How Libraries Keep Serving As A Hub Of The Community ▬ Matter Of Fact

How Libraries Keep Serving As A Hub Of The Community

#BuildLibraries

Matter Of Fact: 4.04.2021 by Soledad O’Brien

While the coronavirus forced some libraries to physically shut their doors, many have found new ways to help people during the pandemic. Some are offering wi-fi hotspots and book deliveries or even becoming hubs for health care. Before the pandemic we took you inside America’s library with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden who says no matter what happens, they’ll continue to serve their communities.  WATCH 04:43

Working Memory and Reading ▬ Digital Promise

Working Memory and Reading

Working Memory
and Reading

Digital Promise: 2.08.2017

Working memory allows a person to temporarily hold and manipulate a limited amount of information. Research shows significant differences in working memory between skilled and less skilled readers. No approach will work for all learners, but there are some research-based approaches that can help those with low working memory become proficient readers.

Transcript

A student who can't read at grade level by third grade is four times less likely to graduate high school than one who can.

Despite approaches like phonics and whole language, many learners still struggle with reading. Research shows significant differences in working memory between skilled and less skilled readers.  Working memory allows a person to temporarily hold and manipulate a limited amount of information.

It's thought that readers with low working memory have difficulty combining new information with what they already know.

To recognize the meaning of sentences while reading, students must first hold individual sounds and then words in their working memory as they figure out how these relate to one another.  As learners grow and encounter more complex information, difficulties with working memory may become more apparent.

What does low working memory look like?

➧ Students with low working memory may be easily distracted and behave as though they are not paying attention.

➧ In reading or writing, they may forget some or all of the words in a sentence of sequence of words.

➧ Or they may lose their place, repeating or skipping letters and words.

As a result, they may struggle to understand how sentences or words relate to one another.

How can you support students' working memory?

➧ No approach will work for all learners, but there are some research-based approaches that can be helpful.

➧ Repeat instructions and break down complex tasks into single steps.

➧ Have students create organizers like wall charts and checklists they can refer back to when used to stay on track.

➧ Provide options like audiobooks, manipulatives, or physical activities connected to learning, like walking or tossing a ball.

These learning methods can help them focus. Reading skills are necessary for student success. With awareness and interventions, it is possible to help those with low working memory become proficient readers and improve their learning outcomes for the rest of their lives.  WATCH 02:11

To learn more, visit Research Map: Digital Promise

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 ▬ 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.

🔽
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.

🔽
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.

🔽
“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 USA :: National City CA :: Oswego NY :: Marshall TX :: Wichita Falls TX

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

Our Tutor Of The Year, Cris Mendez !

National City
Public Library

National City Library Literacy Services Newsletter: April 2021 *

In 1978, I worked at the International Center for Language Studies in Bogota, as an ESL instructor during an extended stay in Colombia. I found the experience rewarding and the eagerness learners displayed inspiring. On my return to the U.S., I enrolled in college, met my future husband, and life continued. Nonetheless, I remembered with fondness my experience teaching ESL to learners, ranging in age 18 to 60, who were seeking employment as flight attendants, in the field of hospitality and tourism to established corporate executives to retirees, stay-at-home mothers, and other delightful individuals.

An ESL Opening and Literacy Services:
Fast-forward to January 2018. An email I received from the literacy services at the National City Public Library highlighted an opening for a volunteer ESL tutor. On the spot, I applied. After orientation, I was asked to lead a class. I entered the classroom with a flutter of butterflies in my stomach, but instantly, I felt at ease. Soon after, I was assigned to tutor a learner preparing for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam. Within a few months, a learner skilled with computers joined, then the third learner, and a wonderful ESL trio was formed. Shortly thereafter, I was offered a group of learners for an evening class followed by another group for a morning class, and the fun amplified.

🔽
Why I Recommend Tutoring:
Whether an individual is a tutor or a learner, everyone has something to contribute. Seek tutoring in math, ESL, computer readiness, writing classes, as well as unconventional classes, such as driver’s license and citizenship test preparation—knowledge is key. I often share with learners: as I am getting older, the more I realize there is still a great deal for me to learn.

Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change.

Learning is more than absorbing facts, it is acquiring understanding.

 William Arthur Ward

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)

 

@OCOtweetspot

Oswego County Opportunities Honors LVOC Tutors
Oswego County Today: 4.26.2021

Oswego County Opportunities (OCO) Literacy Volunteers of Oswego County tutors were named co-recipient of OCO’s prestigious Howard Wilcox Volunteer of the Year Award.

Established in memory of a very special OCO volunteer, the Howard Wilcox Volunteer of the Year Award is presented annually to a volunteer that goes above and beyond in offering their time and talents to an OCO program.

Literacy Volunteers of
Oswego County

Literacy Volunteers of Oswego County (LVOC) provides one-to-one tutoring to adults seeking assistance in reading and math. LVOC’s Literacy Leaders team is comprised of eight volunteer tutors. These dedicated individuals provide weekly tutoring services in reading, writing, math, English speaking, computer, and workplace skills to adult students to assist them in reaching their educational and employment goals. Tutors develop individualized learning plans taught at a pace that works best for the student.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic presented the LVOC program and its tutors with a number of obstacles. The transition to distance learning was not an easy one but the tutors stepped up to overcome those obstacles and provided a variety of remote learning options tailored to each student’s technological capabilities. From Zoom and Go-To meetings to delivering learning packets to students and tutoring via telephone, the tutors did what was needed to continue to help students meet their literacy goals. As a result the LVOC program and its students have thrived during a very challenging time.  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)

 

Marshall Harrison Co
 Literacy Council

Marshall Harrison County Literacy Council Works To Help Community Members
Marshall News Messenger: 4.28.2021 by Jessica Harker

When Marshall citizens were forced indoors a year ago due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, many community members chose to take the time to further their education.

Whether it was to improve their job prospects, or to fulfill a personal goal, the Marshall Harrison County Literacy Council supplied the tools these community members needed to get their General Educational Development certificate, or GED’s.

“People don’t finish high school for a huge variety of reasons, and when they come into the office interested in getting their GED, that already is such a huge step,” said director Karen Bickerdike.

She said that the difference in wages from somebody with a GED and someone without one is about $4 or $5 an hour.

“A lot of people decided that when they had time, they were going to seize the opportunity and try for their GED,” Bickerdike said.

🔽
“One third of Harrison County is low literate or what we call ‘functionally literate’,” Bickerdike said. “That can be stressful, and burdensome for someone to deal with every day.”  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)

Wichita Adult 
Literacy Council

Wichita Adult Literacy Council Says Through Donations Tutors Can Empower Their Students
Texomas Homepage: 4.28.2021 by Shatanya Clarke

According to the Wichita Adult Literacy Council officials, one in five adults in Wichita County is at the lowest literacy level.

They’re working to change that, but they say they need more volunteers and donations.

Nikki Schwartz, board vice president of the Wichita Adult Literacy Council said she enjoys being a part of an organization that supports the advancement of individuals in the community.

“We’ve seen people who just want to read the bible, we help save people, we help people be a better parent, be a better employee which in turn helps our community,” Schwarts said.

Executive Director Carla Arinder said the sole purpose of WALC is to improve the literacy skills of each individual it serves all while promoting awareness of the literacy issues within the community.

“We predominantly have students here in Wichita Falls but we do have about an 11 county range,” Arinder said.

🔽
Officials with the organization said they were forced to cancel two major fundraisers because of the pandemic hence they’ve seen a $40,000 decrease in what it generally takes to keep the doors open.

“This past year, the year of COVID we still were able to provide over 5,000 hours of tutoring services,” Arinder said. “The year before in 2019 we were able to do almost twelve thousand so it was cutting in half.”  WATCH 02:19

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 11

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 15-17 yrs. old

(Tenth to Eleventh graders)

* Newsletters ◻ Blogs ◻ Stories 

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

Literacy In The News :: Spanning the US

@LitNet

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

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

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

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

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

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 8

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 12-14 yrs. old

(Seventh and Eighth graders)

 

Portage County 
Literacy Council

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 14

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 21-22 yrs. old

(college level)

 

@BrunnerLiteracy

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 10

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 14-15 yrs. old

(Ninth to Tenth graders)

Literacy ▬ Spanning the US :: 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.

🔽
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