Library storytime programs provide opportunities for preschool children to develop readiness skills in early literacy that are linked in research to later success in learning to read and write. Children with disabilities that do not demonstrate school readiness skills upon entry to kindergarten are often placed in self-contained special education settings where opportunities to learn to read and write are diminished. English Language Learners (ELL) who have disabilities face additional challenges in benefiting from the models of language that are optimal for learning literacy when placed in self-contained settings. Despite the critical role that storytime programs play in equalizing the opportunities for children to learn early literacy skills, librarians report having few children with disabilities in their programs, and those that do attend experience difficulty participating due to sensory, behavioral, motor and communication challenges. Librarians in public libraries report minimal training in how to support children with disabilities and their families in meaningful participation in preschool storytime sessions. This study explored the impact of professional development, utilizing the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to increase the accessibility of early literacy content associated with foundational skills in reading and writing during preschool storytime. This mixed methods study incorporated elements of both descriptive and quasi-experimental design, and is one of the first conducted in a public library to measure pre and post data on how librarians plan and implement storytime before and after professional development. Parents' experiences attending preschool storytime were also collected and analyzed in order to inform future policies and practices in the public library.

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Volunteer literacy tutors are key actors in one-on-one adult learner-tutor relationships, although few studies have examined tutors' role in literacy provision. This study had two objectives: to describe and analyse how McGill Students for Literacy tutors understand literacy and how they behave toward their learners and toward their organization, and to understand why many tutors distance themselves and their match from the organization. 18 McGill Students for Literacy tutors participated in semi-structured interviews with the researcher in this organizational case study. The hypothesis states that tutors choose autonomy from the literacy organization because of certain beliefs related to their attitudes as volunteers and to the organization's focus on individualized learning. These beliefs are: one-on-one instruction succeeds where classroom-based instruction has not, individual attention compensates for lack of training, good-will is better than good training, and volunteer activities can be justified on the basis of perceived need rather than demonstrable progress.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2009. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Mar. 10, 2010). Thesis advisor: Deborah Ann Wooten. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Mississippi State University. Department of Curriculum and Instruction. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Literacy is a key outcome of education. Although literacy is a basic human right, and, can lay the foundation for further education and training, there is still a high number of illiterate people in South Africa. Black rural women form the majority of non-literates in the country and this has a negative impact on the development of the country. This means that rural women are still marginalized and stay in conditions of squalor because they are unemployed, poor and lack skills required by the labour market. This study focuses on the importance and benefits of literacy programmes to the empowerment of black rural women. It was conducted in two rural areas of Mopani District Municipality, in Greater Giyani. Rural women who have been socially excluded and benefited less from the growing economy need to be empowered through literacy programmes to stand up and fight poverty, ill health and other social ills they face. The qualitative method was employed where participants were involved in focus group and one on one interviews so as to evaluate the effectiveness of the literacy programmes. The results of the study indicate that literacy programmes did empower women to a certain extent because they have gained functional skills and they involve themselves in community development programmes. However, the engagement of all stakeholders in the provision of quality literacy programmes can emancipate rural women so that they may take their rightful places in society. / Educational Studies / (M. Ed. (Secialisation in Adult Education))

This study concentrate on adult literacy training in the Border/Kei region of the Eastern Cape. The region is a largely rural area characterized by impoverishment. In contrast to the on-going technological progress within the country, is a high level of illiteracy, rendering communities ill-equipped to address socioeconomic problems. The research problem addresses adult literacy training in the region, in the context of outcomes-based education (OBE) and other solutions. The second chapter presents a study of some international practices with regard to adult literacy training and competency-based education. General trends in the United Kingdom and Australia are examined, in order to ascertain the rationale for and approaches to, adult literacy training. The findings indicate that some of the international trends are towards competency-based education and training as a practical and relevant approach to the current economic and concomitant educational and training needs. Furthermore, government commitment is identified as essential to relevant adult literacy programmes and to ensuring the continuity of adult literacy training. Chapter three examines the current developments in the South African education system regarding adult literacy training. It also examines the possibility of an outcomes-based approach to enhance the effectiveness of adult literacy training. The findings indicate that the State is primarily responsible for ABET in South Africa. The Department of Education's policy on ABET and the national multi-year implementation plan currently dictate the approach to adult literacy training. OBE is emphasised in terms of the learning programmes, so as to facilitate flexibility and the potential to provide the wide foundation that is essential for lifelong learning. The fourth chapter examines the effectiveness of adult literacy programmes in the Border/Kei region. The findings indicate that a lack of funding and of physical infrastructure, are two factors which hamper effective adult literacy training within the area. The fifth chapter examines a possible strategic direction for implementing OBE and other solutions, to enhance adult literacy training within the Border/Kei area. The findings indicate that there is a need to encompass an outcomes-based approach. A proposed structure for the implementation of adult literacy training in the region is presented. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Comparative Education)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Ontluikende geletterdheid is waarskynlik die belangrik:ste tema wat in hierdie proefskrif behandel word. Die doelbewuste skepping van ouderdomsrelevante geleenthede vir die kleuter om op 'n informele wyse blootstelling en deelname aan luister- praat-, lees- en skryfvaardighede te ervaar, dien as vertrekpunt. Vroee ontwikkeling van geletterdheidsvaardigbede, as komponent van kognitiewe ontwikkeling by die kleuter, bet geblyk noodsaaklik te wees- nie net ten aansien van skoolgereedheid nie, maar ook ten opsigte van sy uiteindelike selfverwesenliking. Die oogmerk strek dus verder as die afiigting van die kleuter tot 'n toereikende vaardigbeidsvlak ten einde skoolgereed te kan wees. In teenstelling met die lank bestaande beleid in Suid-Afiika, wat bepaal bet dat voorskoolse onderwys byna uitsluitlik die onderrig van perseptuele vaardigbede moes bebels, word 'n alternatiewe benadering m hierdie proefskrif aangedui. Hulpverlening met geletterdheidsontwikkeling as doelwit behels waarskynlik 'n meer omvattende scenario ten einde die beboeftes van die affektief-, kognitief-, sosiaalwordende kind aan te spreek. Ontsluiting van 'n nuwe wereld van kennis waardeur nonne, boudings en vaardighede aangeleer word, bet 'n direkte invloed op die kwaliteit van sy totale lewe. By uitnemendbeid skep uitkomsgerigte onderwys die geleentbeid om reeds op voorskoolse vlak, geletterdbeidsvaardigbede op 'n informele wyse aan te leer. Die mite dat primere skole aileen die voorreg beskore is om leerders te leer lees en skryf, word krities in hierdie studie bevraagteken. Die klemverskuiwing is reeds sigbaar in die nuut-aangekondigde onderwysbeleid naamlik dat die leerprogram Geletterdheid minstens sowat 40% van die daaglikse onderrigprogram in die grondslagfase moet geniet. Die wyse waarop geletterdheidsvaardighede aangeleer kan word, word indiepte bespreek. Eweneens word belangrike prosesse waardeur die ontwikkeling van 'n fonologiese-, semantiese- en sintaktiese bewussyn, aan die orde gestel. Die aanleer van geletterdheidsvaardighede blyk nie alleen noodsaaklik te wees vir die ontwikkeling van lewensvaardighede nie dit bewerkstellig toegang tot en die begryping en belewing van die werklikheid wat die mens omring. / Emergent literacy is probably the most important theme addressed in this thesis. The purpose is to create age related opportunities for the pre-school child to experience exposure and participation in listening-, vocal-, reading- and writing abilities on an informal basis which serves as a point of departure. Early awareness of literacy abilities as a component of cognitive development of the pre-school child has proved to be essential - not only in respect of school readiness, but also with regard to ultimate selfactualisation. The aim therefore goes beyond the mere training of the pre-school child to an adequate level of competence to be well prepared for formal schooling. Contrary to the well established policy in South Africa which determined that pre-school education should be limited to the exclusive teaching of perceptual abilities, an alternative approach has been considered in this thesis. Assistance with a view to literacy development probably encompasses a more inclusive scenario in order to address the requirements of the emotional, cognitive and social developing pre-school child. Exposure to a new world of knowledge through which norms, attitudes and abilities are acquired, has a direct influence on the quality of his total life. Outcomes based education provides an excellent opportunity to acquire already at pre-school level, literacy skills on an informal basis. The myth that only primary schools have been allotted the privilege to teach learners to read and write, is being critically questioned in this study. The change in emphasis is already evident in the recently announced education policy, namely that the daily learning programme Literacy must include at least 400/o of the foundation programme phase. The manner in which literacy skills can be acquired are discussed in depth. Simultaneously Literacy must include at least 400/o of the foundation programme phase. The manner in which literacy skills can be acquired are discussed in depth. Simultaneously important processes affecting the development of a phonological, semantic and syntactic cognition are discussed. The acquisition of literacy skills appears not only to be important to the development of life skills - it accomplishes access to and the comprehension of as well as the perception of the reality surrounding man. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

Acompanha: FOCO - Formação Colaborativa / A presente tese objetivou analisar quais as contribuições da formação continuada em matemática do PNAIC para a prática pedagógica dos professores alfabetizadores do município de Ponta Grossa. Assim, a problemática que norteou este estudo foi: “quais as contribuições da formação continuada em matemática do PNAIC para a prática pedagógica dos professores alfabetizadores do município de Ponta Grossa?”. Para isso, buscou-se nas bases teóricas a compreensão acerca dos temas que circundam este assunto, iniciando pelos estudos sobre formação continuada em matemática de professores dos anos iniciais, com base, principalmente, nos escritos de Nóvoa (1992, 1995, 1999, 2009), Pimenta (2012), Sacristán e Goméz (1998), Serrazina (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014), Tardif (2000, 2011, 2012) e Zeichner (1993), entre outros autores. O texto apresenta ainda o estudo que fundamenta o Pacto Nacional pela Alfabetização na Idade Certa, com enfoque no eixo formação de professores, tendo seu contexto baseado, principalmente, no aporte teórico em Davis, Nunes e Almeida (2011) e Gatti (2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013), além de base documental. Como proposta metodológica, esta pesquisa adotou o tipo estudo de caso, tendo como principal autor Robert Yin (2001). A pesquisa foi realizada com 16 (dezesseis) professores alfabetizadores do Município de Ponta Grossa, Paraná. Empregaram-se como instrumentos de coleta de dados: análise de documentos, questionários, entrevistas e observação direta não-participante. Para o tratamento dos dados, recorreu-se à análise textual discursiva. Os resultados demonstram contribuições significativas do PNAIC para a prática docente, identificadas no desenvolvimento de saberes disciplinares e curriculares dos professores, bem como na compreensão de conceitos inerentes ao ensino da matemática no Ciclo de Alfabetização, assumidas nas práticas docentes, tais como letramento matemático, o lúdico como estratégia para o ensino na infância e a resolução de problemas. Além disso, mostraram também lacunas que colocam em xeque a efetivação da proposta a longo prazo, como fragilidade no acompanhamento do processo de planejar, o não envolvimento da escola em seu contexto meso e a desconsideração de outras variáveis que interferem diretamente no trabalho do professor. Tais análises permitiram categorizar o modelo de formação do PNAIC, considerando as perspectivas e o enfoque de formação propostos por Sacristán e Gómez (1998), bem como identificar as categorias de contribuição para o desenvolvimento da profissionalidade docente recomendadas por Nóvoa (2009). / The purpose of this thesis was to analyze the contributions of the continuing education in mathematics of the PNAIC to the pedagogical practice of literacy teachers in the municipality of Ponta Grossa. Thus, the problem that led to this study was: "Which contributions of the continuing education in mathematics of the PNAIC to the pedagogical practice of literacy teachers in the municipality of Ponta Grossa?" In order to do so, we sought to understand the themes surrounding this subject, beginning with studies on Continuing Education of Mathematics Early Years Teacher, mainly based on the writings of Nóvoa (1992, 1995, 1999, 2009), Pimenta (2012), Sacristán and Goméz (1998), Serrazina (2010, 2012, 2014), Tardif , 2012) and Zeichner (1993), among others. The text also presents studies that substantiate the National Pact for Literacy in the Right Age, focusing on the axis of teachers formation, and its context is mainly based on the theoretical contribution of Davis, Nunes and Almeida (2011) and Gatti (2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013), as well as a documentary base. As a methodological proposal, this research adopted the case study, having as main author Robert Yin (2001). The research was carried out with 16 (sixteen) literacy teachers from the city of Ponta Grossa, Paraná. They were used as instruments of data collection: document analysis, questionnaires, interviews and direct non-participant observation. For the treatment of the data, we used the discursive textual analysis. The results demonstrate significant contributions of PNAIC to the teaching practice, identified in the development of disciplinary and curricular knowledge of teachers, as in the understanding of concepts inherent to Mathematics Teaching in the literacy cycle, assumed in the teaching practices, such as mathematical literacy, playfulness as a strategy for early childhood education and problem solving. In addition, the results also showed gaps that call into question the effectiveness of the proposal in the long term, such as fragility in the follow-up of the planning process, non-involvement of the school in its meso context, and disregard for other variables that directly interfere in the teacher's job. These analyzes allowed us to categorize the PNAIC training model, considering the perspectives and the training approach proposed by Sacristán and Gómez (1998), as well as to identify categories of contribution for the development of teachers professionalism recommended by Nóvoa (2009).

Acompanha: FOCO - Formação Colaborativa / A presente tese objetivou analisar quais as contribuições da formação continuada em matemática do PNAIC para a prática pedagógica dos professores alfabetizadores do município de Ponta Grossa. Assim, a problemática que norteou este estudo foi: “quais as contribuições da formação continuada em matemática do PNAIC para a prática pedagógica dos professores alfabetizadores do município de Ponta Grossa?”. Para isso, buscou-se nas bases teóricas a compreensão acerca dos temas que circundam este assunto, iniciando pelos estudos sobre formação continuada em matemática de professores dos anos iniciais, com base, principalmente, nos escritos de Nóvoa (1992, 1995, 1999, 2009), Pimenta (2012), Sacristán e Goméz (1998), Serrazina (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014), Tardif (2000, 2011, 2012) e Zeichner (1993), entre outros autores. O texto apresenta ainda o estudo que fundamenta o Pacto Nacional pela Alfabetização na Idade Certa, com enfoque no eixo formação de professores, tendo seu contexto baseado, principalmente, no aporte teórico em Davis, Nunes e Almeida (2011) e Gatti (2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013), além de base documental. Como proposta metodológica, esta pesquisa adotou o tipo estudo de caso, tendo como principal autor Robert Yin (2001). A pesquisa foi realizada com 16 (dezesseis) professores alfabetizadores do Município de Ponta Grossa, Paraná. Empregaram-se como instrumentos de coleta de dados: análise de documentos, questionários, entrevistas e observação direta não-participante. Para o tratamento dos dados, recorreu-se à análise textual discursiva. Os resultados demonstram contribuições significativas do PNAIC para a prática docente, identificadas no desenvolvimento de saberes disciplinares e curriculares dos professores, bem como na compreensão de conceitos inerentes ao ensino da matemática no Ciclo de Alfabetização, assumidas nas práticas docentes, tais como letramento matemático, o lúdico como estratégia para o ensino na infância e a resolução de problemas. Além disso, mostraram também lacunas que colocam em xeque a efetivação da proposta a longo prazo, como fragilidade no acompanhamento do processo de planejar, o não envolvimento da escola em seu contexto meso e a desconsideração de outras variáveis que interferem diretamente no trabalho do professor. Tais análises permitiram categorizar o modelo de formação do PNAIC, considerando as perspectivas e o enfoque de formação propostos por Sacristán e Gómez (1998), bem como identificar as categorias de contribuição para o desenvolvimento da profissionalidade docente recomendadas por Nóvoa (2009). / The purpose of this thesis was to analyze the contributions of the continuing education in mathematics of the PNAIC to the pedagogical practice of literacy teachers in the municipality of Ponta Grossa. Thus, the problem that led to this study was: "Which contributions of the continuing education in mathematics of the PNAIC to the pedagogical practice of literacy teachers in the municipality of Ponta Grossa?" In order to do so, we sought to understand the themes surrounding this subject, beginning with studies on Continuing Education of Mathematics Early Years Teacher, mainly based on the writings of Nóvoa (1992, 1995, 1999, 2009), Pimenta (2012), Sacristán and Goméz (1998), Serrazina (2010, 2012, 2014), Tardif , 2012) and Zeichner (1993), among others. The text also presents studies that substantiate the National Pact for Literacy in the Right Age, focusing on the axis of teachers formation, and its context is mainly based on the theoretical contribution of Davis, Nunes and Almeida (2011) and Gatti (2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013), as well as a documentary base. As a methodological proposal, this research adopted the case study, having as main author Robert Yin (2001). The research was carried out with 16 (sixteen) literacy teachers from the city of Ponta Grossa, Paraná. They were used as instruments of data collection: document analysis, questionnaires, interviews and direct non-participant observation. For the treatment of the data, we used the discursive textual analysis. The results demonstrate significant contributions of PNAIC to the teaching practice, identified in the development of disciplinary and curricular knowledge of teachers, as in the understanding of concepts inherent to Mathematics Teaching in the literacy cycle, assumed in the teaching practices, such as mathematical literacy, playfulness as a strategy for early childhood education and problem solving. In addition, the results also showed gaps that call into question the effectiveness of the proposal in the long term, such as fragility in the follow-up of the planning process, non-involvement of the school in its meso context, and disregard for other variables that directly interfere in the teacher's job. These analyzes allowed us to categorize the PNAIC training model, considering the perspectives and the training approach proposed by Sacristán and Gómez (1998), as well as to identify categories of contribution for the development of teachers professionalism recommended by Nóvoa (2009).