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
Saturday, February 23, 2008
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
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.
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 FloridaPeople 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.
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