FreeRice

FreeRice
How does playing the vocabulary game at FreeRice help me ?

Learning new vocabulary has tremendous benefits. It may make you smarter: may improve your speaking, writing, thinking . . . .

Click on the answer that best defines the word. If you get it right, you get a harder word. If wrong, you get an easier word.

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FreeRice donates 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program for each word you get right.

The UN World Food Programme is proud to be the beneficiary of FreeRice.

FreeRice is a creative web-based vocabulary game that ties every correct answer to the donation of rice to WFP. The great thing is that the more you play FreeRice and the more you learn, the more rice we are able to purchase to feed hungry people around the world.

Literacy @ CLA 2007

California Library Association's 109th Annual Conference was held in Long Beach, from October 26-29. As the premiere continuing education event of the year, the conference offered dozens of workshops. Notable speakers at the conference included actress and children's author, Jamie Lee Curtis, Craig's List Founder Craig Newmark and futurist Bob Treadway.

The Literacy Section presented a number of workshops and sessions during the Conference. Here are the Literacy Tracks from the 2006 Conference. Stay tuned for links to the 2007 Tracks:

Digital Stories: Voices From the Community
Shanti Bhaskaran, Santa Clara City Liberty; Leslie Rule, KQED; Sivakami Ramkumar, Read Santa Clara
The Art and Science of Digital Storytelling (22k)

Dsylexia: What Does Science Have to Do With It?
Kelli Sandman-Hurley, READ/San Diego; Tracy Block, READ/San Diego, San Diego Public Library
What is Dyslexia? (580k)

Early Learning with Families @ Your Library
Judy Klikun, North Bay Cooperative Library System, LSTA ELF & ROR Initiatives; Lyn Palme, Contra Costa County Library, Every Child Ready to Read; Sandy Tosti, Solano County Library, LSTA Reach Out and Read; Carol Welsh Gray, Center for Venture Philanthropy, Raising a Reader Growing Up With Books Power Point Presentation (1438k)
Making a Case for the Need to Nurture Early Brain Development (99k)

Engaging Discussion and Finding Voice Through Children's Literature
Cathay Reta; Rachel Bindman, Los Angeles Public Library; Deborah Estreicher, San Jose Public Library; Lynne Price, Benicia Public Library; Nina Torres, Madera County Library
Primetime Discussion Ideas (15k)
2005-06 Report (44k)
Workshop Handout (34k)
Primetime Commercial (21k)

Funders Tell All: How to Compete for Scarce Dollars
Jacquie Brinkley, California State Library; Marissa Panlilo, Starbucks; Arcelia Chavez, KVIE Public Television; Lani Schiff-Ross, First 5 San Joaquin
KVIE Education & Outreach Services (258k)
KVIE Workshops (1294k)

Literacy Advocacy in Plain English
Marsha L. Tait, ProLiteracy Worldwide
Power Point Presentation (121k)
ProLiteracy Worldwide - Advocacy Resources Guide

Project Money: an Innovative and Accessible Approach to Increasing Financial Literacy for Adults
Randall Weaver, San Francisco Public Library; Susan Stuart Clark, Common Knowledge, Inc.; Leon Veal, San Francisco Public Library — Project Read; Donna Jones, South San Francisco Library — Project Read
Project Money 2006 Overview (102k)
Choosing Your Credit Card (1420k)
Project Money Quiz (55k)
How the Little Things Add Up (49k)

Raising Your Voice: Libraries & Literacy
Valerie Reinke, California State Library; Donna Jones, South San Francisco Library Literacy Program; Darlene Garcia and Bruce Larson, Alameda County Library Literacy Program; Ruben Dozal Jr., Santa Clara County Library Literacy Program; Shanti Bhaskaran, Santa Clara City Library
A History of Adult Learner Leadership in California Library Literacy Services (13k)

Responding to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy
Marsha L. Tait, ProLiteracy Worldwide ProLiteracy Policy Update, 12-15-05 (47k)
ProLiteracy Policy Update, 12-27-05 (37k)
Power Point Presentation (404k)

Burbank Library - Tutor Recognition Luncheon

Supporting cancer research, new readers.

Burbank Leader: 10.30.07
On The Town by David Laurell

Halloween may be billed as the most terrifying day of the year (with the exception of April 15), and tutors are helping to make learning less terrifying for those who cannot read or write.

Tutors who have changed the lives of others by giving the gift of literacy were honored Saturday at the Buena Vista Branch Library.

In her remarks to the honorees, Reinke related a story about her late grandfather, Augustine Gonzalez, who came to the United States from Mexico at the age of 13 but did not learn to read or write until he was in his 30s.

“Even in his 90s, he never forgot those people who taught him to read and write,” Reinke said. “You have done the same thing for the people whose lives you have impacted. They will never forget you.”

Among those in attendance for the recognition luncheon were City Manager Mary Alvord, library services director Sharon Cohen, library board of trustees member Dorie Beaumont and library staff including Helen Wang, Pat King, Lorraine Corona, Louise Paziak and Bill Byrne, who serves as the literacy services coordinator.

Special guests on hand included Patricia Smart, who founded the literacy program in Burbank in 1992 with the help of Millie Engel, Donna Tramell and Susan Spears. Among those honored for their volunteer work with the literacy program were Robyn Anderson, Jo Andreae, Liana Augustinus, Donna Bandiera, Michelle Butler, Anahid Haroutounian, Lee Harner, Susan Borders, Linda Chapple, Sukanya Chinawongskul, Jessica Corona, Karissa Corona, Jeanell Dennis, Micheal Ferrel, Pat Gafford, Karen Galich, Rachel Garcia, Pam Jerome, Irene Kunze, Judith Pawlek, Roxanne Pergola, Judith Rosso-Diaz, Jeff Rothenbach, David Saltman, Bill Stafford, Victoria Uvas, Eula Warren, Barbara Weiss and Mary Zaghikian.  READ ON

Oceanside Library - Celebrates 10th Anniversary !

Oceanside READS
Celebrates 10th Anniversary !Newsletter: Fall 2007 by Suzanne McGowan,

Youth Services and Literacy Supv.

As we move forward in our day to day routines, we don’t always take the time to stop and look at our accomplishments. Milestone years are great for taking the time to reflect on the changes and happenings over a period of time. As Oceanside READS celebrates ten years of service, I am honored to reflect on its many success stories.

Oceanside READS began as an adult literacy program in July 1997. The inaugural year served thirty-two learners with thirty-three active tutors. Ten years later, READS is a busy center that provides literacy services for adults as well as for children. This past year, Oceanside READS served ninety-one children and adult learners, with over seventy active tutors. The tutors display incredible commitment, as they not only work one-on-one with learners, meeting weekly for a minimum of six months, but they also prepare lessons, review materials, research and implement current trends and methodology, and take part in outreach programs. In 2006/2007, the topnotch tutors of Oceanside READS dedicated over four thousand volunteer hours. Although we can measure their hours of service, the value of those hours is priceless.

It is impossible to share the success stories of the READS program without mentioning Sandy Phillips and Corrie Miles. Humbly, they work with a dedication that is unrivaled. Their styles balance one another perfectly and they are a phenomenal team. Together they work to assess the needs of every learner that walks through the door. They recruit, train, schedule, match, and supervise tutors. They review materials and resources to assist the tutors with a variety of educational needs. Books & Bagels, the literacy book discussion group, is in its fifth year. READS partnered with Starbucks for three years of Sipping Stories. They host brown bag lunches and volunteer trainings as well as provide access to state and regional workshops and conferences.

The program has produced three scholarship winners, Writer to Writer award winners, and hundreds of success stories. Thank you to all of the people who have contributed to the success of Oceanside READS over the last ten years. If you would like to be a part of a first-rate literacy organization, please do not hesitate to contact Oceanside READS to find out how you can help.

Changing Lives One Word At A Time