Project Rational 

​

As a career adult educator, I have often struggled to successfully raise the reading achievement of the adults at or below the intermediate level as determined by standardized measures. I began enquiring of colleagues locally and reading experts nationally to attempt to gain access to what the experts "must know." I also sifted through the resource collections at LINCS, and was amazed to find publication after publication that provided answers to my questions. 

What I have learned has made me acutely aware of the reading challenges adult students face and of the gaps in my instructional practice. So I had to start doing better, as Maya Angelou recommends in her famous quote.

I kept reading, from much of the research from 2005 and earlier, that  "ABE programs have been hampered by the lack of evidence-based research on effective reading instruction...". Now, though, that is not the case. As a classroom instructor with no special research skills, I was able to learn and begin applying what the experts have known, and have made available to practitioners, for decades.  

 

So when a funding opportunity arose to support a project beneficial to adult education in Colorado, I decided to share my learning so others would more quickly and efficiently learn about evidence-based reading instruction. Because I finally feel empowered, after all these years as a professional reading instructor.

​

I hope others will feel as excited, and empowered, as I do, in service to students.