Redlands Library ▬ Redlands Celebrates Adult Literacy Program

Redlands Celebrates Adult Literacy Program

Redlands Community News: 10.29.2020 by Shari Forbes

Revived 10 years ago, it sparkles in city’s crown of jewels

If Redlands is the Jewel of the Inland Empire, then the A.K. Smiley Public Library’s Adult Literacy Program is one of the brightest jewels in the city's crown.

For a decade, the program has changed lives and opened new vistas for hundreds of community members with its team of volunteers who provide one-on-one confidential tutoring in reading and writing to help learners in the Redlands community reach their literacy goals.

And it’s free.

“All it takes is a desire to improve your literacy skills and a commitment to meet with your tutor once a week for six months,” said Diane Shimota, coordinator of the Adult Literacy program.

“For many folks with low-literacy skills, there is often the stigma of embarrassment and lack of confidence. We provide a safe, non-threatening and confidential learning environment with a caring tutor who is focused solely on literacy goals.”

An added bonus is the learning venue. The beautiful architecture of the historic A.K. Smiley Library provides peaceful aesthetic settings for learner-tutor sessions.

Coping with COVID

The library reopened on Sept. 9 on a limited basis after being closed for more than six months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This did not stop the literacy program. Learners continued to meet weekly with their tutors via Zoom or on the telephone. Now they can return to the library by reserving space in advance and adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.

Adult learner Guillermina Rangel met her tutor Katherine Gifford in person for the first time during the interview for this feature story. Until this physically distanced meeting in the library garden on Tuesday, Oct. 20, they had been meeting over the telephone.  READ MORE ➤➤

 Interested in Volunteering?

Volunteers are from our community and must be at least 18 years old.  No previous teaching experience is required.  Tutor qualifications are: the ability to speak, read, and write English; compassion and sensitivity to the needs of adult learners; and the willingness to be trained to assist the learner in meeting the learner’s goals.

To learn more, join us at a Zoom Tutor Orientation.

Please call the Redlands Adult Literacy Program office at 909.798.7565, ext. 4138 or email literacy@akspl.org to sign up for the Orientation or if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

Volunteers are needed to:

Tutor: Tutors meet weekly with learners for 1½ hours on a date and time that fits with their schedules.  Meetings occur at A. K. Smiley Library or at library-approved locations.  Tutors are provided with teaching materials and techniques to assist with any challenges that may arise.

Literacy Class Volunteers: Volunteers are also needed for adult literacy computer classes, conversation classes, book clubs, public outreach and other adult literacy activities. If you are interested in supporting adult literacy but cannot make a weekly commitment, we welcome you as an adult literacy volunteer!

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)

Redlands Library ▬ Adult Literacy Program Celebrates Learner-Led Book Club!

Adult Literacy Program Celebrates Learner-Led Book Club!

Tuesdays with Morrie

Redlands Reads: July 2020

Adult learners Martha Romo and Tanya Jauregui are leading the adult literacy program’s first learner-led book club. When asked why she would like to start a book club for adult learners, Tanya shared that book clubs provide an opportunity for “like-minded individuals to help and encourage each other, give everyone confidence, and build community.” Martha sees the book club as an opportunity for learners to lose their fear of reading without the support of their tutors.

Both learners know the power of reading. Martha shared that “every little thing you read opens your mind to new ideas or to better answers in your life.” Likewise, Tanya said, “Reading gives essential nutrients to the brain and helps to expand life’s journey.” The book club met for the first time only a few days prior to the library’s closure due to Covid-19.

The book club’s inaugural book was Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, chosen by Tanya and Martha for its themes of friendship and compassion. Book club participants were fortunate to be able to get to know one another in person at this meeting. By the time the second book club discussion took place in May, the community was under stay-at-home orders and the meeting took place through Zoom.  READ MORE ➤➤

 

To learn more, join us at a Zoom Tutor Orientation.

Please call the Redlands Adult Literacy Program office at 909.798.7565, ext. 4138 or email literacy@akspl.org to sign up for the Orientation or if you have any questions.

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Grade Level: 10

Reading Level: standard / average.

Reader's Age: 14-15 yrs. old

(Ninth to Tenth graders)

Writer to Writer Celebration Event ▬ International Literacy Day ▬ September 8 @ 1 PM

Writer to Writer Celebration Event

International Literacy Day

September 8 - 1 PM

National Literacy Month

Writer to Writer Celebration Event

CLA Calendar: 9.8.2020

Join adult literacy learners and State Librarian Greg Lucas in honoring the winners of the annual Writer to Writer Challenge! Writer to Writer is an annual writing contest held in literacy programs in Southern California Library Literacy Network libraries and Monterey County Free Library.

Learners read a book, then write a letter to the author about the impact the book had on their life. 

Hear the learners read their letters and get inspired to create your own Writer to Writer letter.

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)

Redlands Library ▬ Redlands Family’s Literacy Journey Leads To Educational, Employment Opportunities

Redlands Family’s Literacy Journey Leads To Educational, Employment Opportunities

Redlands Daily Facts: 8.01.2020  by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator-A.K. Smiley Library

Many adults who join the Redlands Adult Literacy Program want to improve their reading and writing skills so they can get better jobs, further their own education, and advocate for their children. Through hard work and perseverance adult learners can change their own and their family’s lives for the better. 

The following is a story of adult learners who graduated from the Redlands Adult Literacy Program and, with their new literacy skills, started a business, earned a GED, and encouraged their children to excel in their education.

Monica Sanchez joined the adult literacy program in February 2014 because she needed to become an advocate for her special needs son. Working with her tutor, Rebecca McCurdy, she gained literacy skills that enabled her to communicate effectively with teachers and medical professionals, understand medical directives, and support her son. Monica’s goals changed over time to include dreams of attaining her GED, supporting her children with their education, and getting a better job. Monica diligently worked for four years in the literacy program to improve her reading, grammar, vocabulary, and writing. She celebrated when she earned her GED in 2017 because this opened doors to better employment.

In 2018, she was hired by the Redlands Unified School District to work as a campus monitor at an elementary school. Monica shared, “I liked being a campus monitor; it was a fun and comfortable job for me. I was playing with kids and getting paid for that.”

When the coronavirus pandemic forced the closure of schools, Monica, like so many others, found herself unemployed. She eventually began working as a DoorDash driver and used this as an opportunity to teach her younger children about what it was like to have a job and manage their own money; they helped her leave meals on porches and Monica gave them an allowance of $1 per delivery.

═════════►

Monica’s husband, Armando Sanchez, also joined the literacy program in 2014. His goals were to improve his reading and writing in order to advance at his job at Ashley Furniture and to have a better life.  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 12

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 17-18 yrs. old

(Twelfth graders)

Los Angeles Public Library ─ It’s a Match ─ Adult Literacy Services

It’s a Match

Adult Literacy Services Spring 2020 Newsletter

READ: Spring 2020

About It’s a Match A special relationship is created when a tutor and learner are successfully matched together. It’s A Match allows tutors and learners to express how they feel about their match in their own words.

Marleny Moreno By Tutor Jonathan Lesser

As a tutor, I have been working with Marleny for 2 years and I continue to be impressed with her dedication and her progress every time we meet. What is most impressive to me about Marleny is her continued dedication to improving her reading, writing, and speaking skills. In addition to our tutoring sessions, she has also attended English language classes at a local adult school, and is always looking for additional opportunities to learn and to practice.

Marleny also writes pieces in her spare time to practice her English on topics of interest to her, and proudly submits her work to any writing challenge or call for articles that she sees. I am fortunate for the opportunity to hear about her life and to see how she expresses herself on things that are meaningful to her.

═════════►

Thank You Jonathan By Learner Marleny Moreno

It’s my turn.

It is time to talk about my amazing tutor Jonathan Lesser. I’ll always be very grateful to Jonathan for all he has taught me since March 10, 2018 until now.

I have learned a lot from him. He is a very good teacher. I admire him because he is active and also has a lot of energy to teach me after his job. When I started to meet him I did not have the ability to talk and write in English like today. In our meeting we have conversations. If I make a mistake he corrects me. In addition, he teaches me how to pronounce and write words that I write incorrectly. When I read to him, he asks me questions about what I read. Also I have to write about what I read. I always see him happy. In his spare time, he plays guitar and plays very well.   READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on 7 readability formulas:

Grade Level: 7

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 11-13 yrs. old

(Sixth and Seventh graders)

Los Angeles Public Library ◯ April Volunteers & Tutors of the Month ◯ America Learns News

@americalearns

April Volunteers & Tutors of the Month

Los Angeles Public Library News

America Learns News

Every month this year, we are choosing two volunteers AND two learners who inspire us, and we're giving them a $25 Visa gift card as a token of our esteem!

Please join me in recognizing the work of our amazing honorees!

April Volunteers of the Month

Timothy B nominated by Yvette C and Karen H

In grateful recognition of your service as an Adult Literacy Program volunteer at the Singleton Adult Literacy Center of the Los Angeles Public Library

Yvette says, “Tim is an incredible walk-in-tutor! He moved here recently and has been volunteering with us since June 2019. Our patrons really enjoy working with him. He comes in twice a week and subs when needed.

Karen R nominated by Ulises C

In grateful recognition of your service as an Adult Literacy Program volunteer at the Junipero Serra Branch Literacy Center of the Los Angeles Public Library

Ulises says, “Karen is a new walk-in tutor at the Junipero Serra Literacy Center. On her first day as a walk-in tutor, she assisted four patrons.

April Learners of the Month

Chaquante H nominated by Karen H

In recognition of your inspiring commitment to your literacy goals at the Singleton Adult Literacy Center of the Los Angeles Public Library

Karen says, “Chaquante is a native English speaker and she has been with the program for about 3 years. She qualified to be part of the One-on-One program, but due to her work schedule it was hard to match her with a tutor. I recommended for Chaquante to work with a Walk-In-Tutor.

Alexandra V nominated by Priscilla R

In recognition of your commitment to your literacy goals at the Singleton Adult Literacy Center of the Los Angeles Public Library

Priscilla says, “Alexandra came to us as a really shy individual with special needs. Her family as well as she wanted her to be independent. Her family used to bring her to the lab once a week from outside the city. She then took Access Services Paratransit. Now she is taking public transportation on her own! She has been so confident and independent. She has really bloomed with her success with Reading Horizons.”  READ MORE ➤➤

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 10

Reading Level: fairly difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 14-15 yrs. old

(Ninth to Tenth graders)

Redlands Library ◯ 3 Adult Literacy Students In Redlands Honored For Their Writing

3 Adult Literacy Students In Redlands Honored For Their Writing

Redlands Daily Facts: 4.26.2020 by Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coord-AK Smiley Library

The cornerstones of literacy are reading comprehension and effective writing. Over the past two years, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program has offered tutor training and learner workshops to help learners develop stronger writing skills. The focus on writing led to 10 adult learners from the Redlands Adult Literacy Program entering into the Writer-to-Writer Challenge, sponsored by the Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN). 

The SCLLN annual Writer-to-Writer Challenge invites adult learners throughout Southern California to write a letter to an author, living or dead, whose book has inspired them. This year, 95 adult learners from the Southern California region submitted letters to the challenge. Literacy coordinators screened the letters and selected the top five in each of four categories. Panels of adult learners then judged the top letters and selected one winner and two runners-up for each level of writing.

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program is happy to announce that three adult learners, Marisela Casillas, Maria Hernandez, and Tanya Jauregui, earned runner-up recognition from SCLLN.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, the awards ceremony that would have recognized these learners has been postponed. The Redlands Adult Literacy Program acknowledges the achievement of all adult learners who submitted writing to the challenge and celebrates the three runners-up from Redlands.

Here is what the awardees said they had gained from their experience:

Marisela Casillas

Casillas read the book “Seedfolks” and wrote a letter to author Paul Fleischman. “Seedfolks” was the first book Casillas had read on her own. She chose to write the author because she could relate to the characters in the book.

Maria Hernandez

Hernandez entered the challenge with her letter to Stephanie Sammartino McPherson, reflecting upon the book “Peace and Bread” about the life of Jane Addams. Hernandez was moved by the compassion Jane Addams felt for the poor, especially children and immigrants. Hernandez’s mother shared Jane Addams’ compassion for others and passed this along to her daughter.

Tanya Jauregui

Jauregui read Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” and wrote, “… you gave me courage to find my voice and speak louder for the Adult Literacy Program … I need to keep using my voice to advocate for such an amazing program.”  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)

Burbank Library ◯ Adult Literacy Tutor Thank You Video

Adult Literacy Tutor Thank You Video

Burbank Public Library: 4.27.2020

For one out of five adults in the United States,

reading this paragraph is either difficult or impossible.

Twenty percent of adults have trouble with filling out forms,

taking the DMV license exam without assistance, 

helping their children with homework,

addressing an envelope, or writing a check.

              

The mission of our Literacy Services program is to help create a better informed community in which literacy helps parents read to their children, improves job prospects for adults, and leads families toward positive life choices.

Burbank Public Library has provided literacy services since 1992. We offer FREE one-on-one tutoring to people over the age of 16 who are not enrolled in high school and who speak and understand English, but read and write below 8th grade level. Burbank Public Library Literacy Services, a member of California Library Literacy Services, receives matching funds from the California State Library.

ADULT LEARNERS

Tutoring in reading is available for people 16 or older who speak and understand English but read and write below an 8th grade level.

To enroll in the program you must schedule an interview during which an assessment to measure current reading abilities will be given.

If you qualify for the program learners will be matched with a volunteer for twice a week tutoring sessions.

To make an appointment for an interview, call 818-238-5577.

ENGLISH NATURALLY: A CONVERSATION GROUP

The class is free and meets each week at Burbank Central Library in the second floor Literacy Conference Room. You don’t need to sign up, just drop by when your schedule permits.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 - 11:30 am

Wednesday evening sessions, 7 - 8:30 pm

Want to improve your English conversation skills?

Need to learn more American expressions?

Our conversation class, English Naturally, might be for you! If you have any questions, please call the Literacy office, 818-238-5577.

VOLUNTEER TUTORS

Volunteer tutors must be 18 or older. No experience is necessary.

Tutors meet twice weekly with an adult learner (for a minimum of six months).

To find out more about becoming a tutor, call 818-238-5577.

"Learning to read is hard; not learning is harder."

Santa Monica Library ◯ Mariana Boliarova, Adult Learner in LEAF Program ◯ Won SCLLN "Writer to Writer"

Mariana Boliarova, Adult Learner in LEAF Program, Won Southern California Library Literacy Network's "Writer to Writer"

Santa Monica Public Library: 3.26.2020

Mariana Boliarova, an adult learner in the Library's LEAF (Literacy Education for Adults & Families) program, won the Southern California Library Literacy Network's "Writer to Writer" contest with this letter to Sandra Cisneros. She shared her accomplishment with acclaimed author Cisneros and received this heartfelt response. Congrats to Mariana and her tutor Jialing Wang!

Sandra Cisneros

SCLLN Writer to Writer Awards ◯ 2019

Intermediate Category:

Winner

Mariana D

Santa Monica Public Library

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Runners-Up

German N

Los Angeles Public Library

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Tanya J

A.K. Smiley Public Library

Becoming by Michelle Obama

READ MORE ➤➤

2020 SCLLN Literacy Conference ◯ March 21

2020 SCLLN Literacy Conference

March 21, 2020. 8:00 am–3:00 pm

Holiday Inn, Buena Park

Hotel and Conference Center

STRAND 1: 9 am -10:15 am

_ Brainstorming

Higher Order Thinking – Gateway To Success in Writing

_ Sticky Situations – What Happens When Lines Are Crossed

_ Dyslexia For A Day – Overview

Learners & Tutors

_ Urban Possibilities – Games & Writing To Find Your Story

STRAND 2: 10:30 am – 11:45 am

_ Tech & Teaching

_ What Every Tutor Should Know About Pronunciation – Color Vowel Chart

_ Remediation & Instruction For Dyslexia – Orton Gillingham Method (Part 1)

Learners & Tutors

_ Naturalization & Citizenship

LUNCH ◯ Writer To Writer Ceremony

12 Noon - 1:30 pm

STRAND 3: 1:45 pm – 3 pm

_ Remediation & Instruction For Dyslexia – Orton Gillingham Method (Part 2)

_ Tutor Ready Writing

_ U S Census – FAQs Updates Materials

Learners & Tutors

_ Writer To Writer Learner Panel

Please Choose a 1^st and 2^nd Choice in Each Strand

Registration

Early Bird - Feb 21

$35.00: Tutors, Volunteers, Staff

$15.00: Learners

After Feb 21

$50.00: Tutors, Volunteers, Staff

$20.00: Learners

LUNCH ONLY: $35.00

Email

SCLLN2014@gmail.com

Mail

Los Angeles Public Library

Adult Literacy / SCLLN

630 W Fifth

LA  CA  90071

 

Carrie Scott

Community Outreach Supervisor
Carlsbad City Library Learning Center

3368 Eureka Place

Carlsbad, CA 92008

760-931-4515