Literacy – Spanning the US :: Bradford-Wyoming Co PA :: Santa Barbara CA :: Norwalk CT

Co Literacy

Tutoring program gives gives gift of literacy

WCExaminer: 5.03.2017 by C J Marshall

Have you ever wondered what it would be like not to be able to read a simple set of instructions?

Or a street sign, providing directions?

Or a card from a loved one?

Aubrey Carrington knows, because as the new program coordinator for the Bradford/Wyoming County Literacy Program, she and others have worked diligently to help many people beat the stigma of illiteracy.

Carrington hosted a ‘Meet and Greet’ at the Tunkhannock Public Library on Wednesday, April 26, to introduce herself to the community, and provide information on the Literacy Program.

“We want to do more,” Carrington explained. “We would really like to increase our numbers.”

Presently, she said, the program has an average of 15 active students - although the figure varies from month-to-month.

“We would like to see more,” Carrington said. “We have three tutors waiting in Tunkhannock. They aren’t teaching because of a lack of students.”  READ MORE @

Library Addresses Community’s Dyslexia Needs

Noozhawk: 5.10.2017 by Cheri Rae

Filled with information and resources, the Santa Barbara Public Library serves individuals in all parts of the community, even those who struggle to read.

The adult literacy program is almost legendary under the leadership of Beverly Schwartzberg, and her consistent efforts to train and maintain a full roster of tutors to address this critical need.

Recently, she’s done even more to address one of the most significant underlying causes for literacy challenges — dyslexia.

As the mother of son with dyslexia, and a longtime advocate for other sons and daughters, I welcome this focus on the hereditary neurological learning difference, which affects 1 in 5 individuals.

I gratefully assisted Schwartzberg as she applied for and received an Adult Education Block Grant through Santa Barbara City College last year to focus on training tutors in the specific approach to teach dyslexic students and adults in our community.

This is important because this time-honored reading approach — known as Orton-Gillingham — is not typically taught in schools, in this community and elsewhere.  READ MORE @

Literacy Volunteers program helps with English, citizen test

The Hour: 5.10.2017 by Kaitlyn Krasselt

There are 100 questions on the U.S. citizenship test.

Only 10 are asked during the test, and experts recommend knowing the answers to 30 questions in order to pass.

Maria Trujillo made sure she knew the answers to all 100.

“She insisted that she know all 100 answers,” said Bruno Tomasi, a tutor with the Norwalk Public Library's Greater Norwalk Literacy Volunteers program who helped Trujillo prepare for the test.

“By the last two sessions, she knew the answer to every single question, God bless her,” Tomasi said. “That’s just the way she is. She made a huge effort. She came in every Monday, she came to every class. She just absorbed everything.”

On April 25, Trujillo, who moved to the U.S. at age 50 nearly 20 years ago, officially passed the test, and on May 18 she’ll take the oath to become a U.S. citizen, surrounded by her children and grandchildren in Bridgeport.

“I am so happy because a lot of years ago my dream was to come to the U.S. and live in the U.S.,” Trujillo said. “My mom always said, ‘You can do anything you want.’ She always gave me love and support like that. So to do it, I am just so happy.”

Trujillo, originally from Peru, is one of three women who recently earned their citizenship after learning English and studying for the test through the NPL Literacy Volunteers program.  READ MORE @