Using Videos in Lessons

There is now a wealth of video clips on You Tube. Just type in ESL Lessons to get more traditional instructional videos.

Another way you could do it, is show a clip on a topic of interest to a student. This real life instruction has been proven to enhance learning and motivation.

Use a video about 2 minutes long. Before viewing, do some prereading activities.
First use still pictures from the video and ask your student to predict language and content. Find something for your student to read that introduces the content on the video. Discuss vocabulary which you think the student may not know. Also, tell the student why they are watching the video-- to learn workforce skills etc.

Free Web Pictures for Lessons

Are you looking for free material to jazz up your lessons? Then check out this review of web sites. The review describes each site and includes ideas of how to use it in instruction.

Mixing in Math

If you want a fun idea for adding math activities to a family literacy program, check out our wiki page on doing more with less. A December calendar is posted with math activities a parent can use with their child. It is available in Spanish as well as English.

LSTA Grant Workshop Series: Grant Overview

If writing a library grant is a mystery, attend the following:

Monday, December 7, 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. ET

In the online classroom

There is a series of online workshops that will assist publicly supported libraries with the preparation of Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants for the 2010 application cycle. These workshops are provided free of charge and are intended to help with the grant writing process for LSTA grants.

The first of the series is a Grant Overview, which will be held twice. Dorothy Frank and Marian Deeney from the State Library and Archives of Florida will provide an overview of the LSTA guidelines and application process.

Topics to be covered in the Overview include:

· Eligibility requirements for the LSTA grant program

· LSTA grant review and funding process

· Grant categories

· Components of a proposal

The next three workshops in the series will be specific discussions on How to Establish Your Need; How to Write an Outcomes Plan; and How to Write an Action Plan and Budget Narrative. You may take as many of them as you would like and you do not need to take prior sessions in order to take later ones.

For more information about these sessions, contact Dorothy Frank at 850.245.6631 or dafrank@dos.state.fl.us. For more about writing a literacy grant contact Sandy Newell at 850.245.6624 or snewell@dos.state.fl.us

Registration information:

Register for these sessions

Once your registration has been processed, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions for joining the session(s). (This should occur within 24 hours.)

For additional information regarding registration, contact: Stephanie Race at sfrace@dos.state.fl.us or 850.245.6630 or Melissa Hooke at mhhooke@dos.state.fl.us or 850.245.6632

Registration is also available for

How to Establish Your Need

How to Write an Outcomes Plan

How to Write an Action Plan and Budget Narrative

The Florida Literacy Coalition History and New Address

The Florida Literacy Coalition formed in 1985. Anita Rogers was their first administrator, and Greg Smith is the current executive director. One of our VALF board members, Jack Newell, was a founding board member representing volunteer literacy groups in Florida on the Coalition board.

Originally the Coalition board was made up of representatives of literacy groups and others interested in literacy. Now the Coalition has an operating board of business people and others advised by a board of literacy representatives. The majority of their funding comes from the Florida Department of Education grants supplemented by other sources.

The Coalition provides a wide variety of support for volunteer groups and adult literacy programs. VALF holds our annual meeting at the Coalition Conference scheduled for Captiva in May. Check out their web site for information on the conference and to learn the latest.

The Florida Literacy Coalition has recently moved. They are still in Orlando but are located at the Old Southern Bank Building in downtown Orlando. As of December 1, 2009 their address is:

250 N. Orange Ave.
Suite 11W
Orlando, FL 32801

Post by Sandy Newell, VALF President
literacyflorida@hotmail.com
850.245.6624

Recruiting Volunteers

I just read that one classroom based literacy program recruits volunteers through libraries and Craig's List. I am not surprised about using libraries but didn't know about using Craig's List. Has anyone used it or other unique ways of recruiting volunteers?

Family Literacy Stories

When I was tutoring, one of my students was a 24 year old Mom who, along with her husband, owned a Gym. I really admired her strength. She had been in a car accident and was told she would not be able to walk, but she did. Her motivation to learn was to be able to read picture books to her daughter.

I remember the tutoring session where she learned about word patterns, a fun skill for picture books. It was just like Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled into one for her.

Please share your student stories about parents with us. Send your story toliteracyflorida@hotmail.com and we will post them on our blog and wiki. Let's celebrate Family Literacy Month by letting others know about the impact of volunteer literacy on families.
Sandy Newell, VALF President