Covina Library - Literacy Showdown: Fundraiser helps tutoring program

Literacy Showdown: Fundraiser helps tutoring program
SGVTribune: April 19, 2009 by Claudia S. Palma

Answering questions such as "how many sides are in an isosceles triangle" to "what famous sandwich cookie appeared in 1913," teams were eliminated one by one during the Covina Trivia Showdown on April 14.

The Robert's Ringers team were crowned champs by the end of the Covina Public Library's Second Start Literacy Program's eighth annual showdown at Nick's Taste of Texas.

Twelve three-member teams competed for the ultimate prize - a large trophy cup and the winning title.

But the real winners of the night were the students that benefit from the literacy program. Proceeds from the night's event went toward funding the program.

Since 1999, the literacy program, an expansion of the Covina Literacy Council, has provided hours of free one-on-one tutoring, beginning with English-speaking adults and then expanding to programs for children looking to improve their reading and math skills.

For young Jody Iniguez, reading seemed to really bring him a sense of joy.

"The tutor helped me a lot," said the 7-year-old Covina resident.

His parents, German and Erika Iniguez, said they have seen a big difference in their son since beginning the program in June last year.

"He was having trouble spelling, reading consistently, finishing sentences," said German.

"Now with the tutoring, he reads at the top of his class, his spelling has improved a lot and he reads whole books."

The nonprofit program relies on grants, donations and fundraising to offer the free service. The tutors are volunteers, giving their free time to help the students.

For more information on the Second Start Literacy Program, call (626) 858-5553. READ MORE !

Writer To Writer - 2009

Writer To Writer 2009: Books Change Lives

8th Annual Writing Challenge for Adult Learners

California Library Literacy Services

Adult Learners !

Read or listen to a book that inspires you.

Write a letter to the author.

Deadline: July 17, 2009

Ceremony: Fall 2009 @ CLA

Adult learners in California Library Literacy Services programs will select and read a book and then write to the author about how that book changed their lives.

4 Levels:

~ Emerging - dictated letter to tutors or staff
~ Beginning - write basic, simple sentences on their own
~ Intermediate - write complex sentences with larger vocabulary
~ Advanced - writing independently with little technical support

Entry Form @
Instructions @

In 2008, 162 learners wrote letters that showed depth and perception that warmed the hearts of everyone who read them. The letters opened a window into the lives of our learners to show how their reading affects their lives. From these letters we can all learn how reading a book can dramatically influence and change a life.The top 30 letters will be published in a book and on the California State Library website.

The letters of the 2008 winners and finalists @

Huntington Beach Library - Four Literacy Volunteers Earn 2,000 Hours Award

Four Literacy Volunteers Earn 2,000 Hours Award Open Doors Newsletter: March 2009

4 Literacy Volunteers have earned the coveted Huntington Beach Public Library Bronze Library card for 2,000 hours of service. Our volunteers extraordinaire Bob Bonney, Mary DeSloover, Richard Randolph, and Natalie VanDoren will each receive a beautiful bronze library card in a gold case.

This award earns a lifetime fine-free library card with nonresident fee waived, and free reserves. These four people are the first Literacy Volunteers to earn this award from the Huntington Beach Public Library.

Congratulations to all !

The Huntington Beach Literacy Cookbook is available for only $6.95

Library Legislative Day: April 15, 2009

Library Legislative Day: April 15, 2009
Sacramento Convention Center

Support Library Literacy
& CA public libraries !

Library Legislative Day is sponsored by the California Library Association, the California School Library Assc. and the California Association of Library Trustees & Commissioners.

Who Should Attend ?
All library staff, advisory board members, commissioners, trusees, friends and library supporters who care about CA's libraries should participate in this year's program.

Where, When and How Much Is It ?

This year's program is scheduled to begin at promptly at 8:15 am at the Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J Street, Room 202 in Sacramento. Registration will begin at 7:45 am. You will be briefed on the issues by CLA and CSLA lobbyists prior to your legislative visits. The advance registration fee for the day is $25, and includes all materials. On-site registration will be an additional $5. Lunch is on your own.

Start here by clicking on www.legiday.net

1) Account Name = type in: Member

2) Password = type in: Member

3) Click “ legiday ” link to: “Welcome to . . . “

4) Click on “ Legislators “ and Follow Instructions

Don't Know Your Legislators ? Click Here

California Literacy Calendar: April 2009

California Literacy Calendar: April 2009

SCLLN Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

-local, California and National Conferences-

visit

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

Tutor Training Workshops scrolling in left frame

Local Southern California Events:

Apr 3:
What is Dyslexia Cyberspace

Apr 4:
Great Trivia Challenge
Glendora Public Library

Peg Leg Liar's Contest
Peg Leg Smith Monument

Literary Orange: Festival of Authors
UC Irvine Student Center

Apr 14:
Trivia Showdown
Covina Library


Apr 20
Puppets Have a Life – 6:30pm
Bruggemeyer Library, Monterery Park

Apr 23
Read for Life 2009
Bakersfield Museum of Art – 5:00pm

Apr 25
L A Times Festival of Books UCLA

Literacy Festival - WORD, AV
Antelope Valley Mall - 10:00am

Apr 30
Trivia Bee
Upland Public Library – 6:00pm
Carnegie Cultural Center

California Co. on Adult Ed. Conference - CCAE
Pasadena CA

Village of Tales Storytelling Festival
Ojai CA

California & National Literacy Calendar:

Apr 7
Literacy for ALL: Advocacy, Libraries, and Literacy
Cyberspace – 1pm EDT

Apr 15
First 5 California Annual Conference
Hyatt Regency San Francisco

CA Library Legislative Day

Apr 16
CATESOL State Conference
Pasadena CA

Santa Fe Springs Library - Reading at the Library and Beyond

Reading at the Library and Beyond
Whittier Daily News: March 28, 2009
by Sandra T. Molina

For more than two decades, Jerry Edwards has headed the city's literacy program.

And in that time, it has grown from a few tutoring sessions and other classes to a program that expands outside the city's library.

Edwards and his staff make weekly visits to area elementary schools to reinforce what's already being taught by teachers during daily classroom lessons."It's been a tremendous help to our students, especially with their comprehension skills," said Lakeview Elementary School Principal Bill Crean.

"The kids, from kindergarten to fifth grade look forward to someone from the library come read to them," he said.

The staff feels the same way.

"It's a pleasure going into the schools and bringing the library to them," Edwards said. "They learn about the values of libraries."

It's not only a place for books, he said, but a place to research a favorite subject and fun activities.

That includes fun events such as the upcoming Battle of the Books.

The nine schools in the Little Lake City School District are currently getting ready for the fourth annual event that pits teams from the different schools against one another, testing their comprehensive skills.

"They are broken down into teams of six and are asked specific questions on the books they read through the year," Edwards said.

The last two teams standing compete for the trophy.

"It's very intense," he said of the event to be held May 29 at Town Center Hall.

He expects to equal, or even exceed last year's crowd of about 400 cheering parents, teachers and district personnel.

"It's a great, fun way to cap off a year of reading and learning," Edwards said.
READ MORE

SCLLN Literacy Conference: 2009 - Highlights

Southern California Library Literacy Network

Literacy Conference: March 2009

Highlights - Notes - Related Information

1. Science of Dyslexia & Orton-Gillingham Approach:
Tracy Block-Zaretsky
Dyslexia: The Science, The implications, The intervention
~ a pdf. file of presentation at CLA

Tutor Training: What Every Tutor Should Know
~ a powerpoint presentation

What is Dyslexia ?: April 3 - 24, 2009
~ an online workshop about the signs and symptoms, recent scientific reports and simulations of dyslexia. Dyslexia Training Institute.

2. Free Software for Tutoring & Beyond:
Diane Moseley, Literacy Consultant
learning how to use a mouse, typing, grammar, ESL, and puzzlemakers

~ mousercises & games @ Palm Beach County Library
~ typing practice & games @ Powertyping
~ grammar exercises @ Grammar Bytes or Guide to Grammar
~ vocabulary exercises & games @ Vocabulary
~ ESL @ English Club or Literacy Tools (Ireland)
~ puzzles @ Discovery Ed or Puzzlemaker

3. Wacky for Wikis:
William Byrne
overview of blogs and wikis: brief look at the where and how they began, reasons to have a one or both, how to, and a brief demo on how easy it is to post, to link, to upload photos, etc.