Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Attleboro MA :: Duncan OK :: Brawley CA

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Literacy Center 

of Attleboro

The Literacy Center Named Best Practice Honoree in 2020 Library of Congress Literacy Awards
Reporter Today: 9.13.2020

The Literacy Center of Attleboro has been honored by the Library of Congress as a Best Practice Honoree of the 2020 Library of Congress Literacy Awards. “The Literacy Awards, originated by David M. Rubenstein in 2013, honor organizations doing exemplary, innovative and replicable work. Collectively, all of these awards spotlight the great efforts underway to promote literacy and respond to the needs of our time,” states the official press release from the Library of Congress.

This is the first time The Literacy Center has received recognition at a national level. “We are tremendously excited to receive this award,” stated Amanda Blount, The Literacy Center’s Executive Director. “Our team works tirelessly to provide educational opportunities to some of the most disadvantaged individuals in our region. It is a great honor to be recognized by the Library of Congress alongside some of the most notable literacy organizations in the world.”

Award winners will be honored by the Library of Congress at various upcoming events, including the National Book Festival, and will be invited to participate in a Best Practices Conference where they will learn from their peers in the field. In addition, the Honoree award comes with a $5,000 cash prize.

The Literacy Center is a nonprofit organization in downtown Attleboro whose mission is to enhance lives and promote self-sufficiency through quality adult education services. They are the largest provider of adult basic education and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in the greater Attleboro area and provide services to some of our region’s most vulnerable individuals. During the COVID pandemic, The Literacy Center quickly pivoted to provide all classes and support services online.  READ MORE ➤➤

Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 13
Reading Level: difficult to read.
Reader's Age: 18-19 yrs. old
(college level entry)

DALC

Literacy Council Celebrates 6 New U.S. Citizens
Duncan Banner: 9.22.2020 by Tamara Gregor

Six community members became new citizens of the United States at a ceremony on Saturday morning.

The ceremony for the honorees took place at the Duncan Public Library under direction of the Duncan Area Literacy Council (DALC).

New citizens include Rosalba Duarte, Claudia Ochoa, Ruth Gonzales, Maria Torres, Carlos Vargas and Ana Ortiz.

Nancy Litsch, citizenship instructor opened the ceremony by saying she appreciate those who turned out for helping celebrate this significant event.

“They have become our latest, newest and best U.S. citizens — we’re so proud of all of them,” Litsch said. “They worked very hard, very diligently — they’ve gone through some stressful times, but they were successful.”

State Rep. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan, shared a few words and presented certificates to each of the new citizens.

On Saturday, three of the six citizens were in attendance including the husband of one citizen who accepted on his wife’s behalf.

McEntire said this is one of his favorite things to do as a state representative.

“They’ve worked so hard — now that they’ve gone through all their testing, they probably know more about civics than all Oklahomans,” McEntire said. “These new citizens may be our most knowledgable citizens — especially on civics.”  READ MORE ➤➤

Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 9
Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.
Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old
(Eighth and Ninth graders)
 
LEARN IV
Services Partially Return For Brawley Library
Imperial Valley Press: 9.03.2020 by Vincent Osuna

Library services will partially return here after the City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday.

In order to finish with a balanced fiscal year 2020-2021 budget — a budget heavily impacted by COVID-19 costs — the council voted in July to not fund any library services until after year’s end.

However, that changed with Tuesday’s vote.

Locals can now check out books via curbside pickup from the library’s Main Street branch. The library’s adult and family literacy services have also returned.
Both the Main Street and Del Rio buildings remain closed to public access.

The $51,479 in funding for the pickup and literacy programs was appropriated into the fiscal budget from donations and grants.

The group Brawley Library Friends donated $4,000 to fund the pickup program.

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This part-time employee will work under the supervision of library director Marjo Mello. Since the city conducted its COVID budget cuts, Mello has been the only staff at the library. She is also currently the city’s interim parks and recreation director.  READ MORE ➤➤
 
Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 9
Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.
Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old
(Eighth and Ninth graders)



Tuesday, September 29, 2020

National Literacy & Library Events ▬ October 2020

 
National Literacy & Library Events
October 2020


Oct. 01      CANCELED - ALSC National Institute
Oct. 02      Random Acts of Poetry Day
Oct. 02      National Storytelling Festival  VIRTUAL
Oct. 03      International Literacy Assoc Conference VIRTUAL
Oct. 03      Picture Book Summit VIRTUAL
Oct. 05      World Teachers' Day
Oct. 05      Dyslexia & Spelling Conference VIRTUAL
Oct. 05      Dyslexia Advocate Certificate OnLine
Oct. 05      Zero to Three VIRTUAL
Oct. 06      American Libraries Day
Oct. 06      Cause Camp NonProfit Hub VIRTUAL
Oct. 07      Future of Libraries 2020 VIRTUAL
Oct. 07      Natl Council for Workforce Education Conf VIRTUAL
Oct. 08      Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy VIRTUAL
Oct. 08      New York Comic Con VIRTUAL
Oct. 09      Global Read Aloud - Jason Reynolds: Stamped
Oct. 11      Day of the Girl
Oct. 11      CANCELED - Next Library Satellite Conference
Oct. 12      Power of Play VIRTUAL
Oct. 12      Texas Health Literacy Conference VIRTUAL
Oct. 13      Plain Language Day
Oct. 13      Access for All: Plain Language is a Civil Right VIRTUAL
Oct. 14      Library 2.020 "Libraries and Sustainability" OnLine
Oct. 15      Conference on Learning Disabilities VIRTUAL
Oct. 15      Rutgers Conference Reading & Writing VIRTUAL
Oct. 16      Dictionary Day
Oct. 16      Global Read Aloud - Zanib Mian: Planet Omar
Oct. 17      Black Poetry Day
Oct. 18      National Friends of Libraries Week
Oct. 18      Health Literacy Leadership Institute HARC X VIRTUAL
Oct. 18      CANCELED - National Dropout Prevention Conference
Oct. 20      National Day of Writing
Oct. 21      Internet Librarian VIRTUAL
Oct. 23      National Black Book Festival VIRTUAL
Oct. 24      School Library Journal Summit VIRTUAL
Oct. 25      Literacy for ALL Conference VIRTUAL
Oct. 26      CANCELED - BOOST Conference
Oct. 26      Kids First Conference VIRTUAL
Oct. 27      AAACE Conference VIRTUAL
Oct. 28      Make A Difference Day
Oct. 28      Closing the Gap Conference VIRTUAL
Oct. 29      Read For The Record - Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina
Oct. 29      Nonprofit Storytelling Conference VIRTUAL
Oct. 30      Global Read Aloud - Linda Sue Park: Prairie Lotus


Monday, September 28, 2020

Research on Adult Literacy: A History of Investment in American Adults ▬ IES

Research on Adult Literacy: A History of Investment in American Adults


IES:
9.24.2020

Reading is fundamental, but it is also difficult to master, taking thousands of hours of instruction and practice. Roughly 52 percent of U.S. adults over the age of 16 may struggle with everyday literacy tasks. Of these adults, approximately 20 percent may perform at very low levels of literacy. For adults who are still mastering of this skill, the task can seem overwhelming.  


Luckily, IES-funded researchers have been working towards solutions for adults with low basic reading skills and are creating and refining assessments, curricula, and software. These innovations aim to help adult learners, the instructors and tutors who work with them, and the programs that support them.

As part of our commemoration of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week (September 20-26, 2020), we would like to recognize the history of adult literacy research at IES and its National Center for Education Research.  

Since 2004, IES-funded researchers have been developing assessments to help identify the needs of adults struggling with literacy and working on solutions to build adult literacy skills. This work fed into the measurement component of IES’s Reading for Understanding Initiative in 2010 and later returned back to addressing adult basic literacy measurement in 2016.

In 2012, IES funded the Center for the Study of Adult Literacy (CSAL), which developed a curriculum and technology for adults reading between the 3rd- and 8th-grade levels. CSAL demonstrates how adult literacy research benefits by integrating research conducted with students with disabilities and those in K-12 and postsecondary settings. In fact, the researchers pulled upon findings from eight prior IES grants funded by NCER and NCSER.

Our researchers are also developing a clearer picture of the adults who fall into the broad category of those with low literacy. They are leveraging the PIAAC data set to conduct exploratory work that informs both our understanding of those at the very low ends of literacy and also of whether basic skills may predict success in postsecondary career and technical education programs.

In 2020, IES funded additional development research to help refine an interactive, online reading comprehension program, AutoTutor for Adult Reading Comprehension (AT-ARC). Another project will recruit and train postdoctoral fellows to cultivate the next generation of researchers who can continue to build a research base for improving adult literacy outcomes.

Although IES researchers are making great strides to build knowledge, the field needs more information, and adult learners deserve tools and innovations developed for their specific needs and goals. IES hopes to continue to support such work.

 

Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 13
Reading Level: difficult to read.
Reader's Age: 18-19 yrs. old
(college level entry)


Sunday, September 27, 2020

Literacy – Spanning North America :: Antigonish NS :: Sturgeon Falls ON :: Columbus NE :: Venice FL

Literacy In The News :: Spanning North America

From Learning Her ABCs To Helping Newcomers Resettle: Syrian Refugee Wins Literacy Award

Saltwire: 9.10.2020 by Noushin Ziafati The Chronicle Herald

Three years ago, Malak Alahmad came to Nova Scotia without any English language skills.

“I remember when I come, I don’t know anything about Canada or English. I don’t know the ABCs,” she said in an interview Thursday.

Alahmad, who came to the province with her family from Jordan in September 2017, after fleeing the civil war in Syria, admits she felt lost.

“When I come here, there was nothing, no friends,” she recalled. “I just think, ‘How I will live here with my family? How I will go to school, doctors?’ I just feel (it would be) very hard for me.”

But, as the Syrian mother of four says, studying will help you come a long way.

Alahmad was recently named a recipient of the 2020 Council of the Federation Literacy Award. Presented in each province and territory, the award celebrates outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy.

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As advised by community members, soon after she arrived in Nova Scotia, Alahmad visited her local library — the Antigonish County Adult Learning Association — where she began to take English lessons.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 8

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 12-14 yrs. old

(Seventh and Eighth graders)


Literacy Goes 'Far Beyond Learning'

North Bay Nugget: 9.10.2020 by Dave Dale, Local Journalism Initiative

Learning to read, write and understand important issues saves lives and creates future opportunities, says Nanditta Colbear, executive director of the Literacy Alliance of West Nipissing.

“It goes far beyond learning. It provides hope,” Colbear says, explaining why her group worked hard to reopen in April just weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

“We did not miss a beat” other than closing for a few weeks to gather information and create protocols, she says, noting staff also were quick to engage learners for coaching over the telephone and video conferencing.

“Literacy means that much to our learners … it is their lifeline to positive outcomes.”

Colbear is featured in a new video sponsored by the Mid North Network of the Northern Literacy Alliance to help raise awareness of the free services agencies offer.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 12

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 17-18 yrs. old

(Twelfth graders)

 

Area Nonprofits Earn Grants For Adult Education

Columbus Telegram: 9.10.2020 by Hannah Schrodt

Centro Hispano and Platte Valley Literacy Association have received grants to help support adult education programming in the Columbus area.

First National Bank of Omaha has awarded both organizations $5,000 each. A press release from the bank states that $5,000 had also been awarded to Proteus Inc. in Columbus for financial literary courses for farmworkers, but the Telegram was unable to find a contact for that organization by press time Wednesday.

Karina Perez, executive director of Centro Hispano, said the monies will be used for technology that clients may not have access to and is needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Centro Hispano is a nonprofit that aims to engage the community in civil activities and bridge the gap between different cultures; encourage community involvement and higher education among the youth; and guide a path to citizenship by providing affordable immigration services at low cost and referrals to community members.

“A good chunk of that will be laptops so that will kind of help fit that piece of the puzzle (for) the individuals in our communities who don’t have access to that. (They) will be able to get it from us,” Perez said, noting the nonprofit also has classes for people looking to get savvier when it comes to using a computer for things like creating a resume.

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The Platte Valley Literacy Association also provides adult education classes, including English as a second language, GED, citizenship and computer classes.

“It’s called a workforce stability grant,” said Mary Wiegand, executive director of the Platte Valley Literacy Association. “It’s for organizations like ours that deal with low-income clients, low literacy. A lot of our clients can’t get jobs because they lack certain skills – some of them are English skills, some are computer skills.”

The grant will be used to start an employability skills class.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 13

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 18-19 yrs. old

(college level entry)

 


Mayor Recognizes Literacy Awareness Month

Your Sun: 9.12.2020 by Joe Pokorney

Through the month of September Literacy volunteers of South Sarasota County will actively participate in the 28th annual National Literacy Month to bring awareness to the fact that more than 36 million American adults struggle to read, write, do math, and use technology above a third grade level.

Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County is part of a national network of organizations that work every day to end the adult literacy crisis.

Through the Mayor’s office proclamation on August 31, Venice recognizes the value and contributions of Literacy Volunteers to improving the quality of life of South County residents.

“About one in six adults is still not literate,” said Penny Corell, president of Literacy Volunteers. “Here at home, in Sarasota County, 14 percent of adults 16 and older are at or below Level 1, the lowest basic literacy level. Literacy helps families be healthier and safer and provides people sustainable opportunities to support themselves through work, contributing ultimately to the economic growth of our region and our country.”  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 15

Reading Level: very difficult to read.

Reader's Age: College graduate


Friday, September 25, 2020

Digital Storytelling for Younger & Older Learners ▬ TEFL Matters

Digital Storytelling for Younger & Older Learners


TEFL Matters:
3.25.2015 by Marisa Constantinides

Digital Storytelling & Adult Learners 

Picture this:

You are talking to a colleague at work – first thing in the morning while having your coffee. There was this young man standing in the queue in front of you on the way to work and he was wearing the strangest outfit; his hair was dyed blue and he had five rings on every single finger. He was breathing hard, as if he had been running, and then he turned around, looked at you straight in the eye and said….

Instead of writing it, the pupils can record it using Voki as in the example below. They can use their own voice to record the story, or, they can choose to type the story in and let it be read by one of the avatar voices included in the site! This can be a good first step with them recording later, once they get the hang of it.

A ‘cliffhanger’ story – the students can record part of it using their own voice or the digital voice and the class can try to guess the rest of the story; the ending can be recorded by the pupils by making their  own voki (example follows) or, alternatively, this whole activity can be done using Voicethread (again an example follows in the second part of this post)

We feel compelled to tell stories.

We tell each other stories every day of our lives, stories meant to help us connect, stories that echo our friends’ stories which makes us feel closer to them, stories that amuse or stories we invent – literary would exist without this strong human need.

Stories are a major part of how we communicate and how we teach – often, they are more powerful than direct instruction. They seem to reach parts that lecturing or direct instruction often are unable to!

Narrating & Adult Communication

Whether learning English on a general purpose course or on a specialist language focus programme, narration is an important part of developing fluency.

Personal narratives or anecdotes can motivate adults to produce long turns, to sustain talk for longer than the disjointed fragments of question and answer conversations common to a language lesson.

They can be rehearsed and satisfy the adult learner’s need for meaningful and motivating controlled practice

➤ They provide more concrete evidence of progress to the teacher (and the learner herself/himself)

➤ They are great for homework which can be recorded digitally in some way – adults are more likely to be motivated by this time of homework assignment.

➤ They can build the basis for great presentation skills, which seems to be a skill more and more in demand in a world of online conferences, google hangouts, product presentations and online tutorials uploaded on you tube.

➤ They can form the basis of good report writing

➤ They can help the adult user establish and maintain better personal and business relationships with other L2 users.

Stories help adults with …

… language
… cultural awareness
… social awareness
… motivation
… oral & written fluency

Stories help adults develop …

… confidence
… social relationships
… ability to sustain talk or writing
… ability to concentrate
… auditory ability
… multiple intelligences
… critical thinking
… creative thinking

READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 14

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 21-22 yrs. old

(college level) 


Thursday, September 24, 2020

COABE ▬ National Adult Education & Family Literacy Week ▬ Call for $1B in Federal Funding

COABE, 100+ Partners Mark National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week With Call for $1B in Federal Funding                                       Additional Funding Needed to Help Nation's Adult Education System Recover, Reskill Displaced Workers for Jobs

Twitter Storm

PR Newswire:
9.21.2020 by Coalition on Adult Basic Education

Joined by more than 100 state, national and corporate partners, including Amazon, Google and IBM, the National Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) is intensifying its effort during National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week to secure $1 billion in federal funding to help adult education programs and their learners recover from the pandemic.

National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week began Sunday and runs through Saturday, Sept. 26. During this week, COABE is spearheading a full schedule of activities designed to amplify the call on Congress to provide the additional funding and on state governors to allocate federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) stimulus funding to the adult education recovery.  

The call for additional funding comes at a time when the education and skills provided by the nation's system of adult education are needed to help reskill or upskill low-skill Americans into new jobs that provide family-sustaining wages. According to recent findings published by the American Institutes for Research, 43 million adults in the United States lack the skills needed for the bulk of the nation's family-sustaining careers.

"Adult education is an important part of our nation's economic recovery from COVID-19," said Sharon Bonney, CEO of COABE, which represents the field of 65,000 adult educators nationally. "It's low-skilled adults who are more likely to be negatively impacted by the current economic crisis and who are in need of upskilling. Adult education programs are struggling to get back on their feet and need help so they can safely and adequately educate displaced workers and give them the skills they need to get back to work, this time in better jobs."

The nation's system of adult education has been hard-hit by COVID-19. Programs have struggled with the transition from brick and mortar to a virtual setting; to train educators to deliver online instruction; to provide students with the technology needed for at-home learning; and to find – and afford – the physical space and personal protective equipment needed for safe social distancing for the return to in-person learning.

Of the more than 43 million adults who could benefit from services in the U.S., 1.5 million adults, with 74 percent of them being persons of color, received instruction under the Workforce Opportunity and Innovation Act (WIOA). COABE estimates the return on investment for adult education, which includes preparing adults to earn their High School Equivalency diploma, is $2.5 billion in tax revenue and reduced expenses for every 400,000 adults who earn a high school diploma – a savings of $6,250 per person. 

The week's activities include Virtual Hill Meetings with governors and members of Congress, led by state adult education associations; a Twitter "storm;" and daily awards ceremonies to honor elected officials, at the local, state and national levels, who have shown leadership in the area of adult education. View the full schedule of events and elected officials to be honored.

Among the partners joining the effort are Amazon, The Barbara Bush Foundation, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, Google, IBM, Markle, the National Association of State Directors of Adult Education, National Coalition for Literacy, National Governors Association, National Skills Coalition, SkillsUSA, Strada Network, Tyson, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and The United States Conference of Mayors.

View the list of corporate partners.

About COABE

The Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) is a non-profit organization that champions increased access and investment in adult education, leading to higher-quality instruction and greater student outcomes. We employ innovative and effective strategies to reach more adults who struggle with literacy, numeracy and problem-solving. COABE represents the field of nearly 65,000 adult educators and provides a variety of services, including professional development through annual, state-of-the-art national conferences, more than 50 webinars annually, and publication of the COABE Journal.

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 14

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 21-22 yrs. old

(college level)



Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Literacy – Spanning North America :: Ottawa ON :: Vancouver BC :: Oklahoma City OK

Literacy In The News :: Spanning North America


Canada's Premiers Announce 2020 Literacy Award Recipients

Newswire: 9.08.2020 by Canada's Premiers

On the occasion of International Literacy Day, Canada's Premiers today announced the recipients of the 16th annual Council of the Federation Literacy Award . Presented in each province and territory, the Award celebrates outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy.

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Premiers recognize the importance of literacy in enabling participation as a full and active citizen in all areas of society. Created in 2004, the Award celebrates adult learners who undertake literacy training, as well as the valuable contributions made by Canadians in the field of literacy, including family, Indigenous, health, workplace, and community literacy. The Award is presented to learners, educators, volunteers, community organizations, and businesses in each province and territory.

═════════►

2020 Council of the Federation Literacy Award Recipients

Portage College's Community Adult Learning Programs (CALPs) – Alberta

learner-centred foundational learning programs that allow adult Albertans to develop the necessary skills for further learning, employment and/or increased quality of life.

Story Studio – British Columbia

a non-profit, literacy-focused organization that inspires, educates and empowers youth to become great storytellers.

Awet Biagaber – Manitoba

is a determined and resilient learner with a passion for mentoring youth. Having overcome painful and challenging life experiences including traumatic injuries, Awet is determined to succeed in his education and commitment to helping others. Through volunteering with organizations such as the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM), he shares his life experiences to assist and motivate others.

Elaine Johnson-Chafe – Newfoundland and Labrador

In 2019, made the life-changing decision to obtain her high school diploma. After leaving school at an early age and working the same job for over twenty years, Elaine became unemployed and saw an opportunity to fulfill the dream of improving her education.

Peter Sawyer – New Brunswick

has worked in adult literacy since the late 1970's. As Chair of the Greater Moncton Literacy Council he aided in establishing Laubach Literacy Canada.

Élizabeth (Betty) Levasseur – New Brunswick

has been involved in literacy for more than thirty years. She first started in the Adult Learning Centre in Clair when learning centers were supported by municipalities and fundraising activities were the major source of funding.

Delores Vittrekwa – Northwest Territories

has been running literacy programs for toddlers, children, teens, young adults, adults and elders for the past 8 years.

Malak Alahmad – Nova Scotia

came to Canada with her family from a Jordanian refugee camp in 2017, after having fled the civil war in Syria. As a young mother of four who had no English language skills, Malak set out to adjust to her new life in Canada in stride.

Charmaine Okatsiak – Nunavut

passion for helping Rankin Inlet youth learn and speak Inuktitut comes from her mother, an Inuktitut teacher, and father, a youth program coordinator.

Fatuma Hassan – Ontario

in Somalia, Fatuma never had the opportunity to attend school and had never learned to read or write; started her English as a Second Language literacy class at Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor.

Linda Fraser – Prince Edward Island

began teaching Adult Education in Abegweit First Nation in 2008 through a partnership with Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI, Abegweit First Nation, Holland College and the Province.

Absa Diop РQu̩bec

is an adult literacy student at the Centre de formation L'Impulsion.

Renae Lech – Saskatchewan

is a literacy volunteer who began volunteering for the Great Plains College English as a Second Language program in Gravelbourg in 2015.

Liard First Nation Language Department – Yukon

worked for decades to promote, preserve, revitalize and maintain the Kaska language.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 16

Reading Level: very difficult to read.

Reader's Age: College graduate



September Is Literacy Month

Northern View: 9.03.2020 by K-J Millar

Literacy month has kicked off in September with International Literacy Day (ILD2020) being recognized on Sept. 8, by many community-based programs across the province.

This year, International Literacy Day will focus on literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond, Decoda Literacy Solutions a province wide literacy organization said, in a statement on Sept. 3.

Prince Rupert Chief Librarian Joe Zelwietro said literacy is extremely important to him and he sees many patrons at the library with varying levels of literacy. Prior to COVID-19, he said there would be informal tutors at the library assisting students and those learning English as a second language to improve literacy.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 12

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 17-18 yrs. old

(Twelfth graders)


Nonprofit Offers Technology Training For Adults Navigating Virtual School With Children

Oklahoman: 9.10.2020 by Carla Hinton

A local organization specializing in adult literacy and career education training will turn its focus toward helping parents whose children are attending virtual school.

Opportunities Industrialization Center of Oklahoma County, known as OIC, will offer a series of Chromebook training classes on Saturday at its headquarters, 3033 N Walnut Ave.

DesJean Jones, OIC's executive director, said the two-hour sessions are geared for parents of students in Oklahoma City Public Schools.

She said the organization aims to give parents the tools they need to help their children through the district's virtual classes, which began on Aug. 31. As part of the district's virtual school plan, students received Google Chromebooks or Apple iPads, depending on their grade level, to access online classes.

She said many OIC students began talking about their need to learn more about Chromebook so they could help their children navigate through their online classes.

Jones said the nonprofit had already started a technology loaner program so that OIC students could be connected to the organization from home during the pandemic.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 13

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 18-19 yrs. old

(college level entry)