National Literacy & Library Events :: December 2017

National Literacy & Library Events :: December 2017

SCLLN

Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

- Local, California and National -

visit

the Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

@QBDTheBookshop

Dec. 04+   Hour of Code Global

Dec. 04+   Parent and Family Engagement Conference Austin TX

Dec. 05      International Volunteer Day

Dec. 06+   Getting In Touch With Literacy New Orleans LA

Dec. 06      LibraryCon Cyber Space 11a ET

Dec. 08      ‘Lollies’ Voting Closes Laugh Out Loud Book prize London UK

Dec. 09+   TIES Education Technology Conference Minneapolis MN

Dec. 13+    TASHl Conference Atlanta GA
Dec. 24     Jolabokaflod Day Great Book Flood

State Library Associations :: Conferences

African American Book Events

Book Fairs by State Library of Congress

Children’s Book Council Kid Lit Events

College Children’s & Young Adult Literature Conferences Festivals

Everfest Book Festival Calendar

ILA :: Literacy Calendar Worldwide

Storytelling Events

US Book Festivals

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Arkansas :: Des Moines IA :: Champaign IL :: King of Prussia PA

Literacy: Spanning the U.S.

Adult Learning Alliance

Literacy Group Rebrands Itself In Effort To Reach More People

UARL Public Radio: 10.10.2017 by Colton Faull

The Arkansas Literacy Councils is changing its name this week to Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas in an effort to better help adults who read below a fifth-grade level. 

"We felt the new name was a better way to communicate the work we do for Arkansans 18 years and older," says Executive Director Nancy Leonhardt. "Alliance represents that we are the umbrella organization for a network of about 27 community-based literacy councils around the state."

There are roughly 320,000 people statewide who are illiterate with 32,000 of those in Pulaski county, according to Leonhardt. "The focus nowadays is not just on the areas of reading and writing, we're also improving adult's health, digital, and financial literacy and soft skills."

The ALA serves as a foundation for adult education for low level learners, helping adults reach a fifth-grade reading level, he says.  READ MORE >>

Basic English Literacy Class Aims to Help Immigrant and Refugee Parents

WHO TV: 10.10.2017 by Christina Salonikas

A Des Moines Public School program aims to help immigrant and refugee parents adapt to the American culture and learn English.

According to DMPS Bilingual Outreach Coordinator Vinh Nguyen, the basic English literacy class focuses on topics that will help parents through every day routines.

“We target different topics for them. We will help them to learn numbers, the alphabet, how to spend money, how to go shop and how to fill obligations for employment and anything they need to. We are very targetful [sic] and true in those topics for parents to learn,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen said there isn’t a formal textbook, but rather work pages that have parents writing out letters, numbers, etc. The adult classes will incorporate technology to help with certain lessons.  WATCH VIDEO

Adult tutoring program Project READ returns to Parkland

Prospectus News: 10.11.2017 by EvyJo Compton

Project READ, a free tutoring program for adults, has returned to Parkland after a two-year gap in state funding.

Now that the program has started again, it is looking for volunteer tutors.

Project READ is for those over 17-years-old whom are looking to tutor or wish to be adult learners.

“Project READ is a volunteer tutoring program for adults in the communities of Parkland College district 505,” Amanda Harris, Project READ’s program manager, said. “Trained volunteer tutors provide free tutoring to help adult learners improve their skills in reading, basic arithmetic, or English as a second language (ESL). […] We invite adults over the age of 17 who want to improve their literacy, English, or math.  They should be separated from high school and score below the 9th-grade level in either math or reading.”

Once tutors and adult learners have been accepted into the project, the office of Parkland Adult Education matches the tutors with learners.  READ MORE >>

@RSVPMontCo

RSVP: Adult literacy volunteers change lives

RSVP program trains volunteers to assist adults who want to improve reading, writing skills

Montgomery News: 10.11.2017 by RSVP

The proposition seems simple enough: Meet an adult at a local library for 1-1½ hours once or twice each week to work on basic reading, writing and vocabulary skills. But in practice, volunteers in RSVP’s Adult Literacy program find themselves challenged and rewarded in surprising ways.

“It’s rarely what people think it will be,” said Janis Glusman, the program’s recently retired founding coordinator. “The student’s probably not going to have a eureka moment. It’s not a fairy tale. But there are those moments, and they’re very satisfying, when you feel that you have reinforced your student’s skills, that they’ve remembered new things, gained new confidence.”

The program works through Montgomery and Delaware County organizations such as the Abington Library Literacy Program, Delaware County Literacy Council, the Literacy Council of Norristown and others. “We are also stationed throughout the counties, at various locations,” said Glusman.

RSVP links volunteers with a literacy provider that often is located near their homes. They are trained and matched with adults seeking help. Some are learning English as a second language. Some are seeking a high school diploma. And others simply want to gain the ability to read and write well enough to hold a job.

“When you help someone learn to read or speak English, you enable that individual to take advantage of a new world of opportunities,” said RSVP Adult Literacy Coordinator Sandie Rollins. “Simply put, literacy changes lives.”  READ MORE >>

Sight Words Are So 2016: New Study Finds the Real Key to Early Literacy via Parent

Sight Words Are So 2016: New Study Finds the Real Key to Early Literacy

Parent: 4.12.2017 by Kate Koch-Sundquist

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Published in the January 2017 issue of the journal “Developmental Psychology”, the study concludes that the most valuable early literacy skill to encourage in kindergarten is neither alphabetic knowledge nor memorization of key sight words. In fact, it’s not a reading skill at all.

Cn u rd ths?

A Guide to Invented Spelling

Great Schools

The best indicator of future success as a reader is actually a child’s ability to use invented spelling as he writes.

Researchers assessed 171 kindergartners on measures of oral vocabulary, alphabetic knowledge, letter-sound association, word reading, and invented spelling. The same students were assessed a year later, and modeling revealed a causal relationship between invented spelling and increased literacy skills.

Simply put, children who used invented spelling developed stronger reading skills over time, regardless of their existing vocabulary, alphabetic knowledge, or word reading skills.

So, what exactly is invented spelling?

Invented spelling refers to a young child’s beginning attempts to spell words. Using what they know and understand about letters and writing, children who use invented spelling are encouraged to create their own spellings based on their own phonetic knowledge. As their phonetic knowledge grows, their invented spellings become more and more similar to actual word spellings.

For example, a very young child might begin writing words by using a series of non-letter scribbles. As that child progresses, he or she will begin to use random letters, and then consonants consistent with the first sound in a word. Eventually, the child will grasp both the first and last sounds, and finally the vowels or other syllables in between.

A child writing the word PEOPLE might progress from random scribbles to:

P

PPL

PEPL

PEEPL

PEEPLE

before finally reaching PEOPLE.

A recent article in Psychology Today underlines the importance of this process, pointing out that “reflection about how to spell a word allows the child to actively practice making decisions, rather than passively memorizing.” In this way, students internalize letter-sound associations rather than simply attempting to memorize the rules as instructed.

How can we help our children develop this integral skill?

To encourage development and progression of invented spelling, children should simply be encouraged to write. While writing has previously been thought of as a skill separate from reading, and one that can only be applied once a child has a basic grasp on reading, the new study suggests that writing and reading skills emerge concurrently, and that reading may actually rely more heavily on writing, rather than vice versa.  READ MORE >>

Family Literacy Month :: Reading Activities via Growing Book by Book

@growingbbb 

Reading Activities

Growing Book by Book

Here is an easy resource page for finding the reading activities you need.  I’ve divided them into categories to make your search even more helpful!

Need a good overview of activities to grow a reader at each developmental level?  Just click on the age range below.

Babies and Toddlers

Preschoolers

Kindergarteners and Early Elementary Students

(Beginning Readers)

Looking for specific topics?  See the categories below for activities, tips and ideas.

Family Literacy Month :: Simple and Fun Family Literacy Activities for Thanksgiving

@CLIUpdates

Simple and Fun Family Literacy Activities for Thanksgiving

Children's Literacy Initiative

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and many families are busy preparing for the holiday with grocery shopping, cooking, and decorating. With your children home from school and underfoot, why not look for meaningful ways to keep them entertained while also practicing their literacy skills? There are plenty of ways to get kids reading and writing during the holidays, and you may end up creating some new family traditions along the way!

Try some of these simple, fun, family activities to bring even more literacy into your home this Thanksgiving.

> Ask your child to decorate the table by making place cards for everyone in the family.

> Put every letter from the word THANKSGIVING on pieces of paper, shuffle them, and ask your child to spell it out.

> Think of a favorite family recipe you want to share with your guests this Thanksgiving. Have your child write out the ingredients and steps, and then give the recipe cards out after dinner.

> Ask older children to help you in the kitchen by reading the steps in a recipe out loud to you while you cook. Younger kids can look at the pictures with you ahead of time to guess what the steps might be.

> Leave a few small books and puzzles at the kid’s table to keep them occupied during the meal. Ask older children to act as “storytellers” for the little ones and read their favorite books out loud.

> If your family is watching football this Thursday, why not have them create signs to cheer on their favorite teams? Families can also come up with creative cheers to do whenever their team scores a touchdown!

> If there are lots of kids in your family, ask them to put on a Thanksgiving skit for the adults after dinner. If they’re having trouble thinking of ideas, suggest they act out one of their favorite books or movies.

> If you post a picture of your Thanksgiving online, ask for your child’s help when writing a caption. If you’d rather text, have your child text a Thanksgiving message to a relative who can’t be there! They will love hearing from a younger member of the family.

> Why not get a little competitive? Invite family members to vote on their favorite dish of the day. Ask the children to collect the ballots, count them, and announce the winner! Kids can even write and decorate certificates for the winners. Kids can even write and decorate certificates for the winners.

No matter their age, there are so many ways to keep your kids reading, writing, and being creative this holiday! Making literacy a part of your Thanksgiving will help your children grow as readers, writers, and thinkers, and will create wonderful lasting memories for your family.

What are your favorite family traditions for Thanksgiving, and how can they be used to practice reading or writing? Let us know in the comments!

Literacy – Spanning the US :: Kennett PA :: Pueblo Co CO :: Lake Co CA

Literacy: Spanning the U.S.

Kennett Library Literacy

Chesco mayors urge lawmakers to protect ‘Dreamers’   

Southern Chester County Weeklies: 10.07.2017 by Fran Maye

Lucero Cortes, who arrived in the United States from Mexico in 2015, just earned her General Equivalency Diploma after enrolling in adult literacy classes at the Kennett Library.

She began studying English in April, and passed four exams – Language Arts, Social Studies, Science and Math. And she just enrolled in four classes at Delaware County Community College, and envisions a bright career, after being told that people who work hard in America can achieve greatness.

But her plans could be derailed by the Trump Administration’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Program (DACA). She is one of nearly 6,000 DACA recipients in Pennsylvania – and one of 600,000 in America -whose future and opportunity to fully contribute to their communities is threatened by Trump’s decision to end the program.

When Trump announced the end of the program, he put in place a six-month delay on expiring protections by allowing any recipient whose DACA expires by March 5 until Thursday to apply for a two-year renewal. According to data provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, about one in five people eligible to renew hadn’t done so yet. Many of those who did not renew cited fears that the government would use the updated details to identify them for law-enforcement purposes.  READ MORE >>

Program offers opportunity for accredited high school diploma

Pueblo Chieftain: 10.07.2017 by Jon Pompia

A new program available through the Pueblo City-County Library District offers adults 19 and older without a high school diploma the opportunity to earn one.

With financial assistance from the Colorado State Library, the district has launched the Career Online High School -- an 18-month program in which all classes are taken online -- at the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library.

"Career Online High School is not a GED program, it's a full-fledged, state-accredited high school diploma program," said Jackie Swanson, the library district's adult literacy coordinator.

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"The goal of PCCLD'S Adult Literacy Program and Colorado online high school is to give adults what they deserve -- an education that can lead to great success," Swanson said. ="To change the cycle of dropping out, our youth must have educated parents. And it's never too late. That's why this program is a gift to the community."

In addition to a diploma, students also can earn a career certificate in a high-growth, high-demand general career field by completing coursework.

Swanson said the adult literacy program is always in need of volunteers.  READ MORE >>

Lake County Literacy Coalition helps change lives; group to hold Vineyard Run for Literacy Oct. 14

Lake County News: 10.06.2017

The Lake County Literacy Coalition’s major fundraiser, the Vineyard Run for Literacy, is right around the corner, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 14.

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Since 1986, the coalition has raised money to support the Adult Literacy programs run by the Lake County Library.

The program recruits and trains volunteers from the community to work one-on-one with individuals who need help to improve basic reading, writing and comprehension skills.

“Over the years, the Literacy program has trained well over 1200 tutors who in turn helped more than 2100 learners,” literacy coordinator Ginny DeVries said.

This tutoring is free to all Lake County residents, age 18 and older.

Many college students take advantage of this free tutoring service, especially first-year students.

They learn how to succeed in taking tests and improve note-taking ability.

One client willing to share his story was Jason Martinez. He passionately wanted to be a chef, but his reading and writing skills had been a problem when it came to passing the exams at the Culinary Arts class at Yuba College in Clearlake, now part of the Woodland College system.

He and his tutor met regularly for 17 weeks, and with that help, Martinez received an “A” in his Culinary Arts class and soon became a full-time cook at Running Creek Casino.  READ MORE >>

The Bottom Rung of American Education: Stories from an Adult Literacy Class via WHYY

The Bottom Rung of American Education: Stories from an Adult Literacy Class

WHYY: 11.20.2017 by Avi Wolfman-Arent   Listen 5:39

At the bottom rung of America’s education system, you will find someone like Sandie Knuth.

Knuth teaches English for adult learners on the 10th floor of a Center City office building, in a room of carpeted plainness that suits the invisibility of its inhabitants. The students in Knuth’s class are varying levels of illiterate — placed here because an entrance test found they read below a third-grade level.

They’re here because they think — despite years of setbacks and stacked odds — they can earn the basic education promised to all Americans. Knuth’s task is to set them on the journey toward that distant goal.

Class begins on a Wednesday in April at 5:30 p.m.

At least that’s when it’s supposed to begin. There’s a 10-minute grace period for students to arrive — and about a 10-minute grace period informally tacked onto that grace period for those who straggle in even later.

As the 25-year-old Knuth waits for everyone to show, she scribbles a question on the whiteboard.

What do you hope to get out of class?

By 6 p.m., five students have arrived. The last of them is 41-year-old Katrina Williams,  who swaggers in with sunglasses on, earbuds in, and a large plastic cup full of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.

After a boisterous hello, she pulls out her pencil.

I Just wont to learn how to read and write and spell fill out papers and don’t have to ask for help

I really enjoy being back in School It hard but im going to try my best I wont to get it done This time.

Homework is hard for me cuz I really can spell but Im trying my best.

Although the numbers and faces fluctuate from week to week, the five who’ve shown up on this first day will form the core of the class. All have a common goal: to earn their GED. This class is step one — the furthest point from a faraway destination.

Nationwide, about 1.5 million adults are in state-funded adult education programs, a number that’s fallen sharply since 2000. Over the same stretch, federal funding for adult ed has declined about 8 percent when adjusted for inflation.

Table 507.20.

Participants in state-administered adult basic education, secondary education,

and English as a second language programs, by type of program and state or

jurisdiction: Selected fiscal years, 2000 through 2015

This is not because every adult can suddenly read. In Philadelphia alone, an estimated 245,000 adults lack “basic” prose literacy skills, meaning they’re not even capable of parsing a television guide.

Philadelphia has exactly 569 classroom seats for adults who aren’t proficient enough to tackle high school-level work. That’s one opening for every 430 low-literate adults.

Across the state and country, policymakers preach the value of early intervention. There are new pre-K programs to boost kindergarten readiness and warning systems that identify wavering middle-school students. An ounce of prevention, the saying goes, is worth a pound of cure.

But what’s left over for the sick?

Relatively little, it seems. Pennsylvania spends just $12 million on adult and family education, $6.5 million less than it spent a decade ago and about 1/500th of what it spends on basic K-12 education. Nationally, the typical adult education program spends roughly $200 per student per year, according to researcher Steve Reder.  READ MORE >>