Literacy – Spanning North America :: Sturgeon Falls ON :: Boynton Beach FL :: Surrey BC

Literacy: Spanning North America

LAWN

Literacy Alliance of West Nipissing Continues To Serve Community

My West Nipissing Now: 7.27.2020 by Brad Aubin

Literacy Alliance of West Nipissing (LAWN) says it has not missed a beat in serving its community over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the circumstances, LAWN has continued to provide learners the ability to earn their high school credits as well as continuing their education to tackle the GED test.

Nanditta Colbear, LAWN executive director, says that they have been able to continue all of their education and courses both over the telephone as well as the internet.

“After those short weeks of the March break we decided as a group we would be available for one-on-one coaching in a controlled fashion in the building. Most of the learners, however, weren’t all that keen as a lot of them have children at home. We continued our plan, adding plexiglass partitions in the main center room. The learner and the coach were then not only separated through distance but also with that plexiglass dropping from ceiling to desk. We spoke with both the ministry and health unit that we were in doing the right thing and doing our possible to stop the spread. We received their blessings to go ahead. We currently only allow one learner into the building at a time. “she said.

=When it comes to over the phone and online sessions, coaches work alongside the learners through their lesson plans.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 9

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old

(Eighth and Ninth graders)

Literacy Coalition of 

Palm Beach County

Get Paid To Help Others Become Successful Readers

Sun Sentinel: 7.28.2020 by Brett Shweky

The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County is recruiting members to join its fight to ensure every child and adult in the area becomes a successful reader.

In an effort to support and benefit literacy programs and initiatives, the nonprofit serves more than 29,000 adults, children and families through 11 programs in 169 sites across Palm Beach County. The coalition is looking to enlist 40 full-time members for its Literacy AmeriCorps program, which assigns individuals to work at family literacy centers, library programs, after-school centers and high schools.

“We are an organization that has been around for 30 years,” Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County CEO Kristin Calder said. “The idea when we started was there are adults that needed help with literacy skills, and over the course of the three decades we’ve recognized and realized the importance of early literacy. Out of that, it has transformed into a dozen programs that operate all over Palm Beach County.

“One of the dozen programs that we have is our Literacy AmeriCorps program,” she said.  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)

@READSurreyWR

Non-readers Harder To Reach In South Surrey/White Rock Due To COVID-19

Being able to read, comprehend medical advice critically important during pandemic

Surrey Now Leader: 7.29.2020 by Aaron Hinks

During a global pandemic, being able to fact-check misinformation and comprehend written medical advice is more important than ever, however, COVID-19 has caused fewer South Surrey and White Rock residents who struggle with literacy to seek the help of a tutor.

READ Surrey/White Rock Society president Allan Quigley contacted Peace Arch News to raise awareness about the drop in the number of participants in the adult literacy program, and to outline what supports are available for non-readers in the community.

READ matches people who struggle with reading or mathematics with a tutor, free of charge.

While READ has been able to keep about half its “learners,” the organization has found it a challenge to find new people willing to learn. In recent months, calls of inquiry to the organization dropped 27 per cent.

On the best days – prior to COVID-19 – reaching people who struggle with literacy has been a challenge. Quigley described non-readers as being “hidden in society.” An additional barrier, Quigley said, is that non-readers are stigmatized, making them less likely to seek help.

“They don’t want to announce that they have low-literacy skills on top of everything. So, I mean, this is a hard-to-reach group,” Quigley said.

Perhaps because of this low visibility, one might be surprised by the number of B.C. residents who struggle with low literacy.

According to Decoda – a B.C. organization that provides resources, training, and funds for literacy programs, nearly half of British Columbians aged 16-65 struggle with following instruction manuals, filling out tax returns, reading a rental agreement or don’t read well enough to understand health information.  READ MORE ➤➤

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)