Literacy – Spanning the US :: Waterbury Center VT :: Bloomington IL :: Edinburg TX

Literacy: Spanning the US

@cliforg

Literacy Foundation Brings Books Behind Bars, Connects Inmates To Their Children

WCAX: 1.06.2020 by Christina Guessferd

When a parent is incarcerated at a prison, the connection between them and their child can be broken. The Children's Literacy Foundation says it's trying to reestablish those connections through storytelling.

"I think the CLiF program is awesome. It definitely keeps us together with our kids. It's like something we can kind of still be there for in a way," said an inmate, who asked that we not give their name.

Over the last 16 years, CLiF has worked with thousands of children of prison inmates at 17 facilities across Vermont and New Hampshire.

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McDougall says 70 percent of U.S. inmates have low literacy skills and their children are at risk of growing up with the same. He says CLiF's programs, like Children of Prison Inmates, increase the chance those kids will become strong readers and writers.  WATCH 02:31

Automatic Readability Checker

Grade Level: 7

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 11-13 yrs. old

(Sixth and Seventh graders)

@STAR_LiteracyBN

Literacy Program Helps English Learners In Central Illinois

WGLT: 1.07.2020 by Edith Brady-Lunny

On a day off from his 70-hour work week, David Cruz met with a tutor who helps him with language skills he hopes will bring him closer to his dream of a better job and U.S. citizenship.

Cruz came to the U.S. almost 20 years ago seeking the same economic opportunity that drives most immigrants across the border. He took jobs in hotels and restaurants where employers didn’t care much about English proficiency.

Cruz learned enough to get by with co-workers and others. But he said the ability to read and write the new language has taken more effort.

“With time, I noticed that English is very important," Cruz told WGLT. "It’s important for me to have good communication with my co-workers, my employer, and also it helps me better understand the U.S. culture."

For the past year, Cruz has met volunteer tutor Scott Bolbock Saturday mornings at the Bloomington Public Library. Their work is part of the Sharing The Ability To Read (STAR) Adult Literacy Program in Bloomington, which has about 100 students who meet with 80 volunteers for one-on-one tutoring.  READ MORE >>

Automatic Readability Checker

Grade Level: 7

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 11-13 yrs. old

(Sixth and Seventh graders)

South Texas Literacy Coalition Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Event

Valley Town Crier: 1.07.2020 by Illiana Luna

The South Texas Literacy Coalition celebrated the opening of its new office in Edinburg.

It is a 501C-3 non-profit organization founded in 2007 by former congressman, Ruben Hinojosa who saw the Rio Grande Valley needing assistance in economic development, social and health needs.

Research in the Rio Grande Valley by the Texas Center for Adult Literacy showed that only 50% of the population is literate. The remaining 50% is at a high risk of not graduating high school and becoming incomprehensive in English and Spanish.

The South Texas Literacy Coalition promotes literacy to the community by taking a different learning approach than the ones learned in the classrooms.

“We work with public libraries, school libraries, community literacy agencies and host family festivals,” said Ida Acuna-Garza, CEO of South Texas Literacy Coalition.

The organization carries out activities and programs throughout the year from family-inclusive to elementary class readings. Activities like ‘Make-A-Book’ and inviting local authors are just some of the many learning approaches they take.  READ MORE >>

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 14

Reading Level: very difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 21-22 yrs. old

(college level)