Understanding Literacy Development “Lifelong and Life Wide”

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Abstract

<div class="line" id="line-35"> This essay reviews three books focusing on adult literacy initiatives. Tracking Adult Literacy and Numeracy Skills: Findings From Longitudinal Research, edited by Stephen Reder &amp; John Bynner (2009, Routledge), includes a set of longitudinal, large&hyphen;scale research projects in the United States and the United Kingdom. Rebel Literacy: Cuba's National Literacy Campaign and Critical Global Citizenship by Mark Abendroth (2009, Litwin Books) brings us to the center of the 1961 Cuban literacy campaign and its continuation. Laboring to Learn: Women's Literacy and Poverty in the Post&hyphen;Welfare Era written by Lorna Rivera (2008, University of Illinois Press) focuses on a decade&hyphen;long study within a grassroots adult education program located outside of Boston. The books contribute significant insights into a number of topics including: understanding literacy development &ldquo;lifelong and life wide,&rdquo; longitudinal research, and neoliberalism. The review addresses each theme in turn, highlighting examples from each book. The books ask us to consider the ways in which bridges might be built between approaches to adult literacy education with an eye toward individual and community development.</div>
Original languageAmerican English
JournalReading Research Quarterly
Volume46
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 3 2011

Disciplines

  • Film and Media Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Sociology

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