Partnerships have always been part of volunteer literacy, but in these difficult times they are vital. Civic clubs are logical partners, and many, like Rotary, have literacy as a priority. Pat Bauer, a VALF board member, is active in Rotary and created a power point on Rotary and literacy. We have posted it on our wiki on our page with cost saving ideas.
Take a look at it to get more ideas on how to partner and to better understand how Rotary works. This is the time of year that civic clubs are planning for their new year. Go ahead and touch base with Rotary to speak about your program. As your local club gets to know you and your literacy program, they may contribute funds. Often these groups think of literacy in the context of children. It is up to you to put a face on adult literacy.
Posting by Sandy Newell, President, VALF
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Lake County Library System --Citizenship Class
Jim Briggs and Kitty Adler, Literacy Tutors, celebrate with some of the learners
14 learners, 17 classes, and 2 tutors equals a winning combination at the Cagan Crossings Community Library! It has been an amazing journey that has already resulted in 1 learner passing the citizenship test, others submitting their applications & awaiting their appointments, and the rest preparing to complete their applications over the next few months.
Between the efforts of Jim Briggs and Kitty Adler, citizenship tutor team, the support of the other Cagan tutors, and Maria Martino, Literacy Contact, the citizenship class was a great success. The participants were all smiles on their last night but, admittedly, sad that they would no longer be coming together as a group – they have become friends and enjoyed it tremendously! It doesn’t end here, though, they are excitedly awaiting the launch of a conversation group so that they can continue to improve their English skills. Congratulations to all!!
Interested in the materials this class used? This is the first LCLS citizenship class to use the Citizenship - Passing The Test series, a New Readers Press publication. It contains 3 workbooks, audio cd-roms, and teachers guide. Combining the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis) flash cards and other downloadable resources and this series made for an amazingly interactive and fun class. The tutors felt very comfortable facilitating the group and the learners were fully engaged from beginning to end!
Interested in the materials this class used? This is the first LCLS citizenship class to use the Citizenship - Passing The Test series, a New Readers Press publication. It contains 3 workbooks, audio cd-roms, and teachers guide. Combining the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis) flash cards and other downloadable resources and this series made for an amazingly interactive and fun class. The tutors felt very comfortable facilitating the group and the learners were fully engaged from beginning to end!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Music, Cartoons and Literacy
I just saw a post about the history of music, cartoons and literacy in WWI and WWII. I would like to hear your comments on how you use music and cartoons in teen and adult literacy instruction. Do any of you use graphic novels? If so, which titles?
Many soldiers did not have basic skills, and thus the Army provided instruction using cartoons and songs. Below is part of a post by Thomas G. Sticht on the National Institute for LiteracyAdult English Language Learners mailing list EnglishLanguage@nifl.gov. It is a busy list. To subscribe go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/englishlanguage
Here is part of the post:
One innovation introduced in the literacy training programs was the use of a cartoon strip featuring fictional soldiers Private Pete and his sidekick Daffy. These cartoons were usually two page spreads in a special newspaper for literacy students called Our War. Our War editors understood that the hearts and minds of the troops were on family and friends, often girl friends, back home. The cartoons sometimes told stories about visits with girl friends and included scenes in which Private Pete and friends were singing songs. One popular song of the time was aimed at making separations between the soldiers and their sweethearts more bearable. In the August 1943 issue of Our War the cartoon strip was about a letter Private Pete got from another soldier friend of his who told about how he was going overseas. A cartoon frame shows him and a group ofhis buddies travelling in the back of an Army truck singing a song called
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree:
Don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me
Anyone else but me, anyone else but me
No! No! No!Don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me
Till I come marchin' home
Don't go walkin' down Lover's Lane with anyone else but me
Anyone else but me, anyone else but me
No! No! No!Don't go walkin' down Lover's Lane with anyone else but me
Till I come marchin' home
I do remember this song and "hear" it my head as I read the words. If you are interested in old cartoons go to http://www.barnaclepress.com/
Today's Blog Post is by Sandy Newell, President of VALF
Many soldiers did not have basic skills, and thus the Army provided instruction using cartoons and songs. Below is part of a post by Thomas G. Sticht on the National Institute for LiteracyAdult English Language Learners mailing list EnglishLanguage@nifl.gov. It is a busy list. To subscribe go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/englishlanguage
Here is part of the post:
One innovation introduced in the literacy training programs was the use of a cartoon strip featuring fictional soldiers Private Pete and his sidekick Daffy. These cartoons were usually two page spreads in a special newspaper for literacy students called Our War. Our War editors understood that the hearts and minds of the troops were on family and friends, often girl friends, back home. The cartoons sometimes told stories about visits with girl friends and included scenes in which Private Pete and friends were singing songs. One popular song of the time was aimed at making separations between the soldiers and their sweethearts more bearable. In the August 1943 issue of Our War the cartoon strip was about a letter Private Pete got from another soldier friend of his who told about how he was going overseas. A cartoon frame shows him and a group ofhis buddies travelling in the back of an Army truck singing a song called
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree:
Don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me
Anyone else but me, anyone else but me
No! No! No!Don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me
Till I come marchin' home
Don't go walkin' down Lover's Lane with anyone else but me
Anyone else but me, anyone else but me
No! No! No!Don't go walkin' down Lover's Lane with anyone else but me
Till I come marchin' home
I do remember this song and "hear" it my head as I read the words. If you are interested in old cartoons go to http://www.barnaclepress.com/
Today's Blog Post is by Sandy Newell, President of VALF
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Evaluating Your Program
Two years ago VALF implemented a persistence and retention study of five volunteer literacy programs in Florida. We learned that retention of students was challenging, a fact backed up by other studies and observations by program managers.
We also explored how volunteer programs could do a better job at keeping students and volunteers. We learned that ongoing support for students and volunteers was extremely important.
If you want to know more about how to improve your program, attend this free workshop.
Balancing Act: Volunteer Adult Literacy Program Management Workshop
Learn how quality volunteer literacy programs manage all aspects of running a program. Find out how they pay equal attention to both support as well as to intake of volunteers and students.
Learn concrete strategies to help plan, manage and package your literacy program in challenging times.
The workshop is based on the experience of VALF members, the book, Maintaining the Balance: A Guide to 50/50 Management and the 2007-2008 VALF student retention and persistence study.
Location: Duneden Public Library
223 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin, FloridaDunedin Florida 34698
Date: September 12, 2009
Time: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET
REGISTER TODAY!
at literacyflorida@hotmail.com, 850-245-6624
We also explored how volunteer programs could do a better job at keeping students and volunteers. We learned that ongoing support for students and volunteers was extremely important.
If you want to know more about how to improve your program, attend this free workshop.
Balancing Act: Volunteer Adult Literacy Program Management Workshop
Learn how quality volunteer literacy programs manage all aspects of running a program. Find out how they pay equal attention to both support as well as to intake of volunteers and students.
Learn concrete strategies to help plan, manage and package your literacy program in challenging times.
The workshop is based on the experience of VALF members, the book, Maintaining the Balance: A Guide to 50/50 Management and the 2007-2008 VALF student retention and persistence study.
Location: Duneden Public Library
223 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin, FloridaDunedin Florida 34698
Date: September 12, 2009
Time: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET
REGISTER TODAY!
at literacyflorida@hotmail.com, 850-245-6624
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)