Showing posts with label Arkansas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arkansas. Show all posts

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Literacy ▬ Spanning North America :: Texarkana AR :: Calexico CA :: Ardmore OK :: Edmonton AB

Literacy In The News :: Spanning North America

@ARadultlearn

Literacy Council Wins Pair Of Awards
Texarkana Gazette: 5.21.2021

The Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties won two awards during the Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas' conference Friday.

The Literacy Council won for Innovative Project of the Year and Student of the Year, two of the six awards the ALA gives annually to outstanding adult learning programs in Arkansas.

Innovative Project of the Year was awarded for a program developed by Myesha Holmes-Thomas, a student intern for the Literacy Council who is completing a master's degree in social work at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. For this project, she initiated a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Human Services to help serve local families.

Student of the Year was awarded to Denise Anderson, a Literacy Council student who worked hard to gain literacy skills and at age 56 read her first book in December.  READ MORE ➤➤

 
Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 14
Reading Level: difficult to read.
Reader's Age: 21-22 yrs. old
(college level)

 

ALS program
Camarena Library 
 Tutor Spotlight: Kimberly Valenzuela
THE LITERACY CIRCLE: May 2021

Q: How has your experience been so far as a tutor?

A:  My experience so far has been really good. I enjoy helping people learn new skills that they can use to achieve their personal goals. It is also a very rewarding experience being part of a learner's progress through the ALS program. It is such a good feeling hearing back from my learners on how they implement the skills they learned in their daily lives.

Q: Give three reasons why being a tutor might influence an adult member in your community struggling with literacy skills.

A:  Whether it is reading the morning newspaper, applying for a job, or communicating with doctors, a tutor can help a learner achieve these goals. Another reason is by prioritizing their needs in a one-to-one setting. Sometimes it is difficult to keep up in a class with 20 other students with different goals, while working with a tutor focuses on the learner’s individual goals, level, and pace.  READ MORE ➤➤

 
Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 9
Reading Level: standard / average.
Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old
(Eighth and Ninth graders)



@ArdLitLead
Ardmore Literacy Leadership Celebrates Graduates From Partner Organizations
Daily Ardmoreite: 5.22.2021 by Michael D. Smith

During a graduation season full of high school and college commencement ceremonies, one ceremony this week stood out with a collection of graduates from area literacy groups. The Ardmore Literacy Leadership on Thursday recognized learners for completing their high school diploma, GED, English as a Second Language, Spanish language or U.S. citizenship test.

Over 100 guests were on hand at the Colvert Ministry Center to celebrate the graduates including families, tutors and other supporters. Oklahoma Rep. Mauree Turner, an Ardmore native, provided a recorded camessage and Ardmore City Commissioner John Credle addressed those in attendance. 

ALL organizations represented on Thursday included Ardmore Family Literacy, Ardmore Public Library, New Dimension Literacy Council, Boys and Girls Club of the Red River Valley, and St. Mary Catholic Church.  READ MORE ➤➤

 
Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 12
Reading Level: difficult to read.
Reader's Age: 17-18 yrs. old
(Twelfth graders)

 

@palsedmonton

PALS Has Been Changing Lives Through Literacy Since 1979
Edmonton Journal: 5.25.2021 by Fish Griwkowsky

Though he lived in Edmonton as a child, Greece-born Nicholas Koronios spent most of his life in Athens — returning to Canada in 2016 when he was 24.

Back in Europe, he spoke English with his mother after coming home from school and soccer, pretty basic stuff like, “Hello,” or “Are you hungry?”

“I thought I knew some things. But in reality,” the now 29-year-old Edmontonian admits with a laugh, “I didn’t really know anything.”

Koronios was hardly alone in the city, struggling with a language that throws the homonyms there, their and they’re at us randomly on a daily basis, tripping up a good number of lifelong Canadians, as well.

🔽
“I thought, what can I do to better myself, right?”

On top of being able to communicate in a way it’s so easy to take for granted, Koronios wanted to be an electrician, maybe a police officer.

“So what do those jobs require? Number one: English.

“So the first thing was like, ‘Oh, crap, I need a tutor. I’ve got to pay big money.’ And you know, I didn’t even have a job.

“How could I afford that?”

Enter Project Adult Literacy Society — the friendly-sounding PALS for short.

Running in the city since 1979, the mostly volunteer organization quietly does some of the most noble work in Edmonton: increasing our ability to communicate. And, most importantly, the program is free.  READ MORE ➤➤

 
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)


Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Grand Rapids MI :: Bentonville AR :: Houston TX

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

@LCWM

The Literacy Center Advances In Competition To Receive Funding For Latina Skilled Trade Workers
Rapid Growth Media: 1.22.2021 by Sarah Spohn

The Literacy Center of West Michigan has been chosen as a finalist in the U.S. Department of Education’s Rethink Adult Ed Challenge. The nonprofit is one of five finalists from the state, and the only one in the West Michigan region that is advancing to the next round, with the opportunity to win a share of $750,000. The grand prize will be $250,000 and up to five runners-up will receive at least $100,000. The Challenge aims to advance pre-apprenticeship programs and career opportunities nationwide by breaking down barriers many adult learners are faced with.

The local nonprofit’s proposal includes English instruction and skills training within apprenticeship programs for Latina women entering the mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades. The Literacy Center of West Michigan Executive Director Dr. Wendy Falb is excited to be a finalist, and hopes the extra exposure will only increase the resources they can provide to the community.  READ MORE ➤➤

 
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 Council Transforms Lives, Strengthens Communities
Arkansas Online: 1.24.2021 by Carin Schoppmeyer

Tell us about your organization: LCBC is a 48-year-old nonprofit providing free adult literacy training to address issues of approximately 20% of Benton County residents who cannot read above a third-grade level.

Literacy Council of Benton County transforms the lives of our adult students by giving them the reading tools to succeed in life, strengthening our communities.

🔽
What are your organization's most pressing needs? As with every nonprofit in these pandemic times, financial support! We closed for two months and are being exceptionally frugal but can always use donations of any amount. And volunteer tutors are always needed. We get calls regularly from people needing our help, and our prospective tutor list is only at about a third of our current prospective student list.  READ MORE ➤➤
 
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)

 

@BushHoustonLit

The Houston Blueprint for Adult Literacy Will Provide Data, Strategies and Community Action Tactics to Equip Adults with Tools and Skills Necessary to Learn to Read
Mayor's Office: 1.26.2021

Today, the Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy (MOAL) and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation (Foundation) announced a joint initiative to increase adult literacy rates and ensure more Houstonians have an equal opportunity to participate fully in our society and the workforce.

Underwritten by the Foundation, with the engagement of Deloitte Consulting, LLP and support of EOG Resources, Greater Houston Community Foundation, and Phillips 66, the Houston Blueprint for Adult Literacy will delineate a first time strategic and coordinated city-wide plan to ensure that more adults in our community receive a second chance in life through the development of strong basic, language, and digital literacy skills, as well as essential workforce skills.

"With one in three Houstonians functionally illiterate, the combined efforts of the Mayor's Office for Adult Literacy and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation are essential to achieve transformational change in the lives of adults who cannot read," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "This public-private partnership will strengthen the capacity of our adult literacy provider network and our engagement with our city's functionally illiterate, empowering these citizens to contribute to their community, their families, and their livelihood."  READ MORE ➤➤

 
Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 22
Reading Level: very difficult to read.
Reader's Age: College graduate


Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Hot Springs AR :: Westminster MD :: Leesburg VA

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

GC Literacy Council Seeks New Volunteers, Community Partners
Sentinel Record: 12.27.2020 by Cassidy Kendall

As The Literacy Council of Garland County looks to double its impact on those in need of literacy and mathematics teaching and remediation in the next year, it needs help from multiple segments of the community.

Council Executive Director Sarah Richardson, who began her position in July, told The Sentinel-Record in September that they hope to double the number of students and volunteers by September 2021. So far, they are halfway to their goal.

"We're at about -- this is not my favorite number -- about 20 students, which is not anywhere near our best numbers ever, but is about where we were at, at a full-year cycle last year," Richardson said. "Our numbers don't look great, but the state numbers for literacy councils are down to about 20% of what they normally are at this point in the year.

"So I feel like at least we're kind of keeping our ground, and we're hoping to continue to grow some. That's what we want for next year is really to get back to -- I found documents from years past where we served 150 students. That's really what we want to be back to. That's what we want. We want to be making a real impact again, and so we're not there yet."

🔽
Richardson said with 11% of the county in need of literacy assistance, she is here to stay in her position and is "in love" with the council's mission to help.  READ MORE ➤➤

Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 10
Reading Level: standard / average.
Reader's Age: 14-15 yrs. old
(Ninth to Tenth graders)

 

Literacy Council of Carroll County Provides No-Cost Education To Adult Learners
Carroll County Times: 12.28.2020 by Rebecca Arenson-Rachlinski

What is the Literacy Council of Carroll County? Is it a book club? No. Is it part of the Public Library or School System? No, though they are both Literacy Council partners. First, what is literacy? People often think that literacy means being able to read and write. But the broader meaning of literacy is knowledge or ability in a certain area (for example: finances).

So, what is the Literacy Council of Carroll County? The Literacy Council is a nonprofit organization providing no-cost education to adult learners who are Carroll County residents and employees. Our mission is to enable adult learners to develop or improve the skills they need to reach their personal education, workplace, and life goals.

Our volunteer tutors provide free, confidential, one-on-one tutoring in a wide variety of subjects, including: reading, writing, and math; ESOL (English as a Second Language); citizenship; computer skills; preparing for the written portion of licensing exams (study skills); and workplace skills.  READ MORE ➤➤

 
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)

 

@LoudounLiteracy

Loudoun Literacy Council and Fabbioli Winery: Supporting Multilingual Workers in Loudoun County
Loudoun Now: 12.24.2020 by Jessica Monte

Olga sits across a wooden farm table from me. She has just finished a one-hour class on subject-verb agreement, an advanced English language concept she is studying in her GED class, a program hosted by the Loudoun Literacy Council with Fabbioli Wine Cellars in Leesburg.

“I like learning English to speak with other people,” Olga tells me, “but, it is difficult.”

Olga moved to the United States seven years ago, attended one year of high school, and then dropped out. She subsequently found employment at Fabbioli Wine Cellars, which has hosted English classes for more than two years and has recently launched a GED program.

@FabbioliWines

“I want my team to improve their lives and jobs,” Doug Fabbioli, co-owner of Fabbioli Wine Cellars said. “When some of them started helping in the tasting room on the weekends, we realized how important their language skills were to the job. So, we specifically started classes so the team would work better together.”


A 2014 study “
The Bilingual Advantage: Language, Literacy, and the U.S. Labor Market,” indicates that employers prefer bilingual applicants. Karen Feldman, the director of the Adult Literacy Program for the Loudoun Literacy Council agrees. “Being able to learn or be bilingual or trilingual is such a leg up in so many ways.”

But here in Loudoun County, where the Loudoun Literacy Council serves nearly 500 adults annually, a staggering 85 percent of ELs, or English Learners, enrolled in Loudoun County Public Schools test below basic proficiency in reading.  READ MORE ➤➤


Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 9
Reading Level: standard / average.
Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old
(Eighth and Ninth graders)


Sunday, July 19, 2020

Literacy – Spanning North America :: Washington DC :: Fayetteville AR :: Oroville CA :: Corner Brook NL


Literacy: Spanning North America

Online Learning Leaves Some Adult Students Offline
Street Sense Media: 7.02.2020 by Asia Rollins

K-12 and university students were not the only people forced to transition to remote classes in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The digital divide between those who have access to modern technology and those who do not is even wider for students in adult education programs.

Some local organizations that offer adult learning programs have created new online classes, provided students with laptops, scheduled instructors for Zoom meetings, and provided take-home packets. The resources are helpful, but without a sufficient internet connection, a student’s progress grinds to a halt.

“If our students don’t have reliable internet access, in addition to a tablet, smartphone, or computer, it’s impossible to continue remote learning,” said Annette Larkin, a public relations consultant for the Washington Literacy Center. “We’re doing our best to support our students to continue their education online, but it’s a challenge for a variety of reasons.”

The Washington Literacy Center’s offices have been closed since March due to safety concerns. Roughly 200 students rely on the Washington Literacy Center for GED classes or job training. The fact that students can take advantage of online resources is great, but nothing beats in-person classes, according to Larkin.

“Teaching adult learners who are not already digitally literate compounds the challenge,” said Larkin. “Some students may be unfamiliar with using computers and emails.”

Almost 95% of the people who use Washington Literacy Center’s resources live in poverty due to not having access to basic education. Yet the center says the center says many students are able to go on and secure better jobs or continue their education after completing classes.  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)

Ozark Literacy Council Launches Summer Scavenger Hunt
Fayetteville Flyer: 7.01.2020 by Todd Gill

Ozark Literacy Council just announced a scavenger hunt that will send teams of up to five people on an adventure to complete a variety of tasks in and around Fayetteville this summer.

The first 50 teams to register will be eligible for prizes, which include gift cards of up to $150 to local shops.
=Prizes will be given to the top three teams with the most points at the end of the hunt. Each task is worth 5 points, unless otherwise noted, and there are 20 tasks in all.

Tasks include finding and taking a photo of the council’s first tutor trainer’s name on the senior walk on the University of Arkansas campus, taking a selfie in front of a Little Free Library, and locating one of the PIGShibition sculptures that were auctioned and placed around town as part of a fundraising and awareness effort led by council in 2012 (Note: Most of the sculptures have been moved since our post about their original locations).


Literacy in the Ozarks Scavenger Hunt Clues

1. Do you remember our first tutor trainer, Jamil Mohad Shami? Find and take a picture of his name on the senior walk at U of A. (Reminder/Hint: He began studying around 1964).

2. We are proudly supported by the Barbara Broyles Endowment which was set up and celebrated in 2004. Find and take a picture outside of the bank the celebration was held in. You may have to investigate our social media feeds to
find the answer.

3. Find and take a picture with one of our old buildings/sites. Document how the buildings/sites changed and what occupies them now.

4. We participated in many NALA meetings held at this popular Fayetteville destination known for its fabulous views. Go up there and take a picture capturing this beautiful site.

5. Look through our scrapbook series and recreate one of our #OLChistory moments! Be sure to let us know which pic you are recreating. We have some fun ones!!

6. Did you know we made a cookbook a couple of years ago featuring food from our students’ homelands? Make a delicious non-American dish or meal (be sure to include a recipe so others can enjoy it later too).

7. Create a music video for our song.  READ MORE ➤➤

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)

Butte County Opening Library Branches on Tuesday
Enterprise Record: 7.03.2020 by Kyra Gottesman

Butte County Library branches throughout the county will reopen to the public Tuesday, but each branch has varying hours and days of operation.

Library patrons will be able to visit branches to return and pick up items, in addition to browsing library shelves and borrowing items. However, visitors are asked to keep their time at the library to 30 minutes or less, and will be asked to wear face masks.

═════════►
Perhaps of all the programs most challenged in making the shift from in-person to virtual has been the Adult Literacy Ready Program. Through this program trained tutors are matched one-on-one with adults interested in improving their basic literacy skills.

Since in-person tutoring sessions are not currently possible, tutors have been staying in touch with their “learners” via phone and text. Additionally, the library has provided the adults in this program with journals to “encourage them to keep writing” and sends them “News for You,” an “easy-to-read weekly newspaper covering current events,” said Heather Tovey, literacy specialist.

“We are working to keep our learners engaged while we are looking at new ways to do tutoring, actively exploring different approaches including Zoom. It’s really better face-to-face but that won’t happen until it’s safe,” which will be determined in later phases of reopening, said Tovey.

While the library works on adjusting the Adult Literacy program to operate effectively under COVID-19 restrictions, Tovey said there is a need for more tutors.

“We’re kicking off a new virtual tutor training on July 25.  READ MORE ➤➤

Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 12
Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.
Reader's Age: 17-18 yrs. old
(Twelfth graders)

N.L. Organization Getting Closer To Developing Online Learning Platform For People With Low Literacy Skills
Saltwire: 7.03.2020 by Diane Crocker

The Newfoundland and Labrador Laubach Literacy Council (NLLLC) has been struggling for some time to reach the people who need its services.

“There’s people out in communities that do not have any type of literacy services,” said Margie Lewis, executive director of the council, which is based in Corner Brook.

The council, which offers a one-to-one tutoring service, has been grappling with the question of how to reach those people and get into those communities where it doesn’t have tutors, or where those who were tutoring have moved away.

What started as a conversation in 2018 is getting closer to becoming the solution the council has been looking for.

Lewis and Kelly Taylor-Hulan had been talking about the barriers people face in online learning.

Taylor-Hulan has been teaching online for 15 years and that was the focus of work she was doing for her master’s degree in communications and technology through the University of Alberta. She was getting ready to start her capstone project, wanted to do something that would count and suggested they could help each other.

The result is Going the Distance, a project launched by the NLLLC in April 2019 to bring its one-to-one tutoring program online. Taylor-Hulan is the lead researcher on the $281,000-project, which is funded by the NL Workforce Innovation Centre.

“The ultimate goal is to create an online platform so that Laubach Literacy can reach more people in an online environment while still keeping their one-to-one tutoring model,” said Taylor-Hulan.  READ MORE ➤➤

Based on 7 readability formulas:
Grade Level: 12
Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.
Reader's Age: 17-18 yrs. old
(Twelfth graders)