Whatcom Literacy Council
May 2013
 
2013 Trivia Bee Pin

WLC Tutor 

E-News

 A publication of
Whatcom Literacy Council
2013 Trivia Bee & Silent Auction a Hit!
Thank you Teams, Hosts & Volunteers!
We would like to express our gratitude to everyone who helped the Whatcom Literacy Council put on an exciting and successful Trivia Bee & Silent Auction.

 

Special thanks to co-hosts Ken Jennings, JEOPARDY! King and Scotty VanDryver, KAFE 104.1 Radio Host.

 

We would also like to thank our volunteer judges for the evening Deborra Garrett, Whatcom Superior Court Judge, Bob Keller, WWU Professor Emeritus, and Jason Gauer, NALCO Engineer.

 

Thank you to Miss Whatcom County for selling raffle tickets.

 

Thanks much to our stalwart volunteers, board members, and staff who all dedicated their evening to support the Whatcom Literacy Council.

 

Cheers to all of the teams and to the crowd for their exuberant participation. And congratulations to the local law firm Adelstein, Sharpe & Serka's team "The Foreign Legion III: The Foreign Legion and the Prisoner of Azkaban" who were the winners of the Bee for the 3rd year in a row.

 

THANK YOU so much for your support in helping to create an extraordinary and fun-filled event!

 

 

  

In This Issue
Learner and Tutor Spotlight
14th Annual 5K Walk / Run for Literacy
Quick Links

Whatcom Literacy Council Website

ELL Tutor Report

ALP Tutor Report

Tutors - We Need Your Reports!
Just a reminder to all of you wonderful tutors that we need to receive a report from you each month to keep us up to date on how things are going with your learner.  Please take a few minutes to click here and send us a report on all of the good work you do!
 
Learning Resources
Check out this terrific (FREE) learning website! Great for English language learners or native English speakers who want to practice reading and writing.

Learner and Tutor Spotlight

By Jessica Hilburn, ALP coordinator  

David MacAuley & Charlie Armstrong

Meet Charlie (pictured right) and David! I visited this dynamic tutoring duo a few weeks ago at the library. When I walked into the conference room I saw several papers spread out on the table and Charlie and his tutor were hunched over a lap top reading a spreadsheet. 

 

During that one session they were working on multiple things. I learned that Charlie had recently changed his career goal and they were busy outlining new pathways to employment. The pair was working on scheduling appointments with advisors at Bellingham Technical College. Charlie is now interested in earning a welding certificate. They were also discussing ways for Charlie to be at the top of his game while embarking on this new endeavor. Charlie has asked for David's help in learning how to prepare healthy meals and how to go about joining the YMCA.

 

This pair illustrates how tutoring can impact a person's life in so many ways. But don't just take it from me, here's what Charlie and David say about the importance of tutoring.

    

 

LEARNER - Charlie Armstrong:


What motivated you to contact us?

I still had unresolved goals although I had been in the WLC program before.
 
What are you currently working on with your tutor?

I want to continue to improve my reading and math skills so I can fill out job applications and get a higher paying job.

 

What goals have you accomplished and/or plan to accomplish in working with your tutor?

I got my drivers license. I passed the written test the first time and the drivers test in 3 weeks.

 

What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?

I want to use the skills I am learning to get into a college welding program.

 

Why is the literacy council important to you and the community?

I feel the WLC training will improve my quality of life and open up better job opportunities.


What advice would you give other adults seeking literacy support?

I would advise others to get in the program ASAP so you can develop skills to improve your life.  Do not let learning disabilities sidetrack you.

 

 

TUTOR - David MacAuley:

 

What have been some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects about being a tutor? 

The most challenging aspect was to develop trust and instill confidence in Charlie that he could improve his skills. The most rewarding aspect was his getting his driver's license so quickly and easily.

 

Why is the Literacy Council important to you and the community?

The WLC helps individuals that did not get the opportunity to learn to read and write. By teaching individuals these skills, the WLC improves their quality of life. They become better parents, citizens, employees all of which creates a better society.

 

What advice would you give someone who is just starting the tutoring process?

I strongly feel that you must keep an open mind and do not have low expectations of your learner. My experience showed that my learner responded to challenges and improved more quickly than I expected. Their success is most rewarding.

 

Tutoring Tool - Reading A-Z: The Online Reading Program

By Jessica Hilburn, ALP coordinator  

Watch this 3 minute video to learn about Reading A-Z: The Online Reading Program. It's a great tutoring tool that can build vocabulary and increase fluency for beginning to intermediate readers -  great for ALP and ELL!

 

Watch Video

 

Reading A-Z Website

 

14th Annual 5K Walk / Run for Literacy Saturday, June 29, 2013 @ 9:00am

 

This family-friendly race is sponsored by Village Books and Fairhaven Runners and all the proceeds from this 5K event will benefit the Whatcom Literacy Council!

 

Participants will enjoy a combination road-trail course, with slight grades and beautiful scenery.

 

The race will feature age-group awards and door prizes.

 

There will also be a free Kids �-Mile Fun Run at 8:45 am before the 5K, beginning on the Fairhaven Village Green.

 

Pre-Registration / Entry Donation through June 27th is $10.00/individual or $20.00/family.
There are (3) options to register for the race:

  1. Register online at  getmeregistered.com  
  2. Download & print the Registration Form and return or mail it to - c/o Literacy Run, Whatcom Literacy Council, PO Box 1292, Bellingham, WA  98227   
  3. 3) Pick-up race registration forms at Fairhaven Runners or Village Books and return or mail it to - c/o Literacy Run, Whatcom Literacy Council, PO Box 1292, Bellingham, WA  98227

Day-of Registration / Entry Donation is $15.00/individual and $25.00/family.

 

After the race, there will be live music, good company, good food, awards and a drawing for random prizes, all on the Village Green.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Village Books (360-671-2626) or Fairhaven Runners (360-676-4955).

 

 

If you have any questions or need help, please contact us at 647-3264 or by email:
Summer Ostlund, ELL Program Coordinator [email protected]
Jessica Hilburn, ALP Coordinator - [email protected]
Gina Barrieau-Gonzales, Programs Manager - [email protected]
Katherine Freimund, Executive Director - [email protected] 

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