Resources for Tutors
Attendance Form
Articles
Videos
Books
Sounds of English
History of English
English Grammar
Citizenship
Curricula Available for Download
Resource Centers
Websites for Lesson Planning
Attendance Form
Download an attendance form in Microsoft Word. You can email it to us or drop it off at your branch library.
First Level Learners
The August, 2001 issue of Focus on the Basics, a publication of the National Center for the Study of Adult Literacy and Learning.
Training by Design - Basic Literacy
Adults as Learners
Reading for Meaning
Speech Sounds/Language Experience
Word Recognition
Writing Process
Training by Design - ESL
Real-World Communication
Total Physical Response
Listening and Speaking
Integrated Teaching Techniques
Understanding Speech Sounds
Books
Teaching Adults: A Literacy Resource Book
More than 60 specific activities for basic literacy students and tutors.
Teaching Adults: An ESL Resource Book
More than 60 specific activities for ESL students and tutors.
The Oxford Picture Dictionary
A good book to use to find photos to describe vocabulary words for ESL students.
Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level
Books for Adult New Readers @ Your Library
A resource for choosing picture books with family stories, picture books with history and social issues, and books with poetry, photography or art with suggestions for using these books in adult literacy or ESL lessons. These books are available at most libraries.
Sounds of English
Phonetics: the Sounds of Spoken Language
At this website, you can hear English sounds pronounced and see a diagram or video of how the mouth makes these sounds. It uses linguistic terms to describe them, but you can also see and hear sample words to determine the letters that usually represent the sounds. From the homepage, choose a language (English) and then select a category of sound. It may require you to download a Flash animation plug in.
History of English
Discovering Words: the Stories Behind English This book describes the origins of English, how the language changes, and why we have some of the spelling patterns we do. It was written for adult literacy students reading at level 3.
Talk About English: How Words Travel and Change This book is in our juvenile section but also is appropriate for adults. It describes periods in the development of English, the roots of particular words, and how words change.
English Spelling This entry in the online encyclopedia Wikipedia explains the history of the English spelling system and has a list of common consonant and vowel spelling patterns, as well as links to other helpful websites.
English Grammar
Side by Side Book 1
Side by Side Book 2
Side by Side Book 3
Side by Side Book 4
Citizenship
In order to demonstrate ability to read and write English, applicants must correctly write a dicated sentence using these words. Similarly, the reading portion of the interview uses these words. Citizenship, Passing the Test: Literacy Skills also can help applicants prepare for the reading and writing requirement.
Applicants also must demonstrate the ability to speak and understand English. Citizenship, passing the Test: Ready for the Interview, a book and CD, is a good resource for practicing for spoken English as it will be evaluated during the interview. It goes over the N400 form (the application for naturalization) and shows how the interviewer and applicants might ask and answer questions about it. A teacher's guide for this and other books in the series is available.
Try Citizenship : Passing the Test, part of the same series, to study U.S. history, government, geography and civics principles.
Visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website for much more information and study materials available for download.
Curricula Available for Download
Practitioner Toolkit: Working With Adult English Language Learners
Click on English language learners and then "Practitioner Toolkit." Created by the National Center for Family Literacy, the toolkit contains a variety of lesson plans and activities for adults learning English. It is especially helpful for those who have children. Try "Activities to Promote Interaction and Communication," "Activities to Promote Reading Development," or any of the sections on "Parental Education in Family Literacy Programs." The citizenship section also may be helpful.
Making it Real: Teaching Pre-Literate Adult Refugee Students
A 116-page book developed by the Tacoma Community House Training Project in Washington State, including a series of techniques for teaching both beginning literacy and speaking skills and activities for helping adults apply these skills to their lives. Click on the link in the middle of the page. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required.
Resource Centers
National Center for the Study of Adult Literacy and Learning
A federally-funded research center dedicated to improving practice in adult literacy and ESL programs.
National Institute for Literacy
General information, discussion boards, and a database of lesson plans and resources.
The largest non-governmental literacy organization in the world.
Texas Center for Adult Literacy and Learning
Information and links about literacy in Texas, including a lending library.
Verizon Literacy Campus
Free, online couses on literacy topics for current and future volunteers. Some suggested courses: Phonemic Awareness Instruction for Adult Literacy Learners (basic literacy), Working with Adult Literacy Learners (basic literacy), Working with English Language Learners (ESL), Culture and English Language Leaners (ESL), any class for citizenship (ESL). The following classes would be helpful for both ESL and basic literacy tutors: Graphic Organizers, Before, During and After - Comprehension, Unleashing Potential Through Multi-Intelligent Literacy Instruction, Writing without Fear, and any class involving parents and children.
Websites for Lesson Planning
The Internet TESL Journal
Discussion questions, activities, lessons for various circumstances, techniques, games, jokes and more!
Eastside Literacy
This a link to a page with topics and questions for conversation sessions over the course of a semester.
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