The value of becoming a literate individual can hardly be overstated. From helping children with homework and understanding street signs and bills to advancing in one's career, reading really is fundamental. Since reading books also can open up new worlds and opinions to the reader, reading has the power to broaden the mind and enrich the spirit. Thus, one strategy to pursue as an educator is to link the mastery of reading and writing to positive real-life changes.
Adults have an array of interests that can be used in the classroom to promote literacy. For example, students may want to write a letter to a political figure, a child's teacher or to a relative that lives far away. Or a student may have an interest in starting his own business and need to fill out various government forms. Through class activities, including group work, students could work on creating lists of things that he would like to do as a result of becoming literate. Later, as students progress, they can work on a simple essay expressing this goal more clearly in writing.
It is important to have a well-prepared outline for your course, including daily lesson plans that lay out a slow, methodical approach to achieving literacy. When it comes to teaching basic reading and writing comprehension to adult learners, it is especially important to layout specific perimeters that include an emphasis on staying realistic in their short-term goals. It is also valuable to create individual goals with students in conferences, since not every student will learn at the same rate, with some concepts presenting more challenges than others.
While there are many reasons that adults pursue literacy goals. One reason that is fairly common is the desire to read certain religious texts. It is important to remember that teaching your students to read and write is your priority as a teacher. While discussion on religion or politics can be engaging, it can also be distracting to the class as whole. If a student wishes to learn to read so she can read a religious text, it is best to encourage your students to acquire the ability to read and write using an array of learning materials. That will make the students ready to read any text of their choice.