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