There is a new literacy community on the American Library Association social networking site called ALA Connect. Connect is similar to Facebook but it is dedicated to the library community. Members can set up "communities" which are also accessible to non-members.
This new community focuses on public library literacy best practices. It is the one place that the public library community can have conversations around library literacy programs.
A recent post includes the California State Library guidelines for literacy programs. If you are administering or volunteering in a library literacy program, go and add your comments and suggestions on library literacy program management.
VALF helped created library literacy tip sheets which are a good resource for library literacy programs. The one that has not been completed is "Why Library Literacy". We would love to hear more from you on why a library should be involved in adult literacy. Post your comments here and do join the library literacy community on ALA Connect.
Post by Sandy Newell, President VALF
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
New Address
Our VALF address:
Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida (VALF)
Literacy Florida! Inc.
P.O. Box 180396
Tallahassee, Florida 32318
Our email is valflorida@hotmail.com
Volunteers for Adult Literacy in Florida (VALF)
Literacy Florida! Inc.
P.O. Box 180396
Tallahassee, Florida 32318
Our email is valflorida@hotmail.com
Monday, August 10, 2009
Free Workshop on Program Management
Read the post on Evaluating Your Program to get more information about our VALF free workshop in September. Please register today.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
More on Partnerships
One of the best way to develop partnerships to get support for your program is to get more involved in civic groups. For example, when I was starting up my first volunteer literacy program in Panama City, I also joined Altrusa. At that time it was the women's group -- which, to some degree, mirrored Rotary. Literacy is still one of their priorities.
Through my work with the group, we got financial support, tutors and tutor trainers. As you grow your collaborations, you will need to invest your time in other causes to help attract support to your program. One of the roles of volunteer literacy board members to reach out to other groups, to raise the awareness of adult literacy and the work of your own organization.
Please comment about your partnership experiences.
Sandy Newell,
VALF President
Through my work with the group, we got financial support, tutors and tutor trainers. As you grow your collaborations, you will need to invest your time in other causes to help attract support to your program. One of the roles of volunteer literacy board members to reach out to other groups, to raise the awareness of adult literacy and the work of your own organization.
Please comment about your partnership experiences.
Sandy Newell,
VALF President
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Partnerships and Rotary
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
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
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
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