Literacy – Spanning North America :: Rochester NY :: Redlands CA :: Rockville MD :: Clearwater BC

Literacy In The News :: Spanning North America

@RCSDOACES

Rochester Program Helping Adult Learners Cross the Digital Divide
Spectrum Local News: 2.11.2021 by Seth Voorhees

The pandemic changed the way schools taught their students, and highlighted the need for technology in learning. Experts say many adults who go back to school don’t always have access to computers. One Rochester program is helping adult learners cross the digital divide.

For Rodneisha Corbit, it felt like Christmas Day, as she unwrapped a gift — to help reach her goal.

Advocates say the need is great for adult learners, not just for an access to technology

“We’re doing our training online,” said Corbit, of her school work. “We’re doing our testing online.”

When she first became a young parent, Corbit — now a mother of three — had to put school aside. Now, she is studying to get her high school equivalency diploma through Rochester’s Office of Adult & Career Educational Services, or OACES.

🔽
And she is not alone.

“Most of our students face that challenge,” said Alla Dewolf, OACES program coordinator.

@LVRochester

In early February, five adult learners at OACES, including Corbit, received laptops, Wi-Fi and other accessories — through a partnership with Literacy Rochester. The laptops are theirs to keep. The Wi-Fi hotspots are on loan to students for six months.  WATCH 01:32

 

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)

 

Our Stories,
Pandemic Reflections

Redlands Literacy Students Write About Their Pandemic Experiences In New Anthology
Redlands Daily Facts: 2.05.2021 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coord: A.K. Smiley Library

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program recently published “Our Stories, A Collection of Writings, Volume 3,” which includes writings from adult learners enrolled in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. Over 40 adult learners and tutors contributed written works for the anthology. These works focused on the learners’ journeys to literacy, personal reflections, family and friends, memories and adventures, and reflections about books the learners had read. This year, a special chapter entitled “Pandemic Reflections” was added to the anthology providing an opportunity for authors to share the impact that the pandemic has had on their lives.

The anthology provided an opportunity for adult learners to write stories from their hearts, choosing just the right words to express themselves, and then to share those stories with the broader community. Previously, the Redlands community would be invited to a “Celebration of Authors” event, where adult learners would read their works to an audience that included their families and friends. Because of the social distancing requirements caused by the pandemic, this year the library recorded authors reading their stories, so that the whole community could experience the joy of hearing the works of adult learners who are working to improve their literacy. 

This anthology’s pandemic reflections were especially heart-felt and relevant as everyone continues to adapt to changes caused by the pandemic. Several learners wrote about the losses they had experienced, like the inability to see family or gather in large groups, supporting children with online school, learning how to meet with tutors remotely, and adapting to wearing face masks.  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)

 

Literacy Council 
Montgomery County

* BTG Pod 1: Education, Equity, and Race
Literacy Council of Montgomery County Podcasts:  11.30.2020

Equity is a word that is getting thrown around a lot these days, but what does the word mean for actual people on the ground. We speak to two leaders in the Black community here in the DC area, C. Marie Taylor and Julian A. Haynes along with our own Denise Hill to see if we can unpack the word, Equity, and make it more meaningful and more useful as we work to be allies for antiracism.  LISTEN 59:14

 

Barriere Area 
Literacy Outreach

Free One-To-One Tutoring For Youth & Adults Every Thursday in Barriere
Barriere Star Journal: 2.16.2021 by Jill Hayward

Reading, writing, math, and computer literacy are all part of the learning programs that are now available with Yellowhead Community Services (YCS) new literacy tutor, Kim Gavin.

Gavin says she is ready to meet new learners as of Thursday, Feb. 18, and is eager to get started assisting them with their literacy goals.

The free tutor program for both youth and adults runs under YCS’s Barriere and Area Literacy Outreach, which facilitates ongoing literacy programs, initiatives, events and supports that provide an important component towards the social and economic well-being of the area. A significant amount of funding for adult literacy programs comes from the Community Adult Learning Program (CALP), and funding for youth and family literacy programs is provided by the annual Raise A Reader Day fundraiser held every September in Barriere, and numerous other communities across British Columbia.

Galvin says she is “super excited” to start meeting new learners and helping them to navigate towards the goals that they wish to achieve.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 15

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: College graduate

* Newsletters ◻ Blogs ◻ Stories

 

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Frederick MD :: Roswell NM :: Los Angeles CA :: Wilmington NC

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

@LitCouncilofFC

Literacy Council Honors Adult Learners At Annual Celebration of Achievements
Frederick News-Post: 1.27.2020

The Literacy Council honored its adult learners virtually at the organization’s seventh annual Celebration of Achievements on Nov. 18 with a special tribute to their accomplishments this year. In spite of restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Literacy Council’s students remained dedicated to their goals of learning, continuing with their classes and tutoring remotely after the Literacy Council transitioned its programs to online learning in March.

This year the celebration became a virtual event shared by students, tutors together with a much wider audience of viewers who tuned in to “Sneak Peek” previews, the Facebook Premiere on Nov. 18, an “encore” event on Nov. 22, and many additional individual “showings” accessed on the Celebration of Achievements Event Page and on YouTube.

Jim Grissom, board president, recognized event sponsors: FCB Bank, A Division of ACNB Bank and Spring Ridge Chiropractic. Board Member Geordie Wilson served as master of ceremonies for the event.

The recorded event features testimonials from students and volunteer tutors, staff and community representatives from the Literacy Council’s new Workplace and Parent Literacy programs, as well as its tutoring and community class programs.  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)

 

Roswell Literacy 
Council

Literacy Council Adapts, Continues Serving Roswell
RDR News: 1.30.2021 [sic] by Amy Lignor

Roswell Literacy Council Executive Director Mary Lou Trujillo dedicates her time to helping others, and is proud of the work the RLC does on a daily basis.

🔽
After deciding to retire, Trujillo came across a part-time job with the Roswell Literacy Council and, as she states, “I landed the job of director. …

“I’m starting on my third year now with RLC, and I have had the pleasure of working with many fine people.”

Much like everyone else, however, they’ve faced some challenging times with the COVID-19 outbreak. “The pandemic hit us hard in the middle of March last year and we were forced to close down our tutoring and citizenship classes. During past years, our volunteer tutors worked with about 25 cadets each semester enrolled in the New Mexico Youth Challenge program. These were held twice a week. In addition, we had others who would come in regularly for individual tutoring in either English or Math.”

Adapting to the times, about a month ago the RLC started tutoring classes once again via Zoom. The help they offer doesn’t stop there — they will begin offering free electronic filing services of both federal and state returns starting Feb. 15 and running through April 15, by appointment only.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 10

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 14-15 yrs. old

(Ninth to Tenth graders)

 

@LAPublicLibrary

* Learning Circles Are A New Kind Of Class For Adults At The Los Angeles Public Library!
READ: Fall 2020

Learning circles are basically study groups for adults who want to take online courses together. The online courses can come from many places, including colleges, news-papers, YouTube, or databases on the LAPL website.

There is almost no limit to the kinds of courses you can take in a learning circle! So far, we’ve had learning circles on basic computer skills, acrylic painting, American sign language, interview skills, knitting, and much more!

Learning circles make online courses more interesting and fun, because instead of taking the class all by yourself, you take it with other people! You can make new friends and help one another learn as you study. Learning circles are as much about building a community of learners as they are about the subject being studied.

Just recently, two of our literacy coordinators, Abel and Priscilla, helped lead learning circles. Below, they tell us what it was like!

Priscilla Rojas Naiman:  Angi Brzycki, adult librarian at the Hollywood Branch, and I recently concluded a six week learning circle on the 1619 Project.

For those unfamiliar with it, the 1619 Project was a massive effort by The New York Times Magazine to detail the history of slavery, its lasting effects within our culture, and to celebrate the often-suppressed role of formerly enslaved peoples in making American democracy manifest. Its aim was to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.

The 1619 Project Learning Circle was difficult to get through but highly needed in light of today’s climate. An average of 15 people joined us each week on Zoom from all over the country. They came prepared by having read the essays the NY Times collected and heard the podcasts assigned so that the discussion would be fruitful. There were participants who came to this country not knowing that the Black community had so many trials over the centuries.  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)

 

@cfliteracy

Teaching In The Community: “How To Talk To People Who Are Learning English”
Wilmington Biz: 2.02.2021 by Lauren Rogers, ESL Program Director: Cape Fear Literacy Council

At the Cape Fear Literacy Council, we specialize in providing personalized adult education. This approach looks a little different for every adult learner that walks through our door. Whether they want to brush up on their math skills to pass the GED, or improve their English language skills to find a better job, CFLC meets students where they are. We design a unique learning plan for each student, based on their academic and personal goals — like learning to read books with grandchildren, or pass the citizenship naturalization exam.

What many people don’t realize is that CFLC has recently taken this unique approach to teaching outside of what we consider our “traditional services.” In the last year, we’ve begun offering tailored professional development workshops for employers and service providers in the Cape Fear region. We offer one professional development training in particular that has been gaining momentum in recent months: a workshop that integrates cultural sensitivity and communication strategies titled “How to Talk to People who are Learning English.”

Since Hurricane Florence, we have heard from numerous community members, as well as our own ESL students, that there are often language and cultural barriers that make it difficult for the ESL population to utilize social services. Even agencies that have access to language interpreters may not always have the skills and expertise needed to navigate cultural differences. Based on experiences from our own ESL students and feedback from our community partners, we’ve developed a workshop to address some of these common challenges.  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)

 * Newsletters ◻ Blogs ◻ Stories

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

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Literacy Council 
Garland County

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 ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

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 
Carroll County

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 ➤➤

 

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)

 

@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 ➤➤

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 – Spanning the US :: Fort Wayne IN:: Racine WI :: Troy NY :: Frederick MD

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

@FWliteracy

Literacy Alliance Getting Results
Nonprofit outpacing state in percentage of students passing test

Journal Gazette: 11.27.2020 by Ashley Sloboda

Melinda Haines understands that 29% doesn't sound impressive.

That figure represents the proportion of adult learners who have attended at least 12 hours of The Literacy Alliance's high school equivalency classes and have attained the HSE diploma since July 1, the start of the nonprofit's program year.

But Haines – the organization's chief executive officer – is proud of that 29%, which outpaces the state's 17% and the region's 24%.

Earning the diploma is no small feat for the students The Literacy Alliance serves.

“They all have barriers,” Haines said, explaining that lack of transportation is a common challenge.

Along with preparing adults for the HSE test, The Literacy Alliance's free services include English for speakers of other languages classes and pre-HSE classes for those needing to improve basic reading, math and language skills.

Now with locations in Allen, Adams and Wells counties, The Literacy Alliance has helped more than 15,000 people since 1988, including 2,000 adults who earned their HSE diplomas.

Students work at their own pace, so some might attend programs as little as a few months to years, said Brian Schlichtenmyer, chief operating officer. One determined man – who faced impairments but had a strong support system – was with The Literacy Alliance for 10 years, he added.  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)

 

Racine Literacy 

Council

Racine Literacy Council - “Citizenship” Class
Journal Times: 11.28.2020

Nayely Rodriguez waited four years to take the final step toward making the United States her official country. While the 29-year-old had prepped for the daunting citizenship test, she just wasn’t confident enough to take the leap and fill out the 20-page application. Then, there was the $725 fee that must accompany it that stopped her.

But three things moved her beyond hesitation this year: wanting the same status as her three young children, all U.S. citizens; the approaching expiration of her resident card; and the looming November presidential election. With citizenship, Nayely would have the right to vote.

By the time Nov. 3 appeared on the calendar, Nayely had her citizenship certificate in hand and could walk into the polling place to exercise her voting right for the first time.

“I was super nervous at first,” she says, but added she was immensely proud afterward. “This is my country now,” she says.

‘Citizenship’ class

Voting is one of the primary motivations for people to seek official citizenship status, says Michael Kania, who has taught the “Citizenship” class at the Racine Literacy Council for 13 years. “People who come to the class just love the United States, and they want to be more a part of it, with the full benefit of voting,” says Kania. “If people knew who these students are and why they want to be here, they would be so fulfilled. They are hardworking taxpayers.  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)

 

Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County Announces New Role In Albany Literacy
Troy Record: 11.27.2020

Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County's Board of Directors announced that Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County (LVORC) is expanding its presence and literacy services in the community by taking over the literacy work of the Albany office of Literacy New York Greater Capital Region.

Over the past year, Literacy New York Greater Capital Region (LNYGCR) has faced significant fiscal challenges. LNYGCR has been serving Albany, Schenectady and Warren counties for decades. Unfortunately, LNYGCR is not able to sustain itself going forward and is in the process of dissolving.

“Our program has worked with Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County in the past and I have been working closely with their director, Judy Smith, for the past several months to create a seamless transition. I have had nothing but positive experiences with them, "LNYCCR’s Program Coordinator, Christina Darling said in a news release. "Personally, I feel very good about this move and believe it will be a benefit to everyone! LVORC is very involved in the community and has a number of big events throughout the year.

"They also offer more frequent training programs for volunteers. Additionally, they have a great website with lots of resources for tutors.”  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)

 

@LCFC3

Literacy Council of Frederick County Collects Books For Children
Frederick New Post: 11.28.2020 by Mary Grace Keller

A gift the entire family can enjoy is at the heart of the Literacy Council of Frederick County’s annual holiday book drive.

For 14 years, the literacy council has held a book collection around the holiday season to benefit the families its volunteers serve. Approximately 125 tutors help adults improve their literacy skills. In turn, those adults improve the lives of their children, said the council’s executive director, Laurie Fisher.

“The whole goal is to help encourage the family reading and give parents the skills so they can support their kids,” Fisher said. “Now with the kids at home, it’s even something that would be more special for them to receive.”

Through its education programs, the nonprofit has served 335 adults over the past year, according to Fisher, 128 of which support 240 children. How many children the book drive benefits depends entirely on donations. Most of those children are in the prekindergarten to fifth-grade age group. 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 – Spanning the US :: Cleveland OH :: Provo UT :: Westminster MD

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

@seedsofliteracy

Virtual Tutor Wins Most Treasured Volunteer Award from Community Solutions
Seeds f Literacy: 11.01.2020

Julie Rea was excited to become a tutor and a simple Google search brought her to Seeds.

“I think working with a student one-to-one, where you can really understand what they need to know — and how they learn— is incredibly effective,” she said.

But Seeds closed shortly after she completed Tutor Training. She never had a chance to tutor onsite.

Still, Julie Rea has become a household name for students and staff alike. Determined to make a difference, she was one of the first volunteers willing to tutor virtually and was a pioneer in the Virtual Classroom, eager and available to help.

Technology has proven to be a difficult adjustment for many students and tutors. But Julie was a champion of virtual learning and her enthusiasm encouraged others tutors to participate. Her comfort with technology puts students at ease and she is able to troubleshoot any tech difficulties that arise during lessons.

She developed and presented more than 20 lessons which are now available in the Seeds archives for students to review at any time. The majority of them cover math concepts.

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Julie’s efforts at Seeds during the pandemic, and her deep respect and empathy for the students, earned her a Most Treasured Volunteer award from The Center for Community Solutions.  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)

@ProjectReadUtah

Project Read Shares Success Stories
Daily Herald: 11.06.2020 by Genelle Pugmire

The ability to read and write are everyday skills that most people take for granted. For some residents and neighbors those skills are nonexistent.

Those who lack reading and writing skills are typically ones who also miss out on good employment opportunities or just communicating with friends.

Project Read, a nonprofit organization that helps with adult literacy education, can help those who can’t read and write. Through volunteer tutors, they build a bridge to help them to better function in life.

With all of the extra issues that have been a part of 2020, Project Read continues to have successful students.

One student identified as Kenia has taken advantage of what Project Read can do and is reaping the rewards.

“Kenia’s positivity and desire to improve are contagious. She studies diligently and is even excited to take tests because she likes seeing her results and knowing how she’s improved,” said a Project Read report released Friday.  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 Council 

Carroll County

COVID-19 Drives Implementation Of Virtual Learning For Literacy Council
Baltimore Sun: 11.09.2020 by Rebecca Arenson-Rachlinski

Since 1979, the Literacy Council of Carroll County has helped adult learners reach their personal educational, career, and life goals. Personalized programs and tutoring are tailored to the needs of each learner, with topics ranging from English, math, citizenship, writing a resume, and financial literacy, to preparation for licensing exams (such as the written portion of the Commercial Drivers License).

All materials and tutoring are free. Our clients are referred to us by our community partners and also self-refer, and have a wide range of education and skill levels. Some students are working on boosting their academic skills in math and reading. Some English language learners are starting with basic spoken English, while others have more advanced skills.

The hallmark of our program is the confidential, in-person, one-on-one tutoring provided by our volunteer tutors. As with other education programs, the pandemic threw a wrench into our learning model. The health concerns and restrictions meant that our tutor-learner teams could not meet in person. Clearly it was time to implement a virtual learning model. Our challenges included: 1. A focus on printed/paper based academic materials, 2. The tutors' and learners' technological skills and comfort levels, 3. Learners and tutors without internet and/or computer access, and 4. A lack of resources to purchase the needed equipment.  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)