Sarasota YMCA: HIPPY Families Focus on Nutrition and Staying Healthy
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, or HIPPY, is a parent-based literacy program for low-income parents of preschoolers. InSarasota, HIPPY families, considered to be the poorest of the poor, face barriers of poverty, as well as struggles associated with lower literacy rates, lower educational attainment levels and higher incidences of substance abuse and crime.
Many low-literate adults can get lost in the healthcare system, lose their benefits and endanger their lives and the lives of their children. HIPPY attempts to engage families, increasing their health literacy by giving them the ability to obtain, process and understand health information and by guiding them in choosing a healthy lifestyle, knowing how to seek medical care and taking advantage of preventive measures.
HIPPY uses a curriculum with a Health Literacy component, which includes standard topics such as finding a doctor, healthy, eating, visiting the doctor, nutrition and fitness; however, staff enhances the promotion of better health by offering additional support. Staff provides parents with one-on-one time to discuss issues, referral for services and provide simple tips on staying fit and healthy eating.
In helping improve people’s access to health information and their capacity to use it effectively, staff has learned many valuable lessons; it takes simplicity and consistency to help families achieve success. The following “Healthy Snacking Tips” article from our “Family Times” newsletter is one such tool.
It often seems that the biggest challenge to healthy eating comes not from large meals, but instead from the seemingly small choices we make at snack time. It is important to remember that while snacks are small, each little choice quickly adds up in your daily nutrition.
Here are some simple tips to help you make better snacking choices. Bon Appetit!
- Choose snacks that will satisfy your hunger such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds and low-fat dairy products.
- Make snacking on vegetables more interesting by dipping them in non-fat salad dressings or hummus
- Be creative. Spend a little extra time in the kitchen at the beginning of the week and experiment with different recipes for healthy snacks. There are numerous books and websites specifically dedicated to healthy snack recipes.
- Don’t be misled by labels. Foods labeled as low or fat free can still have a high amount of calories. In addition, foods labeled as cholesterol free can still have a significant amount of fat, saturated fat and sugar. Always read the nutrition labels on the back of the product.
Healthy snack options include:
• A sliced apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter
• Baby carrots with some hummus
• A small bowl of high fiber cereal with fat free milk
• Homemade trail mix – a mixture of 2 tablespoons each of almonds, cashews, dried cranberries and raisins
HIPPY is dedicated to promoting better health through a mix of home visitation, parenting group meetings, special projects and service referrals and by consistently reinforcing skills, which can lead to increased health literacy.
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Health Literacy Initiative: West Area Adult School
Lori Cabrera
Adult ESOL programs like ours at East and West Area Adult Schools in Auburndale and Lakeland, Florida serve students in many ways. Focusing on health literacy is one way that we can have a huge impact not just on our students, but on their families as well. As the head of the ESOL department at West Area, I knew we needed to improve the way we address health literacy in our program, because I have seen evidence of the gaps in students’ knowledge and know how dangerous that can be in their lives outside of the classroom. This could be when there’s an emergency situation, when they need to manage a chronic disease, or they need to see a medical professional but lack the skill to communicate with him or her in English.
The Health Literacy Grant we received from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida has been a huge help in our efforts to prepare our students to deal with health situations. We were able to purchase hands-on materials, visual aids, flip charts, and other items to help our students grasp these topics. We purchased a new text series called “Health Stories” that we are using to help our lower-level ESOL students learn more about health. We arranged training for twenty students in Adult CPR, and they received their certification. We gave out health promotion materials focusing on hand washing habits, finding ways to exercise, and steps to healthier eating. It has been a very positive experience for all of us, students and teachers alike, and we have all learned a lot in the process that will help us reach the goal of better health in the future.
Lori Cabrera
ESOL Department Head
West Area Adult School (Polk County Schools)
Lakeland, FL
For more information on Florida’s Health Literacy Initiative, please check out our website.
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Top Literacy Stories: January 23
Nominate your favorite volunteer, literacy organization, or adult learner for an award at FLC’s annual conference!
Florida Literacy Coalition’s annual conference is coming up May 9-11 at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront. At a special banquet at Conference, FLC will recognize organizations and individuals for their commitment and dedication to increasing adult and family literacy in the state of Florida.
Orlando Magic donates $1 million to education
The Orlando Magic’s charitable foundation gave out $1 million in grants Wednesday morning to 19 nonprofit organizations in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, boosting efforts to improve literacy, education and healthy lifestyles, and alleviate homelessness.
SEC Seeks Comment on Financial Literacy, Investor Disclosure
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking public comment on financial literacy and investor disclosure issues as part of its review mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
How to create your 2012 Nonprofit Career Plan
I know that many of you are happy doing what you are doing, but in case one of your resolutions is to accelerate in your career, I have the perfect site for you. This blog has several useful tools and resources for helping you plan the next part of your journey.
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Sustainable Recipes: New Beginnings Health Literacy Program
My name is Susan Warner and I am the Program Manager and Instructor for the New Beginnings Family Literacy Program in Bunnell, FL. Our program was chosen to be a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Heath Literacy Grant recipient. I chose to apply for the grant for a few different reasons, first because of the collaboration I have with a Family Nutrition Program Educator and realizing the importance of obesity prevention not only in adults but children as well. Mrs. Krista Busey facilitates classes twice per month and focuses on nutrition and meals on a budget. With the grant we have been able to expand upon that and have created box gardens which are located right outside of the back door of our program. We planted and maintained those crops and once they were ready to harvest we prepared low cost nutritional meals with the vegetables that we harvested. The families were also given the materials and supplies to create their very own recipe books. The recipe books are prepared much like a scrapbook with a lot of thought and personal touches that they will be proud to share with others and actually use at home for future meals. In addition to our project, we utilized the Staying Healthy curriculum, which was a great benefit. The families learned about calories, fiber, chronic diseases, and where to go for low cost medical care. Our project is continuing and we will begin to plant our next crop seeds very soon. This has been a very exciting project that all of the families enjoyed and learned from and we hope to keep it going for many more families in the future.
New Beginnings is a family literacy program designed to empower families to grow toward independence together.
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Staying Healthy tips: Nutrition
New Year’s resolutions often include a resolve to get healthier, by moving more or eating better. Staying Healthy is a great health literacy tool to teach about good nutrition. According to Florida’s adult ESOL learners, learning about healthy eating habits is the most important tool gained from the Staying Healthy section of adult literacy courses.
Staying Healthy’s chapter on nutrition explains about important nutrients, how to decipher a nutrition label, what to eat, what not to eat, and how to determine a healthy weight using the BMI scale. When teaching about nutrition, there are a few simple tips that make nutrition easy to understand:
1. Aim for more fruits and vegetables (5 to 9 per day), more fiber (20 grams per day), and less sodium (less than 1,200 milligrams per day). Try to incorporate whole-grains. Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk and dairy products instead of their full-fat counterparts.
2. Balance calories by enjoying your food, but eating less. Avoid oversize portions. The plate rule, promoted by the FDA and Michelle Obama, is an easy way to do this at meal time. Half of the plate should be fruits and vegetables, one quarter o the plate should be whole grains, and one quarter of the plate should be protein. See Figure 1.
Figure 1. Plate Rule. Source: Choosemyplate.gov.
3. Try frozen or canned fruits and vegetables if fresh produce is too expensive – just try to avoid added ingredients like sodium, sugar, butter, or sauces.
4. Drink 8-10 eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Avoid sugary drinks.
Combined with moving more, these simple steps will put you on the right track toward staying healthy in the new year!
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Top Literacy Stories: January 16
Jacksonville mayor to announce week-long financial literacy program
Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown today will announce a week-long series of free financial literacy events in May to improve the financial management skills of the community.
The Charter Schools Agenda in Tallahasee
One of the bills, SB 1162, creates “family charter academies,” a new class of publicly funded, privately run schools, that would allow parents to attend school with their children. Bringing an integrated approach to adult education, the schools would “assist adults and parents in setting and obtaining goals for helping their children with homework, obtaining a job, enrolling in vocational training, or earning a GED certificate.”
Audits on heart and joint procedures chill Florida doctors
A story from this week’s Tampa Bay Times notes that Medicare audits in FL are on hold. Pre-payment review of high-dollar procedures that tend to be over-done in Florida hospitals created an outcry from doctors
How Nonprofits Make Data Fun and Informative
Whether they are bringing attention to an important cause, explaining their internal operations, or demonstrating the impact of their work, nonprofits can use infographics to present data in a way that is far more engaging and efficient than what could be conveyed with words alone.
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Get to know your health literacy coordinator, Maribeth Buie
Hi! I’m Maribeth Buie, the new Health Literacy Coordinator at the FLC. A little about me – I grew up in Florida and love the winters here. I received my PhD in Public Health – Health Education and Maternal & Child Health – from the University of South Florida. I aim to practice what I preach – therefore, I try to live a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Achieving or maintaining good health, as well as navigating the health care system, can be a struggle for anyone. However, by providing the right tools, knowledge, and understanding, we can help make a life-saving difference. Health education is my passion, and I look forward to working with you to improve Florida’s health literacy!
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Marty Finsterbusch, the first adult learner president of the NCL
Marty Finsterbusch
Those who know me, know that I do not like to write unless I have to. That being said, when the Florida Literacy Coalition, asked me to write this blog, I was hesitant to say yes. Even today, it’s very hard work and time consuming for me. They asked me to write what it means to me to be the first adult learner to be voted as President of the National Coalition for Literacy and what I hope to accomplish. As this was the first time I was asked these questions, I felt I needed to respond.
As President of the National Coalition for Literacy, the most significant thing that I can accomplish is that I can help open doors for my fellow adult learners. As a child with a learning difference, I was seen as less than others and found that it did not change when I became an adult. I began my adult learning when I went into a literacy program back in 1984, as a student. What I learned through this experience was that many doors are closed to adults that cannot read and write. I have been working ever since to get adult learners to be seen as equals within the rest of society. Currently, I am the executive director of VALUEUSA, a resource organization for adult learners nationwide.
Today, in our society, we cannot discriminate against someone because of race, gender or sexual orientation, but we can deny people a better life because of their lack of reading and writing skills. So many people feel like the rest of the world does not see them or care about them because they cannot read and write like every one else. Even people working in the field of adult education do not always see the whole person they are working with. They see what we cannot do, but fail to see what we can do and what we have done.
Adult learners come from all classes in our society. In the past, we would have been just fine. We would have found jobs that would allow us to raise our families and be a vital part of our local community. However, today, this is not true. Now, with the speed of technology, the need to be literate in everything that we do is making so many more of us feel left out. Jobs and opportunities for us to make a better life are going away. We, as adult learners, want to learn. We want to be part of this great nation. We want to be seen as people that can and do make a difference.
For individuals who do not know what the National Coalition for Literacy is; it is an organization that helps bring together individuals and national groups that are concerned and working to help adults get the basic education they need. As the new president, I hope I can motivate more people to appreciate adult learners and recognize that adult learners are a vital part of the solution.
In working together, adult learners, provider groups, funders and government can make life better for so many more people. If you can help in any way, please do.
Marty Finsterbusch
Executive Director, VALUEUSA
President, NATIONAL COALITION for LITERACY
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Top Stories in Literacy :January 9
2012 Resolutions for the Nonprofit World
The Chronicle of Philanthropy invited leaders of the nonprofit world to share their resolutions ans an opportunity to set new goals. While not all these are focused on literacy, there are ideas that all of us can use.
Why Awareness Beats Anxiety
Carl Richards of the New York Times gives advice on finding the medium between regrets from the past and worrying about the future. This advice can be given to anyone teaching financial literacy
Best-selling authors to join Gov. Jeb Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush for Celebration of Reading in Bonita Springs
The 12th annual family literacy fundraiser, Celebration of Reading, will take place on February 17, 2012 in Bonita Springs. This event will feature the former first lady, several other representatives and three New York Times best-selling authors.
Changes in the GED test will make it harder to pass
The new GED expected to launch in 2014, will include higher math skills, computer schkills, and more writing, focusing on development of skills related to career and postsecondary success. The current model has not been updated since 1999.
A Literate Nation for 2012
This Huffington Post editorial examines the pitfalls with America’s illiteracy problem.
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Jan Smith: Higher Education Blues
We’ve all been there – after months of preparation, our student passes the GED exam and has great plans to go to college only to be discouraged by the amount of paperwork required for admissions, financial aid, and class registration.
In addition, funding a postsecondary education can be overwhelming especially for non-traditional students who have had to overcome many barriers already to get to this point of their education.
As counselors, tutors, and instructors for Adult Ed/ESOL students, you play an important role in transitioning your students to higher education. Rather than re-creating the wheel, use the following FREE resources and ideas to help guide your students through the financial aid maze:
1) Consider having an OSFA Outreach Representative visit your classroom. The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA), Florida Department of Education, administers state grants and scholarships for Florida. An Outreach Representative is available to speak directly with your students about financial aid options and other financial literacy topics such as budgeting, managing credit, school and life management, searching for scholarships, and more.
Did you know that the Bright Futures Scholarship is available for GED students too? Students must apply and meet general eligibility requirements BEFORE taking the GED exam to be considered. For more information, please visit their website.
To learn more about OSFA’s free resources and locate an Outreach Representative near you, please visit www.navigatingyourfuture.org.
2) The U.S. Department of Education offers guidance through its websitewww.StudentAid.ed.gov. Select “Non-Traditional Students” to find a step by step guide for approaching higher education.
3) The Federal Trade Commission offers many free resources and lists scholarship scams reported to the agency. For more information, please visitwww.ftc.gov and search for “scholarship scams” to read the latest reports of fraudulent activity.
4) Consider organizing a “Searching for Scholarships” group that meets weekly and allows students to help each other with applications and essays.
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Panel Will Showcase Health Literacy Grant Recipients
During the conference, make sure you check out an exciting panel discussion from three strong health literacy grant recipients in the session titled: Promising Program Practices in Health Literacy.
As many of you may be aware, the Florida Literacy Coalition and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida initiated a health literacy grant program in 2009 for ESOL/family literacy organizations. Ten organizations were awarded the health literacy grant in 2009, and we are happy to report that 16 organizations received a grant for the 2010-2011 program year.
The panel discussion at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, will specifically showcase three organizations:
Program managers from each organization will present their efforts and achievements of their extremely successful grant year. Don’t miss it!
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Math and Writing Tricks, Techniques and Shortcuts
If I had to identify the two areas of the GED test that most students (and even teachers) struggle with, I’d pick math and writing! (Wouldn’t you agree?) That’s where the inspiration came in for “Math and Writing Tricks, Techniques, and Shortcuts.”
Come be a part of this fantastically fun & informative session at 3:45 p.m., Wednesday, May 5, during the Florida Literacy Conference to go over various tricks, techniques, and shortcuts that can be used for these two subjects. In fact, this is a session that adult learners are invited to attend!
Dennis Radice (from Central Florida Community College) will be co-presenting with me, and if you’ve never seen a presentation by him, you’re in for a real treat! He’s a spunky GED teacher who will get everyone pumped up about writing! I hope to be able to match his energy & enthusiasm with the math! Don’t miss out!
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BCBSFL Renews Commitment to Health Literacy
This morning, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida renewed their commitment to health literacy by presenting the Florida Literacy Coalition with a check for $120,000. These funds are part of a 3-year grant initiative from BCBSFL.
These funds will be used in the upcoming grant year to fund 15 health literacy programs throughout Florida. Since the partnership between BCBSFL and FLC began in 2009, health literacy programs have been implemented to improve communication skills for adult learners in ESOL and family literacy programs across the state.
In this photo are Sharon Hackney of BCBSFL, Greg Smith of FLC, and representatives from the 2010 health literacy grant recipient organizations.
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What a great conference it has been!
FLC blog readers, I hope you’ve enjoyed the Florida Literacy Conference as much as I have! What a great time it’s been at the South Seas Island Resort! Is there anywhere else (in Florida) that’s more beautiful? The palm trees, the beaches, the flowers…they were all amazing!
But I think what was even more amazing were the terrific conference participants who were here! I can only speak for myself, but my sessions were well attended and had energetic, enthusiastic people who were genuinely interested in the topics: technology, writing and math! Thank you for your participation and kind words.
I hope that no matter what sessions you attended, that they met (or exceeded) your expectations!
So, until we meet again at the next conference (May 4-6, 2011, Lake Mary, Fla.) keep on keepin’ on and doin’ the wonderful things you do! 
~Kimberly Gates~
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A Great Conference in Captiva
Well, we are all back from Captiva. It was such a beautiful venue for the conference. My hat is off the all the staff at the Florida Literacy Coalition for making it possible. Great work everyone!
This was my first Florida Literacy Conference and I really enjoyed it. The sessions I attended were very informative, especially Dr. Betsy Stoutmorrill’s session, Reading: Science of the Brain Meets Art of the Mind.
It was great to meet other people in the wider literacy world, too. It is really inspiring to know so many good people are out there fighting the good fight!
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Conference Photos on Facebook
Did you attend the Florida Literacy Conference and get caught on camera? A few photos from the conference have been uploaded to the FLC Facebook page – find us by searching for “Florida Literacy” if you’re not already a friend.
The album entitled “2010 Florida Literacy Conference” has some great pictures of attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and more. Check it out! More photos coming soon.
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Another Great Florida Literacy Conference
Now that the Florida Literacy Conference has ended, I can reflect upon some of the activities I was fortunate enough to attend. First, I participated in one of the pre-conference workshops: Train the Trainer Course. At this first session of the course, we participated in many activities to help us focus on competencies we need to be good tutor trainers.
After the opening ceremonies on Wednesday, I attended my carefully chosen workshops of the conference. Since it was Adult Learner Day, I wanted to participate in a session with learners. The workshop by VALUE did not disappoint. I found the learners’ points of view to be very helpful and inspiring in this interactive workshop.
That afternoon I attended a very thought-provoking session presented by Hillary Smith. She had polled learners and teachers about when, how often, and tactics to correct ESL learners when they make errors in English. Her findings were enlightening.
Finally, during the informative FLC Annual Meeting, several learners read their emotional essays. Their personal stories brought faces to those needing literacy, just like the ESOL performers did in our closing session and luncheon; a standing ovation to all!
Which workshop(s) did you find most helpful? Share it in the comment section below.
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Congrats to the 2010 Florida Literacy Award Winners
The Florida Literacy Coalition recently recognized three organizations and three individuals for their commitment and dedication to increasing adult and family literacy in the state of Florida. The awards were presented at a special banquet held during the Florida Literacy Conference in Captiva, Fla.
In all, six awards were presented during the banquet.
- Bank of America (Central Florida) was recognized as an Outstanding Business Partner for their leadership and significant contributions to support Orlando’s Adult Literacy League. Through grants and program training, the organization has raised the profile of adult education and literacy in Central Florida.
- The Gainesville Sun was honored as an Outstanding Media Partner for their outstanding, innovative and effective coverage of literacy issues. The company has been a driving force behind the area’s Annual Family Literacy Festival, and provides the Alachua County Literacy Network with a regular meeting space, administrative support and free advertising for volunteer recruitment.
- Marion County’s Literacy Council received the Excellence in Education award as an organization demonstrating outstanding achievement in adult and family literacy education. The council has doubled the number of adult students it services in the past two years and has a dedicated volunteer base of more than 80 tutors. The organization has come a long way from its beginnings in the founder’s garage in 1999.
- Cherie Byrnes of Citrus County was recognized with the Outstanding Literacy Volunteer award for her efforts with the Citrus County Library System. Byrnes has demonstrated exceptional service and commitment to tutoring and program operations, and was instrumental in launching the library’s first English language classes.
- Nancy Tamayo de Galdez, an adult student from Palm Beach County, was honored with the Flight for Freedom Award for her extraordinary accomplishments in improving her literacy skills. A single, working mother, Tamayo de Galdez started learning English as a second language in 2007. Over than past three years she has volunteered hundreds of hours with the local literacy academy and other community organizations. She also is currently attending Kaiser College to become a medical assistant.
- Margaret Anne Wheeler of Polk County was recognized with the Mary J. Brogan Leadership Award for upholding the highest standards of excellence, dedication, leadership and creativity for her literacy work in Polk County for more than two decades. Wheeler is revered as a role model for others, an ambassador for excellence in education and an advocate for the adult learner.
2010 Florida Literacy Award Winners (L-R): Kristin Bash, Gainesville Sun; Margaret Anne Wheeler; Cherie Byrnes; Marisol Sepulveda and Karen Hill, Marion County Literacy Council; Carla Brosy and Barbara Travis, Bank of America-Sanibel; Julia Clark, on behalf of Nancy Tamayo de Galdez
Congratulations to all of the 2010 Florida Literacy Award winners. Keep up the great work!
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Save the Date for the 2011 Florida Literacy Conference
2011 Florida Literacy Conference - Open Books Open Minds
Keep an eye on the Florida Literacy Conference page of the Florida Literacy Coalition website for further details!
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JUST RELEASED: National Action Plan on Improving Health Literacy
Big news for healthcare providers and health literacy educators alike! The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has just released the National Action Plan on Improving Health Literacy. This national initiative outlines seven specific goals that will improve health literacy and make health reform a true reality.
These seven goals are outlined as such:
1. Develop and disseminate health and safety information that is accurate, accessible, and actionable
2. Promote changes in the health care system that improve health information, communication, informed decision making, and access to health services, and access to health services
3. Incorporate accurate, standards-based, and developmentally appropriate health and science information and curricula in child care and education through the university level
4. Support and expand local efforts to provide adult education, English language instruction, and culturally and linguistically appropriate health information services in the community
5. Build partnerships, develop guidance and change policies
6. Increase basic research and the development, implementation, and evaluation of practices and interventions to improve health literacy
7. Increase the dissemination and use of evidence-based health literacy practices and interventions
The FLC is really excited to see a national cohesive effort that will include doctors, clinics, nurses, teachers, tutors… and EVERYONE else to see significant progress in the field of health literacy.
Spread the news and brainstorm what YOU can do at your workplace and for your community, and then tell us about it. Make comments below or on a forum in FLC’s Health Literacy Ning site!
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Strategic Reading Instruction to Improve Comprehension of Struggling Readers
Tuesday night, tutors from across the state participated in a virtual training to learn about Strategic Reading Instruction to Improve Comprehension of Struggling Readers.
Below is a quick summary of the training from presenter, Iris Strunc, of Northwest Florida State College.
Iris Strunc
Comprehension is the fundamental reason for reading. Reading without understanding is merely a futile exercise of readers running their eyes across a page of text. Many struggling readers, therefore, indicate that comprehension is their most serious reading problem. In order to understand the text that they are reading, readers must be able to identify the topic and what the author wants the reader to know about the topic (main idea).
One of the strategies demonstrated during this session was analyzing the paragraph for words that carry the meaning in each sentence (key words) and using these words to identify the topic and the author’s point about the topic. The steps include the following:
- Reading the first and last sentence of the paragraph
- Identifying and circling the words (key words) that carry the meaning from the first sentence to the next
- Identifying and circling the words (key words) that carry the meaning from the second sentence to the next
- Identifying and circling the words (key words) that carry the meaning throughout the remainder of the paragraph
- Using the circled keys words to look for patterns to identify the topic (subject) of the paragraph
- Writing the topic at the top of a post-it-note
- Determining what the author wants the reader to know about the topic of the paragraph
- Writing that information under the topic on the post-it-note
- Combining this information on the post-it-note to write the main idea sentence of the paragraph
Students who are directly taught this strategy usually are able to comprehend the text that they are reading without having to reread the text several times.
This training was a collaborative learning event brought to you by the Florida Adult Literacy Resource Center, a program of the Florida Literacy Coalition. This training was made possible through the support of the Florida Department of Education, Division of Career and Adult Education.
Did you participate in last night’s training? Let us know your thoughts; leave your comments in the box below!
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Dear Facebook Friends, Please LIKE Us! Love, FLC
That’s right, FLC is currently transitioning from a Facebook profile page to a fan page.
You might be asking yourself, why would FLC make that change?
The main reason for the switch is to streamline reporting on FLC’s Facebook communications. Using Facebook Insights (free reporting tool with Facebook Fan Pages) will help FLC to better understand it’s Facebook audience and better analyze the messages posted.
FLC is continuously striving to improve the ways we can distribute resources to literacy organizations and advocates. We want to know what you like, don’t like, what you need, don’t need, etc… Using the reporting tools allows FLC to hone in on these aspects and cater to audience activity.
FLC’s Blog (that you’re currently reading) has it’s own reporting tool (thank you, WordPress.com – FREE) and relays important stats about visitors, posts and activity.
We also do our best to track our twitter activity (our handle is @FloridaLiteracy – follow us!) with free tools like TweetStats and TweetBeep. These reports help us to track our tweeting frequency, rate of follower increase and FLC mentions.
Reporting on FLC’s website is made easy with Google Analytics (free tool) – we are able to track our visitor’s activities, popular pages and most importantly, how website visitors find FLC – through search engines, social media outlets, other literacy sites, etc…
All of these reports help organizations, like FLC, to better analyze and adjust messages to satisfy our audiences. They also help determine ROI by answering these questions: Are the social media sites worth it? Are they driving traffic to our “literacy info mecca” (aka: www.FloridaLiteracy.org)? Are they effective in relaying literacy information, resources and news? Are our audiences receptive and interactive? These questions are important to answer when evaluating these types of communication methods.
Does your organization employ any of these tools or others? If so, tell us what you’ve found!
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FATDEC Welcomes New Members
The Florida Adult and Technical Distance Education Consortium (FATDEC) is proud to announce some new members! Hernando, Lee, and Sarasota Counties, as well as Northwest Florida State College, will be offering online courses for adult students for the 2010-2011 school year! Hooray for them! As other new members join, we’ll update our website and also announce it here on the FLC blog!
Want to know more about FATDEC? Click here.
Click here to read a previous post about FATDEC.
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Effective Vocabulary Instruction for the Struggling Reader
Cecilia A. Hicks
Yesterday afternoon tutors statewide participated in a virtual training facilitated by Cecilia A. Hicks, of Florida State College at Jacksonville, on effective vocabulary instruction for struggling adult readers. Below, Cecilia Hicks provides a synopsis of the training, and other helpful hints for tutors and teachers.
Vocabulary refers to knowledge of word meanings. We’ve discovered that there are two types of vocabularies used:
- oral – words we can use and understand in speaking and listening
- reading – the store of words we recognize and understand in print
The reader cannot understand the writer’s message unless they understand the meanings of most of the words. Who needs vocabulary instruction? Everyone at varying reading levels benefit from this vital component of the reading process. There are several research- and evidence-based strategies and activities tutors can use. Here is a list of some of these strategies.
- Using direct vocabulary instruction can include pre-teaching the words in instructional text. Teach the meaning of the word before the reading of the text.
- Be sure the learner uses the word through projects, employment, etc…
- Make the learning relevant to the learner.
- Teach how prefixes and suffixes can change the meaning and function of base words.
- Use context clues
- Teach the learner how to use a dictionary and thesaurus.
Several websites that I use often and modify as necessary include:
- www.rhlschool.com
- www.englishforeveryone.org
- www.englishonline.co.uk
- www.tlsbooks.com
- www.skillsworkshop.org
A final note: remember the learning style of your adult learner and try to incorporate something for everyone during your teaching or tutoring session.
This training was a collaborative learning event brought to you by the Florida Adult Literacy Resource Center, a program of the Florida Literacy Coalition. This training was made possible through the support of the Florida Department of Education, Division of Career and Adult Education.
Did you participate in yesterday’s training? Let us know your thoughts; leave your comments in the box below!
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Share Your Literacy Know-How
Sharing is caring, so share your thoughts on literacy with the Florida Literacy Coalition and our literacy family.
Post your favorite tutor tips, lesson plans, resources or news bits on the FLC blog! To do so, simply fill out the Blogger Information Form and submit your ideas. We don’t need the entire post (on the form), just an idea about what you’d like to share.
And don’t be afraid to honk your own horn! Share news and exciting things about your literacy program or what’s happening to improve literacy where you live!
Knowledge is power! The more we know, the more people we can help.
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Literacy Ambassador Program Benefits Learners & Programs
FLC’s annual Literacy Ambassador Program is a beneficial professional development opportunity for both adult learners and literacy programs. Scheduled for Oct. 15-16, 2010, this is an opportunity for adult learners to become more comfortable speaking in public, to the media and about the success s/he has achieved since enrolling in a literacy program.
During the 2-day event, adult learners will be coached by Monica Baxley and Nelson Pino. Both instructors are experienced Literacy Ambassadors, have successfully completed adult literacy programs, and are well versed in what it means to be a Literacy Ambassador.
In the past, Monica has been featured on ABC News and currently holds a position on the Florida Literacy Coalition Board of Directors. Nelson is currently an ESL tutor, and the volunteer and marketing coordinator for DePorres P.L.A.C.E., Inc. – an adult literacy center in Riviera Beach, Fla. 
The adult learner sessions will include instruction and tips on:
- Introduction to Effective Public Speaking
- Developing and Making Presentations
- Adult Learner Involvement and Leadership
- Conducting Interviews with the Media
- Adult Learner Advocacy
A special session will also be held for literacy program representatives on Friday, Oct. 15. Greg Smith, executive director of FLC, will highlight effective public relations and marketing strategies programs can use for publicity. Promotional initiatives that Greg will discuss are important to incorporate in order to let people know your program exists, what it does and how people can become involved in your mission.
Don’t hesitate to register as seats are limited. The training is free of charge to both adult learners and program representatives. The training will take place Oct. 15-16, at the Holiday Inn Harbourside in Indian Rocks Beach, Fla. (Pinellas County; Clearwater area). Attendees will be eligible to be reimbursed for mileage, meals and lodging according to state guidelines. Pre-approval is required for travel expenses exceeding $300. Lodging will be reimbursed if traveling over 50 miles to the event. Registration and travel funds are limited, so apply today. Contact Yari Payne via email, payney@floridaliteracy.org, with any questions.
Are you a Literacy Ambassador? Have you attended a previous Literacy Ambassador training? Let us know your thoughts about the training by commenting below.
This training is sponsored by Florida’s Adult and Family Literacy Resource Center. This event is made possible through the support of the Florida Department of Education, Division of Career and Adult Education.
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FATDEC Update
Nancy Marsh
FATDEC recently announced that Nancy Marsh, from Pasco County, has been elected as president-elect for 2010-2011. She will assist William Kelly (from Escambia County), FATDEC’s current president, and will then transition to the role of president for 2011-2012.
- Expanding services
- Increasing learning opportunities
- Growing membership
- Continuing partnerships with ACE of Florida, Florida Virtual School, Florida TechNet, and the Florida Association for Career and Technical Educators
- Expanding partnerships
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Dedicate 20 Minutes Each Day To Family Literacy
School has started again and the concerns for “summer slide” may be diminishing, but it’s important to keep families reading together each day.
As literacy tutors, teachers and administrators we eat, sleep and breathe reading, and we need to make sure the students and families in our programs are doing the same.
The rule of thumb is to read with your family for 20 minutes daily. It’s a manageable amount of time for most families and it doesn’t have to be done in one sitting! Sometimes it is helpful to break the reading up by book, for younger readers, or by chapter for older children.
Check out this quick benefit breakdown discussing The Power of 20 Minutes a Day if your students need some convincing.
Jennifer Perez, a Tampa-based teacher & tutor, has also generously shared one of her favorite family reading techniques with us – The Family Reading Bug - and has also adapted it for the classroom. Additional family literacy resources can also be found on the FLC website!
Do you or your students have great ways of fitting 20 minutes of reading into every day? If so, tell us about it in the comments section below.
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Virtual Tutor/Teacher Training: Reading Error Patterns
If you attended the Florida Literacy Conference this past May, you’ll probably recognize the name Betsy Stoutmorrill.
During Conference, Dr. Stoutmorrill presented a very popular session entitled “Reading: Science of the Brain Meets Art of the Mind.” The session highlighted how learning to read requires the (science) brain’s capacity to decode and link symbols to sounds and the (art) mind’s facility to comprehend the meaning of print.
In just over 3 weeks, on Sept. 22, Dr. Stoutmorrill will virtually present a training on identifying and solving reading error patterns. She will provide tutors and teachers with a system for identifying and analyzing oral reading/decoding errors students make.
Tutors and teachers can effectively address common error patterns through a process of listening, marking and discussing errors made by students who read a brief 100-150 word passage.
Participants will receive:
1) a list of the 10 most common reading errors
2) sample passages that can be utilized as a guide for selecting appropriate material from a wide range of reading resources
Interested? Click here for registration and participation information.
Dr. Betsy Stoutmorrill is Vice President of Enrollment and Outreach for Beacon College in Leesburg, Fla. Since 1989, Stoutmorrill has been in the field of adult education focusing on reading and learning disabilities.
More trainings are on the horizon & you can read summaries from two prior tutor/teacher trainings on this blog!
- Effective Vocabulary Instruction for Struggling Readers
- Strategic Reading Instruction to Improve Comprehension of Struggling Readers
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ITT-Technical Institute Celebrates Writing Champions
This week FLC received a fantastic email from the literacy program at ITT Technical Institute – Miami. We are so glad these amazing students are being recognized for their success.
The email below, from Ida Tomshinsky, the Learning Research Center Librarian at ITT-Tech, has been shared with her permission.
Dear Bryan,
On August 21st 2010, we had the 3rd Annual Tech Fest event. The ITT Writing Champions Award Presentation was a part of this event. We ordered sashes for all three participants, invited their families, and presented the “My Way” essay books in front of a big crowd of our student-faculty body and their family members. All three students were from the Criminal Justice Program at ITT Tech Institute in Miami.
Please enjoy the pictures from the event. Lucia Ruiz on the first picture.
Lucia Ruiz
Diane M. Bazail on the second picture.
Diane M. Bazail
Diane, Ida Tomshinsky, the Librarian who coordinated this event, and Amilkar Borge on the third picture.
Diane, Ida Tomshinsky and Amilkar Borge
Amilkar Borge gives his speech in this picture.
Amilkar Borge
And finally, the crowd!!!
Thank you for being a part of our Literary event!
My Way, the 2010 collection of essays from Florida’s adult learners is available in PDF format online or by order from FLC.
FLC sends congratulations and much applause to the Writing Champion award winners and wishes you all the best for future success!
If you have exciting things happening in your program, let FLC know about it on our Facebook page, or send us an email at info@floridaliteracy.org!
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Celebrate Adult and Family Literacy in Florida This Month!
September 8th is International Literacy Day, and Florida Governor Charlie Crist has again extended his support by signing a proclamation recognizing September as Florida Adult & Family Literacy Month.
The Florida Literacy Coalition is again partnering with the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Parks Service to recognize and celebrate this worthy cause. However, we’ve added an extra element to the partnership this year – five regional community events to promote adult and family literacy. These events will take place at state parks in the following cities:
- Tallahassee, Sept. 8 at Maclay Gardens. For more information call: (850) 245-9670.
- Jacksonville, Sept. 11 & 12 at Talbot Island State Park
- Apopka, Sept. 11 at Wekiwa Springs State Park
- Sarasota, Sept. 11 at Oscar Scherer State Park
- Hobe Sound, Sept. 11 at Jonathan Dickinson State Park
These events are being organized by local planning committees comprised of area adult education and literacy programs, libraries, the parks and other community stakeholders.
Many of our literacy programs in areas other than those listed above are also celebrating Literacy Month! Click on the links below to learn more about additional literacy celebrations throughout Florida!
- Additional Literacy Month Events at Florida State Parks
- Adult Literacy League of Central Florida – Orlando
- Citrus County Library System – Homosassa
- Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County – Palm Beach
We hope you will attend one of the events referenced above to help recognize the importance of adult and family literacy in Florida. One in five Floridians is functionally illiterate. This means they cannot read their mail, complete a job application or read a book to a child. For more literacy stats, click here.
If you know of other Literacy Month celebrations, let us know about them in the comment section below.
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Reading and Fun For Everyone During the Central Florida Literacy Month Celebration
During the event children reenacted storybook themes, watched puppet shows, and were read to by literacy enthusiasts. All of the activities revolved around storylines and emphasized the importance of reading, education and family literacy.
Seminole County librarian, Diane Keyes, and her puppets read about saving manatees
Sonia Hendrickson of Orange County Public Schools works with children to reenact Moon Rope.
Ranger Amy Conyers reads Home Sweet Home to the group before leading them on a nature hike.
Participants also had the opportunity to choose new books to take home courtesy of Borders Books and Music, and Just 1 Book, a local organization improving the lives of children one book at a time. More than 400 books were given away at the event.
Just 1 Book’s giveaway table
A special thanks goes to all of our event partners and sponsors that made this event possible! These include the Florida Department of Education, Florida Parks Service, Florida Lottery, GROWS Literacy Council, Orange County Public Schools, Seminole County Public Libraries, Orange County Library System, Borders Books and Music, and Just 1 Book.
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Meet the 2011 Florida Literacy Conference Planning Committee
The 27th Annual Florida Literacy Conference: Open Books Open Minds will be held at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary, May 4-6, 2011.
Last week, the Conference Planning Committee (CPC) met at the hotel to get conference planning underway. Topics of discussion included keynote speakers and Adult Learner Day plans, among others. Subcommittees were also formed to help with special components of the conference including the annual Florida Literacy Awards and entertainment.
The 2011 Florida Literacy Conference Planning Committee. From L-R: Rosemary Blake, Karen Hill, Brent Stubbs, Amanda Gonzalez, Jonel Persinger, Melissa Padgett, Erika Greene, Brad Bell. Sitting: Greg Smith, Cindy Godby, Sarah Guetschow and Debra Hargrove
Committee members not pictured above include: Kara Sammons, Margaret Anne Wheeler, Linda Palmer, Joyce Whidden, Margie Kinslow, Mike Painter, Marilina Viera and Kay Semion. FLC thanks all of the committee members for their time and dedication to making this another successful Conference.
The Florida Literacy Conference is one of the state’s premier events for professional development and networking for adult education and literacy practitioners, teachers, tutors and adult learners.
Stay tuned to this blog for more conference updates and updates from the CPC. And feel free to ask any questions you have about the 2011 conference in the space below!
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Upcoming FATDEC Meeting (9/29/10) at ACE!
Please join FATDEC at our next face-to-face meeting that will take place during the ACE Conference! This meeting is open to members & potential members or anyone else who would like to know about online courses for adult students. The meeting will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m., Wednesday, 9/29/10, in the “Lake Hart B” room of the Hilton Orlando.
Check out the updated FATDEC member map found here. Welcome to the new members who are joining FATDEC for the 2010-2011 school year: Hernando County Public Schools, Lee County Public Schools, Northwest Florida State College and Sarasota County Public Schools.
Don’t see your area represented yet? Contact Kim Gates (kim@fatdec.com) for information on how your organization can be a part of FATDEC!
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FLC Issues Call For Presenters
It’s that time again!!
The Florida Literacy Coalition is now accepting conference session proposals for the 27th Annual Florida Literacy Conference: Open Books Open Minds, which will be held May 4-6, 2011, at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary (in Lake Mary, Fla.).
This is the perfect opportunity to share your wisdom, techniques, research and promising practices in adult and family literacy with other professionals from across the state and beyond (we have teachers come from as far as Canada – cool, eh!?).
The deadline to submit your proposed session is Thursday, Dec. 16. Proposed sessions will be selected based on the information you provide. Since we try to offer new sessions each year, please note that if you have previously presented your proposed session, it should still be relevant, timely and updated with fresh material.
Submitting a proposal is easy! Simply click here and fill out the online form. Once you have submitted your proposal, you will be given the option to receive an email copy for your records. *Remember: the information you provide (as it appears on the form) will be used in the final conference program.
FLC will confirm receipt of your proposal submission within 3 business days, and will provide final notification on the status of your proposed workshop by Friday, January 28, 2011.
Any questions regarding conference proposals can be sent to conference@floridaliteracy.org.
We thank you for your support, and your enthusiasm for professional development and continued education. We are looking forward to another stellar conference and the advancement of adult education, literacy and family literacy throughout Florida.
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Tutor/Teacher Virtual Training, Oct. 21, Focuses on Teaching Women’s Health
Teachers and tutors working with adult learners may often encounter diverse cultural practices and concepts. That’s why FLC has decided to offer this training. It will introduce anthropological approaches to health and culture and explore ways teachers and tutors can be aware of and work with differences within the context of a women’s health curriculum.
The Florida Literacy Coalition recently developed Women’s Health, a Special Addition to Staying Healthy. Curriculum topics include female reproductive changes, pregnancy, breastfeeding, breast and reproductive cancers, and domestic abuse. And, all participants will receive a free student guide upon completion of the training evaluation.
Fee: Free. Please share this opportunity with your fellow tutors and teachers.
You can participate from the comfort of your own home or office. All you need is a computer with speakers and Internet access.
How it works: We will send you a web address (URL) when you register. Approximately 5-10 minutes before the workshop is scheduled to begin, you simply go to that URL, enter your full name, and click “Login” for the session.
Heide Castaneda, PhD, MPH
Presenter: Heide Castañeda, PhD, MPH is a medical anthropologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of South Florida. Her primary research interests include immigrant and refugee health, social inequality and medicine, and health policy.
To register for this free training opportunity, click here.
Contact Naomi Soto, Health Literacy Coordinator, with any questions. She can be reached via email: soton@floridaliteracy.org, or via phone: (407) 246-7110 ext. 209.
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Highlights From Reading Error Pattern Analysis Training
Dr. Betsy Stoutmorrill
Dr. Betsy Stoutmorrill, of Beacon College in Leesburg, recently facilitated a training on ways adult learner tutors and teachers can identify and solve reading error patterns.
Below is an excerpt, authored by Dr. Stoutmorrill, from the training.
“Is reading an art or a science?” To answer this, reading teachers and students, as well as adult non- or limited readers, may benefit from review of what I like to call “The Super Seven.” These are the seven skills, processes or talents needed to be proficient and competent at both the art and science of reading:
- decoding—sound-symbol association
- vocabulary—definition and pronunciation of words
- fluency/prosody—appropriate speed with accuracy and inflection
- syntax—sentence structure, word and phrase associations
- semantics—changes of word meanings in context
- schematics—prior knowledge, culture and memories
- pragmatics—intended meaning of the writer
Adults and children who struggle with the science of reading often do not get to the art of reading, so they do not experience the joy and wonder of all the knowledge and entertainment available through the printed page.
Error Pattern Analysis is one tool a reading tutor or volunteer can use to help a student with both the science and the art of reading.
How does the tutor know if an adult student did not learn a skill, learned a skill incorrectly, or has a reading disability? By listening, marking and discussing error patterns from a brief 100-150 word passage, the tutor can make a difference in the confidence and reading skills of an adult learner from the first day!
A simple system to consistently record the most common errors while listening to a passage allows a volunteer to analyze reading error patterns to plan or choose lessons for correction or practice. Adult students can also see progress by comparing the error patterns from the first reading to subsequent readings after tutoring and practice.
Tutors can also assess whether a passage is within a student’s reading level: independent (can read alone with few errors); instructional (requires a tutor’s assistance, some errors); or frustration (cannot read, multiple errors). Working within a student’s instructional level is the best scenario for improvement in every reading session.
The 10 Most Common Errors:
- saying the wrong word
- skipping a word/word part
- skipping a line of text
- adding a word/word part
- repeating a word/phrase
- sounding out a word
- self-correcting
- tell/ask for word
- try-again
- start over
The last four are considered errors for the purpose of helping the tutor to improve a reader’s proficiency and comprehension.
Resources about Reading Pattern Error Analysis:
Readinga-z.com: http://www.readinga-z.com/assess/runrec.html#sample
Curriculum-Based Measurement: Director for Administering and Scoring CBM Probes in Oral Reading Fluency http://www.jimwrightonline.com/pdfdocs/cbmresources/cbmdirections/cbmread.pdf
SunSprouts Record of Oral Reading as a tool for Assessment and Observation http://www.etacuisenaire.com/pdf/SunSprouts/assessment_instructions.pdf
Did you participate in this training? If so, tell us what parts of the training were most impactful/helpful for you in the comments section below.
Did you miss this training? You can watch the entire training online by clicking here!!
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Lila, the dog, teaches English
This is a heartwarming story from the Literacy Volunteers of Collier County. Many thanks to Rita Bleasdale and Ingrid Fernandez, as they both contributed to this newsletter article that is being posted here with their consent.
Lila, an eight-month-old mixed breed dog, is helping a woman, illiterate in her own language as well as in English, learn to speak English.
Lila belongs to Ingrid Fernandez, Program Coordinator and a tutor with Literacy Volunteers of Collier County (LVCC). She acquired the dog from The Naples Humane Society when Lila was a puppy, changed the animal’s name from Fiona to Lila (which translates to “playful” in some languages), and occasionally took Lila to work. It was at the LVCC offices that Ingrid discovered Lila could teach English.
Well-Behaved
“When I want to show my student what a word means, I give her a picture but when it comes to verbs, actions are difficult to demonstrate in pictures,” said Ingrid, who added that she realized by using Lila, her student began to understand action words. “When my student says ‘sit’ or asks for ‘high five’ Lila does as she is told and if my student makes a mess of it and doesn’t say the correct word, Lila does not get impatient.
Ingrid’s student, who started work when she was eleven years old in her native country in Central America and never attended school, meets for her English lessons with Lila twice a week. “My student really trusts Lila and enjoys the welcome my dog gives her at every lesson,” said Ingrid.
Using a Book
Lila, a mix of Catahoula, also known as a Louisiana leopard dog, Great Dane and Black Labrador, is a fine-looking, well-behaved dog who is proving that there is more to learning English than using a book.
Lila
LVCC is a non-profit organization based in Naples, and its mission is to teach illiterate and non-English speaking adults to read, write and speak English, using trained volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a tutor, contact LVCC at (239)262-4448 or click here.
Does your literacy program have special helpers like Lila? If so, let us know about them in the comment section below.
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Literacy Ambassador Program Highlights
Speeches, presentations and interviews, oh my!
The Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC) recently held it’s annual Literacy Ambassador Program in Indian Rocks Beach, Fla. During this 1.5-day training, adult learners participated in activities relevant to preparing speeches, presentations and interviews. Now, Florida has 9 new Literacy Ambassadors that will be working hard to promote the importance of adult and family literacy!
Established Literacy Ambassadors Monica Nelson & Nelson Pino guided the adult learners through several lesson plans and tactics they can use to prepare for speaking engagements and media interviews.
Monica Baxley & Nelson Pino
Tammie Fields, WTSP Weekend Anchor
Tampa Bay’s Channel 10 TV anchor, Tammie Fields, visited the Ambassadors during their training and provided information on what it’s like to work with the media. She also gave program representatives tips on gaining the attention of TV media professionals. These tips included:
- Send information to the media via email (using the “Contact Us” page of the website v. calling the newsroom)
- Provide a hook - explain what makes your news/event important, timely and worth covering. This can include an Ambassador’s peronal story/experience.
- TV coverage requires video - it’s helpful if you have something (i.e. an event) that can be filmed or someone that is passionate about your cause that can provide an interview with emotional appeal. If going the interview route, offer to coordinate the interview for the reporter.
FLC couldn’t be more proud of the Literacy Ambassador class of 2010! These students have accomplished amazing feats during their time in Central- and South Florida-based literacy and adult education programs. We are excited these students are motivated to take on new leadership roles within their organizations and will be sharing their success stories, in their communities, to promote the adult literacy cause.
Literacy Ambassadors Class of 2010
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Essays Wanted for the 7th Annual Adult Learner Essay Book
The Florida Adult and Family Literacy Resource Center is proud to announce the launch of the Annual Adult Learner Writing Campaign. Students from throughout Florida are invited to submit original short stories, poems or autobiographical narratives to be included in a published book that will debut at the 2011 Florida Literacy Conference.
The purpose of this book is to allow adult learners the opportunity to build confidence while also improving their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Organizational representatives can also use this book as a way to promote the positive influence their program has within the community.
Adult learners and their tutors/teachers are encouraged to work together in writing, typing, editing, and submitting a written piece. We ask that completed essays be submitted along with the completed online form.
Submissions should be no longer than two pages (500 words). Space in the book is limited and entries will be edited for readability. Authors can choose to remain anonymous or have a short bio included with their submission. Only one submission per adult learner is allowed. Each author who is included will be invited to the Florida Literacy Conference and will also receive a free copy of the book. Free copies of the book will also be made available to all literacy organizations.
So what are you waiting for? Get started with some great writing resources & helpful websites listed here. Last year’s book, My Way, is available on the FLC website in PDF format and can also be used for reference.
Deadline for submissions: Friday, Feb. 25, 2011
If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Quizaira Recio at the FLC office via phone, (407) 246-7110, ext. 201, or via email, recioq@floridaliteracy.org.
Happy writing!!
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Health Literacy Partnerships Training Opportunity
On Tuesday, Nov. 9, the Florida Literacy Coalition‘s health literacy coordinator, Naomi Soto, will be at the Leon County Health Dept. in Tallahassee, facilitating a training for health literacy educators and health professionals about the power of partnerships in health literacy education.
Staying Healthy
The workshop will emphasize the importance of localized partnerships between libraries, community-based organizations and healthcare professionals. The training will include an overview of the freely available Staying Healthy curriculum and its additions Women’s Health and Coping with Stress. The workshop will also highlight hands-on classroom activities and leave time for discussion and idea sharing. All participants will also receive a free copy of the Staying Healthy curriculum.
Two trainings will be offered (both trainings will cover the same information):
- 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9
- 3-6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9
**Three CEUs will be offered for all nurses who attend!
The Florida Department of Health Women’s Health Program will be giving away health materials for community-based organizations to use in their health literacy outreach efforts. The materials offered will cover the following topics: Heart Disease, Breast Cancer, Teen Health and Development, Parenting Skills, HIV/AIDS, Mental Health and more. All items will be given away on a first-come, first-serve basis.
There is no cost to attend this training opportunity, but registration is required. So tell all of your friends about it!
Training Venue: Leon County Health Dept., 872 W. Orange Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32304.
Have questions? Call Naomi Soto at FLC – (407) 246-7110 ext. 209, or send her an email: soton@floridaltieracy.org. More information about FLC’s health literacy initiative is also available here.
This is a collaborative learning event brought to you by the Florida Literacy Coalition and the Florida Department of Health Women’s Health Program with space allowance from Leon County Health Department – Office if Minority Health. This workshop was made possible through the generous support of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.
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Training Highlights from “Teaching with Cultural Differences in Mind: A Women’s Health Curriculum for Adult Learners”
Dr. Heide Castaneda
Dr. Heide Castañeda is an assistant professor at the University of South Florida, and many tutors, program managers, and health professionals were lucky to attend her virtual training: “Teaching with Cultural Differences in Mind: A Women’s Health Curriculum for Adult Learners.”
Below are some of the key points from the virtual training from Dr. Castañeda:
Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions. Low health literacy skills, however, are not limited to those with cultural differences. Almost nine out of ten adults in the US may lack the skills needed to manage their health and prevent disease!
My virtual training stressed the importance of cultural sensitivity in adult literacy classrooms. Cultural self-assessment is a vital component and by understanding your own cultural biases you can gauge the degree to which you effectively address the needs and preferences of culturally diverse groups—without this process, you may risk offending and/or confusing your adult learners.
Below are a few questions to ask yourself in order to heighten the awareness and sensitivity to the importance of cultural diversity.
Using this kind of “checklist” can improve your instruction in diverse classrooms:
- I avoid imposing values that may conflict or be inconsistent with those of cultures or ethnic groups other than my own.
- I understand that the perception of health, wellness, and preventative health services have different meanings to different cultural groups.
- I screen books, movies, and other resources for negative cultural, ethnic, or racial stereotypes before using them.
- I understand and accept that family is defined differently by different cultures (e.g. extended family, fictive kin, godparents).
- I understand that age and life cycle factors must be considered in interaction with individuals and families.
Using the Women’s Health: A Special Addition to Staying Healthy curriculum, we then explored cultural differences in various health topics. Pregnancy and childbirth, for instance, are events of major significance that are heavily influenced by culture and tradition. For example, in the United States, birth is a highly medicalized process and many women value the use of technologies such as ultrasound and genetic testing, although this may not be the case for other cultures. In some cultures, women will even avoid even talking about the baby to avoid eliciting envy or bad luck.
Cultural differences extend into postpartum care, and in some traditions women are expected to stay secluded or confined to the home for a month after birth, avoid cold foods and washing their hair. Cultural factors impact other dimensions of women’s lives, such as the intensity of menopausal symptoms, which has been shown to vary cross-culturally and between ethnic groups.
Cultural self-assessment should be an on-going process, going beyond the discussion of sensitive issues like pregnancy or menopause. We, as instructors, must be interested, open-minded, and respectful of all cultures and ask intellectually curious questions. We must not assume that members of a cultural group share the same beliefs, and we must be cognizant of our own cultural traditions in order to avoid passing judgment or suggesting that practices are harmful.
Did you miss the virtual training, and want to know more? Catch it in its entirety here.
Interested in ordering the Women’s Health curriculum? Check out the Florida Literacy website.
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FLC’s New Women’s Health Curriculum Wins National Award
Women's Health
The Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC) is proud to announce that its health literacy curriculum, Women’s Health: A Special Addition to Staying Healthy, received the 1st place award for Reads-Easy™ in the National Health Literacy Innovators contest.
The Health Literacy Innovators Awards, a national contest to reward organizations and individuals for their commitment to excellence in plain language and health literacy principles, is sponsored by Health Literacy Innovations, creator of health literacy resources and the Health Literacy Advisor, the nation’s first interactive health literacy software tool.
Women’s Health won the ReadsEasy™ Publication award, which emphasizes the use of plain English, proper graphics and a proven reading level of 6th grade or lower determined by industry assessments.
The Women’s Health curriculum covers topics including menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, breast and reproductive cancers, sexually transmitted infections and domestic abuse. The student guide is loaded with photographs, illustrations and easy-to-read charts; the teacher guide includes practice dialogs and enriching class activities.
FLC is truly honored by this award and shares it with the great team of people who developed the curriculum. FLC hopes this award will help raise awareness about women’s health and the availability of this free resource.
That’s right – FREE!! Women’s Health, and its sister publication, Coping With Stress, are special additions toStaying Healthy: An Enlish Learner’s Guide to Health Care and Healthy Living. Staying Healthy is the core health literacy curriculum FLC developed in 2008 with support from the Florida Department of Education, Division of Career and Adult Education.
As some of you may know, Staying Healthy is the central component of FLC’s health literacy initiative which, through the support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, provides health-education resources for local adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and family literacy programs.
Florida adult ESOL programs can order FREE copies of Staying Healthy, the award-winning Women’s Health and Coping with Stress curricula from FLC by clicking here. Each of these publications is also available as a PDF here.
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Career Pathways for Florida’s Adult Education and Literacy Programs
Career pathways is the wave of the future for Florida’s adult education and literacy programs. In early November, ACE of Florida, the Florida Department of Education and other partners broadcasted a webcast about building career pathways for Florida’s adult students. This is a link to the recorded webinar – it’s about 3 hours long, and gives viewers a clear picture of where the industry is headed with this initiative and how adult education and literacy programs can participate.
To help launch this initiative, each Regional Training Council (RTC) is conducting Career Pathways workshops. Each workshop is on the January 2011 calendar on the Florida TechNet site and is free to attend.
This is the quick breakdown of offerings – each session will cover the same information, so you just need to attend one.
- 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m., Monday, Jan. 10, at Northwest Florida State College (Niceville, Fla.) Register
- 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 11, at Tallahassee Community College (Tallahassee, Fla.) Register
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 12, at Florida State College Jacksonville (Jacksonville, Fla.) Register
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 14, at Mid Florida Tech (Orlando, Fla.) Register
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 18, at Hillsborough Instructional Services Center (Tampa, Fla.) Register
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 19, at Lee County Public Education Center (Fort Myers, Fla.) Register
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 20, at Lindsey Hopkins Tech (Miami, Fla.) Register
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 21, at Fulton-Holland Ed. Services Center (West Palm Beach, Fla.) Register
Workshop overview: An adult career pathway is a systemic framework that connects adult education programs, work, and postsecondary education. Each step in a career pathway is designed to prepare the student for the next level of work and education. Adult Career Pathways includes the guidance, remediation, curricula, and other support elements required to enable career limited adults to enter the workforce and progress in rewarding careers.
Purpose: This workshop will lead participants through practical strategies to analyze and develop the components of an adult career pathways system.
The workshop includes topics such as:
• Adult Education and Florida’s Economic Development
• Steps in Designing Adult Education Career Pathways
• Career Pathways Maps
• Student Recruitment, Orientation, and Placement
• Contextualized Curriculum and Instruction
• Career Development
• Data Collection and Analysis for ACPs
Does your program already offer career pathways/transition programs for students? If so, tell us about them in the comment section below. If not, what do you feel the challenges are? Did you watch the webcast earlier this month – if so, what were your thoughts?
We look forward to your comments and conversation.
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FATDEC Adds 2 New Members
FATDEC is proud to announce that 2 new members have joined the consortium! The organization warmly welcomes Flagler and Baker County Schools!
FATDEC, Florida Adult and Technical Education Consortium, is a group of public schools, school districts, and community colleges working together to deliver curriculum in a web-based environment for adult education and career technical programs in Florida’s postsecondary public institutions.
Now, the FATDEC network consists of 35 members serving adult students with online ABE, GED, ESOL, and Adult High School courses in 38 counties across Florida! Click here to see our membership map!
The online courses offered are very beneficial for adult learners as they have 24/7 access to the program – allowing students to customize their schedule and learn from home - and many of the courses are free of charge!
Want to know more about FATDEC? Click here!
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Submit Your Nominations for the 2011 State Literacy Awards
It’s the holiday season and while in the giving spirit, make sure you give credit where credit is due! Submit nominations today for the 2011 State Literacy Awards - recognize those who have excelled and greatly impacted the literacy community this year. This is the perfect opportunity to show appreciation for those who have truly shown passion and exemplary efforts in support of literacy.
2010 State Literacy Award Winners (L-R): Kristin Bash, Gainesville Sun; Margaret Anne Wheeler; Cherie Byrnes; Marisol Sepulveda and Karen Hill, Marion County Literacy Council; Carla Brosy and Barbara Travis, Bank of America-Sanibel; Julia Clark, on behalf of Nancy Tamayo de Galdez
The annual awards banquet is one of the most exciting events at the annual Florida Literacy Conference, honoring those special individuals and organizations that stand out and make a difference. So what are you waiting for?! Make others feel great about their contributions and in return you’ll feel great, too, for acknowledging them.
Check out the 5 different award categories:
- Do you know of a leader who supports literacy with the highest efforts and exemplifies strong leadership? Nominate them for the Mary J. Brogan award!
- The Flight for Freedom award is designated for an adult student who’s really worked hard and shown vast amounts of improvement in literacy and leadership skills! This award is for the student who really tries their best, is eager to learn and consistently improve their abilities.
- A truly motivated and committed tutor is vital to the deliverance of literacy skills and these hard workers deserve some recognition! The Outstanding Literacy Volunteer award stands to recognize that volunteer who invests their time in others and have really stood out in the community!
- The Excellence in Education Award recognizes that organization that really puts in their best efforts into supporting adult and family literacy! This award goes out to the organization that demonstrates innovation and exceptional organizational structure in their labors to improve literacy.
- Lastly, nominate the business organization that has made contributions in support of your literacy program. This organization may have served as a sponsor, made donations, provided volunteer tutors and more! Outstanding Business Partners are essential to the success of literacy progression.
The nomination form is easy to complete and there is no limit on the number of nominations any one organization can submit! The deadline to submit nominations is Tuesday, March 1, 2011!
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Register Today for FLC’s Free Volunteer Literacy Tutor Symposiums
This month, FLC is presenting four volunteer literacy tutor symposiums highlighting techniques and activities related to three facets of teaching literacy:
- Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences
- The Art of Teaching Speaking
- Teaching Writing
From Our Trainers
Roberta Reiss
“The Tutor Symposiums offered by FLC are some of the most energizing, productive events I have experienced in my role as a trainer. We have the chance to focus on some of the best resources in our field. It’s a real luxury to have an hour or two to explore and experience the theories and activities found in books that go beyond the typical core tutor materials. There have been many times when I have gotten hold of a new resource, only to have it sit while other priorities took over my day. This chance to come together with other tutors and discover the resource together is a great way to share.”
—Roberta Reiss, ProLiteracy America Certified Trainer & Lead Symposium Faciltator
“As a presenting trainer this year, I’m excited about the materials we will be using. The Multiple Intelligences theory of “How am I Smart?” will be sure to stimulate discussion. It will be fun to try some lesson plans and discover our MI. The information contained in The Art of Teaching Speaking is so useful for those tutors trying to help ESOL learners speak English that is relevant to their goals and situations. Encouraging our learners to speak can be difficult at times, so getting ideas and resources for stimulating conversation will be invaluable.
Some tutors may be asking why we are focusing a section on Writing, but we’ll find out why it is essential to teach writing as well as reading, and get useful tools for doing so.”
–Olive Burkard, ProLiteracy America Certified Trainer, presenting in Ocala and Orlando
Training dates and locations:
- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Jan. 8, Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Library, Venice, FL – THIS TRAINING IS FULL
- 1-5 p.m., Jan. 15, Leon County Public Library, Tallahassee, FL
- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Jan. 27, Rasmussen College- Ocala Campus, Ocala, FL
- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Jan. 31, Adult Literacy League of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Each training will be led by a ProLiteracy America Certified Trainer and is free to attend, but registration is required as seating is limited.
Please contact Yari Payne at FLC with any questions – (407) 246-7110 ext. 203 or payney@floridaliteracy.org.
These trainings are collaborative learning events brought to you by the Florida Adult Literacy Resource Center, a program of the Florida Literacy Coalition. These workshops are made possible through the support of the Florida Department of Education, Division of Career and Adult Education.
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Enriching Your Financial Literacy (Fin Lit) Library
As a result of the increasing need for financial literacy education among Florida’s population, the Florida Literacy Coalition (FLC) will be conducting a FREE webinar detailing important financial literacy resources beginning at 12 p.m. (Eastern), Thursday, Jan. 27! This fun and educational training event will include access to online and hard-copy resources, helpful financial literacy articles, and a tour of the most important websites. Literacy tutors/teachers looking to expand their literacy libraries will not be disappointed! This training will enable you to provide/create a diverse curriculum for all your students.
Macario (Mac) Garcia, one of FLC’s AmeriCorps* VISTA members, will be presenting this virtual training. During his time at FLC, he has focused on financial literacy and web-based learning, and is coordinating a statewide initiative to expand financial literacy in adult education programs. His professional background includes social work, and educational and financial counseling.
You can participate from the comfort of your home or office! All you need is internet access and speakers. This training is free, but registration is required. After registering, a confirmation email will be sent to you with additional details.
Is your program currently offering financial literacy classes? If so, share your successes and challenges with us in the comment box below. Or share any of your thoughts related to financial literacy!
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Join FATDEC Feb. 1, in Orlando!
You are cordially invited to join FATDEC’s next meeting to be held at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 1, at Mid Florida Tech in Orlando (2900 West Oak Ridge Road Orlando, Florida, 32809).
Come learn more about the online courses we offer adult students, who our members are, and how you can join, and get involved! FATDEC would love to have you as a guest!
Please email Kim Gates (Kim@fatdec.com) to RSVP and for additional information.
Where will FATDEC’s next meeting be? At the Florida Literacy Conference in May! Hope to see you there.
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Ruth Colvin, Founder of Literacy Volunteers of America, to speak at the Florida Literacy Conference
Ruth Colvin
The Florida Literacy Coalition is proud to announce that Ruth Colvin, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, will be a keynote speaker at the 2011 Florida Literacy Conference. Ruth is the founder of Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc., a national, non-profit, educational, volunteer organization to help combat the illiteracy problems in the USA. LVA has merged with Laubach Literacy and is now ProLiteracy Worldwide.
Since 1962, when Ruth started LVA, she and her husband, Bob, have traveled all over the United States and to 26 countries, giving workshops in Basic Literacy (BL) and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). The recipient of nine honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degrees, Ruth also received, in 1987, the President’s Volunteer Action Award, presented by President Ronald Reagan, and in 2006 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented by President George W. Bush. Ruth was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1991.
Ruth is an author of books on various topics including literacy, with titles such as I Speak English: A Guide to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages-Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing. She and her husband, Robert Colvin, live in Syracuse, New York, USA.
We are so honored to have Ruth Colvin speak at the conference. Make sure that you are registered for the conference so that you do not miss the opportunity to hear Ruth share her experience.
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Pat Williams of the Orlando Magic to speak at the Florida Literacy Conference
Pat Williams
The Florida Literacy Coalition is excited to announce that Pat Williams, Senior Vice President and co-founder of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, will be a keynote speaker at the 2011 Florida Literacy Conference. Pat is one of America’s top motivational, inspirational, and humorous speakers. In addition to leading the Orlando Magic, Pat is also the author of 60 books, including Read for Your Life: 11 Ways to Better Your Life with Books. His most recent one title is Extreme Focus: Harnessing the Life-Changing Power to Achieve Your Dreams.
Since 1968, Pat has been the general manager with teams in Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Orlando. In 1996, Pat was named as one of the 50 most influential people in NBA history.
Pat and his wife, Ruth, are the parents of 19 children, including 14 adopted from four nations. Pat and his family have been featured in Sports Illustrated, Readers Digest, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle and The Wall Street Journal.
We are so excited to have Pat Williams speak at the conference. Make sure that you are registered for the conference so that you do not miss the opportunity to hear Pat’s inspirational message.
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Alan Darcy to Perform at the Florida Literacy Coaltion
Alan Darcy, saxophonist and vocalist extraordinaire, will be performing at the 2011 Florida Literacy Conference. Alan’s jazz/pop style has earned him rave reviews. Alan has also performed in hundreds of venues including the Historic Tampa Theater and New York’s Birdland. Alan has released three CDs. His 2003 CD, Fearless, includes his orignal music that was featured in the independent film, Runs in the Family.
We hope to see you all at the Conference, listening to the smooth stylings of Alan Darcy.
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Happy President’s Day
“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 Clinton
“A capacity and taste for reading gives access to whatever has already been discovered by others.” and “The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who’ll get me a book I ain’t read.” -President Lincoln
“A book is the most effective weapon against intolerance and ignorance.” - President L.B. Johnson
“Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained.” -President Garfield
“Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.” and “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.” -President Kennedy
“Literacy is the most basic currency of the knowledge economy we’re living in today.” President Obama
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Oh! The Places You’ll Go!
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
Tomorrow, March 2, is Dr. Seuss’s birthday! The National Education Association promotes Dr. Seuss’s birthday as Read Across America day. Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat is widely recognized as a breakthrough in the fight against illiteracy. Dr. Suess was challenged to write a book using only words from a list of 343 words and to keep the book under 225 new words. He wrote The Cat in the Hat using only 223 words that young children should know, and the rest is history!
Pick up a book and enjoy the day! Thank you to all of the literacy volunteers, tutors, teachers and organizations across Florida that work so hard to spread the joy of reading.
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The Economic Benefits from Halving the Dropout Rate
A 2010 report, The Economic Benefits from Halving the Dropout Rate: A Boom to Businesses in the Nation’s Largest Metropolitan Areas, from the Alliance for Excellent Education covered the economic benefits of increasing the number of people with high school diplomas. Two Florida cities were highlighted: Jacksonville and Miami.
In Jacksonville, an estimated 7,700 students dropped out from the Class of 2008. If 3,900 of these students were to go on and achieve a high school diploma, it is estimated that they can earn an extra $48 million more in an average year. That extra income would provide an additional $36 million to the local economy and these 3,900 people would have an additional $13 million in savings and investments. As a result of higher wages and spending, the local community would see an additional $3 million in tax revenues. The additional spending would have also resulted in the creation of an additional 400 jobs by the time they reached the midpoint of their careers.
In Miami, an estimated 33,600 students dropped out from the Class of 2008. If 16,800 of these students were to go on and achieve a high school diploma, it is estimated that they can earn an extra $212 million more in an average year. That extra income would provide an additional $157 million to the local economy and these 3,900 people would have an additional $55 million in savings and investments. As a result of higher wages and spending, the local community would see an additional $16 million in tax revenues. The additional spending would have also resulted in the creation of an additional 1,950 jobs by the time they reached the midpoint of their careers.
When adult learners succeed, we all succeed. Thank you again to our volunteers and learners who are working so hard!
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Pat Williams of the Orlando Magic to speak at the Florida Literacy Conference
The Florida Literacy Coalition is excited to announce that Pat Williams, Senior Vice President and co-founder of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, will be a keynote speaker at the 2011 Florida Literacy Conference. Pat is one of America’s top motivational, inspirational, and humorous speakers. In addition to leading the Orlando Magic, Pat is also the author of 60 books, his most recent one title being Extreme Focus: Harnessing the Life-Changing Power to Achieve Your Dreams.
Since 1968, Pat has been the general manager with teams in Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Orlando. In 1996, Pat was named as one of the 50 most influential people in NBA history.
Pat and his wife, Ruth, are the parents of 19 children, including 14 adopted from four nations. Pat and his family have been featured in Sports Illustrated, Readers Digest, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle and The Wall Street Journal.
We are so excited to have Pat Williams speak at the conference. Make sure that you are registered for the conference so that you do not miss the opportunity to hear Pat’s inspirational message.
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Health Literacy Training Available in South Florida on April 8
Do you teach ESOL? Interested in integrating new topics to your students? Then health literacy may be a good fit your program!
The Florida Literacy Coalition will be hosting “Staying Healthy: Integrating Health Education into Your ESOL Instruction” on April 8 in Miami. This FREE workshop will emphasize and healthcare professionals. This three hour session includes an overview of the freely available Staying Healthycurriculum and its additions Women’s Health and Coping with Stress. The workshop also highlights hands-on activities and includes a time for discussion and idea sharing. All participants will receive a free copy of the Staying Healthy curriculum. To view the flyer, click here
This workshop will be facilitated by Claire Valier. Claire is the Adult ESOL Coordinator with the School District of Palm Beach County, which has 25,000 ESOL students and 250 instructors. She has over 27 years of working with ESOL programs.
To register for the training, please click here.
For more information, please contact Naomi Soto, Health Literacy Coordinator at (407) 246-7110 ext 209 or soton@floridaliteracy.org.
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Teaching English Through Spanish Literacy
Do you have Spanish speakers who:
1. want and need to learn English?
2. Have difficulty reading and writing in Spanish?
This often difficult to serve population wants and needs to learn English, but research and experience suggests that these skills can often be more readily acquired if learners have basic literacy skills in their native language.
Spanish Basic Literacy/ESOL Curriculum – “Lectura y Escritura en Español”
In response to a growing need i
n the field for a combined approach to teaching ESOL and Spanish literacy, Ruth Colvin, noted author and founder of Literacy Volunteers of America, has worked with an educational researcher to develop a curriculum serving the needs of Spanish-speaking students with minimal native language reading and writing skills. She will be facilitating a session on May 6th-7th at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary.
We invite you to join Ruth in field testing this exciting curriculum.
To register, go to www.floridaliteracy.org and select Teaching English through Spanish Literacy under Literacy News or click here.
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Jump on the Financial Literacy Bandwagon
Financial literacy has become one of the most important focuses of literacy organizations over the past 12 months. The federal government has made financial literacy a key component to its educational pathways to success and many AmeriCorps Vistas are working across the state of Florida to increase financial literacy rates. Many organizations are beginning to offer financial literacy courses in their programs and experts are applauding this trend.
David Hiller has written about the long-term benefits of financial literacy courses. Federal Reserve Governor Elizabeth Duke is also jumping on the financial literacy bandwagon with her decision to speak about the importance of helping individuals make better financial decisions. There are also many organizations that are attempting to help the millions of people fighting foreclosure.
Many organizations would love to implement financial literacy courses into their programs, but they don’t have training curricula and other resources. The Florida Literacy Coalition created a page on its website to help with this problem. Visit this site to gain access to dozens of free resources that you can immediately use in your program!
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A Teaching English Through Spanish Literacy Perspective
As soon as I read about Teaching English Through Spanish Literacy, I applied to attend. I can truly imagine how this could help those Spanish-speaking ELLs that are illiterate in their native language.
Ruth Colvin – who needs no introduction – began our workshop by first explaining the need for such a curriculum. She gave us an initial example in English of how her curriculum works. We all responded to her gestures as if we were learners: “Hola, Amigo Mío”
This greeting gets broken down to: Ho-la, a-mi-go mí-o.
Then, after reviewing the sounds of the vowels, we ask students to put each syllable below its corresponding vowel.
Once she drilled us rigorously as ELLs, she had each of us take turns at the front of the class and practice (with the class as our learners) what we had just learned, but this time in Spanish. This experience was a bit more challenging than I had expected, but all attendees very graciously helped each other out.
Mrs. Colvin asked assistants to distribute a teacher’s instructor manual and two student booklets to each of us, to use when we meet with our learner(s). She also assigned homework to read and prepare for the following day.
The next day, we started right back practicing what we had done the day before. Only this time, we chose other chapters to apply the same techniques. Naturally, the dialog was typically longer in the later chapters and more challenging.
We closed the workshop exchanging e-mail addresses and vowing to keep track of our learners’ development. Our goals include getting statistics to provide to get grants to fund this worthy project.
Everyone who participated was extremely excited about this project and we hope that our work can help Ruth Colvin roll out this program nationwide!
*Thanks to Mary Quijano for writing about her experience.
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New Career Pathways Page Filled With Helpful Resources!
Are you looking to implement a career pathways program within your organization? Have you had trouble finding resources to help you with this process?
You’re in luck! The Florida Literacy Coalition has recently updated its website to include a career pathways page. This page includes relevant websites, helpful articles, training materials and curricula, and handouts and worksheets.
This easy layout is designed for your convenience and ensures easy navigation. Have you visited the website lately? Make sure you check it out!
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Key Features of WTI’s Career Pathways to Success Program
In a recent FLC webinar, Judy Johnson, of Witlacoochie Technical Institute, provided session participants with helpful information about implementing a career pathways program. Read some of the highlights of the webinar and be sure to contact Hope Lynn @ FLC if you want to partner with us in developing a career pathways coaching program!
LESSONS LEARNED
1: A focus on Career Pathways provides a context for academic achievement, motivation for students to remain in school, guidance for career selection and a foundation for career pursuit, use of career preparation to provide interdisciplinary problem-solving and critical thinking application, and a foundation for lifelong learning—and lifelong earning.
2: Strong Advisory Committee that includes Adult Education Students, WTI Administrative Staff, WTI Student Services Staff, WTI Adult Education and CTE Instructors, College of Central Florida Staff, Workforce Board Members, Program Advisory Council Members
3: Improved Student Performance as documented by assessment scores and postsecondary transition data.
4: Enhanced Intake and Referral Process that includes identification of a Career Pathway and the development of an Educational and Career Pathway Transition Plan.
5: Enhanced Recruitment and Retention Strategies include goal setting and needs assessment to identify barriers to program completion, and providing workshops and services designed to assist students in overcoming those barriers. These include access to free daycare at our suite as well as workshops on such topics as Time Management, Organization, Financial Literacy, Test Taking Skills, Study Skills, Financial Aide, and Navigating the Postsecondary Application Process. Tutoring in Math and Writing is also provided.
6: Career Counseling is provided by the Career Transition Facilitator and WTI Guidance Counselors. They coordinate the transition process by providing ongoing academic and career counseling through use of the Educational and Career Pathway Transition Plan, CHOICES, and Career Pathway roadmaps developed with our staff.
7: The creation and implementation of a local relational database that allows all stakeholders to have access to student information and provides a mechanism for tracking student progress and goal attainment. The Educational and Career Pathway Transition Plan is generated within the database and provides structure and motivation for student success.
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Meet your blogger!
(wo)man behind the curtain
My name is Annie and I am the new social media intern for the Florida Literacy Coalition. I grew up just outside of Detroit and spent the last four years in Chicago at DePaul University studying International Studies and Peace Studies. I worked in new media on a couple campaigns and used social networking to recruit and organize on campus. My interests include biking, social justice, learning new things and games. I am really excited about my upcoming year as a VISTA at FLC. I’m here to help and assist you with a variety of literacy resources. The focus of entries will be on health, family, financial, ESL, and digital literacy as well as career pathways and helpful community tips. Like I said, I’m here to help you, so if there is any topic you’d like to see more of or want to include, let me know!
One of the new things we are working on is guest bloggers. Every other week we will feature someone in the literacy field (tutor, trainer, or adult learner) telling us more about their experiences, tips of the trade, and resources. If you are interested in contributing, contact us here. We want to highlight community all stars and also learn more about their insights on tutoring, literacy, and life.
.. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for daily insights/information on financial, family, and health literacy!
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Social Media and Non-Profits 101
Before I started blogging for FLC, I decided to do some research on social media and non-profits. To no surprise, there were several helpful sites reviewing different outlets for social media and how it can be used to help your business. Some of the sites even offered advice specifically for non-profits. Once I started looking around at other non-profit’s social media, I was surprised by their lack of presence. From few facebook followers, to a non-existent website, I realized that this industry niche is behind. If social media is a cheap way to communicate with the largest audience, why not jump on the bandwagon? While maintaining sites takes time and people power, there are ways to spread the word about your organization at little to no cost for your organization. Here are some helpful tips on the importance of social media, maintenance tips, and information on different social media sites that can work for your organization. For the record, I realize that I’m only posting this on social networking sites, but hopefully someone can spread the word to their not-so-tech savvy friends.
Why invest in social media?
- Everyone else is using it. Besides the hundreds of millions of people around the world, 73% of small businesses and organizations have started using social media marketing. You can learn more about what your competitors are doing and reach out to your supporters. Over 1/3 of adults use smartphones and are able to access social media on the go. This number is increasing and it’s more proof that you need this to stay current
- Social media will help you achieve organizational goals. You’ll be able to spread the word, provide customer service (what they are saying about you and to you), build relationships and ultimately attract new audiences.
- Social media helps you maintain relationships with your volunteers, clients, and donors. It creates a platform to remind them what you are doing and hear their suggestions
- Find out which networks people are using around the office. Talk to your volunteers and co-workers about which sites interest them, then get started and see what happens.
Tips for maintaining your sites
- Post at least once a day to keep your name relevant. When you are working with Facebook and Twitter, it’s suggested you post anywhere between 2 and 10 times a day to make sure your messages aren’t flushed through the thousands of other users on the news feed.
- Make sure you have quality content. People aren’t generally interested in what you’re eating for lunch, so focus on news related to your field (policy and practices) and office events (closings, conferences, banquets, etc).
- You need to be consistent and patient. Don’t expect hundreds of responses and followers immediately. Have a plan for creating engaging content and spend at least 10-20 minutes a day just reading what others are saying.
- Incorporate social media into your existing site. Post videos, have a live twitter feed, use a facebook discussion board, add the google +1 so people can easily share your information. Give people different outlets of finding things out. Believe me, you’ll be much more interesting.
The Networks
- If you don’t have a personal one, I’m sure you’ve heard something along the lines of “everyone and their mom has one,” which is (scarily) becoming increasingly true. There are over 350 million facebook users worldwide. It provides users an easy way to share experiences through posts, photos, videos, and events. Close to half of facebook’s users are connecting with businesses and non-profits, and then sharing the news, deals, and other content from those organizations.
- Just because it has been successful for some people, does not mean success is guaranteed for your organization. You should develop a site because it is easy to connect with your volunteers/supporters and other non-profits, but try to use more than just facebook
- Twitter does text messages (140 characters max) to post news, articles, promotions, and jokes. It is a great tool for small businesses to communicate directly with customers, get feedback and provide support in real time. It’s a low- barrier method for audiences to interact with your organization to provide feedback, seek help and suggest ideas. It’s also a great platform for providing coverage of an event.
- It is suggested that you tweet 2-10 times a day, but make sure they are at least 30 minutes apart so it’s not lost in news feeds. If you don’t think your audience has twitter accounts, start one anyone. Follow as many organizations/non-profits/news sources and people you can think of. You’ll be able to learn from them and hopefully they’ll follow you and you can spread the word about your organization.
- Twitter tips for non-profits
- YouTube is the second largest search engine outside of google. It’s an online video portal where you can post videos of what your organization is doing, who you are serving, who you are collaborating with and much more. It’s a great way to raise awareness (think PSAs), generate word of mouth, improve your search rankings on google, increase referrals and you’ll personalize your organization.
Blogs
- The most common blogsites are wordpress (which you are looking at), blogspot, and increasingly, tumblr. Blogs allow you to provide much more information than you can on any other platform. You can design it however you want (check out HTML classes at your library), post pictures, articles, videos, and pretty much anything else. Over 350 million people read blogs and more than 184 million people write their own. This is your chance to provide information in your area of expertise and answer FAQs for your organization. It brings out more of a human element than a traditional website.
- It is suggested that you blog at least once a week. You can have recurring features like weekly interview series with clients, industry leaders, mentors, or different people working in your office. The more you “tag” your organization in posts, the higher ranking you will have in search engines.
- LinkedIn is a professional networking tool. It primarily works as a personal use to network with people who have similar interests, but your organization will have the opportunity to market themselves on the site as well. It works as a resource for group discussions that answer questions relating to your industry/area of expertise. It can give you ideas and advice for running your business and help spread the word about the value you are providing your customers.
Google +
- Brand new and not yet open to the public. It’s new, so by using it you are showing that you’re relevant and on the cutting edge. You can use the “circles” feature to organize information going out to volunteers, donors, and general supporters to more directly target content and engagement efforts. With the “hangouts” feature, up to 10 users can video chat, building relationships with community members or around the office, and different newsfeeds to see what everyone else is doing. It should open up to businesses and the public in the next couple of months
- Tips for Google+ in education
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Digital Literacy and Adult Education
Digital literacy has become increasingly popular amongst people who focus on adult literacy because of its necessity in our society. In my previous post, I talked about the importance of social media because more and more people are tuning into that market. In addition to the world of social media, everyday more and more things are becoming technology based. If you were to look for a job, you no longer search for a print newspaper (today, this could mean an actual search) or go to your local college’s bulletin board for listings. You would look on monster, career builder, idealist, craigslist, and a variety of other on-line sources to see what is available. Then, if you wanted to contact an agency, you would need some knowledge of Microsoft word to create a resume and knowledge of email to send it as an attachment to the proper recipient. For an adult learner, basic technology goes hand-in-hand with societal integration.
Florida TechNet provides digital literacy resources for Adult Education centers throughout the state. On their website you will be able to find resources, publications, training guides, a moodle course, web based training and much more to help you (the tutor or trainer) in this endeavor. The website is easy to use and they will help you through every step of the way. So even if you don’t feel that confident in your technological skills, they will help you with lesson plans. You’ll find that you have more to offer than you think. This week, our guest blogger will be Debra Hargrove, project director for Florida TechNet. Be sure to check back in to learn about her insights on how technology has become our lives. Have you ever been unplugged?
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“What’s Happening to my Family?”- Debra Hargrove
I recently read a post from someone I follow on Twitter. He’s a district K-12 technology specialist, and well recognized and admired in the Twitter world. A recent post on his blog was titled, “Digital Cleansing” . Steven literally went on vacation with no access to the tech world. Granted, he had a cell phone, but only for emergencies.
I was intrigued. I couldn’t imagine going anywhere without my Iphone or Ipad. After all, I’m responsible for keeping a lot of people up to date with what’s going on in the world of technology; whether it’s developing online courses, presenting workshops, passing along great websites, sharing my Twitter resources, or simply being available to answer a question or two from a colleague who happens to trust my expertise. I couldn’t imagine “unplugging” for seven days. Could I do it? Would I do it?
I tried. I really did.
But what if the people you are on vacation with DON’T want to unplug? I have to say I was a bit saddened by what I experienced. Now, I’m not going to sit here and duplicate all the thoughts and insights that my Twitter colleague shared. I’d recommend reading his post. No, what I’m more interested in sharing with you is what I experienced by trying to unplug …when you’re vacationing with a 13 year-old grandson “texting maniac”, a 35 year old daughter “Facebook” and “Four Square” fanatic and a 59 year old “Ipad for EVERYTHING” spouse.
We went to the beach for 5 days. This place is an island. There’s no shopping, no malls, no restaurant chains. Nothing. You eat, sleep, swim, and get back to the basics of good ole family vacation time. Clark W. Griswold would have been proud of our choice of location.
I packed the sunscreen, floats, towels, a few magazines, my Ipad (Only to read my book) and the faithful Hargrove family fun time games of Monopoly and Seinfeld Trivia. I created my phone “away” messages, my email “out of office assistant” messages and was excited about the trip.
We arrived and unpacked. I was ready to jump in the pool. That’s when it started. We couldn’t go to the pool without both my daughter and grandson first “checking in” to the house we rented so they could race to see who would become the “Mayor” of the place. Then, they had to “check in” to the pool, the beach, and so on. It was NUTS! And what’s the purpose? My grandson even became the “Mayor” of the kitchen, for goodness sake. We insisted he stop when he announced he was working on becoming the “Mayor” of the bathroom! Those two could not be without their cell phones for longer than an hour. Thank goodness there was water around. Between those two posting pictures to Facebook and texting, I felt like I was on vacation by myself.
I kept thinking, what’s happening to my family? How did this get so far out of control?
Thank goodness my grandson still loves to play board games. Except we were the only two playing. Ipads, cell phones and CNBC took first precedent for the other two members of the family.
We broke out the family favorite: Monopoly. And by the way, I STILL think Monopoly is a great strategic game for kids. I’m ALL for family game night. Did you know that they apparently have a new version of Monopoly that uses a debit card instead of Monopoly money? What’s THAT about? So now, we don’t teach kids how to count and sort money? That’s just great. First, the use of electronics to communicate forces schools to consider removing cursive writing from the curriculum. Now learning games are electronic? Is that REALLY healthy?
I don’t know. We had a great time at the beach though. We rode the golf cart around the island, took pictures of the sunsets and walked on the beach. We played Volleyball in the pool, dove in the ocean for sand dollars, and looked for sharks teeth. Those are the times I will cherish. Those are the times that we WERE unplugged, and it felt great.
So here I sit;my first day back, 256 emails, including the one reminding me about this guest blog.
So I while I was supposed to write about Technology and Literacy or What’s New with Florida TechNet, I hope you’ll understand that I first needed to share my family vacation with you. I wanted you to know that even someone who KNOWS about the responsibilities of being a good Digital citizen struggles to keep balance in her own world.
And while I encourage and promote Social Media and the use of technology for learning and growing, I also want to remind you to NOT get so involved in this sterile way of communicating that you forget what’s important in your life. I’ve promised myself to keep the balance. I hope you do to.
By the way, my grandson beat me 2 games out of 3. Moral of the story: ALWAYS BUY THE RAILROADS!
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Number Crunching
Was this you?
Remember the last day of your high school or college math class? It was great. You were so relieved that never again would you have to memorize an equation, deal with non-real and imaginary numbers (why learn it if they aren’t there?), or figure out those ridiculous buttons on a calculator. As soon as life started really happening, you realized math was everywhere. Once you needed to pay bills, deal with taxes and interest, paint or organize a room, and pinch your pennies with coupons, math skills became increasingly necessary. Word problems were no longer how much faster Timmy got to town than Sarah, but how much faster/slower are highways compared to side roads during your morning commute.
Basic math skills are everywhere in our life. After secondary and post-secondary school, there are few opportunities to gain these skills. Teachers Investigating Adult Numeracy is a US Department of Education supported initiative that develops mathematics as a professional development for adult basic education teachers. Once teachers have increased their math knowledge, they will be able to pass it onto their students during tutoring sessions in a variety of approaches. TIAN provides examples of lessons that have worked in the classroom and curriculum for teachers that are applicable to adult learner’s lives. As a tutor/teacher, you can incorporate pie charts, graphs, fractions and percentages to help your learners better understand financial and health literacy. If you have a career pathways focus to your lesson, basic math skills, including being able to read charts and graphs, are imperative to the job market. Incorporating math provides more visuals and you’ll increase your learner’s skills more than threefold. Relate to them by telling your painful math story from back in the day, but how useful it is in your daily life. Most importantly, have fun.
If you find something that works, let me know and we’ll tell your success story!
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Using Technology to Engage Reluctant Readers and Teach Literacy Elements and Vocabulary
My name is Luciano Cossi. I am the Florida account representative for McGraw-Hill/Contemporary. For many of you I have not met, I look forward to meeting you and working with you and your organizations as you begin to implement your Career Pathways programs. This past January I attended several of the state-wide Career Pathways Workshops. As a representative of McGraw-Hill Education Publishing I attended the workshops to better understand the goals and objectives of the Florida Career Pathways Initiative. I am pleased to say that McGraw-Hill continues to innovate and expand existing programs to deliver materials that meet your Career Pathways and Workforce Education program needs.
Recently, McGraw-Hill Education published two new free websites that support existing programs – the Critical Reading Series ( Jamestown’s The Outer Edge, The Wild Side, Critical Reading, and Above & Beyond-NEW) and the Reading Basics Series. Existing customers and new customers can access the websites for these programs free-of-charge and can access the new technology support materials that include MP3 audio files of reading passages, instructor’s materials, student activity worksheets, and much more.
Below is a detailed description of each program. In addition to the two free websites, McGraw-Hill has published technology support that can be purchased for the Words to Learn By vocabulary program app now available on iTunes® and in the Android Marketplace for phones and tablets and the revised Number Power math series now includes the ExamView® Assessment Suite CD-ROM test generator and worksheet generator.
Reading Basics – Revised for 2011 - motivates and engages students with real-life workforce, expository, and literacy readings.The revised Reading Basics program is based on current Evidence-Based Reading Instructional (EBRI) research in adult reading, introduces workplace skills to help students relate their reading skills to their working lives, aligns to the National Reporting System’s (NRS) Grade Level Equivalents (GLE) and CTB/McGraw-Hill Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE 9 & 10), includes modernized scenarios, real-world scenarios, emphasizes phonemic awareness, word analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, and technology support includes a no-charge website which includes MP3 audio files, instructor’s materials, activity worksheets. For more information, visit the Reading Basics information page.
Above and Beyond (RL 8-10) – New for 2011 –This series is fourth in the Jamestown Critical Reading series, which also includes The Outer Edge (RL 2-4), The Wild Side (RL 4-6), and Critical Reading (RL 6-8). This series and the entire Critical Reading series stimulates students with high-interest selections at a grade 2-10 readability level, improves proficiency in reading narrative nonfiction, prepares students for state and national tests using critical thinking questions, offers follow-up questions to reinforce key comprehension skills and critical thinking questions that encourage students to consider the author’s purpose, make inferences, identify cause and effect, and make predictions, and and technology support includes a no-charge website which includes MP3 audio files, instructor’s materials, activity worksheets. For more information, visit the Above and Beyond information page .
McGraw-Hill Education will continue to listen to customers and to innovate with technology to engage students using the latest technology and materials. Please try out these resources and send me your feedback or comments as to how McGraw-Hill Education can continue to improve.
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Gail Rice: Language Experience Approach
Since writing is one of the last skills to develop, native speakers of English who are not proficient in reading are less likely to be proficient in writing. Students that have been shamed in the past for their failures in writing, may dislike writing and write as little as possible. ESL (English as a Second Language) learners may also experience the same problems because they are aware of their mistakes speaking English. Thus, ESL and native speaking students are less likely to write because they do not want to see a paper loaded with red marks and corrections.
The language experience approach (LEA) is a powerful tool for tutors to use with any learner who has enough conversational ability to carry on simple conversations, even if that person has no reading skills at all. It uses the language of the learner, dictated to and written down by the tutor, as the basis of the reading material. The material is then familiar and understandable since it is based on the learner’s experience, making it easier to read.
But what if learners make grammatical or other mistakes when dictating to the tutor? What about mistakes that native speakers and ESL learners make in their own writing?
Some tutors feel that they should correct all mistakes and if not they are reinforcing those mistakes. But such an approach defeats the purpose of the LEA and ensures that struggling writers will become more discouraged and less likely to write.
These issues and others will be discussed at the Tutor Celebration of Learning Seminar offered by the Florida Literacy Council and the Adult Literacy League on the morning of September 17, 2011.
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Why you need to volunteer
When you volunteer, do you feel good? Unless you’re doing required or mandated community service, the answer is probably yes. You are able to make a connection with someone else and foster a relationship. You feel good and accomplished, making your body produce endorphins. Even if you were having a long/busy day and weren’t sure if you could make it out to do service, looking for excuses not to go, once it’s over, you’re happy that you did. This feeling isn’t just psychological. Studies show that doing community service helps you live longer. Here are some of the benefits of helping others:
1. It helps you overcome stress. By reaching out to a stranger, you become vulnerable. In becoming vulnerable, your body releases oxytocin or the “compassion hormone,” which helps decrease stress. Oxytocin helps your body in several other ways. It helps cells repair themselves, store nutrients, and grow. So even if you’re working with someone who is sick, your body is working in your favor to repair itself.
2. Your brain produces dopamine and sometimes serotonin, both of which help treat depression. Most people experience feelings of peace, serenity and tranquility after serving others for a couple of hours. Even if you are experiencing mild depression, helping others will ultimately help you.
3. You salivate slightly more than usual, producing immunoglobullin A, which helps fight cavities. But please, still brush your teeth.
So whether you are doing service because you feel connected to a cause, through a moral obligation, or simply because you enjoy doing it, you are benefiting society and yourself. How is that for karma?
Have you tried to learn something new now that you’re older? Was it harder than you imagined it would be?
Imagine all the things in your life that would be harder if you couldn’t read.
- In Florida, one in five adults lacks basic literacy skills.
- Florida has the third lowest adult literacy of all states, behind California and New York
- The state experienced a 33% increase over 10 years in the percentage of people who fall in the lowest literacy skill level with rates ranging from 7% in St. John’s county to 52% in Miami-Dade.
Now, you might not be able to relate directly to illiteracy, but you can relate to the struggle of learning something new. The best person to help someone with a problem is someone who has also been there. You can reach out and help an adult learn. Find your local literacy organization and reach out today.
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Learning Disabilities
Unlike physical ailments, learning disabilities often go undetected because they are hard to see and many people do not understand the signs. They also differ from person to person, so two people can have the same disability, but different challenges. Learning disabilities can affect a someone’s listening, speaking, reading, writing and/or mathematics skills. As many as 1 out of 5 people in the United States has a learning disability. It is estimated that 27% of children with learning disabilities drop out of high school, creating a need to address learning disabilities in adult learners. This fall, Florida Literacy Coalition is hosting a series of professional development workshops focused on Learning Disabilities. Here are a few words from one of our facilitators, Roberta Reiss.
Roberta Reiss
“Over the years I have worked with hundreds of capable and well-trained literacy tutors. One refrain I heard quite often was, “I can’t help you with an adult learner with learning disabilities. I just don’t have the expertise.” It turns out that working with a learner with a reading or writing disability involves easy comprehension strategies that are just “good teaching”. The FLC’s upcoming events on Learning to Achieve, a program based on the latest research, are designed to help volunteer tutors understand Learning Disabilities, learn about the legal protection offered those who have these disabilities, and examine teaching strategies that have proven success. Of course, no one is expected to diagnose a disability or offer legal advice, but the program lays a great foundation for understanding the rights of adult learners with LD and seeing why the strategies work. I hope you can attend one of the several sessions held around the state, and would love to see you at one of mine!
In the meantime, here are a couple of interesting websites to take a look at:
http://www.ncld.org
http://ldonline.org”
Hopefully you will be able to join us this fall at one of the statewide workshops. Click here for a full listing of locations and program descriptions.
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Erin Balleine: Americorps VISTA and Florida Literacy
As you may know, the Florida Literacy Coalition has partnered with AmeriCorps*VISTA to place VISTA volunteers in community based literacy organizations throughout the state. AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) provides full-time members to nonprofit, community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty.
AmeriCorps*VISTA members leverage human, financial, and material resources to increase the capacity of low-income communities across the country to solve their own problems. Currently, VISTAs within our statewide project work on 3 main goals including:
- Financial Literacy
- College/Career Pathways
- At least one of the following
- Health Literacy
- Family Literacy
- Prison Re-entry
- GED/TOEFL readiness
VISTAs must work on the projects mentioned above, they must have a desk, computer and phone and have a full time supervisor. Sites pay a $500 administrative fee to the Florida Literacy Coalition per year for a full time (35-40 hours a week) VISTA placement.
VISTAs are paid a small living stipend ($10,692) through the Corporation of National and Community Service and receive health care and their choice of a educational award worth $5550 or a $1500 cash award at the end of their service.
Our partnership with AmeriCorps*VISTA has been incredibly successful over the past 7 years. Over the past year, statewide, our VISTAs have recruited over 1000 volunteers and solicited almost half a million dollars in cash and non-cash resources. Organizations have benefited greatly from the services that a full time VISTA member has been able to provide to the organization and the community!
If you are interested in becoming a VISTA site, contact me at balleine@floridaliteracy.org or 407-246-7110 X202.
You can also find more information about VISTA at http://www.floridaliteracy.org/vista.html or http://www.americorps.gov/for_individuals/choose/vista.asp.
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The First Meeting
After learning more about adult illiteracy, I decided to start tutoring an adult learner. I signed up with the Adult Literacy League and was quickly assigned to a student who had been on the waiting list for some time. My past service experience has been limited to working in my church, after school programs, tutoring computer classes, but predominantly with children and young adults. Needless to say, I was nervous for my first meeting. I ended up chatting with several of my friends who are educators, and colleagues who have worked with adult learners. Where would I start? How do I manage not to belittle his intelligence and not assume that he knows certain things? Should I design this first meeting based on his intake form? What’s a realistic timeline to reach his overall goal of getting a GED?
Since there were so many different questions, I took some advice from one of our trainings: don’t plan a lesson. I decided that I would just talk to my student and get to know him. After all, the goal is to build a relationship. I brought the materials I received from ALL to the library so he could see what we are going to be working with. Once he showed up, I just asked him to tell me a little bit about himself. We went back and forth explaining our strengths and weaknesses in learning (hopefully he doesn’t feel like I’m incompetent for acknowledging so many), what brought us to Orlando, what sort of activities we enjoy, and most importantly, the reason why he has decided to take classes and learn how to read. Through this conversation, I found out that my student is very active in his church and is looking to be a minister. GREAT! Something to work with so we aren’t bored with workbooks and that what we are doing is relevant/useful. We decided that we would use workbooks, but he would bring his own materials from church so we can work with both.
The hour ended up going by very smoothly. I started out really nervous and fidgety, but once we started talking, we both were more relaxed and comfortable. We’ll see how it goes next week when we actually start working with the material, but for right now, I feel comfortable and positive about this upcoming experience.
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Zach Lynn: A Potential VISTA has Great Potential
The non-profit world is hectic. I’ve never been in an environment as fast-paced, demanding, exciting, and dynamic. A day can start without me knowing it and end long after I thought I’d be leaving the office. It’s not hard to get so caught up in my work that I forget lunch breaks even existed. My mission is all-encompassing. My current goal: find an AmeriCorps*VISTA.
New AmeriCorps*VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) start their journey by creating an application on the AmeriCorps website. They can search through work opportunities based on their interests, areas of expertise, or location. Some VISTAs want to stick with their community and find a non-profit organization in their neighborhood while others want to branch out and explore a new part of the country. After some candidate selections and interviews, there’s a new bright and shining face in a lucky non-profit’s office, ready to make America a better place.
As a former VISTA at the Adult Literacy League, I had many hectic days. Whether I was building relationships “in the field” with local community members or sitting in a cubicle writing reports, my days were full and exciting. I was luckily given the opportunity to see my developments continue to grow when I was offered a position on the Adult Literacy League’s staff as the Volunteer Coordinator after my VISTA year of service. Now I’m searching for a new VISTA to continue the great work for which AmeriCorps members are famous.
A strong candidate can handle a demanding workload and will create projects that enhance the organization in ways never thought of before… Such as creating a social media outreach plan, finding new ways to reach clients and volunteers, and develop new programs and projects. VISTA development work strengthens an organization’s mission.
While I’m currently going through applications, I’m looking for candidates that have a strong goal for themselves, as well. Good VISTAs know they can increase their own skills while also helping their community. At the Adult Literacy League we want to maximize our VISTA’s potential by utilizing their abilities and helping them work on new skills. Not only will it help them, but their growth will help us!
Central Florida needs great people that are hard workers, love variety, have goals, and want to serve people in their community. Central Florida needs AmeriCorps*VISTAs. Sign up today on the AmeriCorps website and change lives… Hopefully your application ends up on my desk!
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Andy Nash: Learner Persistence, Key to Success
Andy Nash
In the New England Learner Persistence Project, 18 diverse ABE programs throughout New England investigated promising persistence strategies and reported on their impact on attendance, cycle completion, and program practices. In reviewing the dozens of program findings, we tried to understand why the strategies were so successful. What explained their effectiveness?
Our analysis led us to conclude that the strategies work because they support adults’ need for six things, which we call the “drivers of persistence.” Programs can use these drivers to stimulate their thinking about ways to improve learner persistence.
Community and belonging
When we feel welcomed, respected, and offered a sense of belonging, we are more apt to return to that setting or task. For that reason, cultivating a sense of belonging and community from the moment a prospective adult learner comes through the doors or calls is an important persistence strategy.
Clarity of purpose
Clarity of purpose refers to helping students gain clarity about their own purposes for learning – their goals and dreams – and how the instructional approaches of their teachers address those purposes. Knowing this builds trust that the program will meet their needs.
A sense of competence
Adults’ beliefs about their competence and self-efficacy can have a profound effect on their persistence and achievement. Students with more self-efficacy are more willing to persist to reach their goals in the face of adversity.
Stability
Learning is difficult in an environment that is chaotic or unstable. This is challenging, especially, for the many adult learners whose lives are marked by instability caused by poverty and trauma. According to Perry (2006), “The major challenge to the educator working with highly stressed or traumatized adults is to furnish the structure, predictability, and sense of safety that can help them begin to feel safe enough to learn.”
Relevance
The degree of perceived relevance of instruction to the adult learners’ goals, interests and life experience is a key factor in adults’ motivation to persist in their studies. Most adult learners juggle many competing priorities that may take precedence if the instructional program does not feel meaningful to their needs and interests.
Agency
Human agency is the capacity for human beings to make things happen through their actions. As people mature, they move from dependence toward self-direction, and want to be treated as responsible individuals with the capacity to determine things for themselves.
For a description of the specific strategies investigated by NELP programs, see our project report or visit our website.
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Jonel Persinger: Americorps* VISTA from a Site Supervisor perspective
As an AmeriCorps VISTA supervisor, I have witnessed literal miracles as needs have been met for our non-profit agency. Most non-profits during these tough times are running on low fumes: lack of funding, staff support, community connections [as they are going through tough times too], and program structures being compromised by increasing demands while resources remain shallow. In short, we are all doing more with less. I first became introduced to AmeriCorps VISTA through the suggestion of a fellow agency about 3 years ago and what an amazing adventure it has been. Upon registering, I not only inherited great program support, but I shared in a fundamental passionate mission—the war on poverty.
Both of my VISTA ‘s that I have been privileged to work with have been sharp, creative, energetic women. As each stepped across the threshold of grant wonderland, recruitment/retention challenges, and radical program changes, they grasped the vision of the mission quickly and securely. Out in the field they’ve loved influencing the community to also see the vision of AmeriCorps and Volusia Literacy Council. Monies have been raised, partnerships established, fundraisers ‘funded’ with in-kind donations and gifts, community awareness cultivated, volunteers recruited and recently, financial and workforce literacy birthed [two new programs]. Can I go on? Yes, I could go on about the programs that have led to a stronger, brighter program—at the very least I will say, we would not be where we are today without them. Thank you ladies!!
I must give outstanding credit to the overseer of the VISTA program for our state, Florida Literacy Coalition. They are an amazing support system to the program and the challenges we face. Through state collaborations, training in the mission, navigating through paperwork [and SO MUCH more]—WHEW! All I can say is, “I am ‘SO RELIEVED’ they are there for us!” I literally feel I could call them at 2am and they would be there. [Don’t worry FLC, I’ll try not to make a habit of it.] They too share the passionate mission and through that passion they hold us little Community Based Organizations’s all together through their grant leadership, program encouragement, resource provision and most importantly keeping us on time with our quarterly reports. 
(Can I do the text wink here?)
It has been an honor to supervise the VISTA program and my heart is full of the deepest gratitude for those who provide and serve in AmeriCorps. I stand by their commission of the war against poverty with unfailing faith. Each person who has the privilege of being a recipient of their services has been awarded a great opportunity to change their life and move forward toward their dreams. We need you AmeriCorps VISTA and we cannot thank you enough for the difference you make: one mission, one program, one incredible life at a time.
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Presenters Needed!
Let your voice be heard at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront May 9-11th!
Next year marks the 28th anniversary of the Florida Literacy Conference. This is a great opportunity to share your wisdom, techniques, research and promising practices in adult and family literacy with others from across the state.
As a presenter, you will receive the benefits of priority registration and networking with your peers. You can also enjoy a savings of $25.00 off the regular registration rate.
We know you have great ideas, and we want everyone to hear them. Let us know if you have any session ideas that could help the conference be even better this year.
Proposed sessions will be selected based on the information you provide. Since we try to offer new sessions each year, please note that if you have previously presented your proposed session it should still be relevant, timely, and updated with fresh material.
To submit a proposal, complete the online form. Proposals must be received online by Monday, December 12, 2011. Information as it appears on this form will be used in the final conference program.
Contact Yari Payne, Education & Training Coordinator, at (407) 246-7110 x 203 or conference@floridaliteracy.org.
Thank you for your time and support, we hope to see you at our 28th anniversary of the Florida Literacy Conference.
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Save the Date for the 2012 Conference
The 28th Annual Florida Literacy Conference will be held at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront May 9-11th
Call for Presenters happening now. Registration coming soon
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What can Online Learning do for you?
Online learning is becoming increasingly popular. Several college courses are adapting a hybrid model of learning. Students are in the classroom part of the time, and spend the other part taking the class online. And I’m sure we’ve all seen the commercials about getting your degree in your pajamas. While most of us are hesitant about this new format, since we prefer human interaction, there are several benefits to taking a course online.
1. Convenience. With an online course, you can learn anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace. You can do it in the comfort of your own home, a library, a coffee shop, or your favorite place with wifi. The material is easily accessible and you will do better since you can spend as much time as you want on lessons and activities
2. Student-Centered teaching. Online courses use several different modalities for learning. You can read text and articles, watch videos, listen to audio, and participate in online discussions.
3. Increases student interaction. Participating in discussions is less intimidating since there is anonymity in an online environment. Even if you are in the course as your name, you may never see or meet your classmates. There is also an equal playing field. In a lecture class, there could be a couple students who are dominating discussion. Through online learning, everyone contributes to the discussion (it could be required).
4. Increases technology skills. Let’s face it, some of us have better computer skills than others and we could all improve on what we know. Taking a class online gives you the opportunity to experience and get familiarized with the computer and new technologies.
5. The instructor is easily approachable. In the classroom, you might be nervous to approach the instructor, there might be a long line, or there could be limited availability for other reasons. In an online class, you are sending messages and participating in discussions with your facilitator.
With the help of the Department of Education, the Florida Literacy Coalition is launching an online tutor training course this November. Community Based Organizations throughout the state will be facilitating a course for their volunteers, but we will also offer a facilitated course for organizations unable to facilitate their own course. If you would like more information on the course and how you can be involved, please contact schmidta@floridaliteracy.org.
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Albert Lang: Celebrating the Spirit of Moving Your Feet!
When you think October, you think candy, costumes and revelry. However, October is also Health Literacy month – an interesting pairing to say the least. The best thing about Halloween is all of the walking and running and laughing – basically fun in and of itself!
We need to make this kind of exercise available to all on a regular basis. If we’re ever going to turn the tide on the obesity epidemic, we need to find ways to make it easier and safer for people to walk, run, bike, and just get moving. Right now, about 23 percent of Americans say they do not participate in any form of physical activity and only about half of us reach the minimum recommended levels of exercise.
Clearly, people need to take responsibility for their own health – but it doesn’t hurt to get a little help from your friends, family, community or even the government!
Recently, Senator Tom Harkin introduced the Safe and Complete Streets Act of 2011 which will help the country get smarter about how we think about transportation projects — so we aren’t just focusing on planes, trains and automobiles, but also on ways to use our feet. The Act would ensure federal transportation projects are efficient and promote better health for all. Where we live, learn, work, and play all have a major impact on our health.
This Act is part of a broader movement within the federal government to focus on “health in all policies” – the notion that everything from education, transportation, housing, etc. has an impact on health. The government has begun to do its part to make it easier for individuals to make the healthy choices for themselves and their families.
The collaboration of different government agencies fits under the National Prevention Strategy (NPS) umbrella. The NPS, coupled with the Prevention and Public Health Fund – an historic investment in improving the country’s health and quality of life, reducing health care costs for families and businesses, and increasing productivity so the country can compete with the rest of the world – commits the federal government to doing its part to ensure all Americans have the opportunity to be as healthy as can be.
TFAH is committed to ensuring this strategy is fully implemented and that we build support for the movement around the country so we can fulfill the promise of a healthier America. Finally, the federal government its building awareness of how people can live a healthier and happier life.
Albert Lang is the Communications Director at Trust for America’s Health. You can follow them on Twitter @HealthyAmerica1
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Health Literacy Missouri: Our health literacy ‘elevator speech’
Health literacy is a nebulous concept. It relates to a variety of challenges that exist in the health care system and solutions that are ever evolving.
Since Health Literacy Missouri opened for business in December 2009, we’ve continually refined how we talk about “health literacy” and how to relate it to our various audiences.
As we celebrate Health Literacy Month, we want to share some of the main points we’ve come up with as we’ve developed our trainings over the course of two years. Our hope is that it inspires your own “elevator speech” about health literacy.
- Health literacy is the bridge between the patient and the health care system. It is about giving patients the ability to make good health decisions in their everyday lives.
- Approximately 90 million American adults have basic or below basic literacy levels. This is roughly the combined populations of Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
- Low health literacy costs the United States economy between $106 billion and $238 billion a year. This would be enough money to insure 47 million people – the entire populations of California and Missouri combined.
We know it’s impossible to address all of the barriers that exist within the health care system, but awareness of the issue and what factors impact a patient’s ability to succeed in the health care system is a first step. Beyond that, we encourage these best practices for improving health literacy in your work:
- Follow the Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit , which offers step-by-step guidance and tools for assessing your practice and making changes to better connect with patients on all literacy levels.
- Apply these basic plain language principles when communicating verbally: slow down, move from points that are most important to know to least important, break complex information into chunks and limit your message to 3-5 main points.
- Use teach-back, a method that lets patients describe concepts in their own words and explain or demonstrate how they will do a treatment.
What health literacy messages and practices do you use?
For more information about our organization and health literacy, visit our website.
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Betsy Stoutmorril: Count Down to Improve Writing
Writing Challenges
When given a writing assignment, one of the first questions struggling writers often ask is “How long does it have to be?” Focusing on length instead of content can be an indicator that adult learner are struggling to put words on a page or are not confident that they have anything to say.
Confidence and Proficiency
Recognizing and acknowledging that writing is difficult for many adult learners is the first step toward improving their writing. Giving adult learners a specific and manageable structure for writing and gradually increasing the writing demand improves their chances of become confident and proficient writers. Also perhaps, it helps them to fall in love with words and accept the challenge of crafting good writing.
Ask for 200 Words
Think about asking for word count on assignments. Asking for a page or even a paragraph can be anxiety producing, because a blank page is hard to fill and how long is a paragraph anyway? Asking for 200 words is much less threatening. For example, this paragraph has been crafted to have exactly100 words. This may not look like much of a challenge, however to novice writers 200 words can be huge, but it’s concrete! Word count is an amazing tool that also allows us to gradually increase the demand by 25-50 words until the novice writes a full page!
Structure and Simplicity
Explain what word count means and how to use the “word count” function on MS Word under the “Review” tab. This might encourage them to learn to type or word process, too! Also let them know that the average person writes about 10 words and types about 15 words on a line—so you’re asking for 200 words or about 10 to15 lines. Very concrete!
Here are simple structural things to do to help a struggling writer find success on your next writing assignment:
- Create a sample passage
- Offer specific “step-by-step” written, visual and oral directions
- Provide a short list of topics, but also be willing to be flexible
- Set the stage for pre-writing skills with lines for three ideas and five important words
- Describe how proof reading and rewriting improves the final product
A Final Word about Word Count
Also, if you really want to see word count really work to your advantage as a teacher, try limiting the word count! When I was trying to improve the content of writers who use a lot of words but don’t actually say very much, I would put strict parameters on word count.
When I taught intensive reading for at-risk high school students, I would limit summary sentences to 10 words or introductory paragraphs to 25 words. This would result in the students working intensely (Just like I did crafting that 100-word paragraph!) to get the exact word count. Some of my students would even complain that they needed more words! Sure loved hearing that!
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Erika Heiges- Numeracy: A Key Component of Health Literacy
Erika Heiges
Numbers, numbers, numbers. Just like words, they’re everywhere in the information we read. Numbers are used to quantify something, to interpret a message in order to take action. I often come across numbers and marvel at how unruly, complex, and confusing they can be. I think about others – the patients I work for and the adult learners I tutor and wonder how numeracy skills affect them.
I think about an adult learner I tutor – Anna. Anna is 45 years old and has basic literacy skills – she reads at about a fifth to sixth grade reading level. Anna often brings magazines and books for us to tutor from. She talks about recipes she’s tried over the weekend. As we look at recipes to try, I discover she has difficulty with numbers, particularly fractions and measurements. She often follows a recipe’s ingredients but estimates portion sizes.
Now let’s just interplay my work as a health educator and my tutoring experience. What if Anna were living with diabetes? What might be the role of numbers in her life? Anna would need to understand the nutrition content of foods, portion sizes, blood glucose numbers and ranges, and how to accurately take pills or injections. Numeracy skills would be a critical part of Anna’s daily diabetes management.
Supporting numeracy skills
Let’s say Anna is just learning to check and log her blood sugars. She has just checked her blood sugar, and needs to log the result and determine what action to take, based on her blood glucose meter reading. Her blood sugar log simply says:
Write down the results of your before- and after-meal blood sugar in the log below.
- Your before-meal blood sugar should be in the range of 70-130 mg/dL
- Your after-meal blood sugar should be below 180 mg/dL
| My blood sugar results mg/dL |
Before meals |
After meals |
Instead, we can provide clearer direction and ways to facilitate understanding and action such as:
Write down the results of your before and after-meal blood sugars in the log below.
- Your before meal blood sugars should be between 70 and 130 mg/dL
- Your after meal blood sugars should be between 70 and 180 mg/dL
|
|
|
Write your blood sugar results here: |
||
|
My blood sugar results mg/dL |
|
Before meal |
After meal |
|
|
High* |
Higher than 300 | |||
| 261 – 300 | ||||
| 211 – 260 | ||||
| 180 – 210 | ||||
|
Goals |
131 – 179 |
|||
|
70 – 130 |
||||
| Low* | 51 – 69 | |||
| Lower than 50 | ||||
….
….
….
….
….
…
….
…do you know things about health lit?
hello dear reader. You cna’t see me!
*If your blood sugar numbers are in the high or low ranges, follow your doctor’s instructions on what to do to treat low or high blood sugar.
Supporting numeracy in our efforts
Studies have shown that people with low or even basic literacy levels often have poor understanding and control of their conditions and are less likely to actively participate in their healthcare decision making – whether that be making and attending appointments, clearly understanding what healthcare providers communicate, or accurately taking medication. And as the trend in chronic health care moves toward more patient self-management and collaborative team care, health literacy – and numeracy –become even more important. As experts and professionals working with adult learners, we can support learners’ health literacy and numeracy skills by making clear communications for use in the field, in research and practice, and by touting valuable resources for healthcare providers to use with patients.
Some resources and research tools available:
- American Medical Association’s Health Literacy and Patient Safety: Help Patients Understand educational kit
- EMPower curriculum for adults
- Diabetes Literacy and Numeracy Educational Toolkit (DLNET)
- Diabetes Numeracy Test (DNT)
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Why you should visit St. Petersburg, site for the 2012 FLC Conference
Downtown
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With an average of 361 sunny days a year, there’s no doubting St. Petersburg’s sunny disposition. But it’s the action in downtown St. Pete that has things really heating up in the ‘Sunshine City.’
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St. Pete Pier
Featuring seven miles of beautifully preserved downtown waterfront parks, the area makes for a perfect leisurely stroll along the shoreline. This pedestrian friendly city center boasts more than just an abundance of sunshine, offering up open-air eateries, shops, boutiques and culture galore.
Dali Museum
The Pier, a landmark building located in the heart of St. Petersburg is a unique piece of Florida architecture that offers visitors a chance to experience the waterfront along Tampa Bay. Located at the end of a 1/4-mile-long approach, this five story inverted pyramid features shops, restaurants, its own aquarium, live music and even boat docks.
Museum of Fine Art
Downtown is alive with the arts, including the stunning new Dali Museum, the permanent home of the most comprehensive collection of the great Spanish artist’s works. You can also visit the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) or the Chihuly Collection, two other world-class spots for art lovers. The MFA features 4,000 objects, including works by Cezanne, Monet, Gauguin, Renoir and O’Keeffe—while the Chihuly Collection (the only space of its kind in the world) is a permanent display of works by legendary glass artist Dale Chihuly.
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Chihuly Chandeliers
At night, things really get going. Bars and restaurants of all kinds sling drinks and every first Friday of the month, the city hosts a big block party along Central Avenue, complete with live music, food, drinks and dancing in the street.
We hope you enjoy your stay! Register for the FLC Conference Today!
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Roberta Reiss: Top 3 things to keep in mind when facilitating a multi-level conversation class
1. Start a class by reviewing challenging vocabulary or vocabulary necessary for the task/discussion. More advanced participants can improve their pronunciation while beginners expand their vocabularies.
2. The facilitator should circulate through the room when pairs/groups are working on a task. Offer encouragement, be available to answer questions, and help with pronunciation.
3. Let learners “negotiate” language. Create activities during which pairs or small groups of learners try to make themselves understood within the pair/group in order to achieve a product, find an answer or reach a goal. They then report back to the whole group. The more advanced will be able to help out the beginners. If by chance a pair/group of beginners is formed, the facilitator should join them for a while and assist.
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Roberta Reiss: Five important tips for a great conversation club
Roberta Reiss
1. Research grammatical structures that are challenging for English learners. Chose only one or two per session for participants to focus on, practice and perfect.
2. Always model an activity first, i.e. show by example what you expect the participants to do or achieve.
3. More true conversation occurs if your activity is designed around “closed tasks.” For example, ask a participant to reproduce a drawing based on the directions offered by his or her partner.
4. Design “two-way tasks” for your activities so that an exchange of information is required. For example, asking one learner to tell a story to another learner requires only that the second learner listens. The “two-way” version of this activity would be to ask a learner to interview a partner and report the information back to the whole class. This activity requires listening, questioning, answering and clarification.
5. Try to include new vocabulary, a few idioms and a few verb phrases in every session.
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Karen Estrada: Health Literacy and the Military pt. 1
As we approach the end of Health Literacy Month, I would like to share some of my observations regarding health literacy and the military.
There is a scarcity of published medical literature concerning the association of ‘health literacy’ and military members. One study by Weld (2009) concluded a favorable health literacy rate among active duty service members as compared to the national population. This is in part due to ‘universal access’ to health care and structural access. In addition, the level of health literacy would be influenced by enlistment standards (both educational and language), but not socioeconomic factors.
Health literacy is an empowering factor that allows the patient to be an engaged and active participant in their health care rather than passive. When a service member goes from a ‘warrior’ to wounded, they lose their sense of control over almost everything and anything. While ‘loss of control’ is challenging to any human being, for a service member it can be quite devastating.
Health literacy / care barriers:
Civilians
- Uninsured or medically underserved
- Low English proficiency
- Low socioeconomic status
- Low educational skills
Military
- Access to quality care (shortages, e.g., mental health specialists).
- Frequent deployment cycles (when state-side, training, schools, etc.)
- Deployments (overseas)
- “Stigma”
- Locality (location near a health facility, whether a base or a VA facility).
- Chronic fear (for both the deployed and family members left behind).
While there are many factors that cannot be changed, in all the time I have worked with service members, vets and their families, I have consistently found one common element that indeed could be very effective in improving health outcomes and begin breaking down the barriers: education.
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Karen Estrada: Health Literacy and the Military pt. 2
Education should be in the form of graphics, plain language, and a manageable list of appropriate resources. Military life and culture by nature are complex; the types of injuries sustained by our service members are particularly complex as they incorporate both psychological and physical issues.
While there are many excellent resources available to our service members and vets, they are not always ‘easy’ to find. The internet, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms are almost always a cacophony of electronic noise. If the individual has a traumatic brain injury or PTSD, or becomes suicidal, it becomes almost impossible to find appropriate resources.
An example I can use to illustrate this is suicide. These are findings taken from several recent Department of Defense (DoD) reports.*
- Family members of married and single Service Members do not generally receive service-sponsored education and training in suicide prevention.
- When training is offered to family members and friends, many obstacles prevent wider attendance.
- A significant number of Service Member suicides occur in the context of friends and family members having recognized out-of-the-ordinary behaviors by their loved ones in the days and weeks before the suicide event.
- Some family members who lost loved ones to suicide reported that they “knew something was not right” but were unaware of the significance of what they were “seeing,” especially post-deployment changes and stress reactions.
- When family members did recognize the significance of distress, they often reported that they did not know whom to call for help.
- Often family members feel as though they are left on their own to endure the personal pain and struggles of their loved one in the Armed Forces, with no one to turn to.
- All too often, these loved ones have no idea how to access vital support systems.
- This is especially true for non-local family members, such as parents and siblings of single Service Members who see their loved ones only when they are on leave.
As health information literacy educators, we can all make a difference in a service member or veteran’s life. Even if you don’t work directly with this population, chances are you know of someone who has a loved one either serving in the military or who is a veteran. I will put the reference citations used for this article on my web site: Military Health Matters.
*I would add the DoD and Veterans Affairs (VA) have been making extraordinary strides to remedy these issues and their efforts are beginning to pay off.
Karen Estrada, M.S. Military Health Matters, LLC.
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Suzanne Ensmann: Technology and Playing games
According to Facebook statistics, there are over 800 million active users on this social network.
The US Census Bureau’s reflection of 312 million residents in America seems to pale in comparison. If 50% of these Facebook users logon daily (and, yes, those are the actual numbers who do), that number is still higher than every resident living in our country.
How many of those 400 million do you think are in your classrooms? Oh, I know, your students are a different population. They don’t have computers (or those skills), right? Do they have a smart phone in their pocket? Take a poll. A quick survey in a few of my Student Success classes informed me that 100% of my students had cell phones (AKA computers), 100% of them have laptops, and 100% of them had a Facebook account!
The physical classroom where I am currently teaching does not have computers, but my students do! Don’t know an answer to a question I pose? Google it! Amazingly this engages the students and eliminates that “deer in the headlights” look. Taking a quiz and not certain if you answered correctly or not? Immediate feedback returned when they hit that submit button!
One third of my students polled were kinesthetic learners. They learn through playing games. So, we play a game to review prior lessons every class on our cell phones. Think about it. Do you think students prefer to do classwork or play games while they learn?
The power of words goes a long way in my class. We clarify if they “have to” come to class or “want to”. After we break down the cost of their education (tuition, gas, time) and focus on the value, power of positive thinking, and the career pathway goal they are setting out to achieve, their attitude changes. We’re in our sixth week this semester and I have close to 100% attendance, with the exception of those who’ve experienced the common cold here and there.
Use of technology and affirmations in the classroom are a starting point to foster student persistence, but I can’t say it’s the only ingredient for improved attendance. Since “cell phone” is no longer a dirty word in my class, though, my students will actually use the technology outside of class for their education like they do with every other world activity they partake in. Communication, communication, communication! They text me if they’re running late, out ill, or forget what chapter we’re reading. I remind them of their test on Tuesday, that project that’s due next week, or post a popular motivational video to our Facebook class page. Literally, I’m placing the reminders in their face where they’re playing. But, I know your students can’t do these things.
A literacy teacher just boasted to me about the high completion rate she had for her students over the last few months. Interesting, she has them all listed under her contacts in her cell phone. Text messaging is a common occurrence (24/7) with her students. Too much work? I guess it’s about perception. A full classroom and completions? I call it fun. She seems to also.
Not a believer yet? Read stats from the Deputy Director for Education Technology at the U.S. Department of Education.
If you want to support student success in your classroom and move them into Career Pathway in today’s digital revolution era, think Connect to… Complete to… Careers! Analyze, create, and plan, but most importantly act on incorporating social media and digital technologies in your classroom today!
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Apps for Education
Smart phones are becoming increasingly popular. Now that they are becoming more affordable, it is not that uncommon to see people in every economic bracket with one. The PEW Research Center has completed surveys about the demographics of smart phone users.
I heard about using cell phones as a tool during tutor training at the Adult Literacy League. But after the trainer explained how she came to it, it made complete sense. Her student wanted to practice the new words he was learning, but didn’t want to be embarrassed as a grown man using flash cards. After many trail and error experiments, they found an application that would work well for both of them. I decided to compile a list of 4-5 applications for the most popular smart phones. I suggest that you try out a couple and see what works for your student. The gFlash allows you as the tutor to upload a list of words for your student to use, or you can download a list already made by someone else. All of the Dictionary.com applications include audio so users can see how the word is spelled and hear how it is pronounced. Is there anything else you would add?
IPHONE
Flash cards + $0.99 English Voice download- FREE
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flashcards/id408490162?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
Dictionary.com (includes pronunciation button) – FREE
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dictionary.com-flashcards/id446342262?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
Math games- FREE
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-math-flash-cards-app/id412496588?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
World Lens (Translates street signs) – FREE
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/01/07/10-of-the-best-apps-for-education/2/?
Top 50 iPhone apps for Educators
http://oedb.org/library/features/top_50_iphones_for_educators
ANDROID
Spanish-English Dictionary ColorDict Dictionary- FREE
http://tech4world.net/the-best-android-applications-for-education.html
Math Wizard- FREE
http://www.appsnews.org/2010/06/mathwizard-android-app-review/
gFlash (create your own flashcards)- FREE
http://www.androidapp101.com/gflash-android-app-1381.html
Dictionary.com(includes pronunciation button)- FREE
http://www.androidapp101.com/dictionary-com-flashcards-android-app-2161.html
BLACKBERRY
gFlash PRO flashcards (create your own or download someone elses)- $4.99
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/134?lang=en
Math Flash- FREE
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/28944?lang=en
Student Notes (good for those studying for the GED)- FREE
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/37789?lang=en
Learn to Write- FREE
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/27646?lang=en
Dictionary and Thesaurus.com- FREE
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/3626?lang=en
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Erika Greene and FLC’s Online Tutor Training Course
Erika Greene
How did you get involved with this project?
I was very pleased to be invited by Greg Smith, Director, FLC, to join an Online Study Committee established to explore the viability of developing and offering on-line training for potential tutors and teachers. The team worked together and launched the pilot online training in July 2010. As the Literacy Coordinator for the Lake County Library System Adult Literacy Program I am constantly recruiting and training volunteer tutors and I was immediately sold on the opportunity to incorporate an online tutor training component into our program.
Why were you interested in facilitating the course?
Being part of the study committee, a program coordinator, and volunteer tutor trainer it was a natural transition to facilitate the pilot course! I was extremely excited to be able to participate in the online training – not only would I be able to see how it worked but I would be able to provide feedback, input, and guide the new volunteer tutors from Lake County as they traversed this new territory!
What was your interaction with course participants?
I was involved with the new volunteer tutors from the very beginning – recruiting, preparing and educating them on the online training program, providing support and guidance as they worked through the course content, participating in the discussion board topics, and transitioning them to our required face-to-face follow up meeting.
What would you suggest for other facilitators?
It is so very important to be engaged with the volunteer tutors throughout the process. For some individuals the ‘technology’ can be overwhelming and, at times, discouraging for them. If you are planning on facilitating your own online training be prepared to be busy! But the rewards far outweigh the work. You learn so much about your new potential volunteer tutors and they develop a strong relationship with you as they learn they can trust and depend on you to offer them assistance and support throughout the process.
How do you recruit course participants?
Recruiting volunteer tutors for the online training is similar to the traditional way I recruited tutors. The only difference is that I stress the need for new volunteers to be comfortable with technology – or at least willing to try and learn! As the LCLS Adult Literacy Program moves further into the 21st Century we, as a program, need tutors who use and/or are willing to be trained to use technology – hardware, software, the cloud, mobile aps, web-based learning, etc... The FLC online training is the first step in this process.
For more information on how you can be involved with FLC’s free online training course, please contact schmidta@floridaliteracy.org.
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Creating a Safe Space in the Adult Ed Classroom
In the adult education classroom, where people come from a variety of ethnic, economic and social backgrounds, it is important to create an environment where all students have the opportunity to learn. In order to do this, one must create a safe space.
According to advocates for youth, a safe space is “A place where anyone can relax and be fully self-expressed, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual, gender identity or expression, cultural background, age, or physical or mental ability; a place where the rules guard each person’s self-respect and dignity and strongly encourage everyone to respect others.” If a student feels as if they cannot be themselves or that they are at risk of being hurt, their learning experience will be hindered since their focus will be elsewhere. It goes back to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, if someone feels that they are in danger, their concern isn’t going to be learning math.
Several organizations, such as System for Adult Basic Education Support, have chosen to be a resource when teachers ask questions such as “What do I say when a slur comes up in my class?” or “When and how do I introduce anti-oppression, or “teaching tolerance,” materials into my curriculum?” Teachers feel that they need more dialogue and discussion to better understand and respond to controversial and uncomfortable topics. So why is it that we are focused on silence?
Remaining silent about issues might ease the class by preventing confrontation, but it does not lead to a safe environment for students. As a teacher, you should use inclusive language and challenge any slur you hear in the classroom. Use it as an opportunity for learning. Be open to all sorts of differences amongst your students and make sure everyone has the opportunity to learn. Other things you can do include diversifying your curriculum, provide appropriate health care education that applies to different genders, races and sexual orientation, and be a role model by condemning discrimination.
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Why you should stay at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront, site for the 2012 FLC Conference
Welcome to the St. Petersburg Hilton Bayfront! Steps from our front door your attendees will enjoy a vibrant pedestrian friendly waterfront district.
Enjoy sailing and fishing charters, dolphin tours, and amazing local dining and night life. No cars needed, you can walk, use the local trolley with a stop in front of the hotel or our hotel shuttle. For the second year in row American Style Magazine has named St.Petersburg the TOP Arts Destination City in the Country. This is the tenth year we have been recognized for our vibrant arts community and many of our offerings are located just steps from the hotel in including the New Salvador Dali Museum and the Dale Chilhuly Collection.
Every guest room & suite offers spectacular views or partial views of Tampa Bay, The Sunshine Skyway Bridge or Downtown St. Petersburg and The St. Petersburg Sailboat Harbor. Our Hilton Honors Lounge located on the 15th floor has panoramic views and the perfect spot forVIP’s to be located.
Our spacious and elegant lobby with marble and crystal accents leads to 333 over sized guestrooms which feature the Hilton Serenity Bed Collection, Crabtree & Evelyn Amenities, an mp3 player dock and wireless internet availability. 28 Alcove Suites and 3 Parlor Suites. Our newly remodeled Executive Lounge on the 15th Floor features panoramic views of the Tampa Bay and offers complimentary continental breakfast and happy hour events for VIP guests. The hotel boasts over 30,000 square feet of unobstructed meeting space located on one floor with state-of the-art meeting room furniture
Our award winning Tangerine restaurant, offers upscale dining in a trendy atmosphere. On-Site Starbucks offers complimentary wireless internet access. New remodeled upscale Lobby Bar with backdrop that ties in the new Dali Museum.
Complimentary wireless Internet Access in public Foyers Spa Olimpia at the Hilton pampers our guests with massages, body treatments, facials, manicures and hair styling.BusinessCenteris open 24-hours and can meet many of your administrative needs when away from the office. Stay active in our heated pool, oversized Jacuzzi and full-service Fitness Center.
This is the location for the 2012 Florida Literacy Coalition Conference. For more information about registration or presenting at conference, please check out our website.
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Top stories in Literacy Nov 14
Hello! We’re starting a new thing where every Monday (and sometimes every other Monday), we’ll provide top stories in literacy news. These stories will include non-profit updates, adult basic education, ESL/ELL/ESOL, family literacy, health literacy, financial literacy, career pathways, digital literacy, and important updates for Florida literacy organizations. Here are this week’s top articles:
Nonprofits and charities can now have a page on Google plus
The Nation’s Report Card: Better reading scores start at home
Education Secretary Appeals for Financial Literacy, Planning Instruction in Schools
National Digital Literacy Corps
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Kim Gates: What’s new and exciting in the world of online technologies?
The Internet is home to millions & millions of sites: some with educational value and some without it. Some sites purport to have everything from ways to connect to old friends and colleagues, to ways to find the secret of youth! How do you know what’s valuable & what’s not? How do you stay up-to-date with emerging sites, and is ‘newer’ always ‘better?’
While not necessarily “new,” Twitter is a great way to stay connected to reputable organizations like Florida Literacy Coalition, ACE of Florida, FL TechNet, GED Testing Service, and more! (Not quite sure what Twitter is or what a “tweet” means? Check out this short Common Craft video explanation!) While you don’t need to be a member to view various tweats, membership is free & allows you to select who you want to “follow” (which means those organizations’ messages come directly to you & you don’t need to go searching for them). Twitter is also a great way to connect to your colleagues (both in & out of the state), your current students, and even potential students! Think of it as allowing you to see & be seen all within 140 characters at a pop!
What would you (or your students) prefer: reading about how to do something or seeing & hearing about how to do it via video? Khan Academy is amazing! Their website boasts “With a library of over 2,700 videos covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history and 238 practice exercises, we’re on a mission to help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace.” My favorite part is the math! Everything from arithmetic to developmental math to pre-algebra and more can be found there for free! (In case you’re wondering, Khan Academy has received donations from The Gates Foundation and won Google’s Project 10100 of ideas to change the world.)
Do you ever wish you could participate in professional development without actually having to go somewhere to do it? To borrow part of the Florida Virtual School’s motto, what if professional development could be “any time, any place?” The good news is that it can be! Florida TechNet’s Moodle site has free one hour modules. There’s something for everyone: administrators and instructors! Topics include ABE, GED, ESOL, LD, Learning Technologies, Corrections, Literacy, and more!
While these sites may not be ‘new’ to the Internet, hopefully they are ‘new’ to you! Explore them and enjoy them!!
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English Language Learners and Technology
Technology has significantly aided in the advancement of English language learners. From interfaces and tools to help in the learning process, to resources for teachers, to communication, technology has made it easier for language learners to better integrate into their new country. In today’s world, technology is instrumental in teaching and learning English, and adapting to the demands of the culture.
Translation sites and tools have made it easier for learners to understand words or phrases found on the internet. In Google translate, users can input any text and get a fairly accurate translation for what it means. Although at times it might be off in the meaning, since its assuming context, the definition provided is fairly close to the translation. Several websites also have the option to translate the page. While this doesn’t exactly help with learning, it helps those not familiar with the language to find locations for ESL classes or other places in the case of an emergency.
The internet is also filled with resources for ESL teachers and activities for students. Interactive games help students learn English because it is using a different method of learning. Students can find activities to practice in their spare time and the computer is able to correct things they got wrong (instead of memorizing the wrong thing). Teachers are also able to find lesson plans, brainstorm with other teachers, and download additional resources with the wide assortment of ESL websites. It is one of the best tools teachers can use when trying to find additional curriculum since learning English is a very popular subject. Here are some good websites for teacher/student resources:
Center for Adult Education Language Acquisition
Using technology has become increasingly necessary to advance in economically in the United States. The GED will be computer based in a couple of years, most jobs only seek applicants online or through a computer, and several jobs require basic computer skills. Technology is also becoming the dominant mode of communication. Hundreds of millions of people use social media to find jobs, keep in touch with friends, and stay up to date with current events. If you are working with someone who is new to the country, incorporating digital literacy in your curriculum will help your student on multiple levels. Try different word activities using the computer. Teach your student how they can hear how words sound using a computer. There are many ways you can do this and it is becoming increasingly important that you try.
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Brent Stubbs: Career Pathway to Nowhere- Why technology matters
Recently in Adult Education, the “shot heard round the world” was that the GED test was going the way of the computer. Many held their breath, wringing their hands and pondering how and why it made sense. (Note: Corrections programs have a real legitimate concern as to the logistics of how this is going to work) For decades the test had been paper-based, and we all know that a lot of people don’t know how to use computers or do not type proficiently…
…or so the thought process went.
Recently, my friend pointed out on this blog that more people are on computers than we think. I will set aside my judgment on whether or not everyone is computer savvy for a moment and even grant you that many are not. In fact, this post assumes that too many are computer illiterate. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they don’t know how to use a computer, just like someone who is illiterate can probably still hold a decent conversation. However, the question we should all be asking ourselves is, “What can someone do, today, without computer literacy?” Let’s get a little closer to home:
How good is our literacy program if it does not include digital literacy? If someone learns English but not the ability to navigate the web using that language, what have we given them? How good is our Career Pathways system if we are not empowering every student to gain digital competency that will translate to any career path?
“It’s the Economy, Stupid” -Bill Clinton
I know one thing. Employers (the ones with jobs) are not, on average, behind the times. They understand that technology = speed = efficiency = competitive advantage. Competitive advantage means you survive, thrive, and become a fixture, not a novelty in a community. There was a time that to get work meant you had to have air in your lungs and a pulse. Those days are long gone, especially in the Sunshine State. As we progress deeper into the 21st century, digital competency is the new basic skill. Just like businesses need a competitive advantage that starts with an even playing field, today’s prospective employee needs an even playing field so that their career path is not aborted prematurely.
That means skills: digital skills.
Is this your program?
What’s the Career Pathway’s connection? It’s quite simple. A Career Pathways model–be it via family literacy, GED classes or ESOL at it’s genesis–that leaves out technology is a “pathway to nowhere”. A pathway to nowhere means a student getting a credential that means nothing. It means a student learning something that does not translate into a feeling of “making it” in life. Why? Because in their case, there is literally a digital divide between what they know and what they can do. Digital literacy (technology) is about closing that gap by giving our students a leg up in the 21st century jobs marketplace.
Why Change?
What’s at stake is twofold. For one, we are playing catch up with the rest of the world. While we are wringing our hands about computer-based GED tests, somebody is doing this:
Instead of lamenting what we can’t do, we must start preparing for what we will have to do.
Second, it’s about what is best for our students. They come to us, many times, because they want a new chance at life. Because they lack certain basic skills, life is always lived somewhere between understanding and confusion. They come to us to gain those skills, and we ask them to dream again and create a plan for their career path–a path to their success. However, if digital literacy gained through engaging relevant technology is not a part of our process, we do them a great disservice.
We set them up for failure and frustration, again.
I think that answers the “why” question. What do you think?
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Top Stories in Literacy Nov 20
Studies show that people who are generous are in better health
Whether people are donating for tax purposes, or because they are genuinely empathetic, research shows that they are happier and live longer. You might want to include some of these statistics in your next fundraising letter.
How to create a social media marketing schedule
In the nonprofit world, there are a million things going on at once and only time to give attention to half of them. While you might feel like you don’t have time to devote to social media, here are some tips to make the process easier.
Medicare Plan to be shut down
Quality Health Plans, a Medicare HMO with 10,000 Florida members, has been ordered into liquidation after failing to come up with the cash reserves the state says were needed. While the members will be moved to a new plan, this information could be useful to your students.
Nationwide Financial Literacy Campaign Empowers Citizens to Share Personal Financial Lessons
The National Financial Educators Council is starting a campaign called Financial EduNation that will provide organizations and communities with solid resources for combating financial illiteracy at the local level. This program will start at the New Year and provide resources for students, parents and the rest of the community.
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Top Stories in Literacy November 28
The Latino Digital Divide
Latinos are widely recognized as leading technology adopters – from mobile phones and devices to tablet computers, Latinos lead Americans in purchasing, and using this technology for some reasons we understand, and others we are just beginning to. Despite these facts, the digital divide yet to be addressed is in two areas: internet at home and digital literacy.
Microsoft launches “Elevate America,” a program to help veterans attain job skills
Microsoft, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor in a liaison role, and local workforce areas, is proud to offer U.S. military veterans and their eligible spouses, vouchers for no-cost IT skills training and certification designed to help build the technology skills employers are looking for. Could you use this in your program?
Building Financial Literacy through benefits research and education
A new series of research-based educational materials from Unum offers personal stories, compelling statistics and clear explanations of the role employee benefits play in protecting the financial foundations of individuals, families, businesses and the government.
Fewer Patients Researching Personal Health Issues
In 2007, 56% of American adults reported seeking health information from sources other than their physician, including the Internet, books, magazines, and newspapers; friends or relatives; and radio or television. This number has since declined. Where are people getting this information? Where else can this be addressed?
Degrees of Literacy: It’s not just about reading and writing anymore
While some people have graduated high school with functional reading skills, this is not enough to meet the demands of American society. Financial, health, digital, and interpersonal literacy are all large components to be truly functional.
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Learning to Achieve: Help for those working with students with learning disabilities
Roberta Reiss
Learning to Achieve (L2A) is an interactive series of professional development modules focusing on meeting the needs of adults with learning disabilities (LD) seeking instruction in literacy programs. The three on-line “prep” modules and the eight “face-to-face” modules are research-based instruction provided by the Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS). Whether on-line or in-person, each module is designed for approximately 90 minutes of interactive learning to inform and train adult tutors or service providers.
L2A Online Modules:
- LD and Neuroscience: The science and research supporting neurologically based LDs
- LD and English Language Learners: The unique needs of special populations learning English
- LD and Accommodations: Reasonable and appropriate accommodations to improve learning
L2A “Face-to-Face” Modules:
- Definition of LD: Providing six basic consensus statements that define and identify LD
- Self-Determination: Enhancing self-advocacy to empower adult learners
- Legal Issues, Self-Disclosure, and Confidentiality: Protecting the rights of the adult learner
- Explicit Instruction for Strategy Learning: Research-based strategies to augment adult learning
- Reading Disabilities: Providing a clear picture of reading preferences, difficulties, and disabilities
- Written Expression Disabilities: Identifying and improving transcription and generation challenges
- Content Learning: Learning with a purpose and sequence for a degree, credential, employment, citizenship, or life goal
- Workforce Preparation Strategies: Preparing adult learners with basic and applied skills for employment success
Dr. Betsy Stoutmorrill
During October and November, L2A trainers Betsy Stoutmorrill and Roberta Reiss provided five full-days to train 174 literacy volunteers, adult education instructors, service providers, and program administrations. Trainings were held in Lady Lake, Marianna, Lake City, Palm City, and Port Charlotte. The training session provided an amazing opportunity for professionals and volunteers from a variety of literacy programs to work together and gain knowledge of not only specific learning disabilities but also of research-based strategies and teaching tools.
“Providing the L2A modules to four different groups was an amazing and enlightening opportunity for me,” says Betsy Stoutmorrill. “I was inspired by all the dedicated volunteers and professionals who asked tough questions and invested their time to attend this training to improve their teaching and understanding of learning disabilities.”
The hope is that additional training days can be offered throughout Florida to introduce more people to L2A or for those who attended a training to complete the online modules. Thanks to the partnerships between LINCS, the Florida Literacy Coalition, and the individual sponsoring regions, this training will make a difference in the educational and personal success of many adult learners and support the growth and development of the professionals and volunteers who dedicate themselves to adult literacy. Funding for these trainings were provided through grants, but more funding is needed to continue these important trainings.
“I talk to so many literacy program directors and coordinators who fear that volunteer tutors feel inadequate to the task of working with adult learners with learning disabilities. This training has allowed us to demystify the topic and to share the best practices based on the most current research. Judging from the feedback so far, I think we have gone a long way in addressing the challenges,” states Roberta Reiss.
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Megan Bakan: Writing through the Senses
What is one of the more difficult tasks for adult basic education students? Often it is writing. They (and we) have difficulty thinking of topics and developing them into interesting and detailed compositions. In order to write we must have something to say. Sometimes we get writer’s block. How can we help our students get past this block? One way is to help them access their knowledge and memories through their senses. If we can access information and memories then we have something to say and something to write about.
How do we gather information about the world? We gather information through our senses. We store this information, our memories, through our senses too. We have six basic senses:
1. Vision – seeing
2. Auditory – hearing
3. Gustatory – taste
4. Olfactory – smell
5. Tactile – the texture of how something feels (a bumpy rock versus a smooth rock)
6. Kinesthetic – muscle memory for tasks (how to dial a phone number on a rotary versus cell phone)
The activities, which can be found by clicking the “get it now” button, are adapted from a presentation given by Kathy St. John. Each of them provides the participant with an opportunity to tap into their senses before they begin writing. Our senses are a valuable storehouse of knowledge; they can breathe life into our writing. Have fun!
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Gary Udouj: Teaching Technology for Career Success
The Fort Smith Adult Education Center is located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a mid-sized manufacturing city in western Arkansas. As layoffs continue to affect our region, more adults are coming to our center not only to get a GED credential or review basic academic skills, but to learn how to find a new job using technology. Last year our program served almost 3000 adults, and only 915 were employed. Many of the adults we serve had worked in manufacturing for 20+ years before being laid off. These adults have discovered that finding a new job now requires them to use computers to both seek out and apply for jobs.
In order to meet this demand, our center started offering two new classes: Digital Literacy and Technology for Career Success. Our Digital Literacy class teaches adults computer basics, from turning on a computer to managing folders to accessing the internet and creating email accounts. Many of our adult students do not own computers at home, and have found this introductory course to be essential. The course is taught over 12 hours, meeting twice a week for four weeks.
Once they have the basics, adults can then take our 12 hour Technology for Career Success. This course helps the students create resumes, write cover letters, fill out online job applications, search of jobs, and prepare for job interviews. When taught in conjunction with our Career Readiness Certificate course and WAGE certificate courses, students leave us with the resumes, soft skills, technology, academic and interview skills needed to find a better job or move on to post-secondary training. Teachers work together to bring in Human Resource professionals from area businesses to conduct mock interviews, review resumes, and give the students feedback.
For more information about Career Readiness Certificate, WAGE Certificate, or Technology for Career Success, please visit our website.
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Top Stories in Literacy: December 5
New fees drive down adult education enrollment in Florida
Many of Florida’s high school dropouts are giving up the chance to go back to school because they now are required to pay tuition. Enrollment in GED preparation classes has fallen 70 % in Broward County and 61% in Palm Beach County.
Proposal emerges to create adult charter schools
Nudged by a Tallahassee-based non-profit group, two lawmakers are poised to file bills that would allow charter schools and non-profits to offer adult education.
Literacy Coach wins Leadership Grant
Melissa Lime, a member of the board of directors of Learn to Read St. John’s County and instructional reading coach at Pacetti Bay Middle School has received the 2011 Eve Proffitt Emerging Leaders Project Grant from the PDK Educational Foundation.
The Khan Academy: Changing the Face of Education?
One organization that has found a way to improve education through technology is the Khan Academy. By providing an online library of math videos and assessments for students to use, they have created a self-driven, individualized curriculum that motivates students with immediate feedback and positive rewards.
The NEFC Sets Launch Date for the Core 80 Financial Literacy Curriculum
The 2012 version of the NFECs’ Core 80 Financial Literacy Curriculum is launching the second week of January and is designed to provide educators and volunteers engaging lesson plans to improve the financial capability of their students.
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Heart of Florida United Way: Hold on to your money!
The one-two punch of holiday spending and the arrival of tax season can leave a lot of people feeling stressed over their finances. Every year, taxpayers spend hundreds of dollars to have their taxes prepared. Did you know that you can have your taxes done for free at a location near you? This year, Heart of Florida United Way is pleased to continue its successful initiative, the Prosperity Campaign of Central Florida. The campaign is focused on helping Central Floridians hold on to the money that they are entitled to. One way is through promoting the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).
VITA sites are locations that provide free tax preparation by IRS-trained volunteers. Taxpayers can save hundreds of dollars in filing fees and receive 100% of their refund by filing at one of these sites. Refunds are received quickly and easily – usually within 10 days or less.
The Heart of Florida United Way works with the IRS to promote VITA sites throughout Central Florida. Finding them is easy. Simply dial 2-1-1 once filing season starts (January 20th) and ask for the location near you.
Taxpayers can also ask about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a federal tax credit for individuals and families that earn under certain income thresholds. This year, hard-working residents may qualify for a tax credit of up to $5,751! If you qualify and have already filed your taxes, you can re-file for this year and the last three years to claim your credit. That can result in over $20,000 for families that qualify.
To see if you qualify for the EITC, click here.
To find a VITA site near you, visit our website or simply dial 2-1-1 (After January 10)
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Marilyn McMullan: Incorporating Career Awareness into your Daily Curriculum
It’s a rare student who comes into my ABE/GED classroom without the intention to get a job or get a better job. Students are well aware that without strong literacy skills and a high school diploma or GED, their career options are really limited. However, I find that only a few have clear understandings of what jobs may be available, or what skills are necessary for those jobs. For many, the motivator is something like: “I hear you can make good money as a _______”. Rarely do students have a clear view of the variety of careers available. As teachers, we need to help them get this information. Students also tend to think of the skills they are learning as something for “the test” and disconnected from the skills they would need for a career or for life. As teachers, we need to bring students closer to the understanding that while the skills we are teaching are for “the test”, they apply to the world of work as well.
An easy way to fill both these needs is to train yourself to use examples which emphasize career reference. For instance, instead of “The dog (ran, is running, will run) down the street yesterday”, how about “The computer technician (ran, is running, will run) a virus check on my computer yesterday”? Instead of “One third of the 75 books were fiction”, how about “One third of the 75 prescriptions filled by the pharmacy tech were antibiotics”? As we teach, we need to constantly use career references in our examples and skills practice so that our students become familiar with various occupations and relate the skills they are learning to those occupations.
Marilyn McMullan
Another way to incorporate career awareness into skills teaching is to structure lessons around a certain occupation. Take a few minutes to do a quick internet search for information on an occupation, especially one with high job availability in Florida. Copy or rewrite an article on a radiologist, mix up the paragraphs, and have the students put them in the correct order. Copy or rewrite a paragraph about legal assistants, leave out the commas and have students correct it. Use truck drivers or transportation for questions dealing with the distance/ rate/time formula, calculating miles per gallon, or figuring gas cost per trip. No matter what individual skill your students need or what level you are teaching, you will increase your students’ interest and knowledge by incorporating career awareness into your daily curriculum.
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Top Stories in Literacy December 12
Orange County School Board Member Takes the FCAT
The man in question is Rick Roach, who is in his fourth four-year term representing District 3 on the Board of Education in Orange County, Fl., a public school system with 180,000 students. Now in his 13th year on the board, he had considered taking the test for a while as he began to increasingly question whether the results really reflected a student’s ability.
Learning English: Social Networking
BBC has great resources for Adult learners. They also have specific tutor help pages for math, money, and ESL. Each week they cover a new topic with the “Learning English section.” This past week it was “Social Networking.”
Margaret Atwood says Twitter, internet boost literacy
Rather than turn our noses up at Twitter, we should celebrate it and the internet as new platforms for instant communication and as drivers of literacy, says CanLit legend Margaret Atwood.
Former NFL Players launch campaign to boost literacy
In March, it was reported that about 22 percent of Broward County’s adult population is illiterate. They saw a related problem when they passed out forms to middle and high school-aged youths who wanted to attend a football clinic. For the most part, they could not complete the paperwork.
No place in class for digital illiterates
This 20th-century notion of literacy has, I believe, mutated as the world has evolved in the face of a barrage of technologies that allow for different forms of expression and different levels of interaction: both with media and with other readers, writers, producers and editors.
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Top Stories in Literacy: December 19
23 Twitter Tools to help you Tweet like a pro
As Margaret Atwood reiterated last week, a presence on twitter is beneficial for your organization and for students. Here are some tips to help you start a twitter campaign.
Digital literacy can boost employability and improve student experience
The nature of knowledge is changing and, in this digital age, our definition of basic literacy urgently needs expanding. With an estimated 90% of UK jobs requiring some level of IT competency, the notion of digital literacy – those capabilities that equip an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society – is one that needs to be taken seriously by colleges and universities.
Florida law results in more denials of unemployment benefits
The House Republicans unveiled a proposal (H.R. 3630) to dramatically scale back federal unemployment insurance. It included language that would deny unemployment insurance benefits to individuals who do not have a HS diploma or GED unless they are enrolled and making satisfactory progress in classes leading to one.
Study: Income, Not Race, May be the Biggest Predictor in Health Habits
We know that racial health disparities and differences exist, especially when it comes to weight, diet and exercise. Researchers from John Hopkins believe that income level better explains why these differences are so prevalent in the U.S.
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A couple tips for improving your Facebook page
On December 15 I participated in a webinar called “7 Simple Strategies to Profit From Facebook Marketing”. At first I wasn’t sure what I could get from it, since FLC is not using facebook to “profit,” but there were several tips and ideas that were given that can ultimately help nonprofits. Here are some of the highlights with my input on how to make it work for you.
1. Know your audience
This is key for whatever you are doing, but especially marketing. Why should people like your page? Do you provide resources, statistics, anecdotal remarks? What actions do you want from your fans? Do you want them to use your services? Do you want to tell them a success story that will make them want to volunteer? Knowing what you want from the people who support you is key to a facebook strategy.
2. Creating engagement opportunities
Ask questions on your page that have a likely response. Don’t ask them to tell a story, people are busy and will “like” a post just because it’s the easiest thing to do. Try “What’s one word you would use to describe__” or “What do you think about what we’re working on?” Find questions that can easily be answered and don’t forget to respond to those who are answering questions! Show appreciation and hopefully they’ll keep going. One of the things emphasized in the webinar was the goal to entertain (photos, videos), educate (articles, statistics), and empower (lessons, takeaways) with every post. As a nonprofit, you specialize in these areas and I’m sure your fans will be excited to see you have an active presence.
3. Create something exciting and welcoming
One of the things suggested in the webinar for multiple uses is a welcome page. This is the first thing someone who is not a “fan” will look at. Give them reasons why they should come to your page and include incentives. “Like us to learn about what’s going on in your community and how you can get involved,” or “Like us and learn about FREE professional development opportunities”. You have a lot to offer. Tell people about it! I’ve created a basic welcome page for us .. for now. Big things are coming soon .
As a nonprofit, don’t forget that you have services to sell that can translate into grant dollars. Let people know how great you are, why they should listen to you, and you will be successful.
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Yari Payne, CMP: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!
I personally love traditions and what a better time than Christmas to remember them. For the newbie’s or novice Florida Literacy Conference attendees this is traditionally when all the trimming (details) are placed on the conference website. Like, the dates and location- May 9-11, 2012 at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront.
The 2012 Florida Literacy Conference planning has begun and is in full swing. As the event planner, this is truly my favorite time of the year. It’s the beginning when everything starts to take shape.
And it wouldn’t be possible without presenters. A BIG thanks to everyone who has submitted a proposal to present at the conference. If you haven’t submitted something yet, it’s not too late! You can submit a conference concurrent session before January 23rd. Conference presenters get a discounted conference rate of $210.
FLC along with our committee planning committee (elves) are working hard to recruit speakers and create a truly unique conference experience in St. Petersburg.
You can help too! I’m sure you
- Know someone who rocks at their job,
- Attended an amazing presentation recently, or
- Read a great new resource,
Reach out via email, phone, or social networks and ask them to submit a proposal before January 23rd.
While I’m super excited at what January will bring in terms of announcements, you will just have to stay tuned in. Let’s hope Santa got my FLC Christmas list.
Stay connected via Facebook, twitter (#flalitcon), and now LinkedIn for future conference updates!
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Greg Smith: An Ever Changing Landscape Makes Community Outreach and Advocacy More Important Than Ever
Greg Smith, Executive Director of the Florida Literacy Coalition
Thanks to all of you who were able to join me for our recent webinar on Community Outreach and Advocacy. If you missed the session, it is still available to view on FLC’s website.
One of the themes that I tried to emphasize is the importance of being proactive in developing and communicating key messages that you want others to know about your program and the difference that you make in the lives of your adult learners.
It’s easy for communications and advocacy to take a back seat to the many other things that we need to get done on a day-to-day basis. After all, investment of time and effort in this area doesn’t always produce immediate and recognizable benefits. Literacy programs have always been under resourced and the downturn in the economy has made matters even worse. Moreover, demand for services is still high with over 70% of Florida’s community-based literacy organizations reporting that they have waiting lists for instruction.
While it may be a challenge, it’s now more important than ever to make sure that our communities, including key decision makers, are aware of the work that we do. This includes elected officials at the local, state and national level. The legislative and political landscape is ever changing. Even since our webinar, a bill has surfaced that could have a substantial impact adult literacy.
In Congress, H.R.3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011, includes a provision that would require those seeking unemployment benefits to meet minimum education requirements in addition to work search requirements. To meet these requirements, an individual would need to have earned a high school diploma or GED credential or other State-recognized equivalent. If one doesn’t have such a credential, he/she would need to be enrolled and making satisfactory progress in classes leading to a diploma, GED or its equivalent. Under the bill, which has passed the House, these requirements can be waived by states if they are deemed to be unduly burdensome.
This is a good example of legislation that may have pros and cons depending on your perspective. What would be the potential impact of such a law? Would it create an additional demand for services, and if so, from where would the resources come to meet this demand? Congress needs to hear from adult education and literacy practitioners on this issue.
This bill is also good example of legislation that, if passed, would provide an opportunity to let state policy makers know your thoughts on if and how such a provision should be implemented here in Florida. You’re the experts and they need to know your thoughts on matters important to our field. They should also hear from adult learners who may be impacted by such legislation. Educate yourself on what you can do in an official capacity and what you may need to do as a private citizen. The National Coalition for Literacy has good guidelines on what you can legally do.
With Florida’s legislative session just around the corner, this is a good time to stay informed, get plugged in and become actively engaged in the process. We’ll try to keep you updated on significant new developments.
Here are some great national and state resources to keep you informed and/or engaged.
National
National Coalition for Literacy
Legislative Action Center http://www.capwiz.com/ncl/home/
Advocacy Tool Kit http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org
ProLiteracy http://www.proliteracy.org/page.aspx?pid=601
National Council of State Directors of Adult Education (NCSDAE) “The Return on Investment (ROI) From Adult Education and Training.”
Florida
Florida Senate, http://www.flsenate.gov
Florida House, http://www.flhouse.gov
ACE of Florida http://www.aceofflorida.org/advocacy/legislative-alerts
FLDOE, Career and Adult Education http://www.fldoe.org/Workforce/legislation.asp
FLDOE, Statistics by Legislative District http://fldoehub.org/PerformanceProfile
FLC, FL Data and Statistics Reference Guide http://www.floridaliteracy.org/about_literacy__facts_and_statistics.html
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Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education: New Recommendations to Congress
On December 6, 2011 The Advisory Commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities, authorized by Congress reported that recommendations to Congress have been made that will provide for direction and result in breaking the barriers to existing instruction for students with disabilities. These recommendations mark gains in equalizing opportunities for students with print disabilities.
Laura Kaloi, the Public Policy Director of the National Center for Learning Disabilities stated, “While acknowledging the complex and real barriers facing schools, publishers and most important, students in accessing instructional materials, the report makes it clear that students with disabilities should not be denied the opportunity to fully benefit from a postsecondary education. Barriers to existing instructional materials should be removed or surmounted. Future instructional materials can and must be designed to meet the needs of all students, including students with disabilities. The prosperity of our nation and its people depends on full inclusion and full access.”
Recommendations from the Commission include using the information developed in the study to:
- Inform Federal regulations and legislation
- Support model programs that improve quality and efficiency of the delivery of instructional materials
- Identify best practices for collecting, maintaining, processing and disseminating materials in specialized formats making sure costs are comparable to materials produced for non disabled students
- To improve effective use of such materials by faculty and staff while complying with applicable copyright law
- Modify definitions of: instructional materials, authorized entities, and eligible students
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What to look forward to in 2012
This past year had several ups and downs. In some cases, it was the same as every other year, and in others, several of us were experiencing new setbacks or accomplishments. New obstacles for students created challenges that several organizations were able to overcome. As we get ready to step into 2012, the Florida Literacy Coalition would like to give you some things to reflect back about, and some things to look forward to in the New Year.
Legislation Updates
An editorial appeared in the Fort Meyers Herald in mid-December addressing the challenges of the GED fee increase. Statewide, Florida is seeing a 38% decrease in adult education participation in this past year. The classes, once free, now cost up to $360 per year. While the goal initially was to have students take ownership in the classes so it was less likely that they would drop, the price seems to be a deterrent for those who already have a low income.
Another bill recently passed in the House of Representatives regarding education requirements for unemployment compensation. An individual must have earned a high school diploma or GED, or be enrolled in GED classes to receive benefits. While it is not expected to pass in the Senate in its current form, it’s important to note that there is the possibility that the adult education field will be affected by this change.
Conference, workshops, and more!
In 2011, we were able to bring you several successful workshops with great speakers and an amazing conference with Pat Williams from the Orlando Magic and Ruth J. Colvin, founder of Literacy Volunteers of America, now called ProLiteracy. In 2012, we will bring you a new FLC Conference website, the possibility of gaining professional development hours/points, a beautiful location, and more! (Information to come!)
Our statewide online tutor training launched this past fall and we just finished with the first facilitated course. This course works as an introduction going over learner acculturation, an overview of the adult learner, second language acquisition, phonemic awareness, and the language experience story, to name a few subjects. This year we’ll be creating two tracks to the course (ABE or ESOL), increasing activities and offering at least 3 more trainings in February, April, and June.
Digital literacy
Last month, we focused our entries under the theme of digital literacy. In 2012, this subject area is only going to increase in importance. Several companies require basic computer skills to apply for jobs. Even if someone wants to apply for a stocking job, they must fill out an application online. Searching for jobs is best done online instead of using a newspaper. Some utilities require online bill pay or you are charged additional fees. By 2014, the GED will be computerized. Understanding basic functions of technology are becoming crucial.
Many organizations are including some computer classes with adult education and career pathways programs. If you want to set yourself apart from others and be eligible for different grants, you should look into the different ways to add digital literacy into your current curriculum.
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