The Adult Literacy Teacher job function is to teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in remedial education classes, preparatory classes for the General Educational Development test, literacy, or English as a Second Language. Teaching may or may not take place in a traditional educational institution.
Duties:
The Adult Literacy Teacher adapts teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students’ varying needs, abilities, and interests. The Adult Literacy Teacher observes and evaluates students’ work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement. The Adult Literacy Teacher plans and conducts activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate. The Adult Literacy Teacher instructs students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. The Adult Literacy Teacher maintains accurate and complete student records as required by laws or administrative policies. The Adult Literacy Teacher prepares materials and classrooms for class activities. The Adult Literacy Teacher establishes clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicates those objectives to students. The Adult Literacy Teacher conducts classes, workshops, and demonstrations to teach principles, techniques, or methods in subjects such as Basic English language skills, life skills, and workforce entry skills. The Adult Literacy Teacher prepares students for further education by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks. The Adult Literacy Teacher establishes and enforces rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students for whom they are responsible.
Knowledge:
The Adult Literacy Teacher needs knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. The Adult Literacy Teacher needs knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. The Adult Literacy Teacher needs knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. The Adult Literacy Teacher needs knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. The Adult Literacy Teacher needs knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. The Adult Literacy Teacher needs knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology. The Adult Literacy Teacher needs knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Skills:
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the skill to teach others how to do something in order to help them achieve their learning goals.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the skill to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the skill to talk to others to convey information effectively.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the skill to give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the skill to select and use training methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the skill to monitor performance of you, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the skill to become aware of others’ reactions and understand why they react as they do.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the skill to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem solving and decision making.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the skill to communicate effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the skill to adjust actions in relation to others’ actions.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- The Adult Literacy Teacher needs the ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.