Huntington Beach Library ◯ Writer to Writer Is Coming Soon!

Writer to Writer Is Coming Soon!

Literacy Volunteers-HBPL: 8.28.2019

Writer to Writer is a unique writing challenge through the Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN). Writer to Writer invites adult literacy learners to write a letter to an author whose writing has changed the way they think about life. A group of learners from Literacy Volunteers-HBPL participated in the challenge this year. We hope you enjoy some of their letters!

Women of the Silk

Dear Gail Tsukiyama,

I read your book Women of the Silk with my tutor when I was working on my English grammar. I came from China when I was fourteen. Sometimes when I read your book I felt so familiar with Pei’s culture, this made me feel close to Pei. I really love her because she is a happy person no matter what happens to her. She always has a positive attitude that teenagers today don’t always keep.

Sincerely with respect,

Michelle W

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World

Dear Mr. Montgomery,

I was so impressed about Temple’s story.  She was one of those kids who did not fit in with the rest of the crowd.  But she used her unique abilities and passions in the right way to become successful in life.  Temple is a different person because she was born with autism.  Her thinking was in pictures, not in words.  Autism helped her understand the feelings of animals, so she could make their lives better. Her love of making things and creating saved her life. She had tough times but she fought back.  As she grew up, she discovered that when one door closed, another door opened; that made her happy. Temple learned to use her autism to help her reach her goals.  Temple’s success gave autistic kids hope that success is possible for them.

Sincerely,

Hoang L.

Dear Juana Medina,

I have to thank you because I enjoyed reading your book, Juana and Lucas very much.  When I started to read the book, I loved the way you spell the name Juana who-ah-nah.  The way that you describe Bogota makes me feel like I have been there before.  Like Juana, I enjoy reading in the night.  She had Lucas with her and I enjoyed reading along.

Thank you Juana Medina for your wonderful book.

Sincerely,

Silvia

READ MORE >>

SCLLN 

Adult Literacy Tutor and Learner Conference

Writer To Writer Awards

March 21, 2020

Holiday Inn Buena Park

Automatic Readability Checker

Readability Consensus

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 6

Reading Level: fairly easy to read.

Reader's Age: 10-11 yrs. olds (Fifth and Sixth graders)

Huntington Beach Library :: SCLLN Writer To Writer Challenge

Writer to Writer

Literacy Volunteers-HBPL Blog: 5.23.2019

Writer to Writer is a unique writing challenge through the Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN). Writer to Writer invites adult literacy learners to write a letter to an author whose writing has changed the way they think about life. A group of learners from Literacy Volunteers-HBPL participated in the challenge this year. We hope you enjoy some of their letters!

Dear Mr. Gary Chapman,

I read your book The Five Love Languages of Teenagers and I want to say that this is a wonderful book.  This book is having a good impact on me.  It’s taught me many things, like how parents focus more on the errors of their teenagers and the parents forget to give affirmation words.  Parents are hurting who they most love.  Parents and teenagers both battle with each other and both end up hurt.  Another thing that as parents we forget to do is the right thing when the teenager makes mistakes.  Love your teenager when they fail.  This book helped me understand my teenager.  My relationship with my daughter now is better.  I’m trying to be a better mother following the advice from this book.

The next book that I’m reading is The five Love Languages of Children.  Then I hope I can read The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts.  I think both books are great.  Overall, thank you for writing this kind of book Mr. Gary Chapman.  I learned a lot.  This book was very helpful.  My daughter and I became friends but sometimes I have to remind her I’m her mother.

Sincerely,

J. A.

READ MORE >>

Redlands Library :: Celebrate Adult Learners’ Successes!

Celebrate Adult Learners’ Successes!

Redlands Reads: May 2019

Throughout the year learners use their new reading and writing skills to reach new goals. The following highlights recent achievements:

Thirty-nine learners submitted works for publication in the adult literacy anthology, Our Stories, A Collection of Writing, Volume 2. This anthology, which will be published in the spring, includes personal memories, reflections on readings, poems, and inspired writings.

A Year by the Sea

Nine learners participated in the Southern California Library Literacy Network’s 18th Annual Writer to Writer Challenge. This writing challenge invites adult learners throughout southern California to write a letter to an author whose book inspired them. Tanya Jauregui, was awarded runner-up in the intermediate writer category. She wrote a letter to Joan Anderson, author of A Year by the Sea. Tanya wrote, “After reading your book, it made me realize that women have their own keys to their happiness.”

One learner completed the Adult Literacy Leadership Institute Bootcamp and several learners have made public presentations to community groups. Another learner assists the adult literacy computer instructor. Learners began reading words, sentences, and books on their own. More than a dozen learners reported that they had advanced in their employment. Some learners are pursuing certifications, citizenship, or have graduated from the Adult Literacy program having met their literacy goals.

All learners are to be congratulated for their commitment to improve their literacy.  READ MORE >>

2018 SCLLN Writer To Writer Challenge Brunch :: March 16

2018 SCLLN Writer To Writer Challenge Brunch :: March 16

SCLLN is excited to announce the winners and runners-up for the 2018 Writer to Writer Challenge!  We had a great response—112 entries—and the quality of the letters was amazing!  We are so proud of all the learners who wrote letters.  

Huntington Beach Library

714 . 375 . 5102

Please join SCLLN’s writers, tutors, coordinators and their guests at our awards brunch on Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m., at the Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport, located at 18800 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine.

The winners and runners-up will each receive a cash prize and a certificate, and all letter writers will receive a certificate of participation.  We encourage all coordinators to invite and sponsor all your writers and their tutors for this special event.

The registration fees are only $20 for tutors, learners and staff of SCLLN member programs and $40 for everyone else.  (The fees for the winners and runners-up are waived.)  Inviting your Writer to Writer participants would be an excellent way to recognize our writers and their tutors.  Congratulations to all of our letter writers!

Emerging Category :: Winner

David D, Upland Library

Life without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life, Nick Vujicic

Runners-Up

Kenny B, READ San Diego

Just for Today, Tana Reiff

Rosa S, Corona Library

I Moved Your Cheese, Deepak Malhotra

Beginning Category :: Winner

Angelica I, Santa Fe Springs Library

Enrique’s Journey, Sonia Nazario

Runners-Up

Yolanda G, Los Angeles Public Library

Inspiring Words from the Psalms for Moms, Blue Sky Ink

Martha L, Imperial County Free Library

The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros

Intermediate Category :: Winner

Elaheh K, Los Angeles Public Library

The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck

Runners-Up

Tanya J, A.K. Smiley Library

A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Woman, Joan Anderson

Lita S, Santa Monica Library

The Black Heralds, a poem, César Vallejo

Advanced Category :: Winner

Hye O, Los Angeles Public Library

The Little Prince, Antoine De Saint-Exupéry

Runners-Up

Anonymous, Carlsbad City Library

Healing the Gerson Way, Charlotte Gerson

Hyunjung J, Newport Beach Library

Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation, Daniel J. Siegel

If you would like to Sponsor the Writer To Writer Challenge or support SCLLN, please contact: Diane Moseley

Southern California & Statewide Literacy & Library Events :: March 2019

Southern California & Statewide Literacy & Library Events

March 2019

SCLLN

Literacy & Library Events & Conferences

- Local, California and National –

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

for more information

Southern California & California

National Reading Month

Read Aloud Month

Women Scream Intl Poetry Festival

Mar. 01              Tech Distance Learning Symposium OTAN Hacienda La Puente AduEd

Mar. 01              ISME Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham Training San Francisco

Mar. 01              Read Across California

Mar. 01              Southern California Kindergarten Conference Pasadena

Mar. 02              Read Across America Day

Mar. 02              World Book Day

Mar. 02              CATESOL Regional Los Angeles East Los Angeles College

Mar. 02              Dyslexia Conference IDALA UCLA

Mar. 03              Teen Tech Week

Mar. 04              March Forth for Literacy

Mar. 04              National Grammar Day

Mar. 04              IMSE Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham Training Los Angeles

Mar. 08              El Civics Conferences CASAS Fresno Adult School

Mar. 09              Charlotte S Huck Children's Literature Festival U of Redlands

Mar. 11              CSUN Assistive Technology Conference Anaheim

Mar. 14              CUE Spring Conference Palm Springs

Mar. 16              Freedom of Information Day

Mar. 16              A Closer Look at Writer’s Workshop CSU Fullerton

Mar. 18              Reading Comprehension Strategies Cyberspace

Mar. 18              What is Dyslexia? An In Depth Look OnLine

Mar. 19              Read To Me Day

Mar. 20              World Storytelling Day

Mar. 20              CABE Conference Long Beach

Mar. 21              World Poetry Day
Mar. 25-29        Reading Gives You Superpowers Week Scholastic

Mar. 30              Money Smart Week

ALOUD: Library Foundation of Los Angeles  @ALOUDla

Los Angeles Literary Calendar  @LALitScene

Poetry Flash – So & No California

Storytelling Association of California

SCLLN Literacy Library Tutor Training Calendar :: March 2019

SCLLN Literacy Library Tutor Training Calendar :: March 2019

For Local, California and National

Literacy or Library Conferences and Events

visit the

Southern California Library Literacy Network

Calendar

Mar. 02      Adult Literacy Tutor Training Glendora Library 9:30a

Mar. 06      Adult Literacy Tutor Orientation Huntington Beach Library Oak View 6p

Mar. 07      Adult Literacy Tutor Orientation South Bay Literacy Torrance Library 7p

Mar. 09      Literacy Scrabble-thon Escondido Library 8a

Mar. 10      Adult Literacy Tutor Training San Diego Co Library Vista 12N

Mar. 11      Adult Literacy Tutor Orientation Ventura Co Library Simi Valley 5p

Mar. 12      Adult Literacy Tutor Training READ/San Diego Central Library 6p

Mar. 16      Adult Literacy Tutor Training READ/OC Library Foothill Ranch 9:30a

Mar. 16      Adult Literacy Tutor Training San Bernardino Co Library Chino 10a

Mar. 16      SCLLN Writer To Writer Awards Hilton Hotel, John Wayne Airport 10a

Mar. 16      Adult Literacy Tutor Training San Bernardino Co Library Apple Valley 11a

Mar. 18      Adult Literacy Volunteer Orientation Corona Library 7p

Mar. 28      Read OC Speaker Series Successful Job Search Tustin Library 12N

Altadena Library Complete a self-paced, online training module

Beverly Hills Library Adult Literacy last Friday month 10:00 - 12 N

LAPL Adult Literacy volunteers receive 7 hours of Online Instruction

Local Tutor Workshops :: Always Scrolling in the Right Frame

Carlsbad Library :: Literacy Pairs Share Their Breakthroughs

Literacy Breakthroughs: Carlsbad Library Learning Center Literacy Pairs

Learning Connections: January/February 2019 by Carrie Scott

Even with the most effective tutoring pairs, plateaus can happen. Sometimes, you may find you’re in a rut, struggling with a new learning theory or needing a different approach.

Here are three Carlsbad Library Learning Center literacy pairs who shared their recent breakthroughs and leaps forward! We hope that their stories will inspire you to try new techniques, tools and ideas.

Andrea G. and Anastasio S — Writer to Writer

Anastasio had never typed a letter before. He'd written some paragraphs, but never a complete letter, and certainly not to an author! Last year, he entered the Writer to Writer Challenge, a contest for adult learners to read a book and write a letter to the author about how the book impacted their life. Anastasio chose the book "Road Trip" by Gary Paulson. He said he liked the book, because he enjoyed how the characters became friends on the trip. His tutor Andrea helped him by asking a lot of questions! Who were your favorite characters? Why do you like them? What questions would you have for the author? When asked what he would tell a fellow learner about writing a letter, he said, "It's not that hard. Just express yourself!"

Stephanie S. and Adriana M. — Phono-Graphix

Tutor Stephanie had been working with her learner on Phono-Graphix for about six weeks. Because her learner had been in the program before, she flew through the initial lessons and even the advanced code sound lessons, because the words were familiar to her. Stephanie wondered whether she was getting any benefit from the exercises. However, they had just started reading a novel that had many complex words. Several times, the learner came across an unfamiliar word, and she would pronounce it correctly (or correct her initial mispronunciation) and explain why a vowel sound was the correct one. They are both encouraged that she could pronounce a word correctly and, more importantly, understand why!

Rylee C. and Souad B. — Read Live

This pair had been meeting for about 6 months, and even though they were making progress, the learner was eager to learn faster. That's when we introduced them to Read Live, a computer program where the learner reads along with a story, while learning new vocabulary. According to Souad, "I'm learning a lot with reading and spelling. The sounding out of the words is very good and so is the repetition." The program is timed, and tutor Rylee noticed that Souad wants to finish the paragraph before the time is up. Rylee remarked,

"The timer keeps her wanting to read. She likes the challenge!"  READ MORE >>

Carlsbad Library :: California Library Literacy Services Coordinators Gather in Sacramento

California Library Literacy Services Coordinators Gather in Sacramento

Learning Connection: Nov/Dec 2018 by Carrie Scott

I recently had the pleasure of attending the California Library Literacy Services Coordinators Conference at the beautiful Tsakopoulos Library Galleria in Sacramento. Approximately 130 attendees from 107 CLLS literacy programs joined the two-day event on September 25 and 26.

The opening session featured a panel of adult learners who told powerful stories of how their improved literacy skills changed their lives. Next, a panel of library directors expressed the importance of having literacy programs integrated as a core service of the library.

Breakout sessions focused on assessment, tutor recruitment, learning challenges and other topics. I presented on a tutor training panel with two colleagues. There was much interest in our training.

Participants were especially impressed that both our tutors and learners receive book bags, as one way to support the learners’ confidentiality. When tutors and learners both receive book bags, then learners are not automatically identified as learners. Coordinators also praised Carlsbad for its commitment to reusable coffee mugs and water bottles. Finally, Carlsbad was the only program to offer logo pins to celebrate tutors and learners who met the annual instructional hours goal.

A highlight was the Writer to Writer panel featuring 2017 Beginning Writer awardee Nyla H. from Carlsbad. Nyla read her winning letter to an appreciative audience, then joined Huntington Beach coordinator Diane Moseley and Newport Beach coordinator Cherall Weiss to share the benefits of Writer to Writer.

One of the most exciting things about Nyla’s involvement was the fact that this was the first trip where she flew, rode a tram and caught a cab by herself. She credits the literacy program with giving her the skills and confidence to be able to do that. Isn’t that what we are all about?

Nyla added, “My life has opened to so much positive progress. My message to all of us is if the opportunity opens to you, have the courage to take it. You can do it, if you just try! Don’t let your fears stop you from reaching your goals.”

Carlsbad Tutor Orientation Schedule

Please call 760-931-4510 to register.

December 4 , 12-2 pm

December 13, 6-8 pm

Camarena Library :: The 5 W’s….and 1 H

The 5 W’s….and 1 H

The Literacy Place: October 2018 (Camarena Library)

The Five Ws (sometimes referred to as Five Ws and 1 How) are questions whose answers are considered basic in information gathering or problem solving.

• Who was involved?

• What happened?

• Where did it take place?

• When did it take place?

• Why did that happen?

Some authors add a sixth question, “how”, to the list:

• How did it happen?

These questions can help you become a better writer. By following these guidelines, you can become more descriptive and your writing will be more developed.

Los Angeles Public Library :: Writer To Writer 2017

Writer to Writer

READ:  Summer 2018

Writer to Writer is a statewide writing challenge for adult learners in public library literacy programs. Adult learners are invited to read a book of their choice and then write a personal letter to the author of that book, sharing with the author their thoughts and opinions as to how the book affected them.

This year, 86 learners participated in the Writer to Writer challenge. Out of those 86, two learners from the Los Angeles Public Library Adult Literacy Program were recognized for their courageous and inspiring letters: Level 2 Runner-Up Magdalena Ortega and Level 3 Winner Elaheh Kazempour. Here are their award winning submissions!

Magdalena’s letter to Mr. Keyes Dear Mr. Keyes, Your book Flowers for Algernon was brought to my attention by my daughter who is reading it in middle school. She told me the main character named Charlie wanted to be smart. And I can relate to the character because I feel this way also. So as I began to read the story I felt as if it was me you were writing about. I always feel dumb. I decided to read the book because I wanted to know if Charlie had a good outcome. I can relate to Charlie because I struggle with wanting to be smart and I avoid having conversations with people because I am afraid I won’t understand what they might be talking about.

Elaheh’s letter to Charlotte Bronte Dear Charlotte, When I was a teenager, I remember well that I was reading your book Jane Eyre on a cold winter night. I was standing at the window watching snowflakes falling slowly on the ground. Everyone was sleeping. I opened the door and went to the yard. I lay down on the ground with snow sitting on my body and face. It was midnight, and I was very scared. I was wet, cold, and hungry too. Jane, Helen, and all other orphans at Lowood must have felt the same. Through darkness and snow, I saw a figure. It looked like the ghost of a woman. I thought it was you Charlotte. Was it really you or was I imagining things? Were you trying to tell me something? I ran back to my room, and hid under the blanket.  READ MORE >>