Colleagues,
In 2009, I wrote a short blog article about adult literacy blogs. I have just updated the article and added links to a couple more blogs, making the total ten. I will consider adding others if their blog focus is adult basic, adult secondary, transition to higher ed, or adult ESOL/ESL/ELL learning. You'll find the article at http://davidjrosen.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/adult-literacy-blogs/
Why could this be useful to you?
Some of the blogs are written by experienced adult basic education teachers and other practitioners who are also top thinkers in our field. Some include trends, often in technology, but also in other areas. Most of the articles in these blogs are written as labors of love, not for commercial or promotional purposes, as contributions to the thinking in our field. They are a nice complement to some of the conversations here, and many of the writers also contribute to LINCS.
Is there a blog that you think should be added?
If so, please post the web address here or email me and I will consider adding it. I would also appreciate knowing why you like it. I am sure I must inadvertently have missed some important adult basic education blogs and would appreciate your help in learning about them.
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
Comments
Good Morning, David, and Happy Thanksgiving (or rather Black Friday :)) to All,
I have to admit that I have not traditionally been a reader of many blogs. I follow any number of professional organizations and publications, but have really just in the past year or so begun to follow the social media feeds that link to respected blogs in specific subject areas. I very much appreciate the link and information you share above. I think that, much like YouTube and Twitter, the ability of "everyman" to share their insights and opinions is adding valuable "from the trenches" observations to the field of adult education (as well as to many other fields.) I've had finding a few blogs that resonate with me on my list of things to do for a while now, and now I have additional motivation and a bit of help in checking that task off.
-- Heather Erwin, Correctional Ed SME
Colleagues,
The Adult Literacy Education blog https://davidjrosen.wordpress.com gets annual Wordpress blog data reports. Here are some highlights for 2014:
1 Adult Literacy Blogs November 2009 * **
2 Defining Digital Literacy January 2013 *
3 Using Free Online Instructional Videos with Adult Learners March 2013 *
4 What will U.S. adult basic education look like in the future? Ten technology trends that may be transforming it. July 2014
5 Competency-based Adult Education in the Cloud Age September 2012 * **
* These were also among the most-viewed articles in 2013
**These were also among the most-viewed articles in 2012
David J. Rosen
Djrosen123@gmail.com
Hi David, Heather, and All,
Thanks David for refreshing us about the list of blogs in adult education and literacy. Like Heather, I follow organizations both within our field and in broader fields like the nonprofit world. I especially like Social Media for Nonprofits and Beth Kantner's Blog.
I'm wondering to what extent bloggers in adult education and literacy reach out to bloggers in related fields such as education (K12 and higher education), technology, social innovation, etc., and encourage them to read, comment, cross-link, etc. In other words, do adult education bloggers use their articles to raise awareness of adult education and literacy successes and issues with a broader audience? Why or why not?
Jackie Taylor, SME
Thanks, Jackie, these are good ones and new to me. I'm looking forward to expanding my reading repertoire.
I also wanted to reference a couple of blogs that I have come across recently. They are both actually blogs by Prison Librarians who are wonderful at promoting literacy skills and distributing resources in secure facilities. The first is: http://prisonlibrarian.blogspot.com/?m=1, and the second: http://soyouwanttobeaprisonlibrarian.blogspot.com/?m=1.
I think this actually does the opposite of what you suggested -- broadening the applicability snd raising awareness with a larger audience -- but I think that when the material is compelling, as these and your above referenced blogs are, that subscribers will share them and wider audiences will develop.
Thanks Heather and Jackie for your comments and blog suggestions. I wonder if others have blog recommendations, especially adult education blogs. If so, please share them with us.
David J. Rosen
djrosen1234@gmail,com
My speciality are the regularities and irregularities of English spelling and their effect on literacy acquisition.
I have written about them on my blogs http://englishspellingproblems.blogspot.co.uk and http://improvingenglishspelling.blogspot.co.uk
Over the years I have worked particularly hard on trying to improve my summary of the ins and outs of English spelling and hope that the latest version
http://improvingenglishspelling.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/rules-and-exceptions-of-english-spelling.html
is clearer than any of my earlier attempts.
Literacy teachers might find my recent blog http://readingandwritingenglish.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/300-most-used-words-in-english.html
about the 300 most HF English words of interest too.
Masha Bell
Ex English teacher, now independent literacy researcher
Author of ebook SPELLING IT OUT (2012),
'Rules and Exceptions of English Spelling' (2009),
'Understanding English Spelling' (2004),
The i-Pathways project hosts a blog at https://ipathways.wordpress.com. The topic is not specific to i-Pathways as many posts have included topics on retention, digital literacy, marketing / recruitment of students, using graphic organizers.. to name a few. Feel free to check it out. We are always looking for guest posts so if any of these readers would like to share their expertise, let us know.
Sincerely,
Kathy
Cambridge Community Learning Center has this blogsite - friendsofclc.wordpress.com and it publishes student writings.
~ Priyanka Sharma
SME, Postsecondary Completion
The ESL Literacy Network has a professional development blog for adult ESL/ELL Literacy practitioners. There is a wealth of information, resources, classroom ideas and best practices shared on the blog. The blog posts are written by experienced and novice ELL literacy instructors, volunteer tutors and program coordinators.
http://www.esl-literacy.com/blog
Thank you for sharing the list of adult education blogs David.
Shelagh
Thanks Shelagh. I have added the ESL Literacy Network blog address to the ALE Wiki page on adult ed blogs and wikis, http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Adult_Education_Blogs_and_Wikis .
David J. Rosen
djrosen123@gmail.com
Shelagh and all: Thanks, Shelagh, for including the link to the ESL Literacy Blog. It's very useful to have materials for learners with emerging literacy. I looked through the materials on setting financial goals (https://esl-literacy.com/blog/setting-financial-goals) and found that most can be used in the U.S. with minimal or no changes to spelling or word choice! For example, neighbour becomes neighbor, spanner becomes wrench and so on.
Unfortunately, the culminating game would need to be overhauled as it it in in pounds sterling! http://www.barclaysmoneyskills.com/~/media/Files/Schoolchildren%20Resources/Barclays%20Money%20Skills%20-%20Resource%20Pack%207-11.pdf
A great variety of activities on this blog!
Miriam Burt
SME, Adult ELL CoP