Beginning ABE Literacy (English Functional Levels (EFL) 1) and Beginning Basic Education (EFL 2) learners have foundational reading skill gaps that are sometimes masked by their ability to compensate with knowledge or inference ability when confronted with literacy tasks. Nonetheless, their needs are best addressed with direct instruction at the word, sentence, and passage levels. Addressing these needs requires assessment to identify (1) the specific learning gaps, (2) knowledge of the reading development, and (3) effective instructional practices. It also requires that educators have a sense of the different subpopulations of adults who most typically present with this low level of reading ability (that is, those just learning the English language or those with identified or un-identified reading impairments).
On January 28th 2021, CaptiVoice hosted Dr. John Sabatini’s presentation titled “Identifying, assessing, and instructing adult learners of English Functioning Levels (EFL) 1 and 2.” From this presentation, you learn about identifying learners at EF level, how different subpopulations might present, and specific exercises, resources, and instructional tips for teaching adult learners at levels one and two.
One resource you can access from this webinar is SARA, currently named the ETS Reading Diagnostic on CaptiVoice. SARA is a reading assessment featuring six subtests to follow your students’ fundamental reading skills and their progress over time.