Orange Co Library - Learner’s Persistence Pays Off

SCLLN Library Literacy News . . .
Learner’s Persistence Pays Off
Read Writes: June 2011

Learners often seek help for improving their reading and writing skills because they are motivated by an immediate challenge before them, such as helping a child with school work or getting a better job. Others are focused on a strong desire to achieve a long term, often lifelong, desire. Current needs or a journey to reach a lifelong desire, immediate successes toward a goal helps learners make connections to other learning opportunities.

Samia came to READ/OC nearly 12 years ago with the immediate need to help her children with school work, return to school herself to get a better job, and eventually operate her own business. Samia dreamed of receiving her certification in the nursing field and did not let changes of tutors and challenges at work deter her from her plans.

A few tutors came and went throughout Samia’s journey. Still Samia persisted in her efforts toward her goal. In January 2007, she began working with a new tutor on the Wilson Reading System to help her better understand English language skills and improve her grammar, writing, and speaking skills. At first, she wasn’t too sure about working through this in-depth reading system, but her tutor encouraged her to try it for a bit longer.

In December 2009, Samia accomplished what few learners do, successfully completing all levels of the Wilson program. Samia then persisted on her own toward her dream. She began studying at Cypress College while still working, helping her daughters with homework and participating at their school. Last month, Samia called READ/OC with good news to share. She had, at last, passed her exams to earn her certification in nursing! Samia has worked long and hard to achieve her goals and her persistence has paid off.

With her CNA certification come more opportunities to pursue her dreams. Success is contagious. Samia continues with her nursing studies while encouraging others toward lifelong learning. Regardless of our own learning and skill challenges, we can all be encouraged by Samia’s efforts and persistence for continued growth, lifelonglearning and then be driven by the opportunities that will follow each success.

Literacy Tribune Newsletter: July 2011

Literacy Tribune: July 2011
The Adult Learner Network Newsletter

United Literacy, a non-profit organization, provides resources and support to adult literacy learners in the United States. Its aim is to make literacy education accessible and worthwhile for adult learners.

Main Story: Labels, Learning Disabilities, and Reading
- Do people say you have a “Music Disability” because you can’t sing very well . . .

A History Lesson: Songs of Patriotism
- It’s July, and the start of some of our nation’s most beloved customs – picnics, barbeques, parades, fireworks, and outdoor concerts.

Member Spotlight: Gloria Murray, Guest Writer & Learner
- My speech is called “Ideas on ALLI.”

Organization Spotlight: Literacy Volunteers of Tucson (LVT)
- The year was 1961. Betty Frey, an educator in Tucson, Arizona, went to talk with her assistant pastor about what she could do to help the community.

Technology Watch: What to Do After Buying a Brand New PC LaptopBy Daniel Pedroza, Writer and Learner
- Just bought a new laptop? Wondering what you have to do before you can use it?

The Literacy Tribune is looking for adult learner writers.
Are you an adult learner ?
Do you want to write ?
Do you want to publish your writing ?

You can write about:
Your road to literacy
Your literacy organization
Literacy resources you like
You can write book reviews, poetry, short stories
You can write articles about health, finance, or technology
You can write just about anything !

Hemet Library - Longtime literacy director retires - Lori Eastman

Longtime literacy director retires

Valley Chronicle: 7.03.2011 by Charles Hand

Lori Eastman’s career as the adult literacy coordinator for the Hemet Public Library has ended after 17 years.

Maybe.

Though the newly retired Eastman says she plans to take some time off and do some traveling with her equally newly retired husband, she doubts that she can stay away for good.

“It’s not a job; it’s a passion,” Eastman said.

But her career was more or less an accident.

She was looking for a job when a friend, her predecessor in the coordinator’s chair, suggested she become a tutor. “I found what I needed to do in my life,” she said.

When the former coordinator retired, Eastman stepped into the job and stayed there until her husband decided to retire.

Thus it was that another veteran adult literacy employee moved into the job in much the same way Eastman had all those years before.

Lea Ashforth describes what she does in much the same terms that Eastman uses, as a passion that goes well beyond a job. She started as a volunteer more than eight years ago and has been an employee in the program more than five years.

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Though demand for the program’s services remains strong, hours of operation have been cut from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday to accommodate funding reductions.

The program is grant supported, but even grants have been reduced.

Ashforth said she hopes the remaining grant withstands the budget cutting at the state level so the doors do not have to close, but there is no way to know what the future will bring. READ MORE !

Los Angeles Public Library - We Are Here

We Are Here
by Susie Pae, Los Angeles Public Library Literacy
Women’s Perspectives: Issue 6, 2011 – page 41

When I worked at the post office in New York, I had a very hard time, because some of the workers were racists and prejudiced towards me. I didn’t resist them. I didn’t report it to the union either. At that time, my English was not fluent, so I was not interested in different cultures. Now I’ve learned to enjoy all kinds of different food and cultures, which makes me energetic and strong in my daily life. We can be a rainbow. Even though a rainbow has seven colors, they make a wonderful unified image. My open mind makes me want to learn new things.

After all, we are part of the world. Another quality I discovered in myself became apparent recently. When the copper-gold mine collapsed in Chile, I was reminded of the 6.7 earthquake in Northridge, California. I was stuck in my apartment. First of all, I couldn’t get out of the room. All the furniture had fallen down and blocked the door. That happened at 4am, so I couldn’t see anything in the darkness. As soon as the rescue team came to the apartment, my son shouted to them, “We are here!!” But I closed my son’s mouth right away, because I was afraid of people whom I didn’t know. I thought they would kill us. After they disappeared, my son prayed, “Oh, God. Help us get out of here.” I said, “If I die now, I want to go to heaven with my son.” Finally the sun rose, my neighbors came to my window. I came out of the room through the broken window. All the trees celebrated that I was born again. It was the most difficult event in my life. It made me strong and determined to go on in my life. READ MORE !

Women's Perspectives showcases writings and artwork by adult literacy/basic education students across all levels. These collections provide a forum for ABE learners to consider and further their knowledge about a variety of issues relative to women's experiences that continue to impact their lives. We hope these collections will not only encourage students to reflect and write but to also learn from the each other through their stories and opinions.

CA & National Library Literacy Calendar: July 2011

California Literacy Calendar: July 2011

Summer Reading @ Your Local Library:

“One World, Many Stories”

SCLLN

Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

- local, California and National -

visit

Southern California Library Literacy Network

                                  for more information

Info about local Tutor Training Workshops is always Scrolling in the Right Frame.

Local Literacy Events: July 2011
Jul 2 National Literacy Day Proclamation 5507
Jul 2 10am Sensory Friendly Films - Cars 2 AMC Woodland Hills to San Diego
Jul 18+ Orton Gillingham Method - IDA, Inland Empire
Jul 23 10am Sensory Friendly Film - Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 2 AMC Theaters

California Literacy Events: July 2011
Jul 2 National Literacy Day Proclamation 5507
Jul 11+ Mental Health - Learning Disabilities in Children San Diego
Jul 18+ Orton Gillingham Method - IDA, Inland Empire
Jul 21+ Comic-Con International San Diego Convention Center
Jul 22+ Sierra Storytelling Festival Nevada City CA

National & International Literacy Events: July 2011
Jul 2 National Literacy Day Proclamation 5507
Jul 2 10am Sensory Friendly Films - Cars 2 AMC theaters around the country
Jul 6+ Autism Society National Conference Orlando FL
Jul 11+ NIOST Summer Seminars Boston MA
Jul 17+ Correctional Education Assn. Conference Charleston WV
Jul 21+ Conference of the Americas San Antonio TX
Jul 23 10am Autism Sensory Friendly Films: Harry Potter Deathly Hallows 2

Literacy Jobs - AmeriCorps - California

AmeriCorps - Literacy Jobs
California

Reading Partners
Student Coordinator: Apply
Operate innovative literacy intervention programs at elementary schools in California (San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles).

CalServes
Leaders: Apply by Jul 15
Serve as a facilitator for a team of AmeriCorps members at one of eight school sites. Focusing on either after school or one-on-one literacy tutoring, you will develop and apply your leadership, teaching and youth work skills in the coordination of the program.

Girls Inc – Alameda
Elementary School Group Leader: Apply by Jul 15
Lead daily literacy/self-esteem/enrichment programming for 15-20 students. San Francisco / Oakland / San Jose

First 5 Mendocino 
Literacy Coordinator: Apply by Jul 20
Pursue fundraising opportunities for the program, provide outreach to the community, increase enrollment in the program and maintain the database for the Imagination Library Program in Mendocino County.

Notre Dame Mission Volunteers
Tutors: Apply by Jul 31
Assist in classroom teaching - tutoring in schools - Manage, organize, and teach after school enrichment programs for students - Mentor children with incarcerated parents. San Francisco / Oakland / San Jose

Monterey County United for Literacy
Literacy Tutor: Apply by Aug 20
30 members will provide one-to-one tutoring to a minimum of 515 students in kindergarten through fourth grade in Salinas and South Monterey County to help them improve their English language development, vocabulary acquisition, fluency and comprehension and develop the habit of independent reading.

MAAC Project
Literacy Tutors: Apply by Aug 31
Focus on literacy tutoring, creating youth leadership opportunities, and leading youth and adults in service learning activities. Members will also assist families/individuals with asset building and income supports services.

Support READ ACROSS CALIFORNIA MARCH 2012

Read Across California Month
Will be presented for
an Assembly Floor Vote
Monday, June 27, 2011

Resolution ACR 62 by Assembly Member Julia Brownley would proclaim March of 2012, and each following year, "Read Across California" month, encouraging Californians to read at least 30 minutes a day for 30 days.

Children who independently spend time reading score higher on tests than children who do not read. Unfortunately, 23 percent of Californians lack basic literacy skills. This measure would help foster a love for reading and knowledge, and raise awareness of the importance of reading.

Support

READ ACROSS CALIFORNIA

Assembly Education Subcommittee

Your Assembly Member or State Senator

AuthorJulia BrownleyCo-Authors
Mike FeuerTed LieuCarol LiuFran PavleyBetsy Butler
March 2 is Read Across America Day, NEA’s national reading celebration of the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books.