Monday, July 9, 2012

Literacy Tribune Newsletter: July 2012

Literacy Tribune: July 2012
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: Getting it off & Keeping it off: First Steps: By Julia Pusztai, MSN RN, Director, The Neighborhood Wellness Center

A History Lesson: The Social Security Act of 1935
On June 8, 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt told Congress that he wanted to start a program for social security.

Member Spotlight: Joe Buford
Learning to read and write has changed everything for Joe Buford, an adult learner of the
Nashville Adult Literacy Council.

Technology Watch: LibreOffice for Students and Non-Profits
It is at the top of my list of “must-have” software. It's free. You get a complete office suite.


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 !

Thursday, July 5, 2012

CA & National Literacy Calendar: July 2012

California Literacy Calendar: July 2012

SCLLN
Literacy & Library Events & Conferences
- local, California and National -
the Southern California Library Literacy Network
for more information

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


Southern California and California Literacy Events: July 2012
July 12+ Comic-Con International San Diego
July 21   Sensory Friendly Films - ICE AGE Local AMCs 10am
July 25+ Romance Writers of America Anaheim
July 25+ Autism Society National Conference San Diego, CA
July 27+ Sierra Storytelling Festival Nevada City

National & International Literacy Events: July 2012
July 12+ Conference of the Americas Riviera: Maya, Mexico
July 21:  Autism Sensory Friendly Films: ICE AGE @10am
July 23+ NIOST Summer Seminars: Boston, MA
July 25+ Autism Society National Conference: San Diego, CA
July 25+ Romance Writers of America Conference: Anaheim, CA
July 29+ Correction Education Assn Conference: St. Paul, MN
July 30+ National Comprehensive Literacy Institute: Anaheim, CA
July 31+ Mental Health - Learning Disabilities in Children Plano, TX

Monday, July 2, 2012

Governor Signs Budget Bill: $4.7M for Libraries

Governor Signs Budget Bill - Leaves $4.7 Million in Place For Libraries
Latest News – CLA: 6.28.2012 Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist; Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyist

The State Capitol has been quite busy this week, as the Legislature works feverishly to pass more than 20 Budget-related “trailer bills” to compliment the larger Budget bill that was passed and sent to the Governor on June 15. The Budget has been sitting on Governor Brown’s desk since that date, and he had until midnight Wednesday to sign the Budget bill, AB 1464 by Assemblyman Blumenfield (Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee). The Governor also has the ability to use his “blue pencil” authority to make reductions to the Budget bill. Fortunately, when Governor Brown signed the Budget, at 9:30 last night, he left in place $4.7 million that we and CLA members and supporters fought so hard for, which is intended to save the public library literacy programs and the California Library Services Act from elimination. READ MORE !

ASSEMBLY BILL No. 1464 – Amended in Senate, June 13, 2012 [ page 565 ]
6120-211-0001—For local assistance, California State Library, Program 20-Library Development Services 1,880,000
6120-213-0001—For local assistance, California State Library, Program 20-Library Development Services—California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program, pursuant to Section 18880 of the Education Code 2,820,000

Send Thank You Letters to
Assembly Members & State Senators for their SUPPORT !

Assembly Member Bob Blumenfield, Chair of the Budget Committee
Capitol Office
State Capitol, P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0040
(916) 319-2040

Assembly Member Jim Nielsen, Vice-Chair of the Budget Committee
Capitol Office
State Capitol Room #6031
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 319-2002

Senate Budget Subcom 1-Educ Finance
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
State Capitol, Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 324-7543
Senator Ted Gaines
State Capitol, Room 3060
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 324-2680
Senator Rod Wright
State Capitol, Room 5064
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 445-3712

Assembly Budget Subcom 2-Educ Finance
Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla, Chair
State Capitol, Room 2188
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2111
Assemblyman Bill Berryhill
State Capitol, Room 3141
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2126
Assemblywoman Julia Brownley
State Capitol, Room 2163
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2141
Assemblyman Brian Nestande
State Capitol, Room 4139
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2164
Assemblyman Sandre Swanson
State Capitol, Room 6012
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2116

Governor
c/o
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento CA 95814
916 . 445 . 2841

Thursday, June 28, 2012

2016 California Book Festivals

California Book Festivals
books, comics, poetry, storytelling, writing and more !

January
Cowboy Poetry Gathering: Jan 30-Feb 4, Elko NV

February
CODEX 2017: International Symposium & Book Fair, Berkeley
LA Art Book Fair: 2016, Geffen Contemporary @ MOCA
Long Beach Comic Expo: Feb 18-19, Convention Center

March
LA Zine Fest: 2016, Majestic, 650 S Spring
Mariposa Storytelling Festival: Mar 10-12, Yosemite
San Diego Storytelling Festival: 2016, Encinitas Library
Women's Literary Festival:  2016, Santa Barbara
World Storytelling Day: A global celebration of storytelling Mar 20

April
Black Writers On Tour: 2016, Carson Community Center
Cowboy Poetry Week  Apr 16-22
Literary Orange: 2016, Irvine
Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival: 2016, Old Town Newhall
SFJazz Poetry Festival: 2016, SFJAZZ Center

May
Steinbeck Festival: 2016 Salinas
Women's Literary Festival: 2016, Santa Barbara

June
Author Fair, El Segundo Library
Bay Book Fest: June 03+, Berkeley

July
Comic-Con Intl: 2016, San Diego
Sierra Storytelling Festival: 2016, Nevada City

August
Liemert Park Book Fair: 2016, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
Tuolumne Meadows Poetry Festival: 2016, Parsons Lodge, Yosemite Natl Park

September
Fall into Fiction UCAAB, Sep 22 Carson
Family Day at the Park: Sep 17 Stockton
Latino Book & Family Festival: Sep 10, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
Orange County Children's Book Festival: Sep 25 Orange Coast College
Southern California Poetry Festival: Sep 10-11, Aquarium of Pacific LB
Teen Book Festival, Sep 17 Pasadena Library 12N
WeHo Reads: Banned Books Sep 26, West Hollywood Library 11a

October

November
Jewish Book Month: Nov 24-Dec 24

December
Howard Zinn Book Fair: Dec 4, San Francisco City College Mission Campus



Monday, March 12, 2012

Save California Libraries & Literacy - ADVOCATE !

SAVE CA LIBRARIES LITERACY - ADVOCATE !

The Budget Subcommittees are gearing up to meet, so it's time to make our voices heard and work to reinstate funding for libraries and literacy!

EVERYONE -- tutors, learners, literacy professionals, and friends -- must rise to the occasion and write letters. Lots of letters!! Some things to keep in mind . . .

1. Handwritten letters are the best, but if you can't do that, don't worry -- send a typed letter.
2. Volume matters! Our goal is a minimum of 200 letters on the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chairpersons' desks, with copies on the committee members' desks.
3. You can use the same wording in your letters to the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chairs.
4. Personal stories make a difference. Ask your tutors and students to write about the difference your literacy program has made in their lives.

See a sample letter below to get you started. More Advocacy Tips @ CLA.

It's best to send your letter via U.S. Mail. 2nd best is fax.
Do NOT email your letter -- emails are not effective.

Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 1 on Education Finance
State Capitol, Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814

Stage 1: 200+ Letters BEFORE March 31
Stage 2: 200+ Letters in the Spring

Senator Senator Carol Liu,Chair

Dear Senator Liu,Please reinstate funding for public libraries --$3.7 million to Adult Literacy Programs (the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Program), $8.5 million to the California Library Services Act, and $3 million to the Public Library Foundation.

I would like to specifically address the $3.7 million for Adult Literacy Programs, which serve English-speaking adults who read at less than a 6th grade level.

It is estimated that 23% of adults in California lack basic literacy skills such that they would be unable to fill out a job application. Last year these programs served 22,733 adult learners using 12,609 volunteer tutors who volunteered 855,206 hours (a value of $20 million in volunteer time). Additionally, the programs leveraged every $1 of state funds to raise $5 in local/private funds, much of which will not be available without the state's money to leverage.

We received no state funds in 2011/2012 which closed several programs and forced surviving programs to make deep cuts to program hours and staffing levels. We estimate that we will serve 25% fewer learners (approximately 5,500 adults) as a result. This is in addition to our existing state-wide waiting list of 3,000 adults. If funds are not restored for 2012/2013, up to 42 more programs could close.

There are very few other options for these adults. 57% of our programs reported that there is no other local service. And 76% reported a decrease in service or the elimination of their local adult school.

Don't let this happen! Improving literacy makes good economic sense when you consider that 70% of our adult learners were in their prime wage-earning years (ages 20 - 49). And the programs work -- of the adults who set the goal: 48% wrote their first resume; 58% were able to fill out a job application; and 53% found a job. California clearly needs programs that produce results like this.

Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
(Your Name)


cc: Senator Ted Gaines
Senator Rod Wright


Senate Budget Subcommittee 1-Educ Finance
Senator Carol Liu, ChairState Capitol, Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 324-7543


Senator Ted GainesState Capitol, Room 3060
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 324-2680


Senator Rod WrightState Capitol, Room 5064
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 445-3712


Assembly Budget Subcom 2-Educ FinanceAssemblywoman Susan Bonilla, ChairState Capitol, Room 2188
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2111


Assemblyman Bill Berryhill
State Capitol, Room 3141
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2126


Assemblywoman Julia BrownleyState Capitol, Room 2163
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2141


Assemblyman Brian NestandeState Capitol, Room 4139
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2164


Assemblyman Sandre Swanson
State Capitol, Room 6012
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 319-2116

. . . from
Laura Seaholm - Program Manager, Project Second ChanceContra Costa County Library

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

WordCount: 86,800 Most Common Words

86,800 Most Common Words

The WordCount website is alive and well !

It was created by Jonathan Harris in 2004. Here’s link to a conversation with him @ Wordmaster on Sep 2, 2004.


WordCount
an interactive presentation of the
86,800 most frequently used English words

Anonymous reported that Wordcount was no longer available (see comment). Contacted Jonathan Harris; he said the site was being moved to a new host and would be up and running soon.

Here are 2 other lists of the most common English words:

6000 Most Frequently Used English Words
Word Frequency Lists and Dictionary: Corpus of Contemporary American English

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

CA & National Literacy Calendar: March 2012

California Literacy Calendar: March 2012

SCLLN
Literacy & Library Events & Conferences
- local, California and National -
Southern California Library Literacy Network
for more information

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

Read Across America Day: March 2
World Read Aloud Day: March 7

Southern California Literacy Events: March 2012Mar 02+: Charlotte S Huck Children's Literature Festival – U Redlands
Mar 02+: IDA, Inland Empire Annual Conference – Riverside
Mar 07: Sensory Film – The LORAX 10am
Mar 10: Literary Women - Long Beach Festival of Authors


California Literacy Events: March 2012
Mar 07+: CABE Conference – Sacramento
Mar 09+: Mariposa Storytelling FestivalMar 15+: California Language Teachers Assn Conf – Los Angeles
Mar 15+: CUE Conference – Palm Springs


National & International Literacy Events: March 2012Mar 07: Sensory Film – The LORAX 10am
Mar 08+: We Learn - Women & Literacy – Univ Rhode Island
Mar 12+: Everyone Reading Conference NY
Mar 13+: Public Library Assn Conf – Philadelphia
Mar 14+: Early Education Technology for Children Conf – Salt Lake City
Mar 16: Transliteracy, Technology and Teaching – University at Albany
Mar 25+: National Conf on Family Literacy-NCFL – San DiegoMar 28+: Global Summit on Childhood – Washington DC
Mar 28+: TESOL Annual Convention – Philadelphia
Mar 30+: Latino Children's Literature Conf – University of Alabama
Mar 31+: Latino Book & Family Festival – Chicago