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Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Hurricane Devastates Man’s Homeland, Carolina Literacy Program Preps Him For College

WSOC TV: 9.11.2020

A 38-year-old Indian Trail resident moved with his wife and 16-year-old daughter to the area almost two years ago after hurricanes devastated his native islands.

Dion Rymer didn’t know how his family—both locally and those still in the British Virgin Islands—would react when they found out he enrolled in Common Heart’s adult literacy program to improve his reading and writing skills. He describes their reactions in two words: “Very proud.”

He was working full-time to support his family, but still had a dream to go to college and prepare for a career in information technology.

Now, almost a year later, he’s completed the program and is enrolled at Central Piedmont Community College, taking the first steps toward the career he wants.

Common Heart received a $5,000 grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The grant is part of more than $8.6 million awarded to more than 950 schools, nonprofits and other organizations in communities where Dollar General Stores are found.

Rymer’s success story is a true highlight for the Literacy Volunteers program which allowed him to set and then achieve reachable goals.  WATCH 02:39

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 11

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 15-17 yrs. old

(Tenth to Eleventh graders)

Literacy Pittsburgh In Need Of Volunteers For Adult Education Programs

CBS Local: 9.02.2020  

The coronavirus pandemic has caused issues for adults looking to further their education.

Adult literacy programs are looking for help as hundreds of people are submitting applications for free tutoring services. But few are actually volunteering as tutors.

“Adult education is something a lot of folks don’t think about, but there really is a great need,” Maria Polinsky of Literacy Pittsburgh told KDKA.

The organization is swamped. Literacy Pittsburgh prepares adults in Allegheny and Beaver counties for the workforce by providing free tutoring to more than 5,000 people each year.

“In Allegheny County alone there’s about 54,000 adults who either don’t have a high school credential or don’t have the adequate English language skills,” said Polinsky.

With high unemployment rates this year because of the pandemic, more people are looking to up their education to pivot careers.

“People need skills to be ready for the workforce of today,” said Polinsky.  WATCH 02:01

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 10

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 14-15 yrs. old

(Ninth to Tenth graders)

'News for You' Grant Helps Literacy Students Learn Online

Patch.com Radnor: 9.03.2020  

In March of 2020, the Delaware County Literacy Council (DCLC) was awarded a Mobile Learning Fund Grant from ProLiteracy. The grant provided a free subscription to News for You Online, a weekly newspaper with topical articles and literacy lessons that can be accessed online.

The timing of the grant turned out to be extra-helpful, given that DCLC interrupted all in-person learning on March 13, 2020, in accordance with Governor Wolf's stay-at-home orders to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Since March 13, DCLC Teachers have been holding their classes in basic literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL), and GED preparation online. DCLC's volunteer tutors have also been reaching out to their adult students via online video platforms, video chats, and by telephone. News for You Online has come in handy during this shift in instruction.

According to ESL Teacher James Stein, News for You Online is "easy to use during online classes since I can screen-share it and make use of the online features, such as the interactive article exercises. Sometimes I assign homework based on the Teacher's Guide or we use it as a basis for class discussion. I like that there have been several articles related to COVID-19, which is on everyone's minds.  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)

Writer to Writer Celebration Event

CLA Calendar: 9.8.2020

Join adult literacy learners and State Librarian Greg Lucas in honoring the winners of the annual Writer to Writer Challenge! Writer to Writer is an annual writing contest held in literacy programs in Southern California Library Literacy Network libraries and Monterey County Free Library.

Learners read a book, then write a letter to the author about the impact the book had on their life. 

Hear the learners read their letters and get inspired to create your own Writer to Writer letter.