Adult Literacy Practices in Rural Families and Communities. Research into Practice Series No. 1.

This booklet, which was written for literacy educators in Australia, examines selected research on adult literacy practices in rural families and communities and the implications of that research for adult literacy practice. The booklet begins with a discussion of literacy as social practice. The role of case studies in identifying factors constructing adult literacy practices is explored along with differences between the literacy practices in individual rural communities that are linked to location, social issues, economics, and history. The importance of considering literacy not just as cognitive activity but also as a social practice related to learners' habitats is emphasized. It is suggested that stakeholders interested in developing or improving adult and family literacy in specific rural communities begin by mapping the literacy practices in the community so as to establish a basis for reconceptualizing literacy as literacies arising from social practice and provide documentation of language use in the community. Concluding the booklet are a discussion of creating a responsive curriculum using Australia' s National Framework of Adult English Language, Literacy and Numeracy Competence and a table detailing the framework's aspects and stages as applied to a specific rural community. The booklet contains 22 references. (MN)