Azusa Library :: Love toRead? :: Pass it on by Becoming a Tutor

Love to read? Pass it on by becoming a tutor

SGV Tribune: 12.17.2016 by Anissa Rivera

I am a big believer in small joys. My oldest son was always an enthusiastic reader, devouring books on dinosaurs and later, Thomas the Tank Engine and anything by Eric Carle.

I thought my little offspring was growing up so erudite. Yeah, right.

When he was 6, he read the word “butler,” and promptly fell into paroxysms of glee.

“But-ler! Alfred is Batman’s BUT-LER!” he hollered. He couldn’t believe he had discovered a word that contained the forbidden term “butt” (his proper mama always told him to say “bottom” instead).

The memory delights us to this day, even though his literary tastes now run less along DC Comics and more into Gabriel Garcia Marquez. (Thanks to Mr. Erb’s English class.)

We are people of the book, as journalist and science fiction writer Cory Doctorow once said. And it’s hard for us to imagine life without them.

Cathay Reta is working hard to make our tribe of readers increase. Reta, adult literacy coordinator at Azusa City Library, hopes to train more tutors for its literacy programs. She works with the Foothill Learning Alliance, a new nonprofit formed to advocate, increase community awareness and raise funds for The Literacy Programs at the Azusa City Library.

Reta is connected to other libraries that offer basic literacy programs such as those in Glendora, Covina, Monrovia, Altadena and Monterey Park.  READ MORE @

Christmas :: Literacy | ESL | ELL | Writing | Vocabulary | Reading | Books | Tutor Resources

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Superlatives from SCLLN

Is everybody ready for this year's Jólabókaflóð

(Christmas Book Flood)? #books #literacy

@PurpleBirdGirl  Dec 16

50 Holiday Related Activities for Language Learners

http://ddeubel.edublogs.org/2015/12/06/50-holiday-related-activities-for-the-elt-classroom/ … #ESL #TESOL #ESOL #EFL #TEFL #christmas

@americantesol  Dec 16

Writing Cards - Christmas Cards for ESOL, ESL and EFL https://chrisspeck.wordpress.com/2016/12/01/writing-cards-christmas-cards-for-esol-esl-and-efl/ … via @wordpressdotcom

@chrissspeck  Dec 16

Christmas Crossword 2016 https://goo.gl/D0ev7e  Test your knowledge of #Christmas vocabulary with this fun crossword #ESL #ELT

@englishblog  Dec 13

Here's a great lesson based on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol": http://ow.ly/VFGZY  #ESL #EFL #TESOL via…

@tutordidact  Dec 13

We're getting ready for Christmas. #english #vocabulary #christmas

@EnglishSchoolOl  Dec 4

Ruth Colvin, the Mother of the Adult Literacy Movement, Turns 100 on December 16

Ruth Colvin, the Mother of the Adult Literacy Movement, Turns 100 on December 16

Colvin has dedicated more than 50 years of her life to literacy, and shows no signs of stopping.

PR Web: 12.14.2016

“To many people the word “illiteracy” prompts images of downtrodden, starving people in third world countries. But illiteracy in America? How can that be possible? Our tax money provides schooling for every child.” These thoughts were expressed by Ruth Johnson Colvin in 1960. But when Colvin saw a 1961 newspaper article on the US Census figures that noted her hometown of Syracuse, New York had over 11,000 people who could not read, she knew something needed to be done. "Not in Africa. In my city. An educational city," Colvin said. “If I don’t do something, who will?”

Her life was transformed as she undertook the necessary steps needed to help correct the situation. Colvin determined that traditional classroom methods would not work and instead focused on the development of community networks that empowered adult learners. The organization developed effective tutor training programs to teach basic literacy and English as a second language with an ongoing support system.

Colvin earned support from Syracuse’s Church Women United (CWU) organization to sponsor a local literacy tutoring effort. She recruited volunteers and set up an office in her home’s basement. Under her leadership, the literacy volunteer movement quickly spread across the United States, and the national organization, Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc., was incorporated in 1972. Ruth and her husband, Robert, also spent more than 50 years traveling the world together to provide literacy training in more than 60 countries at the invitation of ministries, governments and universities.

During her more than five decades of literacy work, Colvin has published nine books, and visited or worked in more than sixty countries. She has been the recipient of nine honorary doctorates, and in 1987 she was given the highest award for volunteerism in the United States, the President’s Volunteer Action Award from President Ronald Regan [sic]. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006 from President George W. Bush, and was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1991.

In 2002, Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. merged with Laubach Literacy International to form ProLiteracy Worldwide. Colvin still serves as a lifetime member of the board of directors of ProLiteracy, is an honorary member of the board of directors of Literacy New York, and a member of the board of directors and a tutor at Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse.  READ MORE @

Literacy Library Jobs :: California :: Solano County

Literacy Library Jobs – California

Literacy Program Assistant - FT

Solano County Library

Under direction, plans, organizes and implements student/tutor training and related activities for an assigned Literacy Program such as Adult, Family, Reach-Out-and-Read, or other literacy programs.

DEADLINE:  JAN 6

BayNet Library and Information Network

CalOpps

Library Jobs in California

UCLA Department of Information Studies

SCLLN :: Adult Literacy Leadership Institute 2017 :: Carlsbad Library

Adult Literacy Leadership Institute :: ALLI

The Southern California Adult Literacy Leadership Institute for 2017 will be held on March 10-12, 2017 at the Carlsbad City Library.

This statewide training program for learners is an amazing opportunity to develop leadership, communication, advocacy, and presentation skills. The program is totally free including meals, materials, and transportation. Accommodations are available for those traveling from outside the more immediate area.

Please encourage all of your qualifying adult learners to apply.

The deadline for applications is January 6, 2017

Glendale Library :: Tutor Appreciation :: December 8

Glendale Library Tutor Appreciation

December 8 2016

The Library, Arts & Culture Department Adult Literacy Program offers services to help adults improve their reading, writing, and speaking. Instruction is provided by trained volunteers. The Adult Literacy Program is free and open to all adults ages eighteen and over.

Students Literacy Class

The Adult Literacy Program helps adults who want to learn English as well as English-speaking adults who need to improve their reading and writing skills. Conversation classes and one-on-one tutoring sessions are offered.

Altadena Library :: Digital Literacy Impact for ESL Students at our Literacy Center

Digital Literacy Impact for ESL Students at our Literacy Center

Altadena Library CONNECT*: December 2016

While the foundations of adult literacy programs are to improve reading and writing skills, these days it includes information literacy, financial literacy, health literacy and digital literacy.

The University Library of The University of Illinois defines digital literacy as: “The ability to use digital technology, communication tools or networks to locate, evaluate, use and create information.”

At the Branch we strive to help our literacy learners with meeting a wide range of literacy and informational needs. We have small group ESL classes that meet Monday through Thursdays mornings. This Fall we were able to offer a 5 week beginners computer class to our eager ESL students. The bilingual computer instructors taught the students much needed computer skills. For the first time, all the students were able to sign up for their own e-mail addresses, use Word and practice typing, and learn how to search the Internet.

Many had expressed that they had been intimidated by the computers and that with this exposure, they had less fear and felt more comfortable using the computers. The students took this opportunity to practice their skills at the library during open hours.

Most of the students do not have a computer at home and rely on the library for internet access. Many students have language barriers to employment and lack proficiency in computer skills. With improved computer skills, that is one less hurdle to overcome to seeking better employment.

According to ProLiteracy, an organization that advocates for adult literacy, low literacy costs the US $225 Billion or more each year in non-productivity in the workforce and a loss of revenue due to unemployment. According to the World Bank, only 52.5% of adults reporting lack of computer skills were employed, compared to 72.7%. The positive effects of improved computer skills translates to improved self sufficiency and improved work opportunities benefiting all aspects of the students’ lives.

Lucio, a student from the class states, “Thanks to the personnel of the Bob Lucas Library for providing the much needed computer classes. With the lessons they taught, I am able to practice on my own and gain confidence working on the computer. In particular, I like to practice my typing which helps me run my small business as a washing machine repair man.”