Fact Sheets on Each Section of the GED Test.

Check out these fact sheets on the GED test.  They are posted online and are available in a printable version.

Instructional Games

Check out these online instructional games at FloridaTechnet.  Games make learning more interesting for students. 

Web Quest--One More Way to Jazz Up Learning

If your student or program is lucky enough to have access to a computer on the Internet, you may want to jazz up lessons by giving your student a webquest.  The term webquest was coined in 1995 as the Internet became more prevalent in adult learner classrooms.

Even if  you or  your student lacks the Internet at home, a learner may have a computer and be able to go online via wireless at the library or even at Mcdonalds.  Some learners may have a computer --but can't afford the monthly Internet charge.  On a smaller scale, a smart phone could be used to do the research.  It won't be so easy to write up on that small screen, but the phone can help find lots of interesting facts.

A webquest is a great way to learn issues to help them pass the GED while practicing their research and critical thinking skills.

More about webquests can be found at FloridaTechnet.

Here are some steps to include in your webquest.  It is important to start with a topics of high interest to an adult learner.  For example, global warming may be impacting an English Language Learner's home country.  If so, he could start researching this topics.  Is weather changing in his home country or in his home town in America?  Are diseases like malaria moving into places they have never been before (or not?) Is the water level rising?  Are temperatures changing --or not?.  A learner could go in and reserach these or other topics of interest.

Mission Possible--Adult and Community Education (ACE) Conference

The ACE conference is always held the end of September.  This year it starts on Monday, September 26 in Orlando. To register

This one is very expensive, $350 for members.  I am guessing most volunteer programs cannot afford it, but  it is a good place to learn the latest on school based programs.  It is also a good place to see exhibits. You might be able to get into the exhibits only if you are in the Orlando area.  Contact ACE to find out.  Often, they want to have exhibit foot traffic --so you might have a chance...

The theme is Mission Possible.

Palm Beach Organizational Member Renews

We are pleased to announce that the Palm Beach County Public Library Literacy Project recently renewed their organizational membership with VALF.  This program is part of the library's outreach department. The Board of County Commissioners is actually the library's governing board.  The program recognizes the support of the Commission by listing names of each Commissioner on program announcements.

This library based literacy project has a Friends of Literacy that provides material and support for the library's volunteer literacy program.  Watch for more blog posts about Florida's volunteer literacy programs.. 

Thinkfinity Courses Move To ProLiteracy

You don't have to be a member of ProLiteracy to take online courses now available at their site.  The courses are free and most were originally on Thinkfinity which has now gone to k-12 (kid focused).

All you have to do is set up an account. 

Once you take a course, provide a review of it  via comments on this blog.

Here are courses available in mid-August 2011... 

Adult Literacy Instruction.    
Principles of Adult Learning
Working With Adult Literacy Learners     
Phonemic Awareness Instruction for Adult Literacy Learners      
Volunteering in English Language Learner Literacy Classes      
Culture and English Language Learners     
Citizenship: The Literacy Test 

Free Literacy Material

The Florida Literacy Coalition has a variety of grant funded posters, bookmarks, books and more available for free.  Order them today.