Literacy – Spanning North America :: Woodland CA :: Cornwall ON :: Allentown PA :: Coventry RI

Literacy: Spanning North America

Yolo County Library

Winters Library Hosted Life Skills ESL Class For Caregivers In Rural Communities

Winters Express: 4.23.2020 by Patricia Willers

This spring Yolo County Library and Winters Community Library introduced an impactful new program for community members. Thanks to the generosity of Winters Friends of the Library, each Friday night mid-January to mid-March, the lights of the meeting room burned bright as participants came to study English as a Second Language.

“Beginning Life Skills ESL Class for Caregivers in Rural Communities” was modeled after the successful Esparto ESL course and was provided free of charge to local participants. The focus of the course was to help community members develop and practice English language skills to improve family and personal well-being and help caregivers and their dependents reach greater success. This course was taught by ESL instructor Patricia Willers (UC Davis). The response to the course was tremendous, with a full class of 25 participants, all Winters locals, and a waitlist as well. The ESL class taught language skills, of course, but also folded in lessons and content on nutrition, the California education system, Winters community events and local businesses, and much, much more.

Another critical element of the class was the weekly progressive lessons on literacy. Using comprehension question starters, reading surveys and short stories in class, parents and caregivers were supported and encouraged to help their children read more and develop stronger literacy skills.  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)

@TCLiteracy

Tri-County Literacy Council Takes Its Training Online

Standard Freeholder: 4.23.2020 by Todd Hambleton

Stop the virus, but don’t stop the spread of new skills.

That’s a message being delivered by Carolyn Eva, the administrative assistant at the Tri-County Literacy Council, with the agency announcing it be will offering an online tutor training session starting in less than two weeks, on May 4.

“During these difficult times it’s more important than ever that our community find ways to reach out and support each other,’” Eva said. “It’ll soon be important for those with skills to share to volunteer, and help those who may have lost employment retrain to find new employment or to return to school.”

The TCLC will train new volunteer tutors using an online format during the time of physical distancing. Volunteers will learn about the agency, some common traits of an adult learner, and how to support them. The TCLC specializes in addressing adult literacy needs in SDG, with free training including Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) upgrading, General Education Development (GED) preparation, basic computer training and occupational training for entry-level positions.

The 34-year-old council started with assistance for 10 learners, and in recent years that number has grown past 200.  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)

Adult Literacy 

Center

Literacy Center Offers Work From Home Certification for COVID-19

LVB: 4.27.2020 by Stacy Wescoe

Many people are working from home for the first time amid the global coronavirus pandemic, often struggling with the logistics of their new remote responsibilities.

The Adult Literacy Center in Allentown has prepared a new online certification course that will teach the ins and outs of working remotely and will let participants earn a Work From Home Certification.

The program is aimed at those who are working from home for the first time.

“When we started transitioning our workforce to remote work, it struck me that a lot of other people were doing the same thing,” said Jen Doyle, executive director of the Center. “As I started to research it, it was clear that there were several thousand people across the Lehigh Valley working from home for the first time. Working from home can be difficult for a seasoned professional. If it’s your first time. It’s a lot to take it especially in the middle of the pandemic. It adds a layer of extra challenges.”

The 20-hour training program will provide information on technology tools and software, communication, workflow, productivity and time management, working in virtual teams and compliance and security issues when working remotely.  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)

Literacy Volunteers 

Kent County

New Books On The Shelf*

Literacy Volunteers of Kent County Newsletter: Winter 29020

How to Preview New Books on the Shelf?

All the books have a hyperlink to the online preview or the book review. Place your mouse pointer on the button and click! To access the online pages, your device has to be connected to the internet.

High Interest - Easy Reading Books with Audio Files (Beginner - Advanced)

Pleasure Reading & Audiobook Tips High Interest - Easy Reading books give enjoyment and fulfillment to the readers. Short sentences, frequent chapter breaks, wide spacing and vocabulary-building text help build a sense of mastery and self-esteem in under 10,000 words. To learn about great benefits of audiobooks, watch 5 Ways Audiobook Improve Literacy Skills on YouTube.  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)

* Newsletters ◻ Blogs ◻ Stories

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Cazenovia NY :: Redlands CA:: Newark NJ :: Coventry RI

Literacy: Spanning the US

@CazPubLib

Helping Adult Learners Succeed — Cazenovia Public Library, Madison County Reads Ahead Focus On Literacy

Eagle News Online: 12.16.2019 by Kate Hill

Cazenovia Public Library (CPL) Literacy Outreach has offered family literacy programs and individualized adult education programs to the community for more than a decade.

Literacy Coordinators Carla Zimmerman and Karen Kogut work with a network of trained volunteer tutors to provide literacy services on site and at two satellite locations — CazCares Food Pantry and New Woodstock Free library.

The CPL adult literacy program operates in conjunction with Madison County Reads Ahead (MCRA).

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“For a lot of the people that we see, it’s very hard for them to sit in a classroom, to show up every day, to do their homework and to be motivated,” Zimmerman said. “By working one-on-one, we are able to create individualized learning plans exactly for that person. We don’t waste any time. We say ‘what’s the shortest amount of time we can spend with you for [you to achieve your goal]?’”  READ MORE >>

Rewordify

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 13.6

Lexical Density: 69.2%

Total word count 156

Unique word count 108

hard words 10

Sentence count 6

@AKSmileyPL

Literacy Volunteers in Redlands

A Diverse Group With One Goal To Change Lives

Redlands Daily Facts: 11.09.2019 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coord: AK Smiley Library

The Redlands community is known for its commitment to serving others to ensure that everyone has the chance to be employed and educated. Without its volunteers, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program would not be able to meet its goal of helping adults who want to improve their reading and writing skills.

Many people are amazed to learn that approximately one in five adults in the United States has difficulties with literacy. The Redlands Adult Literacy Program currently serves over 100 learners who have requested literacy assistance.

Volunteer tutors learn that adults seek help with their literacy because they want to get a new or better job, help their children with their homework or further their own education. Literacy volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds: some tutors are retired while others are still employed, some volunteers have an educator’s background, but others have worked in business, the military, or local government. What successful adult literacy tutors have in common is that they have a passion and ability to read, write and speak English, are sensitive to the needs of adult learners, and are willing to assist adult learners in meeting their literacy goals.  READ MORE >>

Rewordify

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level    15.3

Lexical Density: 58%

Total word count 93

Unique word count 112

hard words 11

Sentence count 7

@NewarkLibrary

Newarkers Exiting the Prison System Can Find a Fresh Start at Newark Public Library

TapInto: 12.17.2019 by M E Cagnassola

For the thousands of individuals who leave New Jersey’s prison system each year, the barriers to re-entry can feel like insurmountable obstacles.

Newark Public Library is on its way to making that journey more traversable in 2020 through Fresh Start @ Your Library, a two-year program offered in partnership with the State Parole Board, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and six other participating libraries throughout the state.

Sponsored by the New Jersey State Library, Fresh Start will provide social workers, GED courses and testing, job training and connection to employment opportunities for inmates returning to the Newark community. In addition to Newark, the $628,774 grant awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services is being dispersed across the library systems in Long Branch, Paterson, Trenton, Atlantic City and Cumberland County. The Free Library of Philadelphia will join the initiative in year two of the grant.  READ MORE >>

Rewordify

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 18.0

Lexical Density: 73.8%

Total word count 145

Unique word count 107

hard words 8

Sentence count 4

Literacy Volunteers
Kent County

Kim Recognized For Passion To Bring Literacy To Others

Warwick Beacon: 12.19.2019 by Tara Monastesse

How do we extend English language literacy to those who need it, long after they’ve exited the school system and entered the adult world?

That’s a question that Youmi Kim, Program Director of the Literacy Volunteers of Kent County (LVKC) program, has worked tirelessly to create a solution for. Since taking on the role of director in the summer of 2017, Kim has overseen the training of literacy tutors and the education of ESL students throughout Kent County. With more than 130 pairs of students and volunteer tutors currently involved in the program, she regularly faces the task of creating optimal teacher-student pairs - but for her, that challenge is one of the best parts of the experience.

On Saturday, November 16th, the Rhode Island Teachers of English Language Learners (RITELL) awarded the title of Adult Practitioner Award of the Year to Youmi Kim. The award cites high levels of commitment and professionalism, as well as going “above and beyond” to assist adult students in the field of literacy.

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Kim holds the unique distinction of being the first immigrant to serve as director of the LVKC program, having moved to America from South Korea roughly five years ago.  READ MORE >>

Rewordify

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 13.6

Lexical Density: 64.1%

Total word count 206

Unique word count 132

hard words 14

Sentence count 7

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Fredonia NY :: Coventry RI :: Farmville VA :: Birmingham AL

Literacy: Spanning the US

Literacy Volunteers of 

Chautauqua County

Literacy Volunteers Of Chautauqua County To Expand Services In City

Post Journal: 7.18.2019

Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County is expanding adult literacy services to the city of Jamestown.

The expansion focuses on the development of a substantial tutor base so that Jamestown residents can receive specialized, one-on-one tutoring with trained volunteers.

Literacy Volunteers works to provide basic education to those who need to advance their reading, writing and math skills to obtain their professional and personal goals. Assistance is also provided to those who don’t speak or understand English, along with adults who are “functionally illiterate,” meaning they can’t read or write above a fifth-grade level.

Jamestown, along with having the highest poverty rate in the county, also has the largest amount of the above populations in the county, according to Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County.  READ MORE >>

@lvkc1

LVKC Celebrates 40 Years Of Free Literacy Training

Warwick Online: 7.16.2019 by Tara Monastesse

The Literacy Volunteers of Kent County (LVKC) program is poised to enter its 40th year of providing free, one-on-one literacy training to English language learners.

As a non-profit organization, LVKC educates Basic Literacy and ESL (English as second language) students using tutors on a volunteer basis and is funded entirely by community grants and donations. This fall, the program’s bi-annual training workshop will once again prepare volunteers to serve in tutor-student pairs, which will target the needs and goals of each individual language learner.

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In addition to learning basic vocabulary, the alphabet and math skills, students are also introduced to American culture and encouraged to build their conversation skills with their tutors. Beyond just being teachers and students, the literacy pairs often form friendships that allow both participants to learn and grow beyond their own cultures.

═════════►

“Literacy empowers a person,” said Youmi Kim, Program Director of LVKC. Originally from South Korea, Kim speaks English as a second language and has lived in America for five years. She has served as Program Director for two years, starting in June of 2017, and empathizes with the difficulty of transitioning to an entirely new culture.  READ MORE >>

Central Virginia 

Reg Library

The Need For Literacy Efforts Remains - Farmville

Farmville Herald: 7.16.2019

Rebecca Sturgill remembers when she worked with the Volunteers in Concert to Obtain Reading Skills (VICTORS) program in the early 1990s.

The program worked with locals in need of developing or strengthening their reading skills.

“We did everything from low-level reading through the GED,” Sturgill recalled recently. Before she stepped away, several employers and some organizations made plans for tutors to work with their employees.

And then — “and then it disappeared,” she said.

Like VICTORS, other literacy efforts have come and gone through the years.

It is an ebb and flow that continues to play out, the consistency being the need — and the willingness of residents to rise and fill that need, said Lonnie Calhoun, who is helping create the newest literacy program in the county.

STEPS and the Prince Edward County Literacy Council are looking to re-establish or strengthen local adult basic education, English as a second language, and family literacy efforts. A litany of community organizations and groups have offered support to the endeavor.

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The Barbara Rose Johns Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library will house the tutoring sessions and will also offer computer instruction. An eventually-to-be-hired director will spread the efforts to other locations across the county.  READ MORE >>

@literacy_update

Literacy Council of Central Alabama Gives The Gift Of Reading

Alabama News Center: 7.17.2019 by Alabama Power Foundation

“I always wanted to read the Bible better. I didn’t want to stand up and talk about what I didn’t know about,” he said. Being authentic is important to DeBardeleben, who, along with his wife, runs the Resurrection of Life Ministry in Birmingham.

DeBardeleben grew up in church and had just about memorized the Bible. That’s how he got by. But, at 60 years of age, he still couldn’t read it for himself. “I just got left out of learning. My mom had to raise her siblings, and she didn’t have time for me.”

Retired as a heavy equipment operator for Jefferson County, DeBardeleben relied on “a lot of good friends to help along the way, doing my reports and stuff like that.”

So, when his wife walked into a library last year and saw notices for classes with The Literacy Council of Central Alabama, she knew it could be transformative for her husband. After some coaxing, she was able to get DeBardeleben to visit. Andrea Oliver remembers meeting him.

“I always ask the learner what it is they want to learn to read, because there’s a wide choice of literature out there,” said Oliver, a tutor for The Literacy Council.  READ MORE >>

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Bonita Springs FL :: Indianapolis IN :: Redlands CA :: Providence RI

Literacy: Spanning the U.S.     

Literacy Council

Gulf Coast

Literacy Council Gulf Coast Producing Meaningful Results

News Press: 12.21.2018 by Sue Holman

The Literacy Council Gulf Coast has been providing English language education to members of our Southwest Florida community since 1989.

Our mission is “to assist adults and children to acquire the English literacy skills and education necessary to improve their quality of life and enhance the entire community.” We have been a United Way Partner agency for almost 20 years and truly appreciate the support of the local community.

We strive to reach the entire spectrum of ages from pre-school to seniors.  Literacy Council offers programs focused on improving the lives of those eager to learn or improve their English language skills. These include: English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for adults offered at our facility in Bonita Springs and other sites throughout Lee, Hendry and Collier counties, GED prep classes, U.S. Citizenship prep classes and work site literacy programs offered at area golf and gated communities where residents serve as volunteer tutors for the community’s employees.  READ MORE >>

@indyreads

After Run Of Deficits, Indy Reads Retools Approach To Teaching, Finds New Funding

IBJ: 12.21.2018 by Lindsey Erdody

When Ryan King joined Indy Reads as CEO in fall 2016, he inherited an organization that was well-respected in the Indianapolis community—but needed some tender loving care.

The adult literacy not-for-profit had been operating in the red since 2013, and fundraising was becoming more difficult. The group’s one-on-one tutoring program seemed to be working, but the organization didn’t have any data to support that claim.

King decided something needed to be done to right the course.

“You’ve gotta change things up or you get stale,” King said. “We want to constantly challenge ourselves.”

Indy Reads launched a redesigned literacy program in fall 2017, and the board recently approved a new mission statement and strategic vision. The new direction broadens the scope of the organization to include job-readiness skills, rather than focusing only on literacy and English-language proficiency.

“The vision and the mission should be reviewed every year by the board, because the environment we live in changes,” said Jessica White, president of Indianapolis fundraising consulting firm Jessica White Associates. “It’s perfectly relevant that they have revisited this and that they’re making some changes. I think they’re good ones.”

The changes might include a new location. The lease for Indy Reads Books, the not-for-profit’s store on the north end of Massachusetts Avenue, expires in August, and it’s likely the store will have to move to less-expensive space.  READ MORE >>

@AKSmileyPL

Here’s What Members of the A.K. Smiley Public Library’s Adult Literacy Program Achieved in 2018

Redlands Daily Facts: 12.20.2018 by Diane Shimota, Literacy Coordinator-AK Smiley Library

This season offers many of us the opportunity to read treasured messages from friends and family. It can be easy to forget that for some adults reading and writing is a challenge.

It takes tremendous courage for an adult to enroll in an adult literacy program and admit that their reading and writing is insufficient in meeting the goals they have in getting a new or better job, helping their children with their education or furthering their own learning. As the year ends, we invite you to celebrate with us the many achievements of adult learners currently enrolled in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program.

Each year adult learners set reading and writing goals. In 2018, 92 percent of the adult learners met at least one of their reading or writing goals. Most importantly, adult learners reported that their improved reading comprehension gave them a sense of personal freedom and independence. Improved literacy skills helped with fundamental life skills. For example, Isabel Vidrio reported that the adult literacy program helped her to better understand the mail she received; Cinderella Tran was able to fill out forms; and Salma Marquez had a greater sense of personal safety.

Many learners have personal goals of improving their employment or continuing their own education. This year, 22 learners obtained new jobs or promotions and eight learners reported that improving their literacy had helped them perform current work-related tasks better. Three learners met long-term education goals this year including two community college graduates and one who passed her high school equivalency exam. One community college graduate has begun work on her bachelor’s degree at Cal State San Bernardino where she is studying to become a math teacher for special needs children.

Nearly half of the learners who joined the literacy program to learn how to read with their children are now able to do so.  READ MORE >>

English For Action

English for Action, Nonprofit Providing English Language Education, Ends With Pride

Providence Journal: 12.21.2018 by Madeleine List

Proud family members and friends clapped and cheered as their loved ones walked across the stage at William D’Abate Elementary School on Thursday evening to claim certificates showing they’d completed an English class with the nonprofit English For Action.

But the ceremony, which included tacos, cake and Latin music, was bittersweet.

“Today is our last graduation for the organization,” said Shirley Fuertes, executive director of English For Action, speaking from the stage in the school’s cafeteria. “So it’s a very, very important event, and it will be very commemorative for everyone.

“We are leaving a legacy in each learner in the community as well,” she said. Many quotes in this story were translated from Spanish.

English For Action, which is headquartered on Manton Avenue in Providence, has provided English language instruction and leadership development to immigrants and native Latinos for 19 years, and is closing its doors this year due to a lack of funding.

On Thursday night, more than 60 adult students who had participated in one of four classes, including beginner and intermediate English, native language literacy and alphabetization, earned their final certificates from the nonprofit that many said had given them so much more than language instruction.  READ MORE >>