Learning Gap in Time & Money

Tracking the 'Learning Gap' in Time and Money
Education Week: 12.19.2013 by Erik Robelen

It surely comes as no surprise to hear that children from low-income families typically enjoy fewer opportunities for learning and enrichment than those in more affluent households.

A new commentary and illustration published this week by Education Week drives that point home, and makes put those disparities in tangible terms. The analysis by the After-School Corporation aims to quantify—in both hours invested and dollars spent—the learning advantages that accumulate for children beyond the regular school day who grow up in middle- and upper-class homes.

By age 12, the analysis concludes, disadvantaged children have received about 6,000 fewer hours of learning time than their more-affluent peers, and their families have been outspent by about $90,000 on learning and enrichment activities.  READ MORE !

 

Everylibrary California - Reminder

Everylibrary

Everylibrary California
A little reminder for people who say that they don't need libraries because of e-content.




You don't own your Kindle books, Amazon reminds customer
NBC News: 10.24.2012 by Joel Johnson

On a dark and stormy night, an employee of your local bookstore strolls into your home, starts tossing books you'd purchased over the last few years into a box, and — despite your protest — takes them all away without saying a word.

Thankfully that's not what happened to Linn Jordet Nygaard. Well, not exactly. The Norwegian woman found herself on the wrong side of bureaucracy, but the outcome was much the same (without as much mud on the carpet): Amazon turned off her Kindle account, blocking her from her own books. And they wouldn't tell her why.

.     .     .     .     .     .     .

The core issue might actually be a simple matter of semantics: when we click a digital button that is labelled "Buy," we expect that we're actually buying something. But we're not buying anything, we're licensing it. Just last year, the Supreme Court ruled that the first-sale doctrine does not apply to software — or e-books. Or apps. Nor pretty much everything you "Buy" online that doesn't get shipped to your home in a cardboard box.

Those long End User License Agreements you have to read before you use a new piece of software? Those are are legally binding, because you've clicked a button labeled "Agree." But for some reason, online retailers can label their buttons "Buy" when they actually mean "Rent," and there's nothing we can do about it save filing a lawsuit.  READ MORE !
 

Literacy Jobs: California

Literacy Jobs: California

Tutor Interns - PT

Reading Rockets
Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library
& Asian American Economic Development Enterprises

Spring session, afterschool literacy program designed for at-risk children in 2nd through 6th grades.

Deadline: Jan 10, 2014

Computer Science Education Week: Dec 9-15

Computer Science Education Week
December 9 -15

Computer literacy key to middle class jobs in California
California Economic Summit: 9.19.2013 by Matthew Grant Anson

If you pull out your iPhone and ask Siri if a dog can jump over a house, chances are it’s just going to direct you to a kennel. So says a new paper from economists Frank Levy and Richard Murnane entitled “Dancing with Robots: Human Skills for ComputerizedWork.”

The general consensus has been that the rise of technology and globalization has hollowed out the middle class as the jobs they’ve historically relied upon increasingly employ computers over humans. But all is not lost. While computers have certainly taken the reins in some respects, Levy and Murnane both stress the fact that computers still don’t match up with humans when it comes to problem solving abilities, as shown by their iPhone example. Humans still come with abilities that computers, at least right now, can’t measure up against – but these skills need to be coaxed out of people by tweeking our education system.


“The most important skill is to learn how to learn efficiently,” Murnane said recently in a webinar on their paper presented by the Hewlett Foundation. “Very few of us are going to be able to earn a decent living doing the same thing decade after decade. The world of work is changing rapidly, and people are going to have to learn.”


Most importantly, people are going to need to learn a new kind of literacy. “Back in 1965 if you learned to read well enough to follow directions, there were a great many jobs in the U.S. that paid a reasonable wage,” Murnane said. “Those are the easiest kinds of jobs to compertize or to send to lower wage countries. Reading is still important, but the definitions for literacy have dramatically increased.”


Not only does literacy now include being able to read directions, says Murnane, but one must also be able to do a web search and be able to make sense of the millions of responses to a query.  READ MORE !

#CSEdWeek promotes the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, and is expected to engage millions of students in hands-on computer programming and coding activities.

Computer science is a foundational field for every 21st century career or field of study. Learning the basics of computer science prepares students for a world that is increasingly dominated by technology. Research shows that students who study computer science also perform better at math.

Computer science is where the jobs are. More than 50% of all jobs in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are computing jobs. Some other stats:

• Computer science is one of the highest-paid college degree for new graduates.

• Computer programming jobs are growing at two times the national average -- but there aren’t enough graduates to fill these jobs.
• Nine out of 10 K-12 schools do not offer computer programming classes.
• In 35 out of 50 states, computer science does not even count toward high school graduation

Be a maker, a creator, an innovator. Get started now with an Hour of Code.

Los Angeles Public Library - It’s a Match Part II Tutor Story

It’s a Match Part II Nora’s Story
READ Newsletter: Fall 2013 by Tutor Nora Novak

Two years ago, I found myself unemployed and growing depressed. After months of agonizing over what to do with my life and wondering how to pull myself out of my funk, it occurred to me that my energy might be better spent helping others. I had plenty of time on my hands after all, and for years I had been interested in volunteering.

I Googled “Los Angeles Volunteer Opportunities” and combed through the hundreds of organizations seeking assistance. I came across LAPL’s Adult Literacy Program and thought it would be a good way to dip a toe into volunteering waters. That’s when my coordinator, Carolyn, introduced me to my learner.

Blanca, a bright and mature twenty-something, received a late diagnosis of Dyslexia. She had learned her ABC’s and could read enough to function independently (in a number of exciting and varied careers, no less). However, she revealed to me that she was constantly looking for ways to improve herself, and she decided it was time for her to dive in and work on her reading and writing.

We’ve been meeting for almost a year now and though our lives have changed with the seasons, we still look forward to our lessons twice a week. We laugh, we share stories, and we learn from each other. Blanca has made remarkable progress of which we are both extremely proud.  READ MORE !

California & National Literacy Library Calendar: December 2013

Literacy Tutor Workshop Calendar: December 2013

SCLLN

Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

- Local, California and National -

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

Literacy Tutor Workshop Calendar: December 2013

Dec. 2  Tutor Workshop - Santa Barbara Public Library 5:30p
Dec. 5  Literacy Tutor Orientation - South Bay Literacy, Torrance Library 7p
Dec. 7  Literacy Tutor Training - San Luis Obispo Library 9a
Dec. 7  Literacy Tutor Training - San Diego Co Library Vista Branch 10a

Southern California and California Literacy Events: December 2013

Dec. 5 Literacy Night - Million Dollar Quarter, San Diego Literacy 7:30p
Dec. 7 Sensory Friendly Film - FROZEN 2-D AMC Theaters 10a

National & International Literacy Events: December 2013

Dec. 4+ Getting In Touch With Literacy, Providence RI
Dec. 4+ LRA National Reading Conference. Dallas TX
Dec. 5  International Volunteer Day
Dec. 7  Autism Sensory Friendly Films: FROZEN 2-D 10a
Dec. 9+ Head Start Parent Conference, Atlanta GA
Dec. 11+ TASH Annual Conference, Chicago IL
Dec. 11+ Zero to Three Institute, San Antonio TX
Dec. 17  I Love My Librarian Award, NY NY 6p

California Book Festivals: December 2013

Books - Comics - Poetry - Storytelling - Writing & More !

Dec 7:  Santa Clarita Literacy & Arts Festival
Dec 13-15:  Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival

Huntington Beach Library - Family literacy program thrives in Oak View

Family literacy program thrives in Oak View
OC Register: 11.20.2013 by Annie Zak

Imelda Bernal used to have to go without knowing what her kids said when they spoke in English.

Now, though, through a literacy program at the Oak View branch of the Huntington Beach Public Library, that’s no longer her reality.


“Before this class, I couldn’t understand my kids speaking to each other,” said Bernal, who came to the U.S. 12 years ago from Mexico, speaking only Spanish. Now, she can participate in conversations with them and have conferences with their teachers in ...


The Family Literacy Program at the Huntington Beach Public Library's Oak View Branch has a long waiting list, and Amy Crepeau, the program's coordinator, said it's not open to new students at the moment.


However, the program is usually looking for new tutors. If you're interested in being a tutor, you don't have to have a background in teaching or speak Spanish.


Crepeau said there is a need for people who can make a weekly commitment, have patience and a good sense of humor. Those interested in tutoring should contact Crepeau at 714-375-5104. READ MORE !