Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Day in the District 2009

Save the Date: Jan 30 & Feb 6

Day in the District 2009:
January 30 and February 6
Support Adult Literacy
and California public libraries !


The focus of "Day in the District" is on fostering dialogue between local libraries and the legislators who represent the communities served by those libraries.

California libraries experienced deep budget cuts to Public Library Foundation -PLF and Transaction-Based Reimbursement - TBR funding in FY 07-08 and FY 08-09 that will have long term effects. –see Talking Points & Tips for Lobbying ! !

Please come prepared to talk about your library:
~ How budget cuts affect your library and literacy programs
~ How libraries and literacy make a difference in the lives of the Legislator's constituents

You Must Sign Up Online to attend specific appointments with legislators
Start here by clicking on

www.legiday.net



1) Account Name = type in: Member
2) Password = type in: Member
3) Click “ legiday ” link to: “Welcome to . . . “
4) Click on “ Legislators “ and Follow Instructions


Don't Know Your Legislators ? Click Here

Check back:
~~ Attendance may be limited, times & locations may change
~~ Position papers may be posted

And Save the Date - April 15, 2009
Library Legislative Day


Wednesday, January 14, 2009

NAAL 2003 - California Counties

NAAL *2003: Indirect County and State Estimates of the Percentage of Adults at the Lowest Literacy Level for 1992 and 2003 just released.

National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) assessed the English literacy skills of a nationally representative sample of 18,500 U.S. adults (age 16 and older) residing in private households. NAAL is the first national assessment of adult literacy since the *1992 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS).

California State estimate: 23%


Estimates for California Counties (top 5 with lowest literacy rates):

41% Imperial
34% Colusa
33% Los Angeles
32% Tulare
29% Madera

Complete List @ ~ can view county-by-county for each state
~~~ note: can copy counties table and then sort by %'s


State estimates (full report):
~ can view state numbers by individual state or compare 2 states
~ the only table of all 50 states is Table B-1 mentioned above


*2003 SAAL states: KY, MD, MA, MO, NY, and OK
*1992 SALS states: CA, IL, IN, IA, LA, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, and WA


a few newspaper articles from around CA:

California literacy at bottom
Press Enterprise: Jan 8, 2009 by Shirin Parsavand

Almost 1 in 4 adults in California have such poor literacy skills they cannot follow a simple newspaper article, a federal study released Thursday said.

1 in 5 lacks basic literacy skills
Illiteracy numbers shot up between 1992 and 2003
NC Times: Jan 8, 09 by Stacy Brandt


The estimate is based on information that the National Center for Education Statistics collected in 2003 about adult literacy. It wasn't until recently that the center, a federal agency that gathers and analyzes education-related data, broke down the numbers to the state and county level.

In San Diego County, 21 percent of people 16 or older are functionally illiterate, the data show.

and a comment from Stephen Krashen's newsletter:

The "Decline" in Adult Literacy: Don't Blame Teachers and Schools!
Stephen Krashen, Professor Emeritus, USC - January 12, 2009


A number of newspaper articles have announced yet another "decline in literacy." This time it's adults, who, it is claimed, have dropped in literacy between 1992 and 2003, with a greater percentage lacking basic literacy.

This has resulted in the usual pious pronouncements about the low quality of our schools, our teachers, and poor teaching methods at all levels. Education Secretary Spellings, for example, was quoted in USA Today as saying that adult literacy programs are "inefficient" and "not using research-based methods" (January 8, 2008).

A look at the actual report shows that these conclusions are completely unjustified.

In 1992, only 24,000 adults in 11 states were actually tested on literacy. In 2003, only 18,500 adults in seven states were tested on literacy, a tiny percentage of the population. Researchers then gathered data on factors known to be connected to literacy, factors such as poverty levels, level of education, and minority status. They then used this data to make an educated guess about levels of literacy for the rest of the population.

In other words, one or more of the values of the predictors changed between 1992 and 2003 (the report does not specify which predictors have changed or how much). The change in the values of the predictors is undoubtedly the major reason for the "decline" of literacy that was reported. Literacy wasn't actually measured for most of the country.

The estimates of adult literacy are probably fairly accurate, and the value of the study is that it gives planners of adult literacy programs some idea of what they are up against.

The study does not, however, tell us whether schools are improving or getting worse, or whether one method of teaching reading is better than another, or whether teachers in general are better or worse than they were. All we really know from the study is that some things have changed between 1993 and 2003, factors that have nothing to do with teaching methods and teachers.

Critics should not blame schools for factors that have nothing to do with schools.

National Assessment of Adult Literacy: Indirect County and State Estimates of the Percentage of Adults at the Lowest Literacy Level for 1992 and 2003.

In fact, in the 1992, 24,000 adults in 11 states

2003: 18,500 in 7 states

They then estimated literacy rates in states not included, poverty, level of education, and minority status. Studies have shown that all of these are related to literacy.

In other words, most of the data is really a report on poverty, level of education, and minority status. In other words, what has changed between 1992 and 2003 is levels of poverty, levels of education, and percentage of minorities. They ASSUME from this that literacy levels have changed.

High poverty means less access to reading material.

Poverty not included in 1992 estimates, which may be why they are higher!

In other words, WHAT CHANGED WAS NOT LITERACY BUT LEVELS OF POVERTY, LEVELS OF EDUCATION AND PERCENTAGE OF MINORITIES.


Sunday, January 11, 2009

Hemet Library - Literacy student takes craft seriously, wins contest

Literacy student takes craft seriously, wins contest
Valley Chronicle: Jan 5, 09: by Valerie Detwiler

Laurie Heber is the kind of woman that doesn't give up easily. She brings an attitude of excitement to everything she does - especially when it comes to her writing.

So it didn't surprise Lea Ashworth, a tutor with the 
Hemet Public Library Adult Literacy Services and Heber's tutor, when Heber brought in a six-page letter to enter in the Writer-to-Writer contest.

It was a bit overzealous because the contest called for a one-page letter to a favorite author who had inspired the letter-writer.

“Laurie wrote six pages so basically we worked together to cut it down,” said Ashworth.

Lori Eastman, the Literacy Coordinator for the library, said they were working on teaching Heber that her first draft isn't her final draft and that writing is a process.

Heber's editing and hand work paid off when she found out she won first place in the “beginning” category of the Writer-to-Writer statewide library writing contest with her letter to Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Heber's letter spoke of Wilder's books and their emphasis on family and how that helped Heber through a time when she was dealing with sickness in her own family.

Wilder's books comforted Heber through her high school years, said Heber.

Heber took first place out of 160 writers. READ ON

Thursday, January 8, 2009

2009 SCLLN Literacy Conference: Registration

SCLLN Literacy Conference 2009
March 7, 2009

9 am – 4 pm
Check-In & Continental Breakfast: 8 am – 9 am
Buena Park Holiday Inn – 7000 Beach Blvd

Registration Form - Please Print

Today’s Date:
Library Program:
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
ZIP:

Phone:
Email:

Role (please select one):___Volunteer
___Adult Learner
___Staff
___Presenter

Early Bird Registration Fees: Must Be Received by Feb 1-2009
___$ 35.00: Members – Tutors or Staff
___$ 10.00: Adult Learners (limited scholarships available)
___$ 50.00: Non-Members
___$ 35.00: Lunch Only – Stephen J Cannell, Keynote Speaker

Registration Fees: Received after Feb 1-2009
___$ 50.00: Members – Tutors or Staff
___$ 15.00: Adult Learners (limited scholarships available)
___$ 75.00: Non-Members
___$ 50.00: Lunch Only – Stephen J Cannell, Keynote Speaker

Payment Must Be Received by: Feb 15-2009
- No Refunds after Feb 25-2009 -

Make a 1st and 2nd Choice in each Strand: 1, 2 or 3
Lunch: Vegetarian _____

Strand 1 9:00 – 10:15
___Speech Pronunciation & Clarity:
Patricia Larkin, Speech Pathologist
___Science of Dyslexia: Tracy Block, READ/San Diego
___Music, Rhyme & Literacy: Sal Morano & Rod Williams
___Got Goals ?: Pat Habeck,Tulare Co L
___Let’s Start Writing: Janis Young, Ontario CL
___Pharmacy Literacy: St Joseph’s Hospital
Adult
Learners___Problem Solving Skills-Melainie Goodyear, Monrovia PL

Strand 2 10:30 – 11:45
___Tutor / Learner Roundtable: Jose Cruz, CEO-San Diego Coun. on Literacy
___Phonics Orton-Gillingham Approach, P1: Tracy Block-Zaretsky, READ/SD
___Got Mocha ?-Pam Williams: Ventura Co L
___Free Software for Tutoring & Beyond: Diane Moseley, Literacy Cons.
___What’s This Stuff ? Let’s Write About It: Lucy Johnson-Sims, Beaumont L
___Interviewing Skills-Getting That Job: Julie Cottle, Recruiter–Wells Fargo

Adult Learners ___Wacky for Wikis: Intro-Blogs & Wikis: William Byrne, Burbank PL

Strand 3 2:00 – 3:15
___Wacky for Wikis: Intro-Blogs & Wikis: William Byrne, Burbank PL
___Phonics Orton-Gillingham Approach, P2:Tracy Block-Zaretsky, READ/SD
___Speech Pronunciation & Clarity: Patricia Larkin, Speech Pathologist
___Reading Comprehension Made Simple: Carol Chapman, Ventura Co L
___Dealing with Difficult People: Sandra Bear, READ/Orange County
___Finacial Literacy: Marco Buenrostro, Wells Fargo
Adult Learners___Learner Leaders Speak–Graduates of the Adult Learner Leadership Inst-ALLI

Copy & Send Email Registrations: Click Here

Snail Mail – Hard Copy along with Payments To:

SCLLN
c/o Tangela Ashe
1501 E St. Andrew Pl
Santa Ana CA 92705

Monday, January 5, 2009

2009 SCLLN Tutor-Learner Literacy Conference

SCLLN Literacy Conference 2009
March 7, 2009

Buena Park Holiday Inn: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Stephen J. Cannell - Keynote Speaker

Win A Free Admission – see Q below

$ 35.00: SCLLN Tutors and Staff
$ 10.00: Adult Learners
$ 50.00: Non-Members

Keynote Speaker Luncheon Special:
$35.00 – Lunch & Book Signing Only !

Stephen J. Cannell has lived with dyslexia his entire life. In this inspiring video series, he explains dyslexia, misconceptions, challenges and ways to help children with dyslexia. In Video Query, Stephen talks about the inspiration and story behind his new upcoming Shane Scully thiller, On The Grind (available everywhere January 6th). Learn how Stephen came up with this tale of sinister police corruption and what happens to Shane Scully !

Some of the 21 Workshops
Learner Leaders Speak – Adult Learner Leadership Institute -ALLI- Graduates
Speech Pronunciation & Clarity: Patricia Larkin – Speech Pathologist
Music, Rhyme & Literacy: Sal Morano, Corona Public Lib & Rod Williams, Palmdale City Lib
Free Computer Software: Diane Moseley, READ/Orange County
Wacky for Wikis: William Byrne, Burbank Public Library
Reading Comprehension Strategies: Carol Chapman, Ventura County Library
Tutor/Learner Roundtable: Jose Cruz, CEO -San Diego Council on Literacy
Science of Dyslexia:Tracey Block-Zaretsky, READ/San Diego

Win 1 Ticket to the 2009 SCLLN Conferenceby being the 1st person to answer this Q

What word in the English language has the most definitions ?
Submit Answer as a Comment to this Post.

Only Tutors, Learners or Public are eligible to win !

Employees of SCLLN programs, its affiliates, subsidiaries,
and their immediate families and household members are not eligible.

Friday, January 2, 2009

SCLLN Tutor Workshop Calendar - January 2009


Tutor Training & Workshops
January 2009
visit SCLLN
for more Literacy & Library Events


Jan 5: 6 pm
Tutor Orientation - READ/OC
Haskett Library Anaheim CA

Jan 6: 6 pm
Tutor Orientation - READ/OC
READ/OC Headquarters Santa Ana CA

Jan 6: 6:30 pm
Program Information - READ/OC
Orange Public Library Orange CA

Jan 8: 6 pm
Tutor Training Burbank Pubic Library
110 N Glenoaks Burbank CA

Jan 8: 6:30 pm
Program Information - READ/OC
El Toro Library

Jan 10: 9 am
Tutor Workshop - READ/OC
READ OC Headquarters Santa Ana CA

Jan 10: 10 am
Tutor Training - Los Angeles Public Library
Pacoima Library Pacoima CA

Jan 10: 10 am
Tutor Training - San Diego County Library
Vista Branch Vista CA

Jan 12: 6 pm
Tutor Training - Huntington Beach Public Library
Huntington Beach CA

Jan 17: 9 am
Tutor Training - Palmdale City Library Larry
Chimbole Cultural Center
38350 Sierra Hwy Palmdale CA

Jan 20: 6:30 pm
Tutor Training - Pasadena Public Library
La Pintoresca Branch
1355 N Raymond Pasadena CA

Jan 24: 8:45 am
ESL Workshop - Monrovia Public Library
843 E. Olive Monrovia CA

Jan 28: 6 pm
Learner Orientation - Newport Beach Public Library
1000 Avocado Newport Beach CA

Jan 31: 10 am
Tutor Training - San Diego County Library
El Cajon Library El Cajon CA


State & National ConferencesJanuary 2009

Jan 4 - 7
Hawaii International Conference on Education
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa
Honolulu Hawaii


Jan 16 - 29
Conference of the Living Tree Canary Hotel
Santa Barbara CA

Jan 17 - 19
California Kindergarten Conference
Santa Clara CA

Jan 22 - 24
Technology, Reading, Learning Diversity Conference
Hyatt Regency San Francisco CA


Jan 28 – 31
ATIA Conference
Orlando FL



Monday, December 29, 2008

Rancho Cucamonga Library - Conquering Illiteracy: One Man's Fight

Conquering Illiteracy: One Man's Fight
A Grandfather Reads His First Christmas Story
Good Morning America (ABC): Dec 27, 2008 by Lisa Fletcher, Nicole Young & Michael Milberger


Two years ago, reading a holiday book to his 3-year-old grandson Chip would have been impossible for Charles Goolsby. But this year, after countless hours of hard work, Goolsby is finally able to read a holiday story -- something he was never able to do for his own son and daughter.

One California man conquers a decades-long battle with reading."I was totally humiliated, a grown man with reading and writing skills that are not up to par," said Goolsby, 56, of Fontana, Calif. "I had nothing to lose, because I was at my bottom, my lowest point."

Recently divorced and recovering from heart surgery, Goolsby was entering a new phase of his life. Fixing car transmissions was his specialty. He even owned his own business with the help of his son, but facing retirement, his safety net was disappearing.

"If I needed something, I'd always say, 'Well, give me the paper, I'll go home and fill it out,' or I'd take my wife with me," said Goolsby. "People with the same disability that I have, you know how to get around stuff, you learn the shortcut for someone to help you."

It's not uncommon to find adults headed for retirement who do not have sufficient reading skills. Goolsby began as one of 30 million American adults who cannot read beyond a simple sentence and the 7 million who can't read at all, according to the National Institute for Literacy.

Rosie Manela, adult literacy program director at the Rancho Cucamonga Library, where Goolsby takes literacy lessons, said fear of embarrassment often prevents adults from seeking help.

"It is sad, because in this fast-paced technology, this competitive global economy, our country is going to suffer if we don't do anything about that," she said. READ MORE