The California State Library has identified a number of common learner goals and grouped them under 4 main “Roles”: Goals as a Lifelong Learner, Goals as a Worker, Goals as a Family Member, and Goals as a Community Member. Use the resources below to create lesson plans that help learners meet their goals.
GOALS AS A LIFELONG LEARNER
Learn the Alphabet, Letters and Sounds
- Learn the Alphabet, Letters and Sounds (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
Read a Book, Newspaper, or Magazine
- Read a Book (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Read a Newspaper (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Read a Magazine (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- News For You - Online newspaper for adult learners. Able to listen to the news. Contact staff for the password!
- News in Levels - Short news articles written at different reading levels.
Write a Letter
- Write a Letter (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Writing a Cover Letter - University of Wisconsin-Madison
Learn to Type/Use Computer Keyboard
- Learn to type/use a computer keyboard (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Typing Club
- DigitalLearn.org - Computer basics videos, in English and Spanish, on using a keyboard and mouse, introduction to email, and more.
- SJPL Digital Literacy Course - Free lessons on computer basics.
Search the Internet
- Learn to search the Internet (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- DigitalLearn.org - Computer basics videos, in English and Spanish, on searching the Internet, using a keyboard and mouse, introduction to email, and other topics.
Get an Email Account
- Computer Basics - Learn how to send an e-mail or search the Internet.
- Gmail - Free webmail service developed by Google.
Get a Library Card
Earn a High School Diploma
- Career Online High School - Free online program to earn your high school diploma and career certificate.
Pass the GED Test
- LearningExpress Library - High School Equivalency Center - Online interactive practice exams covering adult basic education. GED, SAT, and other test preparation, career and civil service tests, and more.
- Official GED site
- High School Equivalency Tests - California Department of Education. Information on different high school equivalency tests, including the GED, HiSet, and TASC.
GOALS AS A WORKER
Look for a Job Online
- Look for a job online or in the want-ads (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Glassdoor - Jobs plus salary information, company reviews, and interview questions.
- Monster - Online job recruitment site.
Fill Out a Job Application
- Learn to fill out a job application (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Completing a job application - GFC LearnFree
Write a Résumé
- Write a Résumé (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
Interview for a Job
- Learn to interview for a job (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Interviewing Skills - GFC LearnFree. Includes videos, worksheets, and online quizzes.
Get a Job, Better Job, or Promotion
- SJPL Works - San Jose Public Library’s Career and Business Center. Get resume assistance, mock interviews, and job seeker resources.
- Get a job or get a promotion (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- LearningExpress Library - Career Preparation - Offers preparation for professional exams, information about occupations, and skill-building for the workplace.
- Workforce Atlas - Free online career path resource that adult learners can use to evaluate their reading, numeracy, digital literacy, and career skills; research jobs they may like; download resume templates and interview worksheets; and more.
Perform Current Job Tasks Better
- Perform current job tasks better (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
GOALS AS A FAMILY MEMBER
Interact with Schools/Teachers
- Interact with Schools/Teachers (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- The smart way to talk to teachers - Parents.com
Plan Nutritious Meals
- Plan nutritious meals (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Food Shopping and Meal Planning - Nutrition.gov
- Planning healthy meals - Mayo Clinic
- Planning meals for people with diabetes - American Diabetes Association
- Nourish - Videos and curriculum on food, health, and sustainability
Write Checks/Pay Bills/Manage Your Money
- Learn to write checks or pay bills (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- How to write a check in 5 easy steps - Bankrate.com. Includes video demonstration
- How to write a check - Nerdwallet.com. Includes video and FAQ.
- Consumer Information - Federal Trade Commission. Manage your money for different life events. Also available in Spanish.
- Consumer.gov - Federal Trade Commission. Learn to manage your money and protect yourself from fraud. Also available in Spanish.
- MyMoney.gov - Financial Literacy and Education Commission. Includes curricula, lesson plans, and tip sheets for tutors.
- TV411 Finance - Video lessons to improve your money skills
Read Medicine Labels or Health Information
- Learn to read medicine labels (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Medication Label Literacy - University of North Carolina
- Reading Labels and Patient Information (PDF) - Consumer Reports
- TV411 Reading Medicine Labels - Video and quiz on medicine label literacy
Share a Book with Children/Family
- Share a Book with Children or Family (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- How to Read Aloud to Children - New York Times
Take Children to Storytime at the Library
- Storytime at San José Public Library
- Take Children to a Library Storytime (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
GOALS AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER
Community Engagement
- Get Involved with a Community Issue (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- How to Speak to Others About the Literacy Program (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
Get a Driver’s License
- California DMV Practice Tests
- Get a Driver’s License (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
Vote in Elections
- Prepare to Vote (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Easy Voter Guide - League of Women Voters/California State Library
- Santa Clara County Registrar-Recorder - Register to vote, find your polling place, etc.
Become a Volunteer
- Volunteer Match - Find volunteer opportunities in your local neighborhood.
- Volunteer at the San José Public Library
- Volunteer with the City of San Jose
- Become a volunteer (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
Pass the Citizenship Test
- Citizenship Information - San José Public Library
- Study for the Test - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Pass the Citizenship Test (PDF) - California Library Literacy Services
- Instructional Resources for Citizenship - Minnesota Literacy Council
- USCIS Educator Resources - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Includes lesson plans, activities, flash cards, and more.
