Friday, February 5, 2010

Temple Grandin: HBO – February 6

Temple Grandin: HBO – February 6

Temple Grandin, Ph.D., is the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world.

Now her fascinating life, with all its challenges and successes is being brought to the screen. HBO has produced the full-length film Temple Grandin, which premieres on Saturday, February 6th on HBO. [ watch preview ]

She has been featured on NPR (National Public Radio), major television programs, such as the BBC special "The Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow", ABC's Primetime Live, The Today Show, Larry King Live, 48 Hours and 20/20, and has been written about in many national publications, such as Time magazine, People magazine, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, and New York Times.

Among numerous other recognitions by media, Bravo Cable did a half-hour show on her life, and she was featured in the best-selling book, Anthropologist from Mars.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Save Our Libraries - Advocate ! ! !

Jeff Ackerman: Rescuing the written word
The Union: February 2, 2010


There should never have been a doubt. Time and time again ... just when I think you've been tapped out ... you deliver.

Knowing that, I was still blown away Thursday when the mailman dropped off a very large stack of envelopes filled with donations to our Save Our Libraries campaign we launched just 24 hours earlier.

Based on the letters and phone calls and comments we've gotten as the county continues to consider contracting our library operations to a private company, we got a pretty good sense that most of you were very passionately opposed to that notion.

As we've discussed, our libraries are facing some serious financial trouble and the county has been working feverishly to produce ways to keep the five branches open.
. . . . .
Why special treatment for the libraries? Why should The Union choose to help rescue the libraries when all around there are needs just as significant as keeping our libraries open?

Literacy. We have a vested interest in reading. We have a vested interest in the printed word.

Ours is an emotional connection. It's a natural one. The Doris Foley Library, for example, houses copies of The Union dating back to 1864 ... more than 145 years' worth.
. . . . .
Our plan is to sustain this library effort. By the end of the week we'll provide an update of the total, complete with a personal thanks to all of you who made donations. I can't tell you how much they meant to me and to our libraries.

And for those who still wish to participate, but missed last week's envelope, donations may be sent to: Save Our Libraries, c/o The Union at 464 Sutton Way, Grass Valley, 95945. READ MORE !

. . . from literacyspace blog:

URGENT MESSAGE FOR LIBRARY ADVOCATES

ALA reports that Congressional offices hear from teachers, police and firefighters every day and almost nothing from the library community.

Libraries are as essential as schools and public safety.
Libraries help the economy by helping people find jobs.
Library jobs are being cut now.
Libraries are not included in the Jobs for Main Street Act.

Library Advocates and Librarians must be as vocal as other public employees. The reason they are getting funding in this piece of legislation is because they call their congressional offices more often and in higher numbers than the library community.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

2010 SCLLN Literacy Conference

SCLLN Tutor Learner Literacy Conference
February 27, 2010
Buena Park Holiday Inn
9:00 am – 4:00 pm

“Critiquing to Encourage”Patricia McFall, Author of Night Butterfly, former Professor of Fiction Writing at CSUF, Private Editor/Instructor
Show you how to develop and improve learner writings without destroying their enthusiasm. She will also give you tips on pitfalls learners fall into when they begin writing.

“Creative Writing for Adult Learners”Shenikka Barnes, Learner Coordinator, READ/Orange County
Shows Adult Learners how to get their creative juices flowing using poetry, single words, objects, etc.
LEARNER Strand


“HELP! I have to take a test!”Carol Chapman, Literacy Coordinator, Ventura County
Advanced study skill systems designed to increase and integrate your learners’ skills with comprehension, note taking, and listening.

25th Anniversary Commemorative Celebration Luncheon

Early Bird Registration: Feb 15, 2010
-
click here for Form -
Win A Free Admission – see Q below


$ 35.00: SCLLN Tutors and Staff
$ 10.00: Adult Learners
$ 50.00: Non-Members
Luncheon Commemorative Only: $35.00

Win 1 Ticket to the 2010 SCLLN Conference
Be the 1st person to answer this Q as a Comment to this Post
Only Tutors, Learners or Public are eligible to Win !
Employees of SCLLN programs, its affiliates, subsidiaries,
and their immediate families and household members are not eligible.

What was the SCLLN Group Facebook post about on Dec 22, 2009 ?


Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Escondido Library - Guys Read, and Like it, in Middle School Literacy Program

Guys Read, and Like it, in Middle School Literacy Program
NCTimes: January 31, 2010 by Gary Wrath

Boys will be boys, but that doesn't mean they can't appreciate a good read.

At two middle schools in Escondido, boys are taking one lunch break a week to read and discuss books, stories, graphic novels and even song lyrics with one another and two adult volunteers.

"I joined it because I was interested in the articles they had to read," said Del Dios eighth-grader Jose Agundez. "It's pretty chill. All my friends are here."

His eighth-grade friend, Ezequiel Ramirez, said he didn't like reading before joining the group. "This makes it fun," he said. "They make you understand the stories."

The two students were among nine boys sitting in a semicircle in a Del Dios shop class with adults Luis Hernandez and Michael Zepada, volunteers in the literacy program Guys Read, held each Thursday at Del Dios and each Friday at Mission Park middle schools.

"Guys like doing things together," Hernandez said. "If it's a sport, or reading, we tell each other about it."

But while boys may like reading in elementary school, they feel uncomfortable doing something so solitary around other students once in middle school, Hernandez said.

"They don't want to be the person in the lunch room or in the library, alone with a book," Hernandez said. "But it can be done in a team, just like anything else guys engage in."

Hernandez and Zepada were AmeriCorps volunteers working with the Escondido Library's Literacy Services when program coordinator Josephine Jones asked them to create a reading program targeted at young males.

Hernandez and Zepada also hold a Saturday session once a month called a Mash Up, where boys are asked to bring their fathers to the library to participate in discussions.

Jones, the program coordinator, said she would like to expand the program beyond the two schools, but needs more volunteers. Anyone interested in helping the program can call Jones at 760-839-4219. READ MORE !