Video on learning differences

It can be hard for tutors - especially new and inexperienced tutors - to understand some of the issues faced by our English-speaking learners. Many movies (and even a recent ESL video I saw recently) depict learning to read as something an adult can do pretty quickly if he or she just tries hard. We know, though, that it isn't that simple. Many adult learners struggle with learning differences that make learning to read a whole different experience than anything their tutors have ever faced.

Here is a link to a video that discusses learning differences in adults in interesting and compelling ways, and that I think really brings home the message that it takes more for some people than just trying hard to learn:

http://www.headstrongnation.org/documentary

It's a long video, but there's some interesting material right at the beginning; watch as much as you have time for, because there is a lot of good material here.

Ann Daniels
Families for Literacy Coordinator
Second Start Adult Literacy Program, Oakland

Family Literacy Tutor Training

Gentle Reader,
Below you will find JPG images of the 3 pages of the family literacy instructional materials we use as part of our comprehensive tutor training. You can view any page in full size by clicking on the image. I am also including a link to MS Word and PDF versions of these materials which are housed on our San Francisco Public Library website. If you find any of these materials helpful please feel free to use them for non-profit educational purposes.
Thanks, Brian

Click Here for the Project Read SFPL Instruction Resources Page