Civics in the Adult Education Classroom
Author: Jessie Stadd
Subject Area: ESL/ELL, LINCS Resources
Program Level: Professional Development
Material Type: Collection
Language: English
License: (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) For license summary click here

Abstract:

Civics can be broadly defined as the “lifelong process that makes people into active, responsible, and knowledgeable members of their communities.” This spotlight describes and provides examples of how civics content can be integrated and contextualized into adult education instruction in four discrete ways.
Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) activities must include instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation. Therefore, English language acquisition (ELA) classes in general, and IELCE activities in particular, often include components that help English learners and immigrants gain the skills and knowledge needed to engage with and integrate into their communities. This spotlight describes and provides examples of how civics content and activities can be integrated and contextualized into instruction in four discrete ways:
  1. Teaching specific civics education topic
  2. Supporting civic integration
  3. Offering opportunities for civic engagement
  4. Focusing on a civic understanding for the workplace.
Although this spotlight describes four distinct approaches to delivering civic literacy activities, these activities can be blended and scaffolded to develop a cohesive approach to supporting the full participation of ELs in U.S. society. Benefits and Uses Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education (IELCE) activities must include instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and civic participation. Therefore, English language acquisition (ELA) classes in general, and IELCE activities in particular, often include components that help English learners and immigrants gain the skills and knowledge needed to engage with and integrate into their communities. This spotlight describes and provides examples of how civics content and activities can be integrated and contextualized into instruction in four discrete ways:
  1. Teaching specific civics education topic
  2. Supporting civic integration
  3. Offering opportunities for civic engagement
  4. Focusing on a civic understanding for the workplace.
Although this spotlight describes four distinct approaches to delivering civic literacy activities, these activities can be blended and scaffolded to develop a cohesive approach to supporting the full participation of ELs in U.S. society. Resource Notice This site includes links to information created by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this non-ED information. The inclusion of these links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse views expressed, or products or services offered, on these non-ED sites. Please note that privacy policies on non-ED sites may differ from ED’s privacy policy. When you visit lincs.ed.gov, no personal information is collected unless you choose to provide that information to us. We do not give, share, sell, or transfer any personal information to a third party. We recommend that you read the privacy policy of non-ED websites that you visit. We invite you to read our privacy policy.
Publication Year
2023