Literacy ▬ Spanning the US :: Manitowoc WI :: Glen Ellyn IL :: Altadena CA

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Manitowoc Library

Manitowoc Public Library Battles Adult Illiteracy with One-to-One Program
Seehafer News: 5.19.2021 by Margo Meyer, Adult Services Associate - Manitowoc Public Library

   “Reading is a portal—into the past, the future. It’s a parent reading ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ to the child on his lap. It’s someone filling out a job application to better her life or following a recipe from a cookbook to feed their family. It’s a quiet hour on a rainy afternoon, a note from a friend, the instructions on a bottle of medication. It’s elemental, and it’s magic, and it’s vital.”

These eloquent words from author Nora Roberts get to the core of what Manitowoc Public Library’s One-to-One Adult Literacy Program is all about. Our volunteer tutors work with adults ages 18 and older in our community who would like goal-oriented, individualized literacy tutoring. After experiencing our free training, tutors are equipped to develop and enhance their learners’ skills in reading, writing, comprehending, and speaking English. These literacy and reading skills truly lead to wonderful things.

In a given month, I feel fortunate to hear about the many goals our tutors and learners are working towards. It could be the gains in pronunciation an ELL learner is making through conversation practice or the sharing of recipes and how to cook something from someone’s home country to practice the imperative form in English. Throughout the pandemic, our learning pairs were very creative and adept at taking advantage of online learning. Reading aloud to each other through Google Duo, Zoom, or Face Time allowed instruction to continue, often including pets who would curl up and listen to the shared stories.  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)

 

@LiteracyDuPage

Literacy DuPage Receives Donation of New Computers
Patch.com: 5.20.2021

Naperville Bank & Trust recently presented a generous gift of new Lenovo computers to Literacy DuPage, one of Illinois' largest volunteer tutor literacy organizations. The donation includes seven laptops and six desktop computers with monitors. These devices will be provided to lower-income adult learners in DuPage County, who are currently limited to receiving virtual one-to-one tutoring via cell phones.

According to U.S. Census figures, approximately 1.1 million Illinois households do not have computer access, creating a challenge for remote learning.

These donated computers will support instruction for adults who have reached out to Literacy DuPage to improve their English language reading, speaking, comprehension, and writing skills. Communicating effectively and increasing fluency leads to safer, more productive, and richer lives.  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)

@AltadenaLibrary

Altadena Library Official Honored by California Library Association
Pasadena Now: 5.13.2021 by Brian Day

An Altadena Library District trustee has been awarded the California Library Association’s President’s Award for her contributions to libraries and literacy, the library announced Thursday.

Katie Clark, who serves as president of the Board of Trustees, has been named the recipient of the honor, the Altadena Library District said in a written statement.

“[She] is a central leader in the community of Altadena whose vision and tireless commitment to libraries have created a legacy of long-term, positive impact that will provide critical library services for Altadena for decades to come,” the statement said.

The CLA President’s Award recognizes “outstanding contributions, leadership, and achievement in support of California libraries by a Trustee, Friend, Elected Official, or other layperson who has given his or her time and talents to further the advancements of California libraries,” the statement added.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 17

Reading Level: very difficult to read.

Reader's Age: College graduate

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Huntington Beach CA :: Chicago IL :: Eureka CA :: Fairmont WV

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Literacy Volunteers
 HBPL

Cesar Chavez Day Word Search
Literacy Volunteers HBPL: 3.31.2021

Tutors, today, March 31, is the anniversary of Cesar Chavez’s birthday, and a day of commemoration to the legacy of Cesar Chavez’s work toward equal justice for all workers and his commitment to the respect for all human dignity.

See our Facebook page for more information to discuss with your learner. Word searches are a great way to reinforce spelling and learn current vocabulary.

Discuss the terms and definitions, then send the Word Search as a useful learning exercise!  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)

 

Chicago Literacy 
Alliance

Learning To Read: It's Never Too Late
WFMZ: 4.05.2021 by Nancy Werteen

Top of FormBottom of FormA law school graduate, a startup entrepreneur helping to raise $30 million in venture capital, and often being one of the very few women in the boardroom, this smart woman has accomplished many goals. But now in what she calls her biggest accomplishment yet, she is using her talents to help others succeed.

When adult learner H.C. Warfield retired, he decided to go back to school, to learn something he was never able to do before.

“When I came here, I couldn’t read at all,” explained Warfield.

He is one of thousands of adult and child learners who benefit from a first-of-its-kind literacy collaboration called Chicago Literacy Alliance.

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With her experience in the venture capital world, Ratner used her expertise to build support for the idea that if literacy groups work together, their reach can be vast.

“No one is going to be motivated or inspired or drawn to a group which is doing a few little projects in isolation,” said Ratner.

Instead, Chicago Literacy Alliance has a home base, where more than 120 literacy groups can rent workspaces, use resources, and collaborate with one another. Christine Kenny is the executive director of Literacy Works, which trains more than 600 volunteer tutors for adult learners. Being close to other organizations working toward the same mission has been a huge plus for her.  WATCH  02:00

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)

 

Humboldt Literacy 
Project

Humboldt Literacy Project Connects Illiterate Adults With Volunteer Tutors
Times-Standard: 4.06.2021 by Heather Shelton

This week’s featured nonprofit is the Humboldt Literacy Project, located at 537 G St. in Eureka. Emma Breacain, executive director, answered the following questions.

Briefly describe your organization and its mission:
Humboldt Literacy Project connects illiterate adults with volunteer tutors for free, confidential, one-on-one English language studies at the learner’s pace, tailored to their goals and needs. The individuals involved see increased confidence and success at home and at work, but the entire community benefits from a more educated and capable general population.

California Library 
Literacy Services

When and why was this nonprofit founded?:
Our project was started in 1981 by an HSU grad student and, in 1985, we became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a part of California Library Literacy Services.

Adult illiteracy is a social issue. It is not confined to the individual. It sits in the middle of a giant web of tangential cause-and-effect issues. It affects families, workplaces, medical care and the children’s education and well-being and literacy. Literacy is absolutely everything. It is community health.

Is there anything you wish more people knew about the organization or the issues this nonprofit is trying to solve?:
Most people are just shocked that adult illiteracy is still a real problem in the U.S. in the 21st century. If the general public was aware that 15% of adults in the U.S. are functionally illiterate, we might see some positive changes in how we approach education, employment and families. And if those illiterate adults understood that there are 14,000 people in Humboldt County struggling with the same thing, they might feel less alone and more empowered to ask for our help sooner.  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)

 

Literacy Volunteers Looking For New Tutors
Fairmont News: 4.06.2021 by John Mark Shaver

After being closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Literacy Volunteers of Marion County has opened its doors again to clients, and officials are hoping more volunteer tutors will sign on.

The local nonprofit specializes in improving the literacy rate of its clients, whether they be children struggling to read, adults learning English as a second language or anything in between. Kay Nesselrotte, executive director of Literacy Volunteers, said the organization is holding a new tutor training seminar later this year, and she’s hoping new people will step up to the plate.

“We were closed for approximately six months because we kind of followed the lead of the Board of Education and public school system for when to stay open,” Nesselrotte said. “When this pandemic hit, I sent a survey out to my tutors, and most of them responded that they wanted to wait either until there was a vaccine available or until things have changed greatly. Consequently, we lost our students because we didn’t have anyone to tutor them.”

Unfortunately, even a year after the pandemic began, many of the tutors are still uncomfortable with returning, according to Nesselrotte.

“We just geared up again in January, but I’m having a bit of difficulty getting our tutors back on board,” Nesselrotte said. “They’re not ready yet. They’re still not feeling safe about coming into the facility.  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)

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Azusa CA :: Chicago IL :: Dallas TX :: Cheektowaga NY

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Cathay Reta Discusses Her Career In Adult Literacy.
Literacy Update: Winter 2020

Cathay managed the Adult Literacy program for 5 years at the Azusa City Library. She has left a mark on our program with the addition of the Grassroots ESL and Inspired Citizenship programs. Cathay was the catalyst of the Grassroots ESL partnership. Along with Azusa Hispanic Foursquare Church, Canyon Christian Fellowship, Dalton Elementary School, Foothill Family Service, Lee Elementary School and Neighborhood Homework House they began providing ESL tutoring sessions around the community. Use the link below to listen to our conversation about her expansive work in literacy.  LISTEN 13:50

 

Literacy Chicago

Best Life: New Program To Help Adults Learn How To Read
WMC5: 3.08.2021

It’s a crisis hidden in plain sight, about 20 percent of people in the United States cannot read at all and 50 percent of adults can’t read past an eighth-grade level. Literacy Chicago.  WATCH 02:07

 

Literacy Achieves

Winter Storm Reminder Of Chronic Disrepair In Dallas Neighborhood Many Immigrants Call Home
KERA: 3.08.2021 by Stella M. Chávez

When the power went out and temperatures dipped below freezing, Dallas resident Ana Lopez sought shelter at a friend’s place.

The Mexico native has lived in the ethnically diverse neighborhood known as Vickery Meadow for more than a decade. Many residents are either refugees or immigrants. Most live in apartments.

“People live here because that’s what they can afford,” she said. “The apartments here are very old. They have many deficiencies."

🔽
Ashley Holm is the director of outcomes and evaluation for Literacy Achieves, a nonprofit that teaches English as a second language to many residents in the neighborhood.

“When the power went out, it really affected this neighborhood,” Holm said. “These apartment buildings are in disrepair. They’re older, not great condition. This is probably the last neighborhood that needed the power and water to go out.”

Holm’s organization distributed food, water, diapers and other supplies for several days after the storm. She said they’re also planning to provide financial assistance.  LISTEN 04:07

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 9

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old

(Eighth and Ninth graders)

 

@LiteracyNY

Remarkable Women: Ruth Colvin

WSYR-TV: 3.09.2021

During the month of March, NewsChannel 9 is highlighting remarkable women in the Central New York community nominated by you, the viewers.

Our top four finalists will be highlighted each week. The first is a serious trailblazer named Ruth Colvin.

104-year-old Ruth Colvin gets 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine at NYS Fairgrounds

“Age is just a number. It’s what you do with that number that is important,” says Colvin.

From how she lives to what she eats, you can credit her longevity to living a balanced life.

“I look at myself like a car. You can have the best car in the world — best tires, best motor — but if you don’t put gas in it, it’s no good,” Colvin explains.

Colvin is known for starting a volunteer literacy program when she had no experience as a teacher or nonprofit leader, which she eventually turned into Literacy Volunteers of America, now one of the largest adult literacy programs in the world. Through that, Colvin has taught literacy training in 62 countries including many developing countries.

Ruth Colvin

Documenting her remarkable journey, Colvin penned in her 12th book. A memoir.

“I’ve written a lot of books on literacy and the other things I do and they wanted this and I said, ‘No. Who would want to hear about this old lady?‘ So they talked me into it.”

In her latest publication, Colvin shares her successes and failures, saying she’s learned from both. “If you do nothing, you won’t ever make a mistake but you wouldn’t have done anything.”  WATCH 03:21

 

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)

Literacy – Spanning North America :: Claremore OK :: Invermere BC :: Glen Ellyn IL :: Cleveland OH

Literacy In The News :: Spanning North America

RCLC Helps Community Through Literacy
Claremore Progress: 2.05.2021 by Edell Godwin

1. How did Rogers County Literacy Council begin?

A series of articles in the Claremore Progress regarding literacy prompted several Progress employees to come together and form the Rogers County Literacy Council. RCLC became a 501c3 and when the Will Rogers Library was built, an office and tutoring room were dedicated to literacy. Since then the RCLC office has occupied that space. Training, tutoring meetings and classes have taken place in that building. Additionally through local cooperation, the County Building, Northeast Tech, RSU and several local churches and private businesses have hosted RCLC adult learners and tutors. There is great support for literacy endeavors in our community.

2. What’s the mission of Rogers County Literacy Council?

To help create an improved community in which reading, writing, speaking, listening, and thinking serve as a foundation for life-long learning in Rogers County through tutoring. The personal literacy goal of each learner is considered and integrated in tutoring goals.

4. How can people within the community help?

This year the council will survive the pandemic! And assure our community that literacy help continues to be a part of the local landscape. Computer literacy is a newer project utilizing Northstar, access is supported through the partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. Any person (16+) interested can call or email to sign up.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 10

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 14-15 yrs. old

(Ninth to Tenth graders)

 

@cbaliteracy

Adult Digital Tech Support Available In Kimberley
Kimberley Bulletin: 2.05.2021 by Carolyn Grant

Now more than ever, we are expected to do a lot online. Banking, job applications, shopping, even sharing photos and news with family. For many of us, it’s convenient. But for others, it’s new and intimidating, or just down right confusing. And online safety concerns go hand in hand with some of these tasks as well, says CBAL Community Literacy Coordinator Carol Fairhurst.

But there is help available for those who’d like to pick up some tips on navigating online.

Gina Orr is working with CBAL’s Adult Literacy program, and she provides free 1-1 Tech Support to anyone who wants to learn how to use their device – computer, phone or tablet. CBAL is also offering sessions on Online Safety, to help people understand the risks and how to protect yourself. This can include using passwords, sharing emails safely, identifying scams and banking online.

“Susan is a CBAL student who signed up for some help,” Fairhurst said. “When she heard her monthly strata meetings would be held over Zoom, she wasn’t sure she would be able to figure out how to attend. She was already struggling with learning how to use her new laptop, and now Zoom was looming over her like some unknown language.  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)

 

 

@ILSecOfState

Literacy DuPage Tutors And Student Win Spotlight on Literacy Awards
Daily Herald: 2.09.2021 by Cassandra Shepherd

Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White recently announced the winners of the 2020 Spotlight on Literacy Awards, which recognize participants in Illinois literacy programs.

@LiteracyDuPage

Literacy DuPage, one of the state's largest volunteer tutor literacy organizations, is proud that one of its students received the Spotlight on Achievement Award and two volunteer tutors accepted the Spotlight on Service Award.

🔽
"I am honored to congratulate these outstanding students for their hard work and determination to achieve lifelong reading and learning skills," White said. "Many of them have had to overcome great difficulties and personal obstacles to reach this level of achievement. I am also proud to recognize our outstanding volunteer tutors for their generosity and encouragement in helping literacy students achieve their highest potential."

🔽
Award winners

• Maria Wisniewski emigrated with her family from Poland and had limited opportunities to speak, read, or write English regularly. Wanting to improve her language skills, she sought the help of tutors at Literacy DuPage. She has blossomed during the past year, speaking, reading, and writing English. She helps translate English instructions to her co-workers and recently read her first novel in English. Wisniewski also participates in a conversation group at her local public library.

• Sue Jones joined Literacy DuPage in 2012 after retiring from her private practice law firm. Over the years, she initiated three conversation groups, two at the Wheaton Public Library and one at the West Chicago Public Library.  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)

 

@seedsofliteracy

Seeds of Literacy Needs More Tutors To Handle Influx Of Students In Virtual Classroom
News 5 Cleveland: 2.10.2021 by Jade Jarvis

As children in Ohio are starting the process of moving back to in-person learning, hundreds of adult students are working towards their own education goals through Seeds of Literacy’s virtual classroom.

Staff members there said they desperately need more volunteer tutors to step up and help out.

Bill Cook, of Northfield, came to Seeds of Literacy back in 2013 looking for a new challenge.

“I've taught most of the areas, mostly now I teach math,” Cook said.

🔽
When classes moved online to Zoom, Cook’s visuals went virtual.

“Some people use whiteboards. Some people use paper and markers. Others are able to use whiteboard software and electronic tablets. So I've done all of that,” Cook said. “We made YouTube videos of our lessons. And that was all effective, and now we're able to meet in Zoom, use Zoom breakout rooms for one-on-one lessons with students, so that's been very helpful.”

🔽
“It's been a whirlwind,” Todd Seabrook, the virtual site coordinator for Seeds of Literacy, said.

Seabrook said since July, 400 students have enrolled at Seeds, with 75 to 100 logging in per week. Some are from as far away as California. But the problem is they only have about 50 active tutors right now.  WATCH 03:07

 

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)

Literacy – Spanning North America :: Medina OH :: Chicago IL :: Coronation AB

Literacy In The News :: Spanning North America

@ProjectLEARN_MC

Project: LEARN Provides Free Education To Adults In Need
Medina Gazette: 12.17.2020  by Aaron Niedermyer

Education is a huge factor when it comes to succeeding in life, and sometimes people need a little extra help getting that last piece of the puzzle they need to be successful.

That’s where Project: LEARN of Medina County steps in. Project: LEARN is an organization that intends to make sure every adult in Medina County who wants literacy education can get it at no charge.

It began in 1983 when founder Ellen Daiber saw a population in Medina County that wanted help becoming literate in English. Daiber decided to tackle this issue head-on and began tutoring out of the basement of a local church. In the years since, Project: LEARN now has four different locations throughout the county.

After almost 25 years operating solely as a tutoring center, administrators of Project: LEARN realized they were in desperate need of a new source of funding to stay afloat. The program had very specific constraints when it came to this project: It had to relate to their mission of adult tutoring and increasing literacy, be managed primarily by volunteers, worked on a shoestring budget and it could not negatively impact other nonprofit organizations in Medina County.

🔽
With all the constraints in mind, former Executive Director Linda Smalley came up with the idea of a used book store.  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)

 

@aquinaslit

Adult Student at Aquinas Literacy Center Continues to Learn in Spite of Obstacles
Adrian Dominican Sisters: 12.18.2020

Adult literacy students are known for their persistence. Many learn English as a second language or improve their reading or writing skills under challenging circumstances. For Areej, an adult learner from Bethlehem in Palestine, and her tutor, Sister Joan Mary, OP, those setbacks have been more numerous than most during just over a year of working together.

A tutor at Aquinas Literacy Center in Chicago, Sister Joan explained, “Areej came to me at Aquinas Literacy Center to learn English,” Areej’s first language is Arabic. “She’s very eager to learn and is just a wonderful student.”

Sister Joan Mary, OP, left, and Areej meet at Aquinas during the pandemic.

They began their one-on-one tutoring sessions in October 2019, months before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the temporary shut-down of Aquinas. When the literacy center reopened in September, Sister Joan said, many of the tutoring pairs met remotely, via Zoom. However, because Areej did not have access to a computer, she and Areej met in person – but with a table and a sheet of plastic between them.

“We met at a time that I was given, when nobody else was there, because that’s how they managed it,” Sister Joan said. “It was very difficult. [Literacy students] have to see your mouth and hear how the words are pronounced – and I was wearing a mask, and so was she.”  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)

 

@PaintearthLearn

Paintearth Adult Learning Navigating COVID-19, Hears Castor Council
Star: 12.18.2020 by Stu Salkeld

The Paintearth Community Adult Learning Centre is doing some learning of its own, as it adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic, heard Castor town council at its regular meeting Dec. 14.

Councillors heard a presentation from the learning council Program Manager Cindy Heidecker, who noted that the organization, with two locations in Castor and one in Coronation, continues to offer programming during the pandemic.

Heidecker stated the Learning Champions program is underway, which is required programming as the learning council receives funds from Alberta Advanced Education for it.

She also explained the council must provide adult literacy programming to those who need help reading and writing, plus life skills help if needed.

Basic computer skills courses are also available, and Heidecker noted this means starting right from how to turn the computer on.

More advanced computer skill courses are available but are part of a different course.  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)