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April 2014
Literacy Lines
Information and inspiration for our friends and partners.
Featured Event
Join us for a weekend of celebrating Latino heritage, reading, and family literacy. Stop by our LVWCC booth and say hello.   
 
15th Annual Latino Book & Family Festival  
Saturday, April 5, 2014, 12-6 pm
Sunday, April 6, 2014, 12-6 pm
 
Unity Junior High School 
2115 S. 54th Avenue, Cicero, IL 60804 
Free Admission  

 

Chicago's most popular Latino media personalities will promote literacy by reading some of their favorite children stories.

Program Announcements

Welcome New Adult Learners 

Welcome to Ramiro, Ana Maria, Beatriz, Donshea, Paulino, Maria, Erika, Arcelia, Adriana, Juana, Susan, Lenny, Clara and Ikea, new learners who started instruction with us in March.

Kathy Moran 
Program Coordinator

Tutor Appreciation

We would like to recognize tutors who recently completed in-service training on teaching low-level ESL. Thank you for taking the time to broaden your tutoring skills.

  • Dolly Baruch
  • China Hill
  • Kathy Knerr
Leo Zaretskiy

 

Welcome New Volunteer Tutors

Leo Zaretskiy and Mary Christianson completed New Tutor 
Orientation in March and have already been matched with their first learners. Leo has a science background and will be tutoring math, and Mary is a retired teacher who will be tutoring reading. Thank you for partnering with us.
Mary Christianson


Learner Appreciation
We would like to express our gratitude to learner Krystyna Ciura and learner graduate Georgina Espinoza who helped us by translating flyers.

Group Learning Opportunities
Check our calendar for the schedule. 

 

Tutor Log Reminder

Help us make accurate and timely reports to our stakeholders; please submit your February tutor log by April 5th: Online, by email: [email protected], by fax: (708) 848-9564, or by postal mail: Kathy Moran/LVWCC, PO Box 4502, Oak Park, IL 60304. To download a blank log, just go to our website.

 

LVWCC Literacy Lines E-Newsletter Archives

Looking for previous editions of our e-newsletter? Click here for the archives.  

Tutor Tips & Resources

Tutor Training Opportunities

Email [email protected] for more information or to register.


Saturday, April 12, 8:30 am to 2:30 pm

Literacy Works 8th Annual Literacy Roundtable  
Tuesday, May 20, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm 

 

Website of the Month: www.manythings.org  

If you are looking for a wide assortment of ESL activities, this is a great website to try. Native English speakers may find helpful activities here, too. It offers vocabulary, reading (with audio), grammar, listening and speaking, and it is also accessible from an iPad. Use it with your learner, or recommend extra practice between tutoring sessions.

 

math-teacher-chalkboard.jpg Tutoring Math: Within Your Reach

We have recently seen an increase in the number of learners interested in improving their math skills. Coincidentally, LVWCC math tutor Ira Goodkin, and Project CARE academic support specialist Martin Retzer, recently teamed up to present a workshop on strategies for tutoring math. 

 

Workshop participants learned that it is more a matter of nerve, instead of intellect, that drives one to become a math tutor. We all have the ability to tutor basic math literacy, but we often believe we cannot. Ira and Martin discussed ways to build tutor confidence and demonstrated how a positive attitude about math is inspirational and motivational to learners. A major theme was that math is best taught in a meaningful context. Missed the workshop? Check out this website for some videos containing examples of math in everyday contexts.

 

Barbara A. Raispis Literacy Collection

The Raispis Collection has been streamlined and relocated to the Berwyn Public Library. To better serve tutors of low-level ABE and ESL students, we have compiled the most essential tools and resources on teaching beginner ABE and ESL, including phonics and beginner speaking.
 
The Raispis Collection is not kept in the public area; please call Esther at (708) 749-6328 or send an email to [email protected] if you would like to browse. Browsing hours are by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 am to 4 pm, and Thursdays from 1 to 9 pm.  
Reaching Out
Tutor of the Month: Jeriann Walsh

Jeriann Walsh, a tutor with LVWCC since 2012, has instructed both ABE and ESL learners. In addition to exemplifying tutor flexibility and versatility, she brings a refreshing dedication to our shared vision.

 

How did you become interested in tutoring?

Being able to read well and to communicate clearly adds to one's enjoyment of life, as well as to one's ability to earn a good living. I think it's important to help others to acquire those skills.

 

What do you enjoy about the tutoring experience?

It's very satisfying to see a learner improve with reading, speaking, and understanding English. It's rewarding when the learner senses his or her own achievements and feels proud of them. It's also very interesting to converse with learners who are from other cultures; those conversations offer a way to understand more about the world we live in.   

 

Written by:
Jasmine Brown 

What challenges do you encounter while tutoring?

Tutoring is challenging because we do not all learn in the same ways, and it is necessary to discover how a person will learn best, which may not be evident at first, and to discover how to structure lessons for each learner. Some learners also have difficulty with scheduling and with finding time to study on their own, and those difficulties can slow the process.

 

Do you have any advice for new tutors?

The first thing that comes to mind is a need for patience. The pace may be slower than we expect, but it's important to keep it manageable for the learner. The second thing is a need for empathy. I have spent many years trying to learn another language and it has been a long process. The third thing is the need for lesson planning. Most learners need an organized meeting with the right amount of content and with something optional to use for home-study. It may take some time and effort for the tutor to find material that is well-suited to the each learner, but LVWCC has many resources available to us and staff members are immensely supportive.

 

Thank you Jeriann for bringing patience and wisdom to our organization and for helping our learners improve their lives. You truly deserve the honor of being April's Tutor of the Month.

 

Library of the Month: Brookfield Public Library

The Brookfield Library is located at 3609 Grand Blvd. Conveniently located near the Metra station and several bus routes, it is a great meeting location for tutors and learners. Frank Murray, the head of reference and electronic services, gave LVWCC a tour and filled us in on what the Brookfield Library has to offer our adult learning community.

 

Does your library have a defined adult literacy or ESL collection?

Yes, we have an ESL/Bilingual collection which consist of books, audio CDs and DVDs. Last year we received a Back to Books grant from the Illinois State Library. We were able to use this grant to update and improve our ESL collection. We also have a database called �Informe! which is a collection of Hispanic magazines with full text. The topics cover business, health, technology, culture, current events, and other subjects. We also offer the database Learning Express Library in Spanish which offers resources and practice quizzes to improve reading, writing, and math skills, as well as citizenship preparation.

 

Does your library have independent study materials for English Language Learners and/or adult new readers?

We have a variety of independent study materials for English Language Learners and new readers. Resources include books, workbooks, DVD's, and CD's. Our library also subscribes to a service called Mango Languages. Mango offers language lessons in over 60 languages, including English lessons. These lessons are taught from a variety of languages including: Arabic, Spanish, French, Polish, and many more. Patrons can download the Mango app and learn on the go.

 

Do you offer space to reserve for one-to-one and small group tutoring? If yes, how should a tutor make a reservation? 

We do have spaces for tutors to reserve for one-on-one  or small group tutoring. Tutors can make reservations by calling the Library at (708)485-6917, ext 105.

 

Are there any programs or upcoming events that the LVWCC community would benefit from knowing about?

Book Fiesta is a storytime presented in English and Spanish for children and their caregivers. Book Fiesta will take place on Saturday, April 5th from 10:30-11:00 am. Also during the months of March and April we will offer a book discussion program called "On the Same Page" in conjunctions with the Brookfield Zoo, the Riverside Public Library, and the North Riverside Public Library. More information can be found on our website.

Leadership
We would like to take the opportunity to recognize financial support for our program this year:
 
Individual Donations
In Kind Labor Donation
Adele Cannell, $1,096
Esther Chase, $20,800
Jolinda Cappello, $132
Laura Jane & Myron Colber, $50
Business Donations
Esther Chase, $70
Sarah Connelly & Arden Realty, $1,100
Katie Frankle, $50
Whole Foods River Forest, $747
Dina Guirini-Gordon, $100
Greg Gordon, $100
Memorial Donations
HuaYi He, $100
In memory of tutor Edna McQuillan, $650
Sheila McDonnell, $75  
Mario K. Medina, $125Grants
Claudio Antonio de Oliveira, $100
IL Secretary of State, $33,243
Betsy Snyder, $200 
Rob and Rebecca Streit, $50 
Literacy For Adults Partnership & the Grand Victoria Foundation, $1,387 
Cristen Vincent, $42
Jeriann Walsh, $50
Michael Warnock, $30
Anonymous, $12 

LVWCC Board of Directors


Name
Resident of
Since
Current Role
Esther Chase
Oak Park
2010
Board President
Tanya Sobosan
Riverside
2008
Board Member
Mario K. Medina
Berwyn
2011
Board Member
Ron Harper
Oak Park
2012
Board Member
Adele Cannell
Elmwood Park
2013
Board Member
Jolinda Cappello
Elmwood Park
2013
Board Member

Katie Frankle
Oak Park
2013
Board Member

Board Membership 
Would you like to serve on our board of directors?  Board members must:
  • live in our service area, and
  • attend 6 board meetings per year, and
  • have at least 2 years of volunteer tutor experience with us, or
  • be a current student with professional experience we need, or   
  • have extensive non-profit directorship experience.

Please send an email to [email protected] for more information.

 
Board Meetings
Board meetings are held every other month. Our next board meeting will be held on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 7:30 pm. We invite you to share your concerns about the organization and ask questions during our open session. If you would like to join us, please send an email to [email protected] for the location details.
Who We Are
LVWCC has been developing literacy skills with adults in the near-west suburbs of Chicago since 1987. We provide free customized tutoring to adult learners through a network of trained volunteers.
 
Our unique service area includes disadvantaged communities where 25% of residents have not completed high school, in addition to well-educated communities where 99% of residents have completed high school. Together, we are literally changing lives. Learn more. 
 
Our program is made possible by a grant from the Illinois State Library, a division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds designated for literacy. We are thankful that the State of Illinois continues to invest in our program. Find out more about how public libraries play a key role in the provision of literacy services.
 
Additional support for the work of LVWCC is made possible through an annual competitive grant from the Donley Foundation, which helps us achieve our organizational mission in western Cook County. We appreciate the legacy established by Edward and Inez Donley and we are proud that the Foundation considers us a partner in their effort to help adults advance in life and contribute to society.
Give
Donate
 
Would you consider a monthly donation to our program? Small dependable gifts from friends like you help sustain our program each year while the state of Illinois works to release annual competitive funding. If you have already sent us a donation, thank you. Your support helps us train more tutors and reach more learners who need us.

Volunteer
 
Helping an adult improve literacy skills can be a rewarding process for both you and your adult learner; the effects can last a lifetime and impact generations. More than reading, writing, or mathematics, improved literacy leads to greater self-confidence, engaged parenting, increased employability, and a desire for lifelong learning.
 
Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County (LVWCC)
Mailing Address: PO Box 4502, Oak Park, IL 60304 
Office Location: 1010 W. Lake St. Suite 603, Oak Park, IL 60301 
P 708.848.8499 � F 708.848.9564  www.lvwcc.org [email protected]