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

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

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/

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.

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

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.