Hemet Library - Literacy student takes craft seriously, wins contest

Literacy student takes craft seriously, wins contest
Valley Chronicle: Jan 5, 09: by Valerie Detwiler

Laurie Heber is the kind of woman that doesn't give up easily. She brings an attitude of excitement to everything she does - especially when it comes to her writing.

So it didn't surprise Lea Ashworth, a tutor with the Hemet Public Library Adult Literacy Services and Heber's tutor, when Heber brought in a six-page letter to enter in the Writer-to-Writer contest.

It was a bit overzealous because the contest called for a one-page letter to a favorite author who had inspired the letter-writer.

“Laurie wrote six pages so basically we worked together to cut it down,” said Ashworth.

Lori Eastman, the Literacy Coordinator for the library, said they were working on teaching Heber that her first draft isn't her final draft and that writing is a process.

Heber's editing and hand work paid off when she found out she won first place in the “beginning” category of the Writer-to-Writer statewide library writing contest with her letter to Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Heber's letter spoke of Wilder's books and their emphasis on family and how that helped Heber through a time when she was dealing with sickness in her own family.

Wilder's books comforted Heber through her high school years, said Heber.

Heber took first place out of 160 writers. READ ON

2009 SCLLN Literacy Conference: Registration

SCLLN Literacy Conference 2009
March 7, 2009
9 am – 4 pm
Check-In & Continental Breakfast: 8 am – 9 am
Buena Park Holiday Inn – 7000 Beach Blvd

Registration Form - Please Print

Today’s Date:

Library Program:
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
ZIP:

Phone:
Email:

Role (please select one):___Volunteer
___Adult Learner
___Staff
___Presenter

Early Bird Registration Fees: Must Be Received by Feb 1-2009
___$ 35.00: Members – Tutors or Staff
___$ 10.00: Adult Learners (limited scholarships available)
___$ 50.00: Non-Members
___$ 35.00: Lunch Only – Stephen J Cannell, Keynote Speaker

Registration Fees: Received after Feb 1-2009
___$ 50.00: Members – Tutors or Staff
___$ 15.00: Adult Learners (limited scholarships available)
___$ 75.00: Non-Members
___$ 50.00: Lunch Only – Stephen J Cannell, Keynote Speaker

Payment Must Be Received by: Feb 15-2009

- No Refunds after Feb 25-2009 -

Make a 1st and 2nd Choice in each Strand: 1, 2 or 3

Lunch: Vegetarian _____

Strand 1 9:00 – 10:15
___Speech Pronunciation & Clarity: Patricia Larkin, Speech Pathologist
___Science of Dyslexia: Tracy Block, READ/San Diego
___Music, Rhyme & Literacy: Sal Morano & Rod Williams
___Got Goals ?: Pat Habeck,Tulare Co L
___Let’s Start Writing: Janis Young, Ontario CL
___Pharmacy Literacy: St Joseph’s Hospital
Adult Learners___Problem Solving Skills-Melainie Goodyear, Monrovia PL

Strand 2 10:30 – 11:45
___Tutor / Learner Roundtable: Jose Cruz, CEO-San Diego Coun. on Literacy
___Phonics Orton-Gillingham Approach, P1: Tracy Block-Zaretsky, READ/SD
___Got Mocha ?-Pam Williams: Ventura Co L
___Free Software for Tutoring & Beyond: Diane Moseley, Literacy Cons.
___What’s This Stuff ? Let’s Write About It: Lucy Johnson-Sims, Beaumont L
___Interviewing Skills-Getting That Job: Julie Cottle, Recruiter–Wells Fargo
Adult Learners ___Wacky for Wikis: Intro-Blogs & Wikis: William Byrne, Burbank PL

Strand 3 2:00 – 3:15
___Wacky for Wikis: Intro-Blogs & Wikis: William Byrne, Burbank PL
___Phonics Orton-Gillingham Approach, P2:Tracy Block-Zaretsky, READ/SD
___Speech Pronunciation & Clarity: Patricia Larkin, Speech Pathologist
___Reading Comprehension Made Simple: Carol Chapman, Ventura Co L

___Dealing with Difficult People: Sandra Bear, READ/Orange County
___Finacial Literacy: Marco Buenrostro, Wells Fargo

Adult Learners___Learner Leaders Speak–Graduates of the Adult Learner Leadership Inst-ALLI

Copy & Send Email Registrations: Click Here

Snail Mail – Hard Copy along with Payments To:

SCLLN
c/o Tangela Ashe
1501 E St. Andrew Pl
Santa Ana CA 92705

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