CA & National Literacy Calendar: August 2011

California Literacy Calendar: August 2011
Summer Reading Program: “One World, Many Stories”

SCLLN

Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

- local, California and National -

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

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

Local and California Literacy Events: August 2011
Aug 4+: Steinbeck Festival – Salinas
Aug 6: Sensory Friendly Film SMURFS @ 10am AMCs Woodland Hills to SD
Aug 20: Black Book Expo – LA Convention Center
Aug 27: Sensory Friendly Film SPY KIDS 4 @ 10am AMCs Woodland Hills to SD

National & International Literacy Events: August 2011
Aug 3+: Conference on Distance Teaching & Learning – WI
Aug 8+: Texas Literacy Conference - Austin
Aug 6: Sensory Friendly Film SMURFS @ 10am AMC Theaters nationwide
Aug 22+: Family Literacy Training Institute 2011 – Calgary CA
Aug 27: Sensory Friendly Film SPY KIDS 4 @ 10am AMC Theaters nationwide

86,800 Most Common Words

Anonymous reports that Wordcount is no longer available.

Unable to find out why.

Created by Jonathan Harris, 2004.

Conversation with Jonathan Harris on Wordmaster: Sep 2, 2004

Here are 2 other sites:

6000 Most Frequently Used English Words

Word Frequency Lists and Dictionary: Corpus of Contemporary American English

WordCount

an interactive presentation of the

86,800 most frequently used English words

SCLLN Literacy Links Page

SCLLN has a new Literacy LINKS Page

Visit literacy programs and organizations in Southern California and California. There are also LINKS to national and international literacy associations; for family, early and youth literacy.

Adult Learners can find United Literacy, VALUE; websites by and for learners; activities and exercises, including grammar, spelling and pronunciation; and citizenship and voting.

Adult Learner LINKS
Southern California and California
National - International - Statistics

- Coming Soon -
Early Literacy - Family Literacy - Youth Literacy
Learning Disabilities

2011 Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy

Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy Award

The California Library Association Literacy Interest Group and California Library Literacy Services Invite Your Nominations.

Nominations must be received on or before International Literacy Day September 8, 2011.
E-mail completed nomination form to:
Amy Crepeau, HBPL Literacy Services

Here’s your chance to recognize an exceptional librarian who demonstrates passion, excellence and dedication in support of literacy!

Purpose:This award is to recognize and honor a librarian who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to support literacy.

Eligibility:The nominee cannot be a literacy services staff person who already provides direct literacy services. The nominee can be someone who has performed one or more of the following services in support of literacy:

􀀳 Outreach
􀀳 Public Awareness
􀀳 Programming
􀀳 Collection Development
􀀳 Advocacy
􀀳 Fund Raising
􀀳 Recruitment
􀀳 Other – You name it ! ! !

Only one nomination per library jurisdiction is allowed.This is an individual award – nomination cannot be for a group.The winner will be honored at the CLA 2011 Conference in Pasadena.

The winner receives a 1-year CLA Membership, a plaque, recognition on the CLA website and a gift certificate. Each nominee will receive a certificate of special recognition.

Past Winners
2010: Anne Cain, Contra Costa County Library
2009: Derek Wolfgram, Santa Clara County Library
2008: Jean Hofacket, Alameda County Library
2007: Carol Starr, Marin County Free Library
2006: John M. Adams, Orange County Public Library
2005: Sofia Bellos, Oxnard Public Library
2004: Leslie McGinnis Rodd, Oakland Public Library
2003: Chuck Aston, Redwood City Public Library

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 !