Literacy – Spanning the US :: Lafayette Co MS :: Bradford-Wyoming Co WY :: Fulton MO :: Guilford Co NC

Literacy: Spanning the U.S.     

@LCLitCouncil

Lafayette County Literacy Council hosts Adult Education Ceremony

Oxford Eagle: 2.28.2018 by Anna Gibbs

The Lafayette County Literacy Council and Oxford First United Methodist Church hosted their fourth annual adult education ceremony last night, as part of the ABLE adult education program.

ABLE, which stands for Adult Basic Literacy Education, is a service that pairs “learners” with “coaches,” who provide everything the learner needs to pass their high school equivalency tests or simply improve their basic literacy skills. The program is open to any Lafayette County resident who is above the age of 18 and needs to obtain their GED, pass a workplace test or even a driver’s license test. There is a $15 registration fee, but all other services are free for the learner.

Barbara Wortham, Program Coordinator for ABLE, says the program aims to help more people in the community improve their quality of life through education.

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Approximately 4,300 people in Lafayette County do not have a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. Sarah McLellan, director of the Lafayette County Literacy Council, says the goal of ABLE and other GED programs, like those at Northwest Mississippi Community College and WIN Job Center, is to put a dent in that number. What sets ABLE apart is the personalized non-classroom approach for each learner.  READ MORE >>

Bradford-Wyoming Co

Literacy Program

Teaching people to read

WC Examiner: 2.28.2018 by C J Marshall

For many people, the greatest gift they receive in their lifetime is the gift of literacy.

According to Aubrey Carrington, Program Coordinator for the Bradford-Wyoming County Literacy Program, more than 30 million adults nationwide cannot read or do math above the third grade level.

These people must rely on a support network to provide such basic functions as reading instructions, understanding street signs, and adding up a simple row of numbers.

Locally, the Literacy Program provides tutoring to adults in such situations to help them lead more productive lives. Volunteers are always needed to provide such tutoring, and the program will be offering training workshop at the Tunkhannock Public Library in March.  READ MORE >>

HiSET class takers reach for future

News Tribune: 2.28.2018 by Helen Wilbers

He spent six years in a classroom where he couldn't hear a single word.

That's how determined Tim Schultz is to complete the High School Equivalency Test (formerly GED).

"I've been working on it for a while now," Schultz said Tuesday through an American Sign Language interpreter.

Until five months ago, Schultz had no access to an interpreter, which made following classes difficult. With the help of an interpreter and the Adult Education and Literacy Program's classes at John C. Harris Community Center, he is making progress toward his goal of a better job.

"I would just like to go work at a hospital, and whatever they let the deaf do, I'll do," he said.

Schultz didn't earn a diploma because he spent his teenage years working for a higher cause.

"I'm a Jehovah's Witness," he explained. "I was spreading the word to other deaf (people)."

Now, he's among the 15 people enrolled in the evening HiSET class at the community center. On Tuesday, the students — who appear to range from teens to middle-aged — settled down with textbooks and worksheets while enticing smells wafted in from the soup kitchen next door.

Cliff Atterberry, the evening class's teacher, hustled around assuring that everyone had the right books.  READ MORE >>

@readingconnect

Reading Connections literacy agency in Guilford County seeks to teach people how to read

MyFox8: 3.02.2018 by Chad Tucker

Adriana Adams' father knew no English when he came to the United States as an immigrant from Cuba.

"He had to rely on the kindness of several teachers that he had," said Adams. "That took him along the journey from someone who knew no English to someone who was a pastor in this community for 30 years."

Today, Adams continues that kindness working with Reading Connections, an adult literacy agency in Guilford County.

"We meet people where they are on their literacy journey," she said. "We want to make sure they get a tailored education experience."

With volunteer tutors the agency helps around 1,000 people each year with reading, math and resumes.

"Whether they are an English language learner or someone who never learned to read in school or someone who is looking for a job, we want to meet them where they are," said Adams.

Currently more than 50 people are on a waiting list for help which is why the agency is searching for more volunteers.  WATCH VIDEO