Project BEST-PAL (Basic Education Skills Through-Parenting Affective Learning): Volunteer Sponsor's Leader's Guide.

This handbook was developed for volunteer group leaders participating in Brevard Community College's Project BEST-PAL (Basic Education Skills Through-Parenting Affective Learning). Project BEST-PAL was developed especially for low socioeconomic parents who are in need of an opportunity to explore effective parenting, with a primary objective being recruitment for participation in adult education programs. Information is provided on adult learning, focusing on parent education for the undereducated; characteristics of undereducated adults; determinants in learning (i.e., stage of development and life situation of the learner); learner motivation; and appropriateness of the material. After a brief discussion of the principles for teaching parenting to undereducated adults, materials are presented to help train the group leader in communication skills, leading a group, keeping the group going, group stages and group dynamics. Next, leader's guides are provided corresponding to both levels of the BEST-PAL lesson plans, which were developed for parents reading at 2nd-3rd grade levels or at 6th-7th grade levels. Appendices provide quotations about parenting, a series of "Family Living" essays focusing on various parenting topics, an evaluation form, and a bibliography. (AYC)