FALL 2009 Connections is a book club that opens the world of books - and reading for pleasure - for adult basic education students and English language learners. This newsletter includes resources for discussion leaders, teachers, tutors, and others working with adult students. |
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Words from Connections Participants
"I learned about American history, religion, lifestyle, and geography. I learned a lot of things, not just English."
Nashua participant
"I read the book with my child."
Beginning learner, Concord
"These books have opened my eyes to a world beyond my personal one." Concord participant
"Yes, she did listen to us, all 21 of us."
Concord participant, about her facilitator
"I read all the books to my husband."
Dover participant
"I know how to do a journal for myself, in my young life."
Manchester participant
"I didn't change my opinion but I have more curiosity."
Nashua participant
"I stopped looking up words because I was anxious to finish the book. I could infer. I have more confidence."
Manchester participant
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Resources 
Mary Rose and her mother, Lydia
"....having a mother who reads is a great boon to a child..."
Learning a New Land: Immigrant Students in American Society by Carola Suárez-Orozco, Marcelo M. Suárez- Orozco, and Irina Todorova
These writers say that having a friend who speaks English and having a mother who reads is a great boon to a child learning English and of course succeeding in school. The children "tend to be read to" and are "exposed to vocabulary and interactions at home." Learning a New Land presents findings of a long-range study of the children of immigrants in U.S. schools.
"Somebody's Daughter" by Margaret Atwood. This is one essay in The Alphabet of Hope; Writing for Literacy, a UNESCO anthology that celebrates the UN Literacy Decade, 2003-2012. Atwood writes about working in Nunavut in the Canadian Arctic in a camp where women learn to sew and read. Atwood asks the women to give a word of advice to other women in the world who are learning to read. Their advice becomes their own early written words. You might adapt Atwood's process to a book discussion program.
Sheekoy, Sheeko, Sheeko Xariira: Four Somali folktales read in Somali and English, a CD produced by the Minnesota Humanities Center. The Center has published a series of bilingual Somali/English picture books and they are read in both languages on the CD. Folktales include The Lion's Share, a tale in the Connections series, Conflict and Resolving Conflict. The Minnesota Humanities Center created discussion questions for The Lion's Share. Check this out if you use the book.
"Symphony of Whales" CD, music created, produced, and played by Steve Schuch to accompany his book Symphony of Whales which is in the Connections series, Music In the Story of Our Lives.
To borrow these resources to accompany your book discussions, please e-mail Terry.
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Naomi Shihab Nye Comes to Manchester May 5, 2010
Naomi Shihab Nye describes herself as a "wandering poet." Her poems offer "the long stroke of hope."
She is the author of 19 Varieties of Gazelle, a National Book Award finalist, among the 20 books she's written or edited. The Humanities Council and the Connections program are sponsoring a visit by Ms. Nye to New Hampshire. She will speak at the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester in an event that is free and open to the public. We are very excited to bring this acclaimed poet, essayist, and children's book writer especially for new Americans in New Hampshire, teachers, tutors, and Connections participants.
Poet Billy Collins writes about world conflicts and what Nye offers as a poet: "Her clarity combined with her verbal kindness and her knowledge of multiple cultures provide a strong, audible message that the only hope of reconciliation and understanding lies in the ideals set by the human heart."
Read Nye's poem "Kindness."
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Picturing America
Picturing America brings masterpieces of American art into schools and libraries in New Hampshire as well as nationwide. It is a program of We the People, the flagship initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Picturing America sets consist of forty reproductions of great American works of art. The program was created to go to schools and is applicable for adult education classrooms as well.
Facilitators can consider using pictures to add a further visual dimension to programs. Teachers can apply to bring in a Humanities To Go scholar for a presentation on some of the paintings. Here's the Picturing America Bookshelf for ideas of related children's book on key events in American history and culture.
To find out more about borrowing Picturing America reproductions in New Hampshire, e-mail Terry.
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Connections programs have received funding as one component of Fences and Neighbors, New Hampshire's Immigration Stories. Civic reflection discusisons are another key component of this three-year Council project. Groups will gather in high schools, hospitals, with law enforcement officers and with other members of communities to discuss selected poems, short fiction, and nonfiction. With the literature as a touchstone, people will explore such questions as How does the loss of cultural traditions affect family life? and What does our immigrant past teach us about the American experiment? Among the readings that will be used in discussions are "A Red Palm" by Gary Soto, and "The Problem of Old Harjo" by John Oskison. | |
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Facilitators, it is your energy and your creativity that continue to invite students and their families to bring books into their lives. Any teacher can apply to bring the four-session Connections program to her or his class. We welcome your calls with questions. You can also apply here.
Sincerely,
Terry Farish
NH Humanities Council
19 Pillsbury St.
Concord, NH 03301
603-224-4071
Orange, red,
The leaves are like blood
Luminous.
by Jeffry Hutomo, Indonesia
* Haikus in the newsletter are reprinted from "In Our Own Words" published by the Dover Adult Learning Center, edited by Debbie Liskow.
Do you have a collection of some of your students' writing? Please send us a copy. We would like to showcase pieces in future newsletters.
"The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them." Barry Lopez Crow and Weasel
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Nyanit Malual at the Humanities Council "Night of Stories, Night of Songs" watches precussionist Theo Nii Martey teach African dance steps to Manchester English language students. Students from the Manchester Adult Learning Center, the International Institute, English for New Americans, and Even Start joined in the celebration of stories and songs. | |
| In a Connections program, students and teachers read children's literature with thought-provoking themes and come together with a New Hampshire Humanities Council facilitator. In this community of readers, they learn new vocabulary, participate in lively discussions, and explore the worlds of the books. Teachers choose books that best serve their students from our thematic lists rich with classics and multicultural books on a variety of reading levels. |
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Upcoming Workshops for Connections Facilitators
August 20, 9:00 a.m. to noon,
2 Pillsbury Street, Concord, NH
"Traveling Lightly as a Book
Discussion Leader"
What ways did you find to invite participants to share in the discussion and maybe open it in new ways with their ideas? Bring questions, successes, practical tips from your experience as a facilitator. Most facilitators are new to Connections and one goal of this workshop is to learn from each other's creativity. RSVP to Terry, 224-4071.
Coming Soon -
"Connections with Beginning Level English Language Speakers"
What illustrated books work best with beginning English language learners? We're putting series together especially for new learners. We'll talk about these and using concrete props and storytelling to invite students into the world of books. Date to be announced.
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