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Did you know...
| In Pulaski County, about 1 in 10 adults lack basic prose literacy.
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"Literacy is not a luxury; it is a right and a responsibility. If our world is to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, we must harness the energy and creativity of all our citizens."
- President Bill Clinton
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Welcome Back
Heidi Williams!
Heidi Williams is returning to Literacy Action. She will be tutoring a new ESL student. We are elated to have you back with us, Heidi!
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Unused materials?
Tutors & students: We are running low on tutoring materials. If you currently possess any learning materials that you are not using, please return them to our office so that we may give those items to tutors in need of new materials. Thank you!
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Send it by Smart Phone...
Attention tutors! You can now turn in your hours with your smart phone (iphone, Android, Blackberry, etc...)
Contact Shelly Owens for more information at sowens@literacylittlerock.
org.
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Unused materials?
Tutors & students: We are running low on tutoring materials. If you currently possess any learning materials that you are not using, please return them to our office so that we may give those items to tutors in need of new materials. Thank you!
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Brochure!
We have a new LACA brochure! This new addition to the LACA toolkit will be used for direct mail and volunteer events! If you would like a copy of our brochure, please call the office at 501-372-7323.
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Literacy Action Newsletter
October 2011 |
Literacy Action Snaps into Fall
Greetings!
As cooler weather and turning leaves begin to bring in a new season, we are seeing changes at Literacy Action that I believe will add some "snap" to our organization.
Kelly Bullington has joined the organization as the new Program Coordinator in Conway. She brings in a new commitment to our program in Faulkner County. Kelly has hit the ground running to find new literacy volunteers for the students waiting for tutors. I am excited about the opportunity to reach a greater number of people in the Conway area. In early October, we kicked off a new initiative with Goodwill Industries, Inc., to provide literacy tutoring at their job training facilities in Little Rock. This partnership is a natural fit because having beyond basic literacy skills are at the foundation of preparing for employment.
Our fall recruitment efforts for new AmeriCorps' tutors have really paid off. We have signed on two excellent AmeriCorps tutors who are already working with adult students. Holly and Monica are featured in a section of this newsletter.
I continue to be grateful for all of the support we have received from our community. Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) was recognized by Arkansas Literacy Councils for the support they have given Literacy Action. On any given day, you may find a tutor working with an adult learner in a CALS facility.
This fall season, with kick-offs happening weekly and tip-offs sure to begin, we hope that you will continue or help us "sack" and "block" the "offensive" statistics of adult literacy. There are many opportunities to get involved; become a literacy tutor, help with a tutor training workshop, or just let your friends know about the huge adult literacy issue affecting our nation. There are 30,000 adults in Central Arkansas who cannot read this newsletter. You can be part of the solution.
Regards, Neil Jones Executive Director Literacy Action of Central Arkansas |
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Kelly Bullington, New Program Coordinator in Conway Kelly Bullington joins us with a background in Education. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Science from the University of Kansas and completed graduate studies in curriculum and instruction from the University of Kansas. She has been an educational instructor in Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas, and is currently a Guest Teacher in Conway Public Schools and a Specialized Teacher/Tutor. Kelly is also the Director of District Children's Ministry North Arkansas Church of the Nazarene.
As Program Coordinator, Kelly is working with Literacy Action towards doubling the number of volunteer tutors over the next year in order to meet the need of 7,000 adults in Faulkner County who struggle with literacy. She's willing to speak with anyone about how they can be involved in teaching adults how to read and teaching English as a second language.
In her own words... "I am very excited to be working with Literacy Action in Faulkner County. In the first few weeks I have been Program Coordinator, I have already met so many adult learners, tutors, and supporter of literacy in the Conway area. I am looking forward to working alongside everyone to strengthen and expand the literacy efforts in our community."
Contact Kelly from 9AM until 12PM, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at the Literacy Office at the Faulkner County Library. 1(501)329.7323
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CALS Receives Award
Central Arkansas Library System receives the "Outstanding Business Partner Award," given by Arkansas Literacy Council. CALS is a leading partner with Literacy Action of Central Arkansas, supporting the mission to improve adult literacy in our community. In brief, CALS supports us by providing office space on their newly renovated floor, supplying us with technology to enhance learning, and helping us recruit tutors by using the CALS website. The CALS system offers a safe environment that is centrally located near tutors' and students' homes.
The CALS and LACA partnership is crucial in playing a larger role in improving adult literacy in our community. Thank you and congratulations CALS!
Pictured: Neil Jones, Executive Director of Literacy Action of Central Arkansas presenting the "Outstanding Business Partner Award" to Central Arkansas Library System. Receiving on CALS behalf is Bettye Fowler Kerns, Associate Director for Youth Services and Head of Main Library.
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Upcoming Events and Trainings
Adult Basic Tutor Workshop - November 12th The next Adult Basic Tutor Workshop is scheduled for November 12, 2011. Over the last few months, the number of adults seeking help with literacy skills has continued to be strong. Currently we have over 10 adult literacy students waiting to be assigned to a tutor and we are receiving 2 - 3 new students each week. Tell a friend about tutoring opportunities with Literacy Action. We would be happy to answer any question they may have. ESL Training
Sign-up for the January Workshop!
The ESL Training Workshop scheduled for January 14th will prepare you to teach English to a non-native speaker. The workshop will include an orientation to Literacy Action's mission and the ways we are working to solve adult literacy problems in Central Arkansas. Training includes an orientation to working with adult literacy students, as well specific information on tutoring techniques for teaching English as a second language. We will also discuss lesson planning and documentation. Contact Shelly Owens, sowens@literacylittlerock.org , 501-372-7323 if would like more information. To register online, visit the Literacy Action web site. |
New AmeriCorps' Service Volunteers Join Literacy Action
Tamonica Sanders
Tamonica is an alumna of the University of Memphis, having studied and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts degree in Counseling Education at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. She was a former Pre-K teacher in Marietta, Georgia and a Kindergarten-4th grade instructor in Atlanta Georgia. She is currently a Guest Teacher within the Little Rock School District.
Tamonica on her LACA experience thus far...
 "The staff at Literacy Action of Central Arkansas have really made me feel comfortable and confident in helping to change the illiteracy rate in Arkansas. Coming from an education background, I have been to many trainings but the curriculum training was very insightful. Marilyn Parius, the curriculum trainer, increased my comfort level for the first reading session. I conducted my first reading test this week at the Goodwill and I was enthused by the level of positivity and motivation the students had to do anything to start the steps to improve their reading skills. I look forward to all the valuable experiences to come in LACA."
Holly Villines
Holly is graduate of University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Print Journalism and a minor in Spanish. She has a background in teaching ESL, Spanish tutoring, marketing, and editing.
Holly on her commitment to service... "I am so excited to be a part of Arkansas Reads and to be given the opportunity to give back just a portion of what has been given to me. Reading and writing have been the greatest passions of my life, and I am happy to share those treasures with others."
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What's Happening at LACA Coffee, Cookies, and Conversing with Tutors On Thursday, November 10, 2011, you are cordially invited to "Coffee, Cookies, and Conversing with Tutors!" Please come by our office between 5:00PM and 7:00PM to visit with other tutors, prospective tutors, and guests. Tutors are encouraged to share best practices, and we will be previewing IBM Reading Companion, a new software that has been added to our computer lab/media library. Who's Needed at LACA?
Volunteers!
- We are looking for office volunteers, at the Little Rock Main Library, for shifts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 to 12!
- Program Coordinator, Kelly Bullington, and Literacy Action of Faulkner County is looking for tutors. There are currently three students waiting for tutors In Faulkner County. If you would like to tutor students in the Conway area, please contact Kelly Bullington: (501)329.7323 or kbullington@literacylittlerock.org.
Trainers!
- If you are interested in helping with our tutor training workshops, contact Shelly Owens at sowens@literacylittlerock.org.
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Luke's Journey
by Tamela Anderson
Last year, Tamela Anderson was an AmeriCorps' tutor in Conway. Tamela tells of "aha" moments with her student, Luke.
Luke started working in Laubach 1 in 2009. At the time, he says, he couldn't even read his own mail. "There was no point in even opening it," he went on, "I just took it to my mom once a week so she could tell me what it said." Four tutors later, he is about to complete Challenger 3.
After I asked what else had changed since his reading has improved, Luke began to point out routine things that most of us take for granted. The following are just a few:
Reading a menu - "When I went to a restaurant or drive-thru, I would just ask for a hamburger or chicken and hope they didn't ask which one. Sometimes I could remember things from TV ads but usually I would be stuck asking what choices I had. If they started pointing things out on the menu and there was not a picture, I ended up faking it.That can be bad. I got some big surprises that way. Now, I have a choice."
Reading a sign - "You'd be surprised how often people point out signs when you ask a question. It makes you feel stupid. There are signs everywhere. Street signs, exit signs, even signs in the grocery store and bank. It doesn't do much good to have somebody tell you which exit to use when you can't read the sign. I really hated walking into a building and having that big list showing where to go for a certain office. It just makes it worse when you can't write things down. I used to end up in the the wrong line or at the wrong place a lot."
Reading a package - "Everyone knows what a bag of potato chips looks like but if you can't read the bag, you might not know what flavor something is. For a long time I bought the same Doritoes when I wanted to try a new flavor. There were so many, I just couldn't tell which one it was. It's like that with most things at the store. You just get used to what things look like and stick to what you know. It doesn't give you much variety but you avoid problems. If a company changes the package, too bad. You get what you get and learn all over. I bought some soy milk one time by accident. Yuch!"
Buying a greeting card - "One of the things I hated most was buying a Mother's Day card. My mom has always been there when I needed her. I just picked one with a nice picture every year. Now I can try to find one that tells her how special she is."
The next time I spend time looking for that special card for someone, I'll remember how challenging such a simple thing can be to someone who can't read.
Tamela currently lives in Greenbrier, AR and is pursuing an Associates Degree in Accounting.
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