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 :: Concord NC :: Collierville TN :: Grafton WI :: Altadena CA

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Cabarrus County
 Public Library

Cabarrus Libraries, Literacy Council Partner To Feed Minds And Those In Need
WBTV: 4.22.2021 by David Whisenant

The Cabarrus County Public Library System is collaborating with the Cabarrus Literacy Council (CLC) to promote reading and giving through the new Pages for Pantries challenge.

Cabarrus Literacy 
Council

During the month of May, readers can join the Pages for Pantries challenge on the Beanstack app to read as part of a community team. The community team with the most minutes read will have a $2,500 donation made to their local food pantry to help support food assistance programs.

The $2,500 total is a combination of matching funds from the literacy council and donations made in memory of Mary Anne Irvin.

Irvin was a local literacy advocate who passed away in December 2020 after a lifetime dedicated to education and giving back to her community. She passionately promoted a love of reading within her students, first as a teacher and then through her work with CLC. Upon her passing, family asked that memorial donations be made to the literacy council, which sparked the Pages for Pantries partnership.

“I can think of no greater tribute to Mary Irvin’s legacy of learning than sponsoring this program in her name,” said Christy Wilhelm, CLC Board Member. “Pages for Pantries will carry out her work of encouraging a love of reading to continue nourishing the minds of our community, along with stocking our food banks to nourish their bodies.  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)

 

@literacycville

Collierville Literacy Council Expands Vision Under New Leadership
Daily Memphian: 4.22.2021 by Abigail Warren

Penny Aronson wants to expand the reach of the Collierville Literacy Council setting her sights on more programs to help the community.

Aronson took over as executive director of the non-profit in January and has her sights set on a larger reach and more programs.

“I really saw the forest of the trees, and I kind of saw what the city needed,” said Aronson who became executive director in January after three years as the program coordinator. “This is all about serving. Service over self.”

Third-grade retention law causes suburban superintendents angst

The non-profit CLC with its three employees previously focused on helping adults with reading and pursuing their GED. Since 2017, the program has concentrated more on helping people read and less on the equivalency of a high school diploma.

“This new mission is our vision,” Aronson said. “When we talk about literacy, it’s not just learning to read.”  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)

 

@ALCOzaukee

Despite Pandemic, Adult Literacy Program Still Helping Immigrants
TMJ 4: 4.21.2021 by Julia Fello

A Russian couple moved to Cedarburg just weeks after the start of the pandemic.

An adult literacy program in Ozaukee County has remained open through it all to continue to help immigrants during this pandemic.

Julie Soloveva and her husband had 48 hours to move from Moscow to Wisconsin last March, “Because all the borders were shutting down at this time.”

Her husband landed a coveted work visa in the United States and she is ready to get to work in IT as well, “I need to find a job here and it appeared that I don’t know how.”

That is where she met her tutor, Lisa at the Adult Literacy Center of Ozaukee County.

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This free program has been running at Grace Lutheran Church in Grafton for more than 30 years.

They serve about 50 students per year, and tutors like Lisa volunteer who says, “I really love this country.”   WATCH 02:13

 

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)

 

Adult Literacy Program at the Bob Lucas Memorial Library & Literacy Center

@AltadenaLibrary

Altadena Library: 4.22.2021

Funded in part by a grant from the California State Library, the Adult Literacy Services program, “Let’s Read Altadena,” of the Altadena Library District has been serving the residents of Altadena since 1988. Instruction is provided by volunteer tutors who have completed a self-paced, online tutor training course.  WATCH  02:04

Literacy ▬ Spanning the US :: Chatham VA :: Gulfport MS :: Jacksonville NC

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

@PittsylvaniaLib

Library Makes Stride To Counteract Pittsylvania County's 15 Percent Illiteracy Rate
Chatham Star Tribune: 4.07.2021

The Pittsylvania County Public Library is happy to announce the addition of a new collection of Quick Read books to its shelves.

These short, adult focused, books are designed to address a variety of reader needs such as larger print, less complex sentences, English Language Learner accessibility and support for any adults working to improve their reading and literacy skills.

Quick Reads are also ideal for busy adults who may have gotten out of the habit of reading and are looking for something entertaining but easy to pick up. The books include popular authors such as James Patterson and offer a variety of fiction styles.

Pittsylvania County
Literacy Program

The inspiration for adding the collection was to provide support for the Pittsylvania County Literacy Program (PCLP) and other tutoring organizations in the county.

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An estimated 15 percent of adults in Pittsylvania County are classified as illiterate, and an even larger percentage are low-literate or reading below a seventh grade level. Low literacy makes it difficult for adults to find and keep jobs, to interact with public services and to support their children or grandchildren’s education.  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)

 

Hope Adult Learning

Mississippi Has An Adult Literacy Problem. Here’s What Advocates Are Doing To Curb It.
Mississippi Today: 4.09.2021 by Candace McKenzie

When 64-year-old Carl Plessala first moved to Mississippi seven years ago, he wanted to start a new life.

He stumbled upon a pamphlet that advertised classes at a community college. The idea intrigued him, but there was one problem: He was among the thousands of Mississippi adults who couldn’t read or write.

Plessala grew up in Louisiana, and he didn’t take school seriously. He called himself “a class clown,” which he said was a way to mask his low confidence in reading and writing skills. He entered the workforce and never learned to read or write.

“I thought I didn’t need much education because school was boring and riding tractors was fun until I got older,” he said. “Then, I realized riding tractors was a whole lotta work.”

So after he moved to Mississippi, he enrolled in a program at Hope Adult Learning in Harrison County and was matched with a tutor there. After three years in the program, Plessala’s initial 3rd or 4th grade reading level rose to a 10th grade level.

Today, Plessala says that learning how to read made him “feel like somebody,” and he plans to share his story with churches and other organizations.

There are many similar stories in Mississippi, where 16% of the adult population lacked proficient reading and writing skills in 2003, according to the National Center for Education for Statistics. That year is the last time conclusive data on the state’s literacy rate was collected, though more recent studies and interviews with experts across the state indicate not much has changed.  WATCH 07:58

 

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)

 

@IncOnslow

52 Faces - Dennis Aschbrenner
The Daily News: 4.09.2021 by Kelsey Stiglitz

When Dennis Aschbrenner retired from the Navy in 1989 as a chief hospital corpsman, he knew his civilian career would need to relate to his experience in the medical field. In the search for ways to make himself more marketable to employers, he found the associate’s degree in nursing program at Coastal Carolina Community College. For him, it was the perfect fit. 

He was one of the few male students in the program - one of three - but he obtained his associate’s as a Registered Nurse and found work locally at Onslow Memorial Hospital. After a 22 year civilian career at OMH, Aschbrenner found a new use for his nursing skills - healing with the power of words rather than medicine. 

“As a nurse, nurses are always instructing people, and it made it so I could go over and help with the Onslow Literacy Council,” Aschbrenner said. “Even if someone doesn’t have extensive experience, you have to be able to talk about what you’re teaching people and that’s important.”  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 :: Wichita Falls TX :: Kinston NC :: Elizabethton TN :: Allentown PA

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

WALC

WALC Book Fair Finds New Home at MPEC This Weekend
Newstalk 1290: 3.03.2021 by Dave Diamond

The Wichita Falls Adult Literacy Council is saying this book fair will have double the books and triple the space of their previous events.

The 21st annual WALC Book Fair is this Thursday through Saturday and it's in a brand new location. For several years the book fairs have been held at the Sikes Lake Center building at Midwestern State University. The room was filled with rows of tables filled with books and just enough space for readers to wander through and find their treasures. This year the Book Fair will be held in the Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall at the MPEC. That means the WALC will have a lot more space to work with so shoppers can spread out and maintain some social distancing as they browse.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 9

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old

(Eighth and Ninth graders)

 

@neuselibrary

Greene Library Outreach Helps Adults Improve Literacy Skills
Reflector: 3.04.2021

When it comes to community resources, the Greene County Public Library takes pride in having it all: internet access, job assistance, community spaces, you name it. One of our first and foremost objectives is to promote literacy. To that end, we would like to ask this question: would you or someone you know like assistance with improving your reading, writing or other essential functions? If so, we invite you to come and register for our Literacy Without Barriers Adult Literacy Program.

Throughout the past year and into the upcoming spring season, one of the objectives of the Neuse Regional Libraries has been to help increase the literacy skills through strategic partnerships with community entities and the educational expertise of our librarians. This dream has been made tangible due to a $29,121 grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Due to the abundant provisions of this grant, we have been able to make our library a free tutoring center for adults who need assistance in enhancing their basic life skills.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 16

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: College graduate

 

RSM

Local Program Seeks Tutors To Continue Work With Adult Learners And Literacy
Elizabethton: 3.03.2021

A local project that pairs high school students who desire to be teachers with adult learners who want help with literacy skills needs a helping hand.

Adult tutors are needed to work with the adult learners who are part of the faith-based recovery program, Recovery Soldiers Ministry (RSM), in Elizabethton.

The high school students create specialized literacy packets for each adult learner which are then sent to the adult learners, and tutors are just needed to provide hands-on help for the adult learners as they move through the packets.

The program was born when RSM founder and director, Josh Scalf, approached Alex Campbell, who works at Elizabethton High School, about the literacy needs of some of his residents.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 13

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 18-19 yrs. old

(college level entry)

 

@TLCAllentown

Talking Business with Tina Hamilton: Developing Skills For The Remote Workforce
The Morning Call: 3.05.2021 by Tina Hamilton

A few weeks ago, many of you witnessed a viral video of a lawyer who got stuck on a Zoom kitten filter during a virtual court case. He is attempting to talk to a judge while his face is a kitten looking side to side.

While it was entertaining, the reality is that technology is a struggle for remote workers who are not accustomed to managing technology independently from home.

The people who struggle range from managers and hourly workers who aren’t technologically adept, to executives who no longer have an assistant sitting nearby to fix their technology mishaps. Even digital natives who can operate the technology often grapple with how to communicate effectively across them.

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There are solutions for those willing to make a change and upgrade their skills. One of the best kept secrets in the Lehigh Valley is The Literacy Center. Many know of the not-for-profit The Literacy Center is offering English as a Second Language classes and GED instruction, classes it has provided for decades.

It also offers training to advance the skills of anyone in the local workforce.  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)