<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Re: [SpecialTopics 648] International Discussion Ends and Numeracy Discussion Begins</TITLE>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3157" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=984404815-20092007>Hello
Louise,</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=984404815-20092007>I am entering the
discussion late but wanted to respond to your request about early childhood
mathematics education and numeracy. The NCTM recognized the same needed
research thread and have included a chapter on the topic in the newest handbook
available through their website:</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=984404815-20092007></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=984404815-20092007>Clements, D. H. &
Sarama, J. (2007). Early childhood mathematics learning. In Frank K. Lester
(Ed.), <EM>Second Handbook of Research on Mathematics Teaching and Learning, Vol
1. </EM></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=984404815-20092007></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=984404815-20092007>In reference to Tom's and
David's eloquent perceptions of the adult mathematics education field--I too
experience adult mathematics learning in the United States as the poor,
often disjointed, foster child of mathematics and mathematics education fields
placed under "workplace skills." Outside of ANN, little
attention or definition is given to the domain as far as a specialized
practice, research field, or theoretical framework. Thank
goodness for the national push from Australia, NZ, and Europe where
important questions are being asked. Is adult learning a
specialization within mathematics education?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Or, is mathematics learning a
specialization within adult education?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Gail Fitzsimons (1997) sees adults learning mathematics as the
intersection of four overlapping circles: vocational education, adult education,
mathematics education and industry.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Her research is discussed in the Kangan Report of Australian Committee on
Technical and Further Education (ACOTAFE).<FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 200%"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN>The resulting model establishes a separation between technical
colleges and adult schools with industry influencing each institutional
type.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the Nordic countries,
Engeltrom (1987) sees the discipline as a complexity of mathematics within adult
and vocational educations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
subsets between mathematics, adult and vocational educations are determined by
the interest of the groups concerned.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The concept of learners being served can include all participants in the
process-teachers, students, employers, and government officials.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Benn sees adult mathematics learning as
a nucleus with radiating concentric circles representing several disciplines
including mathematics, adult education, mathematics education, sociology and
psychology (Benn in Wedege et al., 1998). But these conceptions give
little consideration to adults beginning post-secondary
educations. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN> </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=984404815-20092007></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=984404815-20092007>Also remember, the
International Adults Learning Mathematics Conference-15 (ALM-15) is in the
USA this year (June 30 -->3, July 2008) at Chestnut Hill College,
Philadelphia. The large amount of postings to SpecialTopics 663
indicates we know the problem exists. Now we need to those groups
advocating these issues to policy makers.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN
class=984404815-20092007><EM></EM></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=984404815-20092007><FONT face=Arial color=#000000
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV align=left>Joanne Kantner</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Adult Student Connections</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Adult & Continuing Education</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Department of Mathematics</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Kishwaukee College</DIV>
<DIV align=left>21193 Malta Road</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Malta, IL 60150</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Phone: (815) 825.2086 Ext. 343</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Fax: (815) 825.2605</DIV>
<DIV align=left>Email: jkantner@kishwaukeecollege.edu</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov
[mailto:specialtopics-bounces@nifl.gov] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Louise
Wiener<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, September 17, 2007 9:02 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
specialtopics@nifl.gov<BR><B>Subject:</B> [SpecialTopics 663] Re: International
Discussion Ends and NumeracyDiscussion Begins<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px">Dear David,<BR><BR>I
found the Tout and Schmitt chapter particularly invigorating and challenging and
hope Dr. Schmitt might comment on two thoughts for starters. <BR><BR>I was
surprised at the frequent reference to K-12 with almost no reference to pre-K.
I first became familiar with the term numeracy in the context of Head
Start standards. Is there research on numeracy in the early childhood field – or
has the name alone been adopted?<BR><BR>I was struck, too, by the reference to
numeracy as the bridge between mathematics and the real world. I see it
equally as the bridge between mathematics and literacy because it
captures (builds on?) the language and concepts of math as contrasted with the
pure computation of math.<BR><BR>You will note that at least my spell-check
rejects “numeracy” as a valid word. Perhaps we should start by lobbying
there!<BR><BR>Thank you, Louise <BR>-- <BR>Louise W. Wiener, Chairman of the
Board<BR> Learning and Leadership in
Families<BR> 2701 12th Street
NE<BR> Washington, DC
20018<BR><BR> Mobile Phone:
301-213-6516<BR> Office Phone:
202-243-7783<BR> Website:
www.LLFinc.org<BR> Email:
lwiener@LLFinc.org<BR><BR> United Way / CFC #
8981<BR><BR><BR> On 9/15/07 8:10 AM, "David J. Rosen"
<djrosen@comcast.net> wrote:<BR><BR></SPAN></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px">Special Topics
Colleagues,<BR><BR>I want to thank our guests for the
topic: <I>What International Literacy Programs Offer Programs in
the U.S.</I> : Brenda Bell, Pamela Civins, Dr. John
Comings, Barbara Garner, Dr. Erik Jacobson, Juliet
Merrifield, and Dr. Ujwala Samant. I know we have only scratched the
surfaces of several issues here in this one short week, but the discussion has
been tantalizing. I also want to thank Oxfam for making the
book <I>Developing Adult Literacy: Approaches to planning,
implementing and delivering literacy initiatives by </I>Juliet Merrifield
Juliet McCaffrey, and Juliet Millican available by download free for this
discussion. It will be available in hard copy on September 30,
2007.<BR><BR>This marks the end of the international literacy discussion, for
now at least. <BR><BR>On Monday we will begin a new discussion on <I>The
Components of Numeracy</I> with Mary Jane Schmitt, Myrna Manly and Dr.
Lynda Ginsburg, an occasional paper published by the National
Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy.<BR><BR>For more
information, and a <B>short list of readings to prepare for the discussion</B>
please go to:<BR><BR><A
href="http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/specialtopics/07numeracy.html">http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/specialtopics/07numeracy.html</A><BR><BR>or
the short Web address:<BR><BR><A
href="http://tinyurl.com/yvo6hf">http://tinyurl.com/yvo6hf</A><BR><BR><B>Please
e-mail your questions for our numeracy guest experts
to specialtopics@nifl.gov<BR></B><BR>Your colleagues who may wish to join
this discussion can subscribe by going to:<BR><BR><A
href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics</A><BR><BR>After
they complete a simple registration form (30 seconds) they will receive
an email asking them to confirm that they wish to subscribe. They should
Immediately reply to the email to complete their subscription. After the
discussion ends they can unsubscribe from the same Web address, or stay
on for the next discussion.<BR><BR>David J. Rosen<BR>Special Topics Discussion
Moderator<BR>djrosen@comcast.net<BR><BR><BR> <BR><BR><BR>
<HR align=center width="95%" SIZE=3>
</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Monaco><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9px"><TT>-------------------------------<BR>National
Institute for Literacy<BR>Special Topics mailing
list<BR>SpecialTopics@nifl.gov<BR>To unsubscribe or change your subscription
settings, please go to <A
href="http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics">http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/SpecialTopics</A><BR>Email
delivered to lwiener@llfinc.org<BR></TT></SPAN></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT
face=Monaco><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9px"><TT><BR></TT></SPAN></FONT></BODY></HTML>