Principles of Adult Education

Malcolm Knowles was the first to describe the five main things to consider when helping adults
to learn:

1. Let the adult students know why something is important to learn
2. Show the students how to direct themselves through education
3. Relate the topic to their previous experiences (i.e. Use their prior knowledge)
4. Ensure the adult students are ready and motivated to learn because people will not learn until they are ready
5. Help the adult student to overcome inhibitions, behaviours, and beliefs about learning

Principles of Emergent Literacy

Emergent literacy is a term used to describe the start of oral and written language. The principles of emergent literacy include:

1. Literacy is a social process occurring in interactions with other children and adults
2. Literacy begins at birth and includes a child’s first uses of senses such as observing behaviours, hearing sounds, and learning social cues
3. All aspects of literacy including reading, writing, thinking, speaking, and listening develop independently of each other
4. Literacy develops along a continuum from beginning to mastery

Realistic Expectations for Preschoolers

Every child is unique and thus develops at his or her own pace. There are general expectations for stage-related accomplishments; not necessarily age-related. Keep in mind the ages are very general and one should not hold-fast to them. It is better to keep in mind that these accomplishments will occur in order because literacy skills develop along a continuum.