Peppercorn Books & Press Presents
Publications from Second Start and The Oakland Public Library

Selected for The Public Library Association's
Top Titles for Adult New Readers, 2000.

Oakland Readers
Oakland Readers: Health Project
Oakland Readers: Women of Oakland
A is for Adult: An Alphabet Book for Adults
From Scratch: Making Art, Making Literacy
I Never Wrote a Letter Because

To order these books...

Oakland Readers (4 series: reading levels 1 to 4)

In an effort to provide students with meaningful learning materials, Second Start has produced three sets of Oakland Readers, a series of reading texts based on the oral histories of our students. These may be purchased through Second Start for $10 each.

       top

Oakland Readers: Health Project (2 books: levels 1/2 and 3/4)

Life stories told by students in the Second Start Adult Literacy Program

"Speaking about personal health issues is not an easy thing to do. Painful memories of the past resurface and current pains are forced out into the open. As one of the students said during her interview. 'This is the first time I've ever been able to talk about smoking. I know it's not a good thing to do to myself. I know that. I know better. That's why it's difficult to talk about, because I should know better than to do this to myself.' However, during their interviews, students told story after story of their lives and the ways health has affected their lives. ... These stories will hopefully be used to insprire new readers to write, discuss, and share their own personal history."

       top

Oakland Readers: Women of Oakland (2 books: levels 1/2 and 3/4)

Life stories told by women students in the Second Start Adult Literacy Program

"The stories of the 'Women of Oakland' have pulled at every emotion in my body, filling me up at various times with feelings of laughter and sadness, joy and anger, love and hate." These women have "opened up their hearts and souls and let their stories come pouring out. They have shared their personal histories of love, abuse and fear. They have shared their opinions on education, feminism, family life and religion."

"Women of Oakland" can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used to practice your reading skills. It can be used to discuss issues of womanhood, self-discovery, and education. It can be used as a model for you to begin writing and sharing your own personal history. And hopefully, it can be used as inspiration and as a model of courage and bravery that the eight "Women of Oakland" have shared with us."

       top

A is for Adult

An Alphabet Book for Adults
Curriculum Guide #1: Alphabet Activities for Tutors and Teachers.

A is for AIDS and angry; C is for cocaine and caring; R is for racism and respect. From the very first page, it’s clear that this is no ordinary alphabet book. A is for Adult is the first in a series of curriculum guides developed from classes and activities that were held at Second Start.

The book evolved from an art and literacy class taught by Jennifer D. Cooper, whose students thought "adults who are learning to read needed an alphabet to call their own." Using a variety of materials, students created brilliantly-colored letters and chose "real life" words to go with each.
Activities accompanying each letter include alphabetizing, using a dictionary, adding to the word list, making sentences, and word search puzzles. The centerfold contains the complete alphabet, which can be removed and displayed as a poster.

This project was generously funded by a grant from the Lila Wallace-Readers Digest Fund. Tutors are invited to borrow the book to copy and use with their students at no cost. Come to the office or call us.

       top

From Scratch: Making Art, Making Literacy

Curriculum Guide #2: Art and Literacy Activities for Tutors and Teachers.

This curriculum guide developed out of a class that was established at the request of students. It captures some of the creative energy of the art class with activities that encourage art creation and awareness in learners, while also encouraging practice in the basic skills of reading and writing. It is intended for small group leaders, classroom teachers, one-on-one tutors, and advanced learners. Tutors can pick and choose activities. Each lesson includes literacy practice as well as hands-on art creation.

       top

I Never Wrote a Letter Because

Letter Writing for the Reluctant or Beginning Writer
Curriculum Guide #3: Letter Writing Activities for Tutors and Teachers.

This curriculum guide grew out of a pen pal project with learners in Kenya (Africa). Participants discovered that even writing the simplest letter posed difficulties. When asked why they said, "Because I don’t read, so I don’t write. Writing letters is too much right now." This workbook and exercises will enable learners to write their own letters right away. Tutors can assist their learners step by step.

       top

These publications are available in the Second Start Library.