Sunday, December 7, 2008

VALF Grant Program

VALF has decided to focus most of our effort this year on securing donations to award grants for volunteer literacy programs in Florida. We are starting a 2nd round of grants for volunteer literacy programs in 2009 and want to give everyone a chance to donate. Last year we awarded three grants of $300 using money donated by board members and from our membership income. This year we are doubling the program, and plan to award 6 $500 grants, at a minimum.
We already have a $1,000 pledge for the program. We are also establishing a program to honor Jack Newell, a long time leader in volunteer and family literacy. Joses DeMoranville, VALF Vice President and former adult student, is soliciting donations from companies. We just received $100 from Wally Amos, a national promoter of literacy, motivational speaker and founder of the Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Please consider giving $100 or more for our grant program. We know volunteer literacy programs are an efficient, cost effective way to reach the lowest level adults. Go to our wiki to see who received grants last year. We also know they are struggling in these difficult times.
We are asking for donations by December 31, 2008 or earlier. Donations are tax deductible. To donate, print this off and fill in the following information.


Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida (VALF) DONATION ">Name:________________________________

Address ______________________________

City _______________________ State _____________ Zip Code __________

E-Mail ______________________

Phone _______________________

Fax _________________________

Check Amount Enclosed:

$50 _____

$75______

$100_____

$200_____

$300

$500_____

Other Amount ________


I would like my donation to go to:
_____ the basic grant program
_____ the Jack Newell Volunteer Literacy Grant Program
____
day to day funding for VALF


By December 31, 2008, please make the check out to:

Literacy Florida!, Inc.

2925 Optimist Drive, Suite A

Marianna, Florida 32448

For more information, contact Sandy Newell, 850-245-6624 or literacyflorida@hotmail.com.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

September Newsletter

Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida
Literacy Florida! Inc.


Newsletter
September 2008

Contents: Board News, Regional Sessions, Member News, Family Literacy Tips, Calendar,

BOARD NEWS


New Name – Same Association
At their regular meeting in August, the Literacy Florida! Inc. (LFv) board voted to select a new name that better describes what members do. Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida is now the generic name for LFv. “We wanted the words “volunteers” and “adult” in our name because most of our members use volunteers to provide free reading and English language instruction for adults. We wanted our name to reflect this important work.” explained Sandy Newell, President of the association.

The new name takes effect immediately, but does not replace the official, Literacy Florida! Inc. name. “We plan to use both.” Newell went on to say. The header on all of documents like this newsletter will be, Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida, followed by Literacy Florida! Inc. in smaller print.

“Our vision and mission stays the same. We will continue to provide funding, technical assistance and training for organizations with the goal to have free literacy services provided by volunteers for adults in all of Florida’s 67 counties.”

Free Technical Assistance Sessions


A free technical assistance session will be provided in Port St. Lucie for volunteer literacy groups on Saturday, September 13, from 9 a.m. – Noon at Learn to Read of St. Lucie County, 809 Delaware Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida 34950, by board members of Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida. Jim Wilder, past president, surveyed groups in the area to learn their specific needs. As a result, the session will cover grant writing, recruitment and retention. For more information about the session, contact Jim Wilder, jimwbbbs@hotmail.com.

We are continuing to hold our board meetings around the state so that we can help local groups,” said Jim Wilder. “Last year we were in Gainesville and Sarasota. We wanted to reach our southeastern members and thus scheduled the September 13 session in Port St. Lucie. Our next technical assistance session will be in Jacksonville in the spring.”

Next Board Meeting
The next face to face meeting of Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida will be Saturday, September 13 from 1 pm – 5 pm at Learn to Read of St. Lucie County, 809 Delaware Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida 34950. Members are welcome to attend all board meetings. We hold three face to face meetings yearly. One is always at our annual meeting during the Florida Literacy Conference. We have the rest of the meetings using conference calls.

New Grant Program
Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida announced the winners of their first round of grants at their annual meeting at the 2008 Florida Literacy Conference. They plan to have a second round of grants in 2009. For a list of winners...


Student Authors
Feature Member News


Lake County Library System Adult Literacy Program is proud to announce Tavares Public Library ESL learners are being published!

The Florida Literacy Coalition recently informed Tavares Public Library ESL students Gonzalo Hernandez, ‘My Adventures with English’ and Luz Angela Vasquez, ‘How I Learn’ that their stories have been selected for inclusion in the 2008 adult learner essay book Opening a New World. The book was unveiled at the Florida Literacy Coalition Annual Meeting at the Regal Sun Resort, Orlando in May, 2008. An electronic version of the book is available online at http://floridaliteracy.org/EssayBook08.pdf

Gonzalo has been working with a tutor since 2006, and Angela joined us in 2007. Since that time they have been working very hard to achieve their goals. To have the opportunity to have their stories published in a statewide book is beyond their dreams! We are so proud to have been able to support their efforts and assist them as they put their stories into words. They are amazing and represent the dedicated group of adult learners we have the fortune of working with on a weekly basis.

For more information about the Lake County Library System, Adult Literacy Program contact Erika L. Greene, Literacy Coordinator and Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida board member at 352-253-6183 or check out their web page at www.lakeline.lib.fl.us/adultliteracy
Greene said, “It is an honor for our students to be included in the Florida Literacy Coalition’s publication."

Established in 1985, The Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC) promotes, supports and advocates for the effective delivery of quality adult and family literacy services in the state of Florida. As a statewide umbrella literacy organization and the host of Florida’s State Literacy Resource Center, FLC provides a range of services to support more than 300 adult education, literacy and family literacy providers throughout Florida.


More News from Our Members……

Literacy Council of Sarasota (LCS) New Staff: Salie O’Malley was named program manager for the Literacy Council of Sarasota this summer. She is managing the ESOL and Basic Literacy programs, initiatives for LCS, and has been a long-time LCS volunteer and member. The group also has a new position, Office Manager, filled by Tim Hartnett.

Indian River County Fundraising Ideas: Community residents will receive a bag of tea in a direct mail campaign along with a description of the Literacy Services of Indian River County and a request to donate money to support our cause. The program has a race/walk and love literacy luncheon scheduled for 2009. To learn more go to http://www.literacyservicesirc.org/SpecialEvents.asp

Literacy Council of Bonita Springs’ Moms and Tots program:

Twenty-one tots graduated August 15 from the Moms and Tots program sponsored by the Literacy Council of Bonita Springs which is in its fourth year. It is designed to teach English to Hispanic pre-school tots at the same time that their mothers are learning to understand, speak, read, and write the language. It started out in one location with a handful of moms and their children. Today, classes are held in seven locations, with more than 280 students. Susan Acuña, executive director of the Council, said that the significance of the ceremony was that all of the graduates “are ready to start school on an even level with their peers, confident of their English language skills.” To learn more go to http://www.bonitaliteracy.org/

The Alachua County Library District Literacy Directory for Gainesville
The library has an online directory which has current contact information for a variety of literacy programs serving children and adults in the Gainesville area. They published the directory with the help of a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant. Go to the directory at
http://www.aclib.us/index.php?site_area=community_information&page=literacy_directory

Expanded Role for FLC
Cuts in Regional Literacy Centers
The State Adult Literacy Resource Center Florida Literacy Coalition will be the State of Florida contact for volunteer based resources and information. The five Regional Adult Literacy Centers were discontinued as of June 30, 2008 by the Florida Department of Education. Through this centralized coordination, The State Adult Literacy Resource Center, which is the Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC), will serve as contact for capacity building, professional development and resource services. For additional information go to www.floridaliteracy.org.

Family Literacy Tips

Family Literacy Month
It is not too early for programs to begin planning for National Family Literacy Month held in November. This is your chance to recruit volunteers and get noticed. The National Center for Family Literacy has a helpful tip sheet and ideas at http://www.famlit.org and select National Family Literacy Day, which takes you to a variety of resources for National Family Literacy Day and Month!

One idea on this site is “Reading with Our Heroes” from a literacy program in
Madisonville, KY. At the local mall, guest readers included local firemen, policemen, the Mayor, Red Cross volunteers, ministers, nurses and the director of the Senior Citizens’ Center. Guest readers read their favorite stories, followed by parent and child interactive activities. During the event, children received free books and the parents received handouts and tips on reading with their children. Literacy programs could use events like this one to recruit volunteers, students and donations.

Parenting and the Internet
Research has proven that lessons tailored to student interests and goals are most effective. Tutors can use a variation of language experience to make any reading material part of a lesson. For example, parents who want to understand what their teens are doing online may appreciate lessons on Internet safety.

The manual, Parenting in the Media Age: Social Networking, published online by The National Institute for Media and the Family, can be used as a literacy lesson. Even though it is not written on a very low level, it can be made accessible with the help of a tutor who applies a variation of language experience. For example, a tutor could read the manual out loud to a student. Lower level students could repeat key points they wanted to share with their teenager. The tutor would write down their words and use it for lessons. Higher level students could write their key points with their tutor’s help. The lesson could be enhanced by a search of social networking sites (MySpace, Facebook, Xanga, Friendster etc.) on the Internet. Their homework could be a discussion of key points between the parent and their teenager.

This is one of several manuals that can be downloaded at http://www.mediafamily.org/network_guides.shtml. Other manuals cover cell phones, emerging technologies, YouTube and more. You must subscribe to download the manuals, but there is no charge.

New Spanish Parenting Materials
The SPANISH VERSION of the free parent-child early literacy material titled On the Go is available on the web. It includes 14 activities designed to be used outside the home: in the car, while walking, during bus rides, etc. The activities encourage early language and literacy development from birth through preschool. These activities are appropriate for children with disabilities, as well as children who are developing typically.

To download materials go to www.walearning.com and click on the purple button that says "Free Parent Education Handouts" on the home page. Look for the “On the Go” files to download the material in PDF format.

Florida Adult and Family Literacy Month
In conjunction with Florida Adult and Family Literacy Month 2008, proclaimed by Governor Crist, there is Free Admission to all State Parks from Sunday, Sept 7 thorough Saturday, September 13 with any of the following: a library card, a library book, donation of a new or gently used family appropriate book. For more information go to www.floridastateparks.org.

Last year more than 1.3 million participated in the state park celebration. Individuals donated 10,000 books for literacy efforts.

LSTA Exemplary Awards
Two of Florida's library literacy programs will receive LSTA Exemplary Award plaques at the Florida Public Library Directors' Meeting on October 15, 2008 in Delray Beach. The Holmes County Public Library and the Palm Beach County Public Library implemented a statewide program called Read and Write Around Florida in 2007.

This program brings together low educated parents and their children to discuss Florida stories. They also use an online writing tool to capture their own family stories. This tool is on www.floridamemory.com where students and tutors can search for photos, audio and video recordings and lesson plans about Florida.

Read and Write Around Florida was a statewide program implemented in 2007-2008. It has three programs: a short story version targeting adult non-English speakers, a family literacy program and the online writing tool. If you want an electronic version of the how to manual e-mail Sandy Newell at snewell@dos.state.fl.us.

Calendar

September 2008 Florida Adult and Family Literacy Month

September 8, 2008 International Literacy Day

September 13, 2008 Technical Assistance Session in Port St. Lucie
Saturday: 9 - Noon

October 1 -4, 2008 ProLiteracy Conference, Little Rock, AK

October 2008 Health Literacy Month

November 1, 2008 National Family Literacy Day

November 2008 National Family Literacy Month


More About Us

OUR MISSON
The mission of Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida is to enhance and promote the abilities of individuals and organizations to provide direct and indirect literacy instruction to adults and families in need through volunteer service.

OUR VISION The ability to read, write and speak the English language shall be provided in all 67 counties of the State of Florida by trained literacy volunteers. These volunteers will equip adults and families with the tools necessary to solve the literacy problems encountered in daily life.

Join Today
Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida's membership year starts July each year. To become a member go to our Membership form

Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida

(Literacy Florida! Inc)
2925 Optimist Drive Suite A
Marianna, FL 32448
Telephone: 850-482-9296 Fax: 850-482-9297
literacyflorida@hotmail.com

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Grant Award to Jackson, Indian River and Monroe

Orlando, May 9, 2008- On behalf of Literacy Florida! volunteers (LFv), Sandy Newell, president is proud to announce the three $300 grant recipients: Literacy Volunteers of America- Monroe County, Inc., Literacy Services of Indian River County, Inc., and Jackson County Public Library Learning Services.

The grants will assist these volunteer literacy programs in serving adult learners and /or families. The grants were awarded at the Florida Literacy Conference, May 7- 9 at the Regal Sun Resort at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Ann Bryan received the grant on behalf of the Jackson County Public Library.

Literacy Florida! volunteers (LFv), is a statewide membership association serving volunteers and volunteer literacy programs.

LFv is a membership association that focuses 100% on programs who use volunteers to tutor adult learners. We provide technical assistance, training and now grants to help Florida’s smaller volunteer literacy programs. To learn more about our group check out our blog at http://literacyfloridavolunteers.blogspot.com/ and our wiki at http://literacyflorida.wikispaces.com/ Group and individual membership applications can be found at http://www.aflo.freeservers.com/membership.htm

If you would like to learn more about LFv contact us at literacyflorida@hotmail.com.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Lake County Tutors Participate in Professional Development

Lake County Library System (LCLS) Adult Literacy Program was thrilled to be able to welcome Sharon Jaskula and Karen Wishart to a tutor professional development workshop held on April 22, 2008 at the City of Tavares Public Library. The topic was Fast Track Reading System - pronunciation and phonemic awareness.

As a literacy program that provides services through the incredible dedication of volunteer tutors, we are constantly exploring topics for professional development and surveying our tutors to identify their interests and needs. Phonics is always at the top of the list! For many, remembering how they learned phonics and feeling prepared to share that knowledge with the adult learners can present a challenge. When I had the opporutnity to learn about the Jacksonville Public Library's program at a recent LF! workshp held in Sarasota I knew I had a winner that I absolutely HAD to share with our tutors!

Sharon Jaskula has worked with the Jacksonville Public Library’s award-winning Center for Adult Learning since 1986. As the Literacy Program Manager, Sharon and her staff provide computer– assisted and small group instruction to adults reading below the 7th grade level and ESoL students at five sites. In an effort to help learners reach their goals, Sharon and her team created a system that incorporates a unique, accelerated approach to reading instruction. The library has found that these instructional strategies work with basic reading students who have not succeeded in other programs and it is called the "Fast Track Reading System." Key components of the Fast Track Reading System include: Orton-Gillingham approach; Syllable division, syllable types & tapping; Controlled text (word lists, sentences, spelling, dictation, cloze & matching); Authentic materials (critical thinking activities & snapshots); and Teachable moments and open-ended questions.

We were so pleased to have 21 tutors join us for this 3-hour workshop. We all learned so much. They are clamoring for more and reported that this was one of the best professional development meetings we have had to date! They were so impressed that they are already putting what they learned into action with English Language Learners and Basic Literacy learners and we look forward to many success stories.

Sharon and Karen, thank you for joining the LCLS tutor team and sharing your curriculum, enthusiasm, and insights.

Erika L. Greene
Literacy Coordinator

Saturday, April 26, 2008

How to Start A Volunteer Literacy Program

We are providing a program at the 2008 Florida Literacy Conference on how to start a volunteer literacy program. More on how to start a volunteer literacy program can be found on our wiki at
http://literacyflorida.wikispaces.com/Field+Services

The programs sponsored by us are listed below. The Conference at Lake Buena Vista May 6-9, 2008 is sponsored by the Florida Literacy Coalition.

Programs at the Florida Literacy Conference
The Next Step: Retention and Persistence Strategies for Adult Learners and
Literacy Florida! Volunteers Annual Meeting
Wednesday, May 7 from 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM at the Florida Literacy Conference.

Library Literacy Discussion Group
Thursday, May 8 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.

Volunteer Literacy Program Start-up
Thursday, May 8 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Sandy Newell,
President of your state volunteer literacy association (LFv)
Contact me at 850-245-6624

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Annual Meeting and Programs at Fl Literacy Conf

We hope to see everyone at our annual meeting at the Florida Literacy Conference on May 7 - 9, 2008. This year we are combining the meeting with a program related to retaining adult learners in volunteer literacy programs. It is set for the first day of the conference, May 7. Go to last month's posts in this blog to see the exact titles and times for the events. Early registration has been extended to April 21.

See You There,
Sandy Newell, President

Family Literacy Upcoming Training Opportunities

Family Literacy Continuing Education Opportunities in April and May 2008

Register for the Family Literacy Symposium next week in Daytona Beach

http://www.aceofflorida.org/

Click on Creative Connections yellow and turquoise icon at the bottom

Register for the Florida Literacy Conference in Orlando, Disney Villiage

http://www.floridaliteracy.org/

Registration extended to April 21, 2001


To Access Florida Family Literacy resources including a new Webinar/video broadcast last week

http://www.floridatechnet.org/famliteracy/

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Florida Learner Story on ABC

If any of you missed Monica Baxley's interview on ABC in late February, you can view her story here. Baxley lives in the Florida Panhandle. She is a former adult learner and has been very active at a state and national level.

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/LegalCenter/story?id=4336421&page=1

You could share this link with potential funders and community leaders to help them better understand the challenges faced by those who struggle with reading. Baxley is a member of the board of the Florida Literacy Coalition and is also on the VALUE board, the national organization representing adult learners.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Persistence and Retention Workshop

Literacy Florida! volunteers and Region I Panhandle Adult Literacy Center Partner on Persistence Workshop on Friday, April 11, 2008

Title: The Next Step: Persistence and Retention Strategies

Description: Tutors and staff members, do you have questions about keeping your learner motivated and engaged in their weekly lessons? Program coordinators, are you concerned about the number of learners who come for a few sessions and drop out of the program?

In this interactive workshop, we will:
· explore activities to help your students remain enthusiastic about learning and committed to their goals.
· look at Best Practices developed by five programs that participated in a project to increase learner persistence.

Date: Friday, April 11, 2008
Time: 10:00-Noon CDT (Central Daylight Savings Time)
Location:
Calhoun County Public Library
Heritage Room
17731 NE Pear St.
Blountstown, FL
Note: Park in the back of the library for access to the Heritage Room.
Registration: email norvellg@ace-leon.org or call toll free 888-585-9013

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

LFvolunteers Literacy Grant Announcement

We have a new grant program dedicated to Florida's volunteer literacy programs. We are awarding 3 small grants for $300 at our annual meeting at the 2008 Florida Literacy Conference. The application should be emailed to literacyflorida@hotmail.com by April 4. Here is the application.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Programs May 7 & 8 at the Florida Literacy Conference

LFv has three programs at the Florida Literacy Conference. This year our annual meeting is combined with a program.

The following programs and meetings are scheduled at the Florida Literaacy Conference May 6-9, 2008

March 11 is the early registration date for the conference.

Literacy Florida! Volunteers (LFV) Programs and Meetings

The Next Step: Retention and Persistence Strategies for Adult Learners and
Literacy Florida! Volunteers Annual Meeting
Wednesday, May 7 from 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM at the Florida Literacy Conference.

Literacy Florida! volunteers Board Meeting (tentative --being scheduled)
Wednesday, May 7, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Florida Literacy Conference

Library Literacy Discussion Group
Thursday, May 8 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.

Volunteer Literacy Program Start-up
Thursday, May 8 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

To register for the conference go to www.floridaliteracy.org


March 11 Early Registration Rate: $180 Member $205 Non-member
Register by April 21: $205
On Site Registration: $245

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Subscribe to a Blog for Florida's Volunteer Literacy Programs

We are now allowing anyone to post comments to this blog. You do not need an account. But, we would prefer you to have an account so that everyone can see who comments. If you have an account and sign in, then some of your information will show. You do not need to sign to read posts and comments.

If you subscribe, you can get notification of posts. Do this by going to the bottom of this page and click on subscribe to posts.

Volunteer literacy groups can set up their own blogs. There is no cost, and it is an easy way to inform tutors and others. Your blog can be an easy way to post an electronic newsletter too.

Personal information is not required to set up an account. You only need an email address. It is easy to get a free email address for your organization. We have ours through hotmail, but there are many other free sources.

To set up your own blog account go to http://www.blogger.com/home

Communicating with Your Tutors

Prices continue to rise requiring volunteer literacy programs to get more creative in their communications. First class stamps go up in May to 42 cents. Programs need to use emailing and other electronic tools to save dollars and cents.

I know that there are folks out there who don't use email. But it can certainly save a program money. Why don't you be as proactive as possible to help tutors and students set up accounts. Use incentives to reward those who use it. You could give out "prizes" for those who use email. Why don't you share effective ways your programs communicate in the comments section of this post.

You could use a blog like this one to post announcments. It is an easy place to post upcoming events, newsletters and time sensitive items. Blogs are free and are interactive because anyone can post a comment. You can also set it up to receive a notice via your email when a blog is changed. The blogger can also add tags which make it easier for the public to find information in a blog.
For more about blogging go to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogging

You can even have your own wiki like wikipeida, the source of the above article. Wikis are another tool I'll write about later.

Sandy Newell,
President, Literacy Florida volunteers
literacyflorida@hotmail.com


Sunday, February 17, 2008

Writing and Getting Published

Adult Learner Essay Book
For many of us writing isn't easy, and this is even more true for adult learners. Because of this, it is important for tutors to include writing within lessons. It helps when the writing is for a purpose. You can include journal writing in each lesson or help students do practical tasks like preparing a grocery list or e-mailing a spouse in Iraq. You can also motivate students by asking them to write their life story.

When students share their stories in writing or as public speakers, funders can better understand why we need literacy programs. As dollars continue to be cut, this becomes more and more vital. If you get your student's permission, you can send their story to key community leaders or to those who "control" your program. Students are the best ones to advocate for your program.

Joses DeMoranville wrote his story of living on the streets in New York titled, Living My Dream. It was published in the 2007 edition of student essays by the Florida Literacy Coalition. Joses is a board member of our organization. He also serves on the student advisory committee of the Coalition. You can download the book of essays which includes his story at http://www.floridaliteracy.org/EssayBookhome.htm
Joses got his basic literacy skills through the Palm Beach County Library literacy program. He then completed high school through the Leon County School ACE program. Joses' story is on page 55 of the book.

There is still time for your student to get his or her own story published. The deadline for student stories for 2008 has been extended to March 7.

Letter Writing Campaign
Students have also been asked to write to their congressman through April 2007 to get the federal dollars increased. The funding for adult adult education has been severely cut. To learn more about how to write a letter go to our wiki at http://literacyflorida.wikispaces.com/Advocacy
We posted the most recent announcement of ProLiteracy.

Picture of a St. Patty Parade from
Florida Memory

Write Around Florida
People enjoy writing about their home town or around subjects they know. There are thousands of Florida pictures you can use at the www.floridamemory.com web site.

The site also has a new online writing tool. Go to http://www.floridamemory.com/OnlineClassroom/writing/
Select a picture, write a story and download it.
Your story is saved to a word file along with the photo. It then can be edited and rewritten. This is an easy way to prepare a final copy for the essay book or prepare a story to give to a family member.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Reading Instruction for Low Level Adult Learners

Directed literacy instruction was the topic of the free workshop sponsored by Literacy Florida! Inc. volunteers (LFv) this month. Program managers and volunteers from Duval, Collier, Lee, Sarasota, Leon, Palm Beach and Lake Counties learned instructional strategies proven to succeed with low level adult learners.

Sharon Jaskula, workshop presenter, said, "Because we knew our adult learners may only stay with us for six or so months we developed our Fast Track program to provide as much basic reading instruction possible fast!" Participants learned how to introduce basic grammar rules using family and dating analogies. We found out how the program helps adults learn clues to break words into syllables and sound out words. Sharon said her learners asked why no one had shown them these tricks before.

Everyone attending the workshop received a scripted, set of activities, worksheets and more. Sharon recommended that tutors or teachers should follow the curriculum step by step to help learners get the basics.

Sharon and her literacy staff developed this customer friendly instruction as the literacy program director with the Jacksonville Public library. The library got into the literacy business in the mid-1980's. In the late 1990's they added small group instruction as part of a three year program improvement grant funded by a Lila Wallace Readers Digest coordinated through the American Library Association, Office of Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS). This curriculum is based on their years of experience.

This workshop was successful because of our partners. I want to thank the Sarsota County Public Library for handling local arrangements. Sarah Hoeffel, the library's Hispanic outreach coordinator with the library, arranged for the room, promoted the program and set up the refreshments provided by the library. The Region 3 Adult Literacy Center provided travel stipends for those who drove from outside the county. They also advertised the training.

This is one example of services we provide our members, and we often open up the workshops to other literacy programs. Check out this blog for announcements about future trainings.

Our annual meeting will be held at the Florida Literacy Conference in Orlando in May 2008.
This year we are sponsoring three programs at the conference, one on student persistence, another on how to start a volunteer literacy program and a networking program for library literacy programs.

To learn how to become a member.

Sandy Newell, President LFv
literacyflorida@hotmail.com