Literacy: Spanning the U.S.
 |
| @WALCWF |
Teaching money literacy
Times Record News: 4.20.2016 Opinion|Wichita
Adult Literacy Council Column
One of the Wichita Adult Literacy
Council's (WALC) services is a financial literacy class we
provide as part of our partnership with Workforce Solutions and the North Texas
Area United Way. It might seem strange that teaching money skills would have
any connection to reading skills, but actually they have much in common. Many
of us consider ourselves to be savvy when it comes to handling money. However,
we all know, work with someone, or have a relative who is not always making
ends meet. This person has what we consider bad habits — overdrawn accounts and
uses check-cashing services. Those who have a credit card (or two or three)
might say, "I'm short right now so I'll just put it on the card and pay it
off next month." But is this really a good idea or a bad skill for money
management? It has been interesting to have this discussion with the students
in the class. Most of the Workforce clients comment that if they don't have the
money now, they sure won't have it when the credit card bill is due. In fact,
many of them are in their financial straits because of poor money
decisions. READ MORE @
Area programs a response to link between
literacy, incarceration
WSBT-TV: 4.21.2016 by Alex
Elich
Research shows a link between illiteracy and
incarceration. In fact, 85 percent of juvenile offenders have problems reading.
Unfortunately, experts say this is the case in our area.
The Nation
Center for Education Statistics estimates that 8 percent of
people 16 and older in St. Joseph County lack basic literacy skills. Programs
in our area are stepping up to do something about this and they seem to be
working.
It starts early. Reading, math, overall
literacy.
"It helps connect them," says Gladys
Muhammad, director of the Charles Martin Youth Center.
Which Muhammad says opens so many doors, and
prevent kids from being locked behind bars.
"If the situation arises where they are not
able to get an education they will resort to other things and they call it a
pipeline to the system," said instructor Huddah Faham.
Directors at the Charles Martin Youth Center
started the Augustus F. Hawkins Literacy Program
because of the alarming correlation between illiteracy and incarceration. READ MORE @
Mass. Literacy Hotline helps adults further their
education
Woburn Daily Times: 4.22.2016 by Ryan LaRoche
With 1.1 million workers in Massachusetts having
less than a high school diploma and/or limited English skills, many can’t
compete in the state’s rapidly changing economy. Plus, many adults with low
literacy skills are half as likely to vote compared to their more educated
neighbors.
For residents of the Middlesex readership area who
fall into those categories, or who simply seek Adult Basic Education (ABE)
programs, the Massachusetts
Adult Literacy Hotline has you covered.
The hotline, funded by the Massachusetts
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and administered by World
Education, is a statewide service that provides free information and referrals
to adult learners and people interested in volunteering in ABE programs. The
database includes more than 300 programs statewide offering programs in ABE,
Adult Secondary Education (High School Equivalency), ESOL (English as Second
Language), Native Language Literacy, Family Literacy, Transition to College,
Distance Learning, and Citizenship.
Learners can also use the hotline for prep classes
for the High School Equivalency exam (HiSET), which has replaced the GED. READ MORE @
 |
Help expand Madison's capacity for adult literacy
education
Madison.com: 4.23.2016 by Jeff Burkhart executive director, Literacy
Network of Dane County
Each time I hear a story about learners at Literacy Network, I’m reminded of why I am here. I’m
reminded of why I started on this journey as a literacy volunteer more than 20
years ago. I have found inspiration and hope in the hundreds of adult learners
I’ve met over the years.
My first learner, Juan, had three children and
three jobs. He struggled with English, but managed to improve his skills, get
more pay and help his children in school. Janie was dyslexic, had just escaped
an abusive relationship and was trying to raise her two young daughters.
Corinne, despite her low English language skills, eventually got herself on a
career path in nursing.
Literacy is about access. Literacy is about
dignity. It is about supporting one’s family. It is about achieving the dream
of a better life.
More than 55,000 adults in Dane County struggle
with literacy. That’s one in seven adults in our community. That’s enough to
fill more than three Kohl centers.
The vast majority of adult learners live in
poverty. Many have goals of gaining skills to better support their families.
Many want better access to health care. READ MORE @
Literacy program empowers many motivated students
Hastings Tribune: 4.23.2016
One classroom in Hastings boasts always having
students who are eager learn no matter the day or the subject.
The Hastings
Literacy Program provides adult education in the areas of
English language, math, reading, General Education Diploma test preparation and
civics.
“The adults that are here to learn English as a
second language are here of their own free will, which I really like to
stress,” said Anne Cannon, coordinator of the program. “They want to learn
English. That is why they’re here.”
All programs at the Hastings Literacy Program are
completely voluntary. Cannon said most students come in because of their desire
to learn and improve their personal situation. READ MORE @
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment