "word" is really a word, not if it's the correct word in that context.  The advantage of this system is that it teaches students how to spell their own words. "

Solution on the NIFL-Technology E-list Fri, 18 Jun 1999
Millie Kuth
Hamilton ABLE
Hamilton OH 45011

Solution 3: Interactive Web Page

http://www.teachmespelling.com/
"This Web site offers students an opportunity to work on both vocabulary and spelling by providing a brief definition, a multiple choice list from which the student selects the correctly spelled word, and the answer to each word spelling item. The site focuses on troublesome words, and is somewhat limited
because it only looks at 82 words. But, the site will serve as a complement to other vocabulary and spelling work in the classroom. The complete breakdown for the site:

6 pages of commonly mistaken words (10 words each page)
1 page of "i" before "e" words (12 words)
1 page of Capital Letters (10 words) "

Solution 4: Interactive Web Page

http://www.harcourtschool.com/
"Each of us knows our students best, and the following site may not be appropriate for your students. Spelling is only one of the content areas here. It is a Harcourt School Publishers site for K-8. The site provides learning opportunities for basic skills in Reading/Language Arts, Spelling, Math, Social Studies, Science, Health, and Art. Some of the learning activities require Shockwave. If you check the site map,  http://www.harcourtschool.com/sitemap/ , I think you're likely to find many topics and activities of use to you in your classroom. "

Solutions 3 and 4 contributed November 5, 1999 by:
Carole Blair
Northern Berkshire Adult Basic Education
Mass. College of Liberal Arts
North Adams, Massachusetts

Solution 5: Web Page

http://literacy.kent.edu/Midwest/Materials/ndakota/spelling/toc.html
Spelling A Key to Good Communication
Spelling lessons and exercizes field-tested with adult learners.

Solution 5 contributed December 1, 1999 by:
Carole Blair
Northern Berkshire Adult Basic Education
Mass. College of Liberal Arts
North Adams, Massachusetts

Solution 6: Text-to-Speach Software
Text reading software such as CAST's eReader (formerly Ultimate Reader)   http://www.cast.org/tools/teachingtoolsreader.html can assist students in improving their spelling. The text reader can read the student's writing, so the student can hear for him or herself when they have made a spelling error that does not work phonetically. Because the English language is so inconsistent, an incorrectly spelled word that is phonetically correct could be read as if it were spelled correctly, but since the ultimate aim of improved student spelling is to improve the student's ability to be understood and to understand, this is still a step in the right direction.

Soilution 6 submitted December 31, 1999 by:
Ken Tamarkin, Cmputer Field Technologist
Northeast Regional Support Center
Massachusetts System for Adult Basic Education Support
Lawrence, Massachusetts
 
 

Problem: A way for ESL and low-level literate adults to look up definitions and get pronunciations quickly with a portable technology aid

Solution: Reading Pen

My library purchased two Quicktionary Reading  Pens, one English only and one Spanish/English.  We keep them at the Reference Desk and patrons may use them in-house, just as they would use a calculator or magnifying glass to access information more readily.  The pens work to help intermediate ESL students read on their own.  It takes less time to scan than use the dictionary and the pronunciation is a help.  Some dyslexic readers also can move through material with less frustration.

The Quicktionary Pen was developed in Israel and has been available in the U.S. for nearly a year.  (They are still quite expensive. )  The reader scans a word and the pen displays the dictionary definition.  The pen also pronounces the word in English.

References to pages describing the pen include  www.readingpen.com  and http://www.dyslexic.com/qttrans.htm

Problem and solution contributed on 7/25/99 by:
Sandra Gustafson, Coordinator
Adult Literacy Program
Hutchinson Public Library
Hutchinson, KS

Problem: How to help low literacy skill students to use the Internet on their own

An adult learner who I work with on Computer Literacy Skills wanted to drop out of my "class" (I work one-to-one with this individual) because he said that he had learned everything there was to learn on the computer.  In fact, he has come to impasse due to his low literacy skills.  He has gained many computer skills.  (He can independently get in and out of any program, etc.)  He would very much like to explore the Internet independently.  Because of his poor reading and spelling skills this task is very difficult.  How do I provide him with the necessary support, while giving him the independence he needs?  (With some assistance he can get on the net and access his e-mail account.)

Solution 1:  Web Page

I got my solution by exploring an internet page developed by Janet Isserlis of Literacy Resources/Rhode Island. The page is called Cultural Production  [as Vehicle for thinking about  integrating technology and learning. There is a Web-based lesson plan by Stacie Evans cited there.  I used this lesson plan -- somewhat modified for the literacy skills of my learner -- and it seems to be just what I needed to peak his interest in continuing working on the computer. The lesson is contained in an e-mail to the student.  The student is asked to click on the internet site contained in the e-mail.  The lesson  asks the learner to go to a site about the 50 states.  Janet's page, http://www.lacnyc.org/technology/pages/Isserlis/ , has the lesson plan  http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/stacie.html  and other interesting ideas .

Solution 2: Bookmarks of low literacy sites

Another possible solution to my problem - help my learner by developing with him a list of bookmarks to use when he wants to explore the Internet.

Additional note to the first solution:  By going to the Harnessing TechnologyWeb page I got more ideas to help my learner explore the internet on his own.  Many wonderful pages were cited by adult educators in response to problems.  I especially liked the sites for health Web sites utilizing lower reading levels and larger print. (Many sites are filled with too many words and graphics which confuse my adult learners - their focus is on everything except the material they were looking for.)  I would like to continue to explore this page for new ideas to include in the e-mail lesson plans for my students.

Problem and solutions contributed 7/28/99 by:
Cheryl Tondreau
Literacy Specialist
Literacy Volunteers of Northern RI

Problem: How to easily assess text readability levels
"I am looking to purchase software which assesses the literacy level of printed materials. "

Solution: Readability software

"I have reviewed and used Readability Calulations by Micro Power and Light...  Program comes in 2 sets (set one assesses by 7 formulas: Dale-Chall, Fry, FOG, Flesch, etc. and set 2 adds Spache to the others). ..."

 http://www.micropowerandlight.com/

Problem posted to NIFL-Health Electronic List on August 24, 1999 by:
Jessica Goldhirsch
Director of Patient Advocacy and Interpreter Services
Lowell General Hospital
Lowell, Mass

Solution posted to NIFL-Technology electronic List on March 20, 1998 by:
Chip Carlin
Assoc. Executive Director
LVA - New York State
Ithaca, NY

Problem: Free software that would read text out loud and that new readers can operate

Solution for Macs:  Simple Text
A utility built in to System 7+  (Requires saving documents as text files)

Solution for IBM compatibles: HELP Read
Freeware that reads computer text -word processing and Web pages.  More complicated, but more powerful and downloadable from the University of Hawaii at  http://www.pixi.com/~reader1/allbrowser/page2.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HELP Read requires:

•Windows 3.1 or later
•At least 4MB RAM (of course, the more, the better)
•2 MB hard disk space
•A sound card and speakers

Setup Instructions:

•Download HELPRead.Zip.
•Unzip HELPRead.Zip into an empty folder, subdirectory, or disk.
•Run Setup.exe to install HELP Read™ on your system.
•To setup HELP Read™ as a "Helper App" for Netscape Navigator...
  1.  From Netscape, choose Options|General Preferences.
  2.  Choose the Helpers tab.
  3.  Click on "Create New Type".
  4.  For MIME Type enter "Book Script" and for Subtype enter "BOK". Press OK.
  5.  For File Extensions, enter "bok".
  6.  Check "Launch the Application" and enter the path or "browse" for HELP Read.exe file.

Clipboard text will be loaded and read aloud automatically when you start the program.  You may open and have files with the txt
extension read aloud from inside the program.

Internet Explorer(R) and Netscape(R) html pages (text) can be read aloud during an active internet session.

A LIBRARY of 482 individual books, may be automatically downloaded and read aloud after the book’s title has been selected from the
pull-down index above the reading window.

Text may be read aloud (with menu selection) from ENGLISH or HAWAIIAN syntax.

Solution contributed November 22, 1999 by:
Lucy Haagen
Durham County Literacy Council
Durham, NC