Literacy ▬ Spanning North America :: Orlando FL :: Winnipeg MB :: Southern Pines NC :: Kingston JM

Literacy In The News :: Spanning North America

@oclslibrary

Orange County Libraries Offer Free English, Spanish Courses For All Levels
Click Orlando: 5.04.2021 by Crystal Moyer

The Orange County Library System offers English and Spanish courses for all skill levels, free of charge.

The course use to be taught in-person at several of its branches, but because of the pandemic, they’ve had to go virtual. You can now learn English or Spanish from just about anywhere.

“As a new immigrant I wanted to improve my language, I want to get more in the community,” said Hetty Huang.

Huang was born and raised in China. A few years ago, she moved to the U.S. with hopes of studying at the University of Central Florida. With little English, she took the college entry test.

“I failed, but I didn’t give up, I continued to study,” said Huang.

She started taking English courses with the Orange County Library System. The curriculum created 15 years ago by ESL Specialist Jelitza Rivera.

“We have writing courses. Writing clearly with grammar and we work slowly to help them get to whole paragraphs and cover letters. Then we have speaking classes where we work on pronunciation,” said Rivera.

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Rivera said moving from in-person classes to virtual provides more flexibility for her students. She said the program now has more than 200 students from many different cultures.

“We have Chinese, Mandarin and Vietnamese students. We have Arabic students and we have a lot of Brazilians, not just Spanish,” said Rivera. “I get exposure to a lot more culture, a lot more language. As a professional, I become better informed.”

The library also offers several free digital resources to help you continue learning outside of class, from your phone or computer.  WATCH 04:42

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 7

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 11-13 yrs. old

(Sixth and Seventh graders)

 

Elmwood Community 
Resource Centre

Reading And More At Community Resource Centre
Winnipeg Free Press: 5.08.2021 by Susan Huebert

Some people might barely remember a time before they could read. Others, however, might struggle long into adulthood to be able to comprehend what they see on the page. For people like these, the GOAL adult literacy and upgrading program at the Elmwood Community Resource Centre is available to help.

The need for literacy is everywhere in Canadian society, from filling out job applications to reading instructions or recipes to sitting and relaxing with a good book on quiet afternoons. In many jobs, good reading comprehension is essential. When people are unable to develop the necessary skills in childhood, learning as an adult can help.

The GOAL program is geared towards the needs of its students. Adults aged 18 and up can register at any time of the year, as the program has a continuous intake of students. New arrivals receive a quick assessment of their skills and a customized learning plan, designed to help them earn a GED certificate or gain a work promotion.

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As Condo says, the organization has "20 years of being in the community, serving the community."  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)

 

Moore County 
Literacy Council

Moore County Literacy Council Builds Self-Esteem, Skills, New U.S. Citizens
Sandhill Sentinel: 5.07.2021

The Moore County Literacy Council had two new tutors graduate on May 4 from its tutoring training program. Aggie Cohen and Flavia Abele will now offer tutoring in English as a second language. The tutoring program assists in both learning English and in attaining U.S. citizenship.

Cohen retired to Moore County after living in Pennsylvania for 30 years. She said she could complain on the sidelines and moan about how many people do not have jobs and cannot read – or help someone.

Abele has lived in Moore County for one year since her spouse retired from the military. She volunteered as a tutor in Maryland and said it was a lot of fun. She said so far she has only helped with Spanish-speaking students.

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“I get to see people improve their lives, especially see their self-esteem go up every time they come,” Program Specialist Susan Lamm said.

There is a wide range of languages and dialects entering Moore County Literacy Council. Students from the Philippines, Italy, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Taiwan are a few. “Asian students have a difficult time because they don’t have r’s in their language,” Lamm said. “They have to learn that weird sound.”  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 7

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 11-13 yrs. old

(Sixth and Seventh graders)

 

JFLL

There's Hope Amid The Difficulties
Jamaica Observer: 5.10.2021

Available statistics — up to four or five years ago — appear to suggest that close to 88 per cent of Jamaicans were classified as literate; that is, able to read and write.

That's still way behind a number of this country's Caribbean neighbours, and, without doubt, COVID-19, which has mostly hindered or prevented face-to-face schooling since March last year, will worsen upcoming literacy indicators.

However, for older Jamaicans, who go back to the early 1970s when Jamaica's literacy rate among adults was only about 50 per cent — triggering Mr Michael Manley's adult literacy programme — the current situation is a vast improvement.

We've ventured down this road as a direct result of two articles in yesterday's Sunday Observer which touched squarely on the importance of basic literacy.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 16

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: College graduate

Literacy ▬ Spanning the US :: Madison WI :: Stevens Point WI :: Dayton OH

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

@LitNet

Former Student Alejandra Muñoz Contreras Promoted To Student Services Manager At Literacy Network
Madison 365: 4.23.2021 by Mackenzie Krumme

Alejandra Muñoz Contreras started at the Literacy Network when it was just a small building on Park Street on Madison’s south side.

Today, she, along with the organization, has grown into a new role and position. In April, she was promoted to the student services manager where she is a resource and a guide for the 1,000 adults that use the center each year. The building where she is now is still on Park Street, but is two stories high, with 10 classrooms, a large lobby and a library.

Muñoz Contreras started at the network in 2015 while she was applying for citizenship. She said it is a rigorous process that involves many tests including reading, writing, pronunciation and filling out legal documents like a 128-question questionnaire.

Muñoz Contreras came to the U.S from Mexico 16 years ago. She has lived in Colorado, and Tennessee before making her way to Wisconsin. It was a goal of hers when she came to Wisconsin in 2013 to become a citizen; and now she gets to help others obtain those same goals.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 8

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 12-14 yrs. old

(Seventh and Eighth graders)

 

Portage County 
Literacy Council

Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc: Teaching Adults To Read And Changing Their Worlds – One Person At A Time
Wis Business: 4.23.2021

Have you ever thought about how hard it would be to live your everyday life if you didn’t know how to read, write or speak English?

Literacy affects every aspect of life and directly impacts our ability to work, care for our families by providing food and shelter, secure safe transportation, and even understand health care information, including health insurance coverage.

The Portage County Literacy Council (PCLC) in Stevens Point works with adults who want to improve their reading, writing and/or math skills. They offer one-on-one tutoring and small group sessions free of charge to people with all kinds of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic backgrounds throughout Portage County – including immigrants and refugees learning English, and native speakers with a learning difference, lack of education, or any other reason.

Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc., along with Marshfield Clinic Health System, recently donated funds to PCLC, most of which will go directly toward the costs of running their adults tutoring programs.

“We are very thankful for our community partners, like Marshfield Clinic Health System and Security Health Plan, whose generous donation will go directly towards supporting PCLC programs and services. We could not do this work without them!” said Shannon O’Donnell, Co-Director of the PCLC.

PCLC helps adult learners increase their ability to read and understand materials that can have a huge impact on their family’s health and wellness. A person’s ability to read and write in English in order to understand health care information is directly linked to their health outcomes and costs. ProLiteracy, the largest adult literacy and basic education membership organization in the nation, reports that over $230 billion in health care costs each year are linked to low adult literacy.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 14

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 21-22 yrs. old

(college level)

 

@BrunnerLiteracy

1 In 5 Adults In Montgomery County Are Illiterate, This Crisis Has Far-Reaching Effects
Dayton 247 Now: 4.24.2021 by Allison Walker

The United States started the first public education system in the world but still, we're faced with a shocking crisis, 43 million, adults in the U.S. can’t read. That's 21 percent of our nation's adult population. It's a problem non-profit leaders say has hit our community hard here in Montgomery County. The Brunner literacy center told me that 1 in 5 adults in the Greater Dayton area are at or below a level 1 literacy level.

“If you're at level 1 you can identify street signs you may be able to sight-read some basic words but you can't fill out a job application. You can't do a quick google search and get an answer, you can't read a prescription label so all of these typical things we might take for granted in life,” Ashley Lackovich, the executive director of the Brunner Literacy Center said.

Lackovich explained that this issue is underreported as many adults develop sophisticated coping skills, so no one finds out they can't read or write. Still the numbers are staggering-at their center-they teach around 350 people to read every year.

“If kids have parents who are illiterate with low levels of literacy no matter what we're doing at the school, those kids are still statistically more likely to have low levels of literacy themselves. 43 percent of people with low literacy live in poverty and we also know it's intergenerational,” Lackovich stated.

Lackovich added that this basic skill is the root of so many other problems. She shared data that shows illiteracy rates are costing our healthcare system hundreds of billions of dollars every year since adults with limited literacy use emergency services at significantly higher rates. Yet-federal funding for adult literacy programs have been cut 18 % in the last two decades.  WATCH 03:02

 

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)

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Bath ME :: Cleveland :: Claremore OK

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Midcoast Literacy

Midcoast Literacy Presents Free Readers Theater Online April 25
Wisscasset Newspaper: 3.25.2021

Get ready to enjoy storybooks in a whole new way!

Midcoast Literacy, a non-profit organization that provides free literacy tutoring to people of all ages, is putting on its second free, live Readers Theater production on Sunday, April 25, at 4 p.m. It will feature local, professional actors reading “Doctor DeSoto” by William Steig and “Today I Will Fly!” by Mo Willems. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event will be held over Zoom. Viewers will need an online performance link which you can get by going to www.midcoastliteracy.org or by contacting Midcoast Literacy at admin@midcoastlit.org

“A Readers Theater performance is a great way to experience children’s books in a whole new way. It’s a read-aloud and a theatrical show all in one,” said Don Lader, Midcoast Literacy’s executive director. “After our debut online event in December, we heard so much positive feedback from families we decided to do another production this spring.”

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“We’re making Readers Theater a tradition at Midcoast Literacy,” said Lader, “and are optimistically looking forward to hosting a live performance in a local theater in the not-too distant future.”  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 8

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 12-14 yrs. old

(Seventh and Eighth graders)

 

@seedsofliteracy

✽ Illiteracy Creates Hurdle For Clevelanders Looking For COVID Vaccine Information
Seeds of Literacy Blog: 3.24.2021 by Steven Hernandez

Maria Rodriguez did not learn how to read full documents until she was in her 50s.

Now, she’s helping others with similar struggles at Seeds of Literacy in Cleveland’s West Side, while encouraging them to find the right information about the coronavirus vaccine.

“I feel what they feel, and I feel the scare, the worry, the tension,” Rodriguez said.

While many Clevelanders want to get their dose of the vaccine, adult illiteracy means they are easily swayed in the wrong direction by rumors and false information. According to research from Case Western Reserve University, 66 percent of Clevelanders are functionally illiterate.

Rodriguez, who has interacted with residents with similar struggles, has heard of these faulty reasonings first-hand.

“‘I’m allergic to this kind of food,’ or ‘I’m not going to take the Covid [vaccine] because someone told me if I take the [vaccine] with my issue I might die,’” she has heard.

Adult illiteracy is also a significant hurdle to overcome for minority communities. The same Case Western study notes that some neighborhoods have an illiteracy rate of 95 percent, predominantly in areas with high numbers of minorities.  WATCH  01:55

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 12

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 17-18 yrs. old

(Twelfth graders) 

@seedsofliteracy

✽  Seeds of Literacy Helping Ohioans Receive Accurate Information About COVID, Vaccines
Seeds of Literacy Blog: 3.25.2021 by Kevin Freeman

Many Ohioans complain about the troubles they encounter, trying to make a reservation for a COVID-19 vaccine. But for people who struggle to read and write, getting accurate information about the coronavirus and vaccines, in general, can often be a daunting task.

“When you’re a student who struggles with literacy, then being able to make sense out of all the information that’s out there, that can be very challenging,” said Carmine Stewart, vice president of programming for the Seeds of Literacy.

Sorting through information and misinformation, related to coronavirus and how to get the COVID-19 vaccine can be mind-boggling for just about anyone. But for someone who is functionally illiterate, it can be overwhelming.

“They struggle with basic tasks, like reading, writing, taking information, numerical or printed and then being able to understand what they’re reading and then being able to apply that,” said Stewart.

Stewart says 66 percent of Cleveland residents are considered functionally illiterate. 88 percent of people in the program lack the most basic computer skills, which puts them at a major disadvantage when trying to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination.  WATCH  02:02

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 14

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 21-22 yrs. old

(college level)

 

RCLC Offers Citizenship Classes
Claremore Progress: 3.22 2021

Rogers County Literacy Council (RCLC) will be offering Zoom Citizenship Classes beginning March 29-June 10 2021. Interested Learners can contact Malinda Brown, 918-923-1338, by calling or texting, or contact Edel Godwin, RCLC Director at 918-277-4331. Classes will be designed on days and at times most convenient for the greatest number of Learners. Youtube videos will also be provided for information review.

The RCLC has been awarded a grant from the Library Services Technology Act (LSTA), which is administered by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries and Oklahoma Museum and Library Services. “The demand for Citizenship Classes has increased and the RCLC is proud to have once again been awarded the LSTA grant to serve this community need,” says Edel Godwin, Executive Director of the RCLC.

These small-group classes are designed to help strengthen the learner’s language and literacy skills as he or she prepares for the United States citizenship examination.

“Learners must learn the rights and duties of citizens as well as utilizing the basic English skills needed to understand the questions on the naturalization exam,” Godwin explains.  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)

✽   Newsletters ◻ Blogs ◻ Stories

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Edison NJ :: Quincy MA :: Bradenton FL

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Literacy NJ

* Dreams for a Peaceful Future
Literacy NJ: Jan 2021

Dreams for a Peaceful Future: Literacy NJ Student Writing

In January 2021, Literacy NJ hosted a series of virtual events to celebrate our students and our volunteer tutors in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In preparation, our tutors taught lessons on Dr. King. Our students wrote these pieces in response, exploring themes including Dr. King’s legacy, life during the pandemic, and their own dreams for the future. Thank you to all the students who contributed. These stories help anchor us, in this tumultuous year, to our history and to our shared hope for a more peaceful and just future.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 8

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 12-14 yrs. old

(Seventh and Eighth graders)

 

@ThomasCranePL

Quincy Literacy Program Shows That Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
Boston Globe: 3.03.2021 by Julia Hong Globe

On Wednesdays, Wesline Désir, 46, of Brockton, attends English literacy tutoring from the small screen of her cellphone.

Désir, who works as a home health aide in assisted living, emigrated from Haiti nearly 28 years ago. For over four years, she has been a student of the Literacy Program at Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy. The library’s literacy department, funded by the city of Quincy and the Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts, offers free reading and writing lessons to local adult residents with below sixth-grade levels.

Literacy Volunteers
of Massachusetts

These one-on-one lessons became virtual with the COVID-19 pandemic — a challenge, considering that some tutors and many adult students were inexperienced in technology.

On the other line, Désir’s tutor, Lisa Hemphill, 62, of Hingham meets with her by video chat. Sometimes, poor sound quality or a choppy connection can disrupt their lessons, especially when they are practicing letter or word pronunciations.

“I don’t have a whiteboard like I do in the tutoring room, so it just seems like everything takes maybe 20 or 30 percent longer,” said Hemphill, who tutors three students for an hour to 90 minutes each week. “Trying to judge how much they are really getting it — that’s harder to do.”

To compensate for the physical distance, Hemphill has been mailing out worksheets for students to complete and text photos of the pages for feedback. During lessons, she might hold her phone up to her laptop screen for Désir to follow along with online readings — a complicated but necessary setup, considering that Désir does not know how to use a laptop yet.

Despite these technology hurdles, Désir is determined to obtain a GED someday.  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)

 

@Manatee_Reads

With 68 People On The Waiting List, The Manatee Literacy Council Is Searching For Volunteers
Your Observer: 3.03.2021 by Liz Ramos

Lakewood Ranch’s Maria Alvarez knew that in order to get a job, she would need to become more proficient in English.

Although she was a psychologist in her home country of Venezuela, Alvarez said she wouldn’t be able to get a job in the same field in the U.S. because of the language barrier.

Since she moved to Lakewood Ranch in September 2020, Alvarez has been working as a nanny and delivery driver. She’s thinking about pursuing a career in massage therapy.

Alvarez started researching classes to help her learn how to speak and read in English and discovered the Manatee Literacy Council, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the level of functional literacy in adults in Manatee County.

The Manatee Literacy Council has volunteers who work with learners one on one or in a group to develop their skills in speaking and reading in English, prepare learners for the U.S. citizenship test and more.

The nonprofit also offers conservation and workplace literacy classes. The council is developing programs for digital and financial literacy with the hopes of starting them in the summer and fall.

Michelle Desveaux McLean, the executive director of the Manatee Literacy Council, said the nonprofit is always in need of more tutors, especially since the pandemic began and several tutors decided to stop volunteering because they didn’t feel comfortable tutoring online.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

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)

* Newsletters ◻ Blogs ◻ Stories

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Azusa CA :: Maryville TN :: Lee MA

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Inspired Citizenship: Martha Zamora
Azusa Literacy Updates: Fall 2020

Our Inspired Citizenship program has seen 200 new citizens of the United States of America. Inspired Citizenship offers a Civic classes and one on one tutoring.

Martha is one of the learners in our Inspired Citizenship program at the moment. Martha also participates in our Gr ESL program. I talk with Martha about what Citizenship means to her. To listen to our short discussion please click the link below.  LISTEN 03:01

@AdultEdofBC

Adult Education Foundation of Blount County Urges Community to 'Share the Love of Learning'
Daily Times: 1.17.2021 by Amy Beth Miller

COVID-19 has been a triple hit to adult education efforts.

The need to address skill gaps is more intense, pandemic precautions make delivering instruction complicated and funding is critically low.

The Adult Education Foundation of Blount County had planned a big celebration for its 25th Annual Adult Spelling Bee in April 2020, an event that traditionally brings in more than $4,000 but had to be canceled because of COVID-19.

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The AEFBC partners with other organizations to offer a wide variety of programs. Despite the county’s relatively low unemployment rate, the need for higher literacy, numeracy and workforce skills is high.

Estimates based on data from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies put one in six Blount County residents at the lowest level of literacy.

“They can’t really comprehend printed material,” particularly beyond short paragraphs, Taylor explained.

Nearly 39% are at Level 2 on the three-level scale, struggling to do more than simple measurements.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 12

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 17-18 yrs. old

(Twelfth graders)

 

@litnetsb

LitNet Launches Monthly TV Show
Berkshire Eagle: 1.19.2021 by Jeannie Maschino

The Literacy Network of South Berkshire announces the launch of its new monthly cable TV show, "Literacy Network of South Berkshire Presents …."

Co-hosted by LitNet Executive Director Leigh Doherty and LitNet board member and local educator Roselle Chartock, each episode will delve into LitNet's past, present and future by featuring learners, tutors, individuals significant to the organization's history and development, community leaders, educational professionals and more.

The show’s goal is to spread awareness of the work the organization does, to delve into topics surrounding adult and ESOL education, and to inform the community of how it might become involved with LitNet.

In the show’s first episode, "Tutor Talk," Doherty speaks with four LitNet tutors — two seasoned, two new — about why they became involved in LitNet, what their journeys with their learners have been like and their advice to prospective tutors.  WATCH 28:35