2009 SCLLN Tutor-Learner Literacy Conference

SCLLN Literacy Conference 2009
March 7, 2009
Buena Park Holiday Inn: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Stephen J. Cannell - Keynote Speaker

Early Bird Registration: Feb 1, 2009

Win A Free Admission – see Q below

$ 35.00: SCLLN Tutors and Staff

$ 10.00: Adult Learners
$ 50.00: Non-Members

Keynote Speaker Luncheon Special:

$35.00 – Lunch & Book Signing Only !

Stephen J. Cannell has lived with dyslexia his entire life. In this inspiring video series, he explains dyslexia, misconceptions, challenges and ways to help children with dyslexia. In Video Query, Stephen talks about the inspiration and story behind his new upcoming Shane Scully thiller, On The Grind (available everywhere January 6th). Learn how Stephen came up with this tale of sinister police corruption and what happens to Shane Scully !

Some of the 21 Workshops

Learner Leaders Speak – Adult Learner Leadership Institute -ALLI- Graduates
Speech Pronunciation & Clarity: Patricia Larkin – Speech Pathologist
Music, Rhyme & Literacy: Sal Morano, Corona Public Lib & Rod Williams, Palmdale City Lib
Free Computer Software: Diane Moseley, READ/Orange County
Wacky for Wikis: William Byrne, Burbank Public Library
Reading Comprehension Strategies: Carol Chapman, Ventura County Library
Tutor/Learner Roundtable: Jose Cruz, CEO -San Diego Council on Literacy
Science of Dyslexia:Tracey Block-Zaretsky, READ/San Diego

Win 1 Ticket to the 2009 SCLLN Conferenceby being the 1st person to answer this Q

What word in the English language has the most definitions ?
Submit Answer 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.

SCLLN Tutor Workshop Calendar - January 2009

Tutor Training & Workshops

January 2009

visit SCLLN

for more Literacy & Library Events

Jan 5: 6 pm
Tutor Orientation - READ/OC
Haskett Library Anaheim CA

Jan 6: 6 pm
Tutor Orientation - READ/OC
READ/OC Headquarters Santa Ana CA

Jan 6: 6:30 pm
Program Information - READ/OC
Orange Public Library Orange CA

Jan 8: 6 pm
Tutor Training Burbank Pubic Library
110 N Glenoaks Burbank CA

Jan 8: 6:30 pm
Program Information - READ/OC
El Toro Library

Jan 10: 9 am
Tutor Workshop - READ/OC
READ OC Headquarters Santa Ana CA

Jan 10: 10 am
Tutor Training - Los Angeles Public Library
Pacoima Library Pacoima CA

Jan 10: 10 am
Tutor Training - San Diego County Library
Vista Branch Vista CA

Jan 12: 6 pm
Tutor Training - Huntington Beach Public Library
Huntington Beach CA

Jan 17: 9 am
Tutor Training - Palmdale City Library Larry
Chimbole Cultural Center
38350 Sierra Hwy Palmdale CA

Jan 20: 6:30 pm
Tutor Training - Pasadena Public Library
La Pintoresca Branch
1355 N Raymond Pasadena CA

Jan 24: 8:45 am
ESL Workshop - Monrovia Public Library
843 E. Olive Monrovia CA

Jan 28: 6 pm
Learner Orientation - Newport Beach Public Library
1000 Avocado Newport Beach CA

Jan 31: 10 am
Tutor Training - San Diego County Library
El Cajon Library El Cajon CA

State & National ConferencesJanuary 2009

Jan 4 - 7
Hawaii International Conference on Education
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa
Honolulu Hawaii

Jan 16 - 29
Conference of the Living Tree Canary Hotel
Santa Barbara CA

Jan 17 - 19
California Kindergarten Conference
Santa Clara CA

Jan 22 - 24
Technology, Reading, Learning Diversity Conference
Hyatt Regency San Francisco CA

Jan 28 – 31
ATIA Conference
Orlando FL

Rancho Cucamonga Library - Conquering Illiteracy: One Man's Fight

Conquering Illiteracy: One Man's Fight
A Grandfather Reads His First Christmas Story
Good Morning America (ABC): Dec 27, 2008 by Lisa Fletcher, Nicole Young & Michael Milberger

Two years ago, reading a holiday book to his 3-year-old grandson Chip would have been impossible for Charles Goolsby. But this year, after countless hours of hard work, Goolsby is finally able to read a holiday story -- something he was never able to do for his own son and daughter.

One California man conquers a decades-long battle with reading."I was totally humiliated, a grown man with reading and writing skills that are not up to par," said Goolsby, 56, of Fontana, Calif. "I had nothing to lose, because I was at my bottom, my lowest point."

Recently divorced and recovering from heart surgery, Goolsby was entering a new phase of his life. Fixing car transmissions was his specialty. He even owned his own business with the help of his son, but facing retirement, his safety net was disappearing.

"If I needed something, I'd always say, 'Well, give me the paper, I'll go home and fill it out,' or I'd take my wife with me," said Goolsby. "People with the same disability that I have, you know how to get around stuff, you learn the shortcut for someone to help you."

It's not uncommon to find adults headed for retirement who do not have sufficient reading skills. Goolsby began as one of 30 million American adults who cannot read beyond a simple sentence and the 7 million who can't read at all, according to the National Institute for Literacy.

Rosie Manela, adult literacy program director at the Rancho Cucamonga Library, where Goolsby takes literacy lessons, said fear of embarrassment often prevents adults from seeking help.

"It is sad, because in this fast-paced technology, this competitive global economy, our country is going to suffer if we don't do anything about that," she said. READ MORE

Watch Video @

San Bernardino Co Library - Give the gift of literacy at Yucaipa Branch Library

Give the gift of literacy at Yucaipa Branch Library
SB Sun: December 19, 2008 by Bob Otto

There are the tangible gifts that people give during the holiday season. They may last a day, a week, maybe a year - or be forgotten as soon as the wrapping paper is ripped off.

But the gift that keeps on giving, now that's the gift that really matters. And the Yucaipa Branch Library has such a gift: The gift a tutor gives a student when they help them learn how to read.

Debbie Seawright, Literacy Specialist at the library says that tutors are special and very giving people. "Our literacy tutors have the desire and willingness to give of their time," she said.

For the tutor, the reward comes in helping a student grow in confidence and reading ability. And Seawright has seen friendships and bonds form that last for years.

"We have some tutors and students who have built a strong rapport and have been together for years," Seawright said. "Tutors help students better themselves; some go on to college, and for grandparents who have never learned to read, they can now read to their grandchildren." READ MORE !

At 70, the joy of writing holiday letters for first time

At 70, the joy of writing holiday letters for first time
RecordNet: Dec 20, 2008 by Tony Sauro

Joe Valles already has received a joyful Christmas gift. The 70-year-old Stockton resident finally was able to write a letter to his 9-year-old granddaughter in Crawley, Texas.

"It feels great," said Valles, a retired longshoreman who was able to achieve his goal after being tutored weekly since June in the Stockton-San Joaquin County Library's adult literacy program. "I'm confident in my writing."

Valles proudly is sending Christmas cards to all nine of his grandchildren. "Our goal was for him to write his first letter by Christmas," said Christina Cordova, 42, a Stockton mother of four who was Valles' tutor at Cesar Chavez Central Library. "It's the first letter he's ever written. It's so awesome. My kids think it's awesome, too. We wanted him to be able to read his own prescription labels, checks and mail."

"She gave me lots of homework," said Valles, whose wife of 42 years, Angelina, an Edison High School graduate, also encouraged him.

"It's funny," he said. "I kidded around, saying I was gonna write a book as soon as I learn to write."

Valles met Cordova when he took his 8-year-old granddaughter, Isabella, to a swimming lesson.

Valles, a father of three who was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, moved to Stockton with his migrant farm worker family when he was four. He only finished the third grade.

"I could read, more or less a little bit, but I couldn't write," Valles said. "Now I can read the newspaper, but I've still got a lot to learn. I thought I could never do this."

He's an inspiring example of what such literacy programs can achieve.

"The program is going good," said Anne Turner, a library assistant in the literacy and outreach department at Cesar Chavez. "It's evolving. We're seeing progress. It's been great. We're getting more students and tutors, but we would like more volunteers." READ MORE

Orange Co Library - A Warm Goodbye from Marcia Tungate

A Warm Goodbye from Marcia Tungate
Read Writes Newsletter: Dec 08/Jan 09

Wasn’t I the lucky one?

For the past 26 years I have had the privilege to work with some of the most courageous, dedicated, committed, and fun people that ever gathered for a purpose. I am talking about all of you.

You, the learners, who faced your difficulties and stepped forward to improve your lives, and the lives of your families, by improving your literacy skills. You have allowed the rest of us an opportunity to share in your successes by your bravery, your hard work, and your (sometimes) stubborn commitment. You teach all of us how to face our fears and step into a new way of living. I thank you so much.

You, the tutors, who sat through the long days of intense training so you could make the tutoring experience a joyful and successful one for the learners. You have been willing to work in the branches, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, and jails to serve your community. I know you each feel such a bond with your learners, and would face down dragons if necessary.

READ OC

What Works Clearinghouse - WWC

What Works Clearinghouse - WWC

Established in 2002, the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is a central and trusted source of scientific evidence for what works in education. An initiative of the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences:

~ Produces user-friendly practice guides for educators that address instructional challenges with research-based recommendations for schools and classrooms

~ Assesses the rigor of research evidence on the effectiveness of interventions (programs, products, practices, and policies), giving educators the tools to make informed decisions

~ Develops and implements standards for reviewing and synthesizing education research

~ Provides a public and easily accessible registry of education evaluation researchers to assist schools, school districts, and program developers with designing and carrying out rigorous evaluations.

What’s New

Houghton Mifflin: Invitations to Literacy Intervention Report Released (Dec 16)
This new Beginning Reading report looks at "Houghton Mifflin: Invitations to Literacy", an integrated K–8 reading and language arts program that is structured around themes and aims to stimulate, teach, and extend communication and thinking skills.

Lindamood Phonemic Sequencing (LiPS) Report Released (Dec 16)
The "Lindamood Phonemic Sequencing (LiPS)", formerly called the "Auditory Discrimination in Depth [ADD]" program, has been updated to include reviews of 12 studies that have been released since 2005.