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February
2013


Message From the Director  

Greetings!
   
Lisa 5
You'd better grab your calendar while you read this email...We have so many exciting things happening here at the Literacy Council; be sure to schedule in time to join us!
 
Lisa Vernon
 
Warmest Regards, 
401-798-0408             
 
"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing."

Cynthia & Helen
Why We Do What We Do

 

Helen Zhuang and her tutor, Cynthia Palmer

 

Thirty-six year old Helen Zhuang came to the US from China five years ago with her husband and son, who is now 12 years old. Helen received an accounting degree in China and worked there as a bank teller for several years.  She currently works part-time in a restaurant, but her long-term goal is to be proficient enough in English to pursue a full-time accounting position. Her short-term goals include being more involved in her son's education, more independent in managing her household, and confident enough to make English-speaking friends and be truly involved in her community. Helen has been working diligently to improve her spoken English and her ability to understand others in order to meet these goals.

 

Cynthia has found Helen to be a joy to work with--she is cheerful, reliable, bright, inquisitive and a very hard worker.  She takes pride in mastering grammar, pronunciation and new vocabulary, especially slang and idioms! Helen is making intensive efforts to improve her English as quickly as possible and her progress is impressive.

 

    
When the world says "Give up", hope says " Try it one more time." 
                                           Author Unknown


Classroom students
 
Coming Attractions

Reading Strategies Workshop
April 19th, 2013
10:00
to 12:00 noon


 
Mark your calendars!  Reading specialists and educators Catherine Waterman and the Rev. Nancy White will be team teaching a Tutor Tune Up on Friday, April 19th, from 10:00-12:00 at the Severna Park Library. Their workshop will cover reading strategies with a focus on learning styles and Howard Gardener's Multiple Intelligences--an interactive approach that will suggest more activities that will help boost your student's reading comprehension.
 
This is an opportunity you do not want to miss, so please RSVP to
programdirector@aaclc.org or call our office at (410) 269-4419 and leave a message with your name and phone number to reserve a seat.

 

 


 
Thinking about becoming a
tutor?

Our next 12-hour tutor training workshop will be held at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, MD on the following dates:

 

March 2 and 23, 9:30 AM-3:00 PM

April 20th, 10:00-11:30 AM


Our 12 hour Laubach training allows you to become familiar with our approach to adult literacy tutoring and our student and tutor materials.  We have four trainers who will cover a broad array of topics for both ESL and Basic Literacy instruction.  On March 23 you will be assigned your student and will participate in those group sessions appropriate to your student's needs (ESL, Basic Literacy, Laubach level, etc.).  Instructors will then explain how to create lesson plans and use supplemental materials geared for your particular student, and will familiarize you with the Laubach book (1-4) that you will be using for your student.  If you are interested in attending our next training, please email  programdirector@aaclc.org
or phone (410) 269-4419.  Space is limited, and our last training filled quickly!


Please Plan On Attending!
The Annapolis Book Festival  

We have been invited to participate in the Annapolis Book Festival, which will be held at the Key School campus on April 13th from 10 AM to 4 PM  Please plan on attending this fun family event. If interested in volunteering at our booth, please email programdirector@aaclc.org or call 410-269-4419 to sign up.  We would love your help!
The Key School 534 Hillsmere Dr. Annapolis, MD 21403  410.263.9231 (click the "Key School" link for directions)

 
Let Me Introduce
You!  

Have you ever wondered what it was like behind the scenes at the Literacy Council? Why not make plans to attend one of the Board of Directors meetings to find out?  Monthly meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to attend.   

                                                 
March:
Wednesday, March 13th, from 7-8:45 PM at the Eastport United Methodist Church. 
                            (click highlighted links for directions)
April:

Wednesday, April 10th, from 7-8:45 PM at the Annapolis West St. library.
                                                       
                                           * 
New Board members for 2013:

Development Committee Chairman: Dr. Michael Keller

Dr. Keller is a leader for both local and national organizations and has resided in Annapolis for more than 30 years, and serves as chair of the Annapolis Human Relations Commission, National Board President of the Peace Action Education Fund, and Co-coordinator of the Homework and Reading program at his church. Mike retired as Director of Policy Analysis and Research for the Maryland Higher Education Commission in 2008.  Trained in journalism, Mike served as a war correspondent for the Vietnam bureau of Pacific Stars & Stripes.  Mike brings a wealth of leadership and fundraising experience to the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council.

                                             
Program Committee Chairwoman: Rev. Nancy White   

Nancy comes from a background of 33 years in public education in both Anne

Arundel and Prince George's County Public Schools. During this time, she served as music teacher, teacher of the deaf/hard of hearing and special education administrator and supervisor. Nancy also served on numerous special task forces and commissions at the local, state and national levels and was an active member of several professional organizations. Nancy has taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels at local post-secondary programs. She is a published author in the field, has served as an educational consultant on both state and national levels, and also served as a consultant to the Mister Rogers Neighborhood television program.

 

In 2001, Nancy was ordained as a Deacon in the Episcopal Church. Since that time she has served as Deacon, Youth Minister, and Assistant to the Rector at various churches in the area. Highlights include leading teams to an orphanage and school in Honduras, El Hogar de Amor y Esperanza, to provide educational seminars for the teachers and staff.  She also served two terms as a member of the Advisory Board for El Hogar.  Another special ministry was a two-part International Youth Exchange.  
                                                

Thanks to a generous donation from Robert and Jolene Caspar, we were able to completely renovate our website, icanread.org, this past fall.  Dr. Elizabeth H. Cottrell, a freelance writer, author, social media pro, and digital publisher worked side by side with us to make our vision for this site become a reality.  Since then she has donated her time to help us learn the basics of WordPress, while updating our blogs for us.  If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to look at this beautiful website.  Thank you, Elizabeth!

 

 Elizabeth Cottrell

 Dr. Elizabeth H. Cottrell  

                                            

Tutor Tips

rong-chang.com  (Stories with audio apporpiate for various levels)

edhelper.com/crossword (Daily Reading Comprehension Themes ... Reading and Writing Lessons ... Printable Crossword Puzzles and more.)

 owl.english.purdue.edu  (Purdue online writing lab, grammar and teaching examples)

ColorinColorado.org  (How to help English Language Learners)


Anne Arundel County Literacy Council wishes to thank everyone for their sponsorship/support.  
Top Rated NonProfit 2012 ProLiteracy Logo unitedway

Contact
Anne ArundelCounty
Literacy Council, Inc.

410-269-4419 / programdirector@aaclc.org

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Edited by Nancy Lewis
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