Help locating non-reader lower grade books for adult learner

by Lyndee400

Dec 29, 2009

I have appx. 10 to 14 students in each of my (2) ABE/Special Ed. classes. All students are male and between the ages of 17 and 21. I am surprised to find that I have at least 10 out of 20 students (born in the US) who can't begin to read at even a 2nd grade level. about 5 of those didn't know the alphabet or the sounds that letters make.

I am trying to find elementary level textbooks for Science, History, etc. that would be appropriate for older students. Sadly, most adult education materials are written for those who can already read at appx. a 4th grade level. I am familiar with Laubach, the reading tutor uses this book series and The challenger series.

I am currently using Steck-Vaughn Spelling and their Vocabulary Connections for levels 1 through 3, and Houghton Mifflin MathSteps. These seem to be working very well for my non-readers. Can anyone suggest other titles for perhaps science and history content?

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lyndee400 Unlike 6 year-olds who can't read, these teenagers have street smarts, they may have done drugs, but, they are not M.R. They totally understand stories and situations, and answer questions when they are spoken or read to them.....Most can do simple math,... addition, subtraction, Multiplication and Division,... they just can't do word problems. ...See MoreUnlike 6 year-olds who can't read, these teenagers have street smarts, they may have done drugs, but, they are not M.R. They totally understand stories and situations, and answer questions when they are spoken or read to them.....Most can do simple math,... addition, subtraction, Multiplication and Division,... they just can't do word problems.

On 12/30/09, lyndee400 wrote: > This is sort-of why I am anxious to find low-level reading > materials.... I have been re-doing lessons and materials for a while > now... re-typing in a larger font, and doing away with the baby > pictures, changing stories from animal characters to people.....one of > the tutors at school has repeatedly told me that I should write a > book.... but it would take me forever to complete it. I am tired of > constantly pushing myself so hard. There has to be something > somewhere. Even ESL materials are too hard for beginning readers. > > > > > On 12/30/09, Teacher+ wrote: >> Good morning, Coxackie, NY! Love the Space Travel unit! Did they >> like it? >> >> If you find a great Soc or Sci textbook for lower leves, please post >> it! Here's some stuff I did to make it easier to write my science >> unit on Fibers. >> >> First, I assembled the basic readings: I went to the kids' library >> and checked out every book on Matter, atoms, molecules. These books >> also included some historical stuff on Greek philosophers to >> alchemists to true scientists. Xerox like mad. You may have > to do >> some cut and paste jobs. You're just going to give them one piece of >> reading a day; sometimes, just one paragraph. Like you, I teach to >> the TABE: I write multiple choice questions for each reading. >> >> I have homeroom for 2 hours and math for 1.5 hours. The reading and >> questions are going to take an hour. Then hit the Internet for >> activities that drive the other class components, skills and >> strategies. >> >> Like, once I gave them a mini lesson and short guided reading on >> alchemy and how it eventually lead to Scientific Method. For my >> Scientific Observation activity: >> >> I gave each student a peanut. They had to study it and record a >> description in words and picture. For your non readers: they'll >> draw pictures and you can put 6 describers on the board for them to >> copy: "single" "double" "cracked" "dark" "light", etc. Then, I >> collected the peanuts and placed them all on the chalk ledge with a >> number: they had to find their own peanut by using their scientific >> description. It really was hysterical. >> >> We also did this one: each student observes a penny. Then they put >> the penny away and give them this worksheet: >> >> [link removed].

Dec 30, 2009

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Teacher+ Oh my gosh, you really are giving it the good effort! I can just imagine you changing the animal characters to people!

t.

Dec 30, 2009

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Teacher+ These book series might be helpful:

- Exploring English (Harris, Rowe) (I have Book 4)

- Downtown (McBride) ( I have book 2)

- Side by Side (Molinsky,Bliss) (I have book 2)

t

Dec 30, 2009

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Teacher+ Okay, this might be something: I'm looking at two catalogs and there seem to be some things in there:

Steck-Vaughn Adult Education Catalog 2009-2010 Read On! Go Books (Level 1+) Reading for Today (Level 0+) America's Story (Level 2-3) Wonders of Science (Level 2-3)

Mc Graw Hill Contemporary 2010 Adult Basic Educaion Catalog ...See More

Dec 31, 2009

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lyndee400 Thanks! I will definitely check them out.

lyndee400

On 12/30/09, Teacher+ wrote: > These book series might be helpful: > > - Exploring English (Harris, Rowe) (I have Book 4) > > - Downtown (McBride) ( I have book 2) > > - Side by Side (Molinsky,Bliss) (I have book 2) > > t

Jan 9, 2010

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