Huntington Beach Library Literacy ▬ First Time Voting !

First Time Voting !

Huntington Beach
Library Literacy 

Literacy Volunteers-HBPL Blog: 12 28 2020

My name is Sandra. I want to share with you how happy I am, because the literacy program has changed my life. They help me a lot to study. I have the privilege of having an excellent teacher, her name is Connie. Thanks to them and God, now I am an American citizen. By the way, I passed my test with 100%. For the first time I voted in the election for a new president. I am also learning more to speak and write. I am very happy and I am grateful for the literacy program. I highly recommend it!  READ MORE ➤➤

Literacy Volunteers - HBPL has tutor training workshops throughout the year. The 15-hour class teaches Literacy Volunteers of America methods for helping adults improve their skills. After taking the class, you are matched with one adult student. You meet two hours a week, morning, afternoon, evening or weekend.

We have two programs, the Adult Literacy Program at Central Library (714) 375-5102 and the Oak View Literacy Program at the Oak View Branch Library (714) 375-5104.

We always need tutors!

If you can read and write fluently, you can help an adult to read, write or speak English better.

Redlands Library ▬ Redlands Community Invited to Use Adult Literacy Resources

Redlands Community Invited to Use Adult Literacy Resources

The Cell Phone Lot

Smiley Library Blog: 10.04.2020 by Diane Shimota 

Generous donors and grantors have enabled the Redlands Adult Literacy Program to acquire a wide selection of literacy materials that are available for checkout by anyone in the community. These materials may be helpful to students who want to improve their reading and writing skills, and adults who want to improve their English literacy skills. You are invited to peruse the adult literacy collection at A. K. Smiley Public Library where you will find: fiction and nonfiction stories, biographies, abbreviated classics, graphic novels, audio books, and workbooks that enhance learning for those who are working to improve their literacy. Literacy books are written with themes that appeal to adult readers, but with grammar and vocabulary that make the books easy to understand.

The adult literacy collection includes contemporary stories that are available to everyone regardless of their reading level. The Gemma Open Door Series books are quick and easy to read. One of these books, The Cell Phone Lot by Greta Gorsuch, was chosen by the adult learner book club for their November selection. The book is a story about a young woman who lost her job and found herself unable to pay her bills. This resilient young woman found a way to generate income by working for a ride-sharing company. Through this new endeavor, she built relationships with people she met as they waited for riders at the cell phone lot.

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The pandemic has not slowed down adult literacy activities. If you are interested in becoming a tutor or if you would like help in reading and writing, please call Diane Shimota, adult literacy coordinator, at 909.798.7565, ext. 4138, or email her at literacy@akspl.org. The literacy program is free to all participants. If you have any questions about the adult literacy collection, please call or email the adult literacy coordinator.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 11

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 15-17 yrs. old

(Tenth to Eleventh graders)   

Camarena Library ▬ Reflections on COVID-19

Reflections on COVID-19

California
COVID Diaries

Adult Literacy on the Border: 8.04.2020 Clara Auyon

Today's post comes from Clara Auyon who has been in the ALS program for a couple of years now. With the guidance of literacy staff, she decided to participate in the California COVID Diaries project from the California State Library and California Library Literacy Services, and these are her reflections on the impact that COVID-19 has had on her life.

How has your life changed?

My life changed because I had to reorganize my day to day trying to fulfill my personal and professional activities without leaving home. Being in contact with my family, friends, neighbors, virtually, no longer hugging, kissing, meeting or sharing important dates with them in person. We had to implement all the hygiene protocols inside and outside the house, with food and not food as indicated by health authorities. Being at home all day we had to create new activities to fill our free time.

How have you changed?

It made me even more sensitive to the reality experienced by the most vulnerable people, valuing and enjoying what I have, my husband, my kids, my friends, my work, recognizing and investing every minute in what is really worthy, thanking God for being alive, for giving me faith and hope in these difficult times, for having a roof, food. Continuing working to be a better person, more committed to help others.

Important highlights: any silver linings?

We spend more time with my children, family thru WhatsApp, Zoom, etc. I am very happy to share more time with my husband. Before I only saw him Monday to Friday from 10 pm to 8 am. We have time to sharing activities that we like, cooking, watching movies, talking about politics, technology, etc.  READ MORE ➤➤

Camarena Library Adult Literacy Services

These services are offered to adults, 16 years or older who are not enrolled in school, who would like to improve their English reading skills. One-on-one tutoring is available upon enrollment in the program. Volunteers from the community help other improve their English reading and writing skills in this program.

Call the library at (760) 768-2170 to set up an appointment

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 9

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 13-15 yrs. old

(Eighth and Ninth graders) 

Camarena Library ▬ Meet Our Tutors: Mark Hurych

Meet Our Tutors: Mark Hurych

Adult Literacy on the Border: 7.27.2020

Mark Hurych on the Challenges of Tutoring - Camarena Memorial Library

Oh boy. OK, maybe it is a challenge to get me to shut up once I get rolling. I don't think tutoring or teaching is challenging. 

Let me explain. Raising a child to be kind and considerate, that's challenging, especially if you are trying to put food on the table and keep everybody healthy.

Dealing with a child with health issues in early life? (I've been there.) That qualifies as challenging.

I challenge myself when it comes to education. I've defined it as something completely different from schooling. Most of what typically goes on in K thru PhD is schooling, in my opinion. Getting schooled is common and it expresses the usual way of operating schools.

Taking, yes that's right I say "taking," an education is entirely different. When I ask myself a question and treat that question the same way you might treat "Where are my damn keys?" when you're on your way to work, when I ask myself a question in that way I begin to educate myself. No one can educate me. They can write a book, or write to me, they can send me a message, they can help me find my damn keys, sometimes, but the motivation to ask and answer is mine and mine alone.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 6

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 10-11 yrs. olds

(Fifth and Sixth graders)

Camarena Library ◯ Adult Literacy on the Border Blog

Adult Literacy on the Border

Our First Blog Post: 6.04.2020

Welcome to the Adult Literacy Services blog for Camarena Memorial Library. We are located here in Calexico, California. Calexico is the southernmost city in Imperial County, and we share the border with Mexicali, Mexico. We know that 1 in every 2 adults in Imperial County is reading at or below Level 1 Literacy (PIAAC survey of adult skills). That's a much higher rate than the rest of California unfortunately.

So, if you are trying to improve your literacy skills, if you're an adult 16 years and older and are not concurrently enrolled in high school, and if you are able to do the intake interview in English, this is the program for you. You are at the right place.

Or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer to help an adult build their literacy skills, then this is also the program for you. As long as you are willing to commit to at least six months of tutoring and feel comfortable tutoring virtually (for now), we provide you with all the training you need and work with your schedule. Also, the staff here at our library are super kind and friendly, so don't feel intimidated about trying something new. 

Here you will find regular updates on our services, stories from our tutors and learners, and links to resources you might find helpful.

Currently our library is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are still doing our best to offer you opportunities to learn or tutor from home. In addition to tutoring services, we offer a weekly conversation class (this is currently offered online via Zoom), and beginning ESL classes. We have a great collection of literacy workbooks and resources to help you learn or tutor. ( 12 comments )  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 11

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 15-17 yrs. old

(Tenth to Eleventh graders)

Huntington Beach Library ◯ Writer to Writer Is Coming Soon!

Writer to Writer Is Coming Soon!

Literacy Volunteers-HBPL: 8.28.2019

Writer to Writer is a unique writing challenge through the Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN). Writer to Writer invites adult literacy learners to write a letter to an author whose writing has changed the way they think about life. A group of learners from Literacy Volunteers-HBPL participated in the challenge this year. We hope you enjoy some of their letters!

Women of the Silk

Dear Gail Tsukiyama,

I read your book Women of the Silk with my tutor when I was working on my English grammar. I came from China when I was fourteen. Sometimes when I read your book I felt so familiar with Pei’s culture, this made me feel close to Pei. I really love her because she is a happy person no matter what happens to her. She always has a positive attitude that teenagers today don’t always keep.

Sincerely with respect,

Michelle W

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World

Dear Mr. Montgomery,

I was so impressed about Temple’s story.  She was one of those kids who did not fit in with the rest of the crowd.  But she used her unique abilities and passions in the right way to become successful in life.  Temple is a different person because she was born with autism.  Her thinking was in pictures, not in words.  Autism helped her understand the feelings of animals, so she could make their lives better. Her love of making things and creating saved her life. She had tough times but she fought back.  As she grew up, she discovered that when one door closed, another door opened; that made her happy. Temple learned to use her autism to help her reach her goals.  Temple’s success gave autistic kids hope that success is possible for them.

Sincerely,

Hoang L.

Dear Juana Medina,

I have to thank you because I enjoyed reading your book, Juana and Lucas very much.  When I started to read the book, I loved the way you spell the name Juana who-ah-nah.  The way that you describe Bogota makes me feel like I have been there before.  Like Juana, I enjoy reading in the night.  She had Lucas with her and I enjoyed reading along.

Thank you Juana Medina for your wonderful book.

Sincerely,

Silvia

READ MORE >>

SCLLN 

Adult Literacy Tutor and Learner Conference

Writer To Writer Awards

March 21, 2020

Holiday Inn Buena Park

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 6

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 10-11 yrs. olds (Fifth and Sixth graders)

Los Angeles Public Library :: Spotlight on Literacy: A Dream Come True

Spotlight on Literacy: A Dream Come True

LAPL Blog: 7.31.2019 by Luisa Latham, Adult Literacy Tutor

Randall Hinson, Librarian, Office of Education and Literacy

Last July, three students began a journey toward literacy via Leamos, a computer-based literacy program, at the Pacoima Branch Library. Leamos teaches Spanish speaking adults, who may not have had the opportunity for formative education, to begin working toward competency in reading and writing in their native language. It also equips them with basic computer skills. It can serve as a pre-ESL(English as a Second Language) course as well.

Nine months after beginning their study, two dedicated and hardworking students have stayed the course and continued their journey toward literacy. Ana Teresa Batrez and Silvia Barahona Garcia come to the library each Monday for two hours to reinforce and extend their reading and writing skills. To date, they have succeeded in reading a wide variety of texts including children’s books, newspaper headlines, employment applications, food and prescription labels, crossword puzzle clues, horoscopes, riddles and the reflections of previous students who completed Leamos.  READ MORE >>

Huntington Beach Library :: SCLLN Writer To Writer Challenge

Writer to Writer

Literacy Volunteers-HBPL Blog: 5.23.2019

Writer to Writer is a unique writing challenge through the Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN). Writer to Writer invites adult literacy learners to write a letter to an author whose writing has changed the way they think about life. A group of learners from Literacy Volunteers-HBPL participated in the challenge this year. We hope you enjoy some of their letters!

Dear Mr. Gary Chapman,

I read your book The Five Love Languages of Teenagers and I want to say that this is a wonderful book.  This book is having a good impact on me.  It’s taught me many things, like how parents focus more on the errors of their teenagers and the parents forget to give affirmation words.  Parents are hurting who they most love.  Parents and teenagers both battle with each other and both end up hurt.  Another thing that as parents we forget to do is the right thing when the teenager makes mistakes.  Love your teenager when they fail.  This book helped me understand my teenager.  My relationship with my daughter now is better.  I’m trying to be a better mother following the advice from this book.

The next book that I’m reading is The five Love Languages of Children.  Then I hope I can read The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts.  I think both books are great.  Overall, thank you for writing this kind of book Mr. Gary Chapman.  I learned a lot.  This book was very helpful.  My daughter and I became friends but sometimes I have to remind her I’m her mother.

Sincerely,

J. A.

READ MORE >>

Los Angeles Public Library :: Spring Spotlight On Adult Literacy

Spring Spotlight on

Adult Literacy

LAPL Literacy Blog: 2.06.2019 by Megan Katz, Librarian, Office of Education and Literacy

Looking for a way to contribute to your community? Consider becoming an adult literacy volunteer with the Los Angeles Public Library! Statistics show that an estimated 33% of the adult residents of Los Angeles lack basic prose literacy skills. This means that, at best, they may be “able to locate easily identifiable information in short, commonplace prose text, but nothing more advanced” (National Center forEducation Statistics, 2003). Of course, many of these people cannot read at all.

Los Angeles Public Library tutor Luisa Latham says of her students: As a result of being illiterate, these individuals have felt isolated and alienated and not able to function fully within their communities… [They] have expressed to me their fear and hesitancy around any experience where they would be asked to read—to fill out a job application, to vote, to do so many things that we take for granted and that they cannot participate in. You can help alleviate literacy inequality by becoming a volunteer. We have many different opportunities, including teaching classes, working one-on-one with a student, and more.

Tutor Claire Chandler decided to use her time to help others, “When I retired, I thought about volunteer opportunities and about how to work toward changes I would like to see in the world. Even though I had no experience teaching anyone how to read, I applied to be a tutor at the Adult Literacy Program.”

Adult literacy volunteers change lives, but the most inspiring thing about volunteering may be what you will gain from it. Tutor Lorena Lordanic tells us, “Tutoring Carmen this past year has benefited my life in so many ways. Not only do I get to think of innovative ways to help her reach her goals, but Carmen also inspires me to continue learning.”

Are you ready to have your life changed by becoming an adult literacy volunteer?

Contact us today! Call 213-228-7037 or find the Literacy Center closest to you.  READ MORE >>

Huntington Beach Library :: My Summer Adventure

My Summer Adventure

Literacy Volunteers-HBPL Blog: 8.31.2018 by Michelle Wang

My family moved to the United States five years ago when I was a freshman in high school. Last summer I went back to China for a two month vacation. I looked forward to seeing my family and friends. I especially looked forward to having “real Chinese food!”

Getting to China was so exciting. This is the first time I traveled by myself. Once I got through security I was on my own. I took care of my luggage on my own. When I got to Beijing I had to change planes all by myself. Finally I met my Aunt in my hometown. (I’m not telling you its name because you probably couldn’t say it.)  I felt so proud of myself for getting there on my own.

I found my city had changed a lot. There were better and fancier shopping malls, like South Coast Plaza. I had a lot of fun with my friends going to the shopping mall. Another thing that had changed was my middle school. They had totally rebuilt my school and now it looks really different. I couldn’t go visit because it was summertime and the school was closed.  READ MORE >>

Oct 2 Adult Literacy Tutor Orientation

Huntington Beach Library

Oak View Branch 9:30a – 12N

Training: Oct 9 – 16 – 23

Banned Book Week :: Literacy | Ventura Co | Moorpark | ALA OIF | Censorship | DCPL | Politics Prose | Flintridge Books

Tweet – Tweeter – Tweetest

Superlatives from SCLLN

At #vclOjaiLibrary we put all the books

THEY don’t want you to read in one convenient place.

#BannedBooksWeek #vcLibraries

@vencolibrary  Sep 21

#BannedBooksWeek is almost here!

Don't forget to come to the library for your BBW

#wanted poster!

@MoorparkCityLib  Sep 21

Support #BannedBooksWeek,

add a #Twibbon now!

@BannedBooksWeek  Sep 21

#BannedBooksWeek is in 5 Days!

Lot of upcoming events.

Check out our reminder email

@BannedBooksWeek https://iz4.me/kg2ZrB1 

@OIF  Sep 20

#BannedBooksWeek:

Join @VickyBaker on 29 Sept to chat with

@CLBaldacchinov, @jessicaherthel, Wendy Doniger

@IndexCensorship Sep 22

It's almost #BannedBooksWeek

& @dcpl is helping us hide

these censored books in plain sight

http://bit.ly/2czEHkt

@PoliticsProse Sep 9

So touched by the city's response to #UncensoredDC

Thanks to our amazing partners.

Couldn't have done it w/o U!

@dcpl_literati  Sep 16

Banned Books & Indie Picks

http://conta.cc/2bRjsuM 

@flintridgebooks  Sep 21

Huntington Beach Library :: This Was My Chance !

This was my chance!

Literacy Volunteers-HBPL Blog: 2.02.2016

Martha came into the literacy office this morning excited to tell us great news.  

Last week, she heard from a friend that a new restaurant was hiring.  She went to apply and discovered that none of the staff spoke Spanish.  “I filled out the application in English and they called me in for an interview.  I was able to speak with them in English.  They hired me and that day I started working!  I am so happy!“

Martha told us how much she appreciates the literacy program and our literacy tutors because she was able to fill out the application and do the interview in English, something she would never have been able to do before.  Her co-workers do not speak Spanish so she will have the opportunity to use English at work and she couldn’t be happier.

Go Literacy and Go Martha!

Share a Story-Shape a Future 2013

Share a Story – Shape a Future 2013
March 4 - 8
Literacy The First 5 Years

Share a Story - Shape a Future is a blog event for literacy. Throughout the week, blogging librarians, teachers, parents, authors, illustrators and people passionate about literacy will offer ideas on ways to promote reading and books. You won't find statistics, academic analysis, or judgments that tell you why you should read. Instead, we are using the power of the Worldwide web to share ideas about ways to engage kids as readers.

Mar 4: Literacy with Infants and Babies - The First Year
Host: Maria Burel @ Once Upon a Story

Mar 5: Playing with Literacy - The Toddler Years (ages 2 to 3)
Host: Terry Doherty @ Share a Story - Shape a Future

Mar 6: Prepping for Preschool: Early Literacy (ages 3 to 4)
Host: Debbie Alvarez @ The Styling Librarian

Mar 7 : The ABCs of Reading & Writing (ages 4 to 5)
Host: Tif @ Tif Talks Books

Mar 8: Look Mom, I Can Read (age 5)
Host: Terry @ Family Bookshelf