Literacy – Spanning North America :: Redlands CA :: San Diego Co CA :: Edmonton AB

Literacy: Spanning North America

Redlands Library

New Literacy Program In Redlands Focuses On Families

Redlands Daily Facts: 1.18.2020 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coord; A.K. Smiley Library

Many adults enroll in the Adult Literacy Program at A.K. Smiley Public Library to improve their reading and writing so that they can read to their children, help their children with their homework, and communicate effectively with their children’s teachers.

In September 2019, the California Library Literacy Services (CLLS), recognizing that parents and caregivers are their children’s first and most important teachers, awarded the adult literacy program at Smiley library a grant to fund a family literacy program. The mission of the program is to introduce adult learners and their children to the value and pleasure of reading together and to reduce the risk of multi-generational illiteracy.

The Family Literacy Program at Smiley library helps low-literacy parents develop the skills to support their children’s education and teaches families how to create positive learning experiences. At monthly family literacy meetings, participants learn from each other and family literacy consultants Renee Kennedy and Joan Prehoda, who engage both parents and children in activities that encourage reading comprehension.  READ MORE >>

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 15

Reading Level: very difficult to read.

Reader's Age: College graduate

@SDLiteracy

560,000 Adults In San Diego County Read At 4th Grade Level Or Less

10 News: 1.23.2020 by Steve Atkinson

According to the San Diego Council on Literacy, 560,000 adults in the county read at a fourth grade level or less.

Individuals with limited reading skills will have a hard time finding employment and suffer even more financially. That's why leaders in literacy are trying to encourage children to develop a love for reading before the age of 8, and before it's too late.

Amelia Sandoval is a prime example of how things can spiral out of control without the ability to read.

"I didn't read, not at all," says Sandoval talking about her childhood.

There were problems at home. She was never read to, and school was never a priority. Without reading comprehension, the domino effect was already in motion.

"I joined a gang, I hung out, I was on the streets," says Sandoval. "We learned to ditch the cops."

By the time she was 18, Amelia was in the state prison for women in Chowchilla, where she spent five years. Her inability to read was her shame, and a secret she kept to herself.

"Just as good as I was at stealing stuff, I was good at hiding this," says Sandoval wiping away tears. "I had to protect the secret. It was the best secret I kept from everybody."

But experts claim Amelia's path in life is one that's completely avoidable.

"60 percent of low-income children have no books at home," says Jose Cruz.

Jose Cruz is the CEO of the San Diego Council on Literacy. He's desperate to get books in the hands of children.  READ MORE >>

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 6

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 10-11 yrs. Olds

(Fifth and Sixth graders)

@4FamilyLiteracy

‘Finally, I Made It’: Eager Readers Recognized For Literacy Achievements

Edmonton Journal: 1.24.2020 by Jeff Levine

Abigail Agyeiwaa’s desire to improve her reading has paid off.

Originally from the West African country of Ghana, the 39-year-old’s literacy education was put on hold until after she immigrated to Canada in 2008. Her initial push to learn how to read English came from wanting to improve her commute to and from work. If she had a driver’s licence, the commute would only be a few minutes but the trek took much longer since she had to take Toronto public transit.

So Agyeiwaa decided to get her driver’s licence.

“It took me two years,” she said. “I took the test nine times before I got my licence. When they told me congratulations, I was shocked. I didn’t believe it. I finally got my driver’s licence. But I needed to learn more to help my kids.”

When she and her family moved to Edmonton in 2011, Agyeiwaa turned to the Centre for Family Literacy (CFL) for help. Her hard work was recognized Friday during the Lois Hole Memorial Literacy awards breakfast at the Westin Hotel.

Agyeiwaa said she felt great to receive the award.

“I’m so excited,” the mother of three said. “It was hard for me to make it because I have a little one. Finally, I made it.”

Donna Lemieux, co-executive director at CLF, said the awards are presented to adults and families who have shown incredible commitments to learning. She said illiteracy is still an issue in Alberta.

She said around 44 per cent of Albertans from 16 to 65 don’t have the skills to fully function in society.

“That doesn’t mean they’re at all the same levels,” she said. “Some are at a level where they have difficulty reading say a children’s book. Others are right on the cusp but they have difficulty understanding and comprehending some of the things that happen at work (such as) safety manuals and those kinds of things.”  READ MORE >>

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 7

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 11-13 yrs. Old

(Sixth and Seventh graders)