We had two and a half days filled with great sessions, but the most popular ones were the Adult Learner Experience and the Department of Education updates. In the Adult Learner Experience, members of the Adult Learner Committee spoke about their background and why they stayed in their literacy programs. Nelson was on the panel and a few students who were published in the Adult Learner Essay Book were able to read and share their story. Needless to say, everyone was moved.

On Thursday, FLC hosted it’s annual meeting. Executive Director, Greg Smith, provided an overview of the past year at our organization. He then opened the floor to adult learners who were there to read their essays. If you missed the meeting, you might be brought to tears from watching the video.

Jim Duffy was the closing keynote during the luncheon on Friday. Jim worked in broadcasting for 48 years and initiated a public service campaign on literacy. He incorporated the issue in programs and had television specials focused specifically on adults who could not read. Thousands of people joined literacy programs in their area as part of this campaign. The luncheon closed with the two drawings for a roundtrip ticket on Southwest Airlines. This year’s winners were Claire Valier and Paul Schaub!

What was your favorite part of Conference? Share it with us! Send your story to socialmedia@floridaliteracy.org .

Education seems to work best when learning is contextualized and made relevant for the student.  For many adult learners, continuing their education gives them hope and a chance to improve their lives. In fact, several adult learner essays in FLC’s newly released adult learner essay book Believing That You Can deal with returning to school so that they can achieve the American Dream. The story of the amiable, optimistic Jay Gatsby and his realization of the American Dream is one which relates to and resonates with the adult learner.

The accomplished Gatsby seemingly has it all after emerging from his rural and rather ordinary roots. In this way, adult learners who wish to achieve their dreams can identify with the protagonist and his struggle. Ironically Gatsby has the mansion, money, and material possessions, which many individuals will never have, yet he doesn’t have a family with whom to share it all- something that many of our adult learners already have and hold dear to their hearts. (Spoiler Alert?) This is my rationale for the tragic, somewhat discouraging ending which leaves Gatsby unable to fulfill his dream. The fact that our adult learners already have what Gatsby wants displaces Fitzgerald’s cynical view of the American Dream.

There are quite a few other reasons as to why it’s a good idea to introduce The Great Gatsby to your adult learners. The novel is often read in high school English classes, so the language although challenging, isn’t inaccessible for the advanced adult learner preparing to receive his or her GED credentials. There is also the option of using an abridged version of the novel altered with simpler language targeted towards beginning readers. Reading the novel is only the first of many activities that can be done to gain the attention and interest of students. Let’s consider the setting. The story takes place during the Roaring Twenties complete with big bands, the blues, bootlegged booze, and bribes. Brings me back. If your learners like history and/or culture, branch off the story and explore the rich historical context of this era.

The New York Times Learning Blog has put together an extensive list of activities and resources for teachers and tutors to use with their students. For more ideas, visit Teaching the Great Gatsby.

*Half-hearted apologies for the title better left on the cutting room floor with the clichés and idioms which the brain automatically dismisses. I couldn’t help myself.*

Unfortunately viewers of the live-stream will only view some of the larger conference sessions, but we encourage you to check these out. They will be informative, enjoyable, and even inspirational.  If you’d like to view a session that will be live-streamed, please follow the instructions below:

1. First, create a Google+ profile or a YouTube account so that you may access FLC’s live-stream. Signing up for either is free. Please visit this link to sign up for Google+ if you already have a Google account, such as Gmail or YouTube,  or click here to create a Google account.
2. Once you sign up, be sure to add the Florida Literacy Coalition’s Google+ Page to one of your Circles or subscribe to the fliteracy YouTube channel. Adding a person or page to a Google+ Circle is the equivalent of a Facebook friend.
3. Lastly, at the time of the session which you’d like to attend virtually, visit FLC’s Google+ or YouTube and click the play button on the Hangout on Air video. You’ll begin to start viewing the event live!

2013 Florida Literacy Conference Live-Streaming Schedule

Wednesday, May 8:

• 9:30-11:00 a.m.- Opening General Session

Thursday, May 9:

• 3:15-4:30 p.m.-Exploring Social Media with FLC
• 6:30-8:30 p.m.-Florida Literacy Awards Banquet

Friday, May 10:

• 11:30a.m.-1:00p.m.-Closing General Session & Luncheon

One of our final posts before workshops start is to go over social media. We will be blogging during conference and giving recaps of great sessions and events. If you were at a session and had an amazing experience, let us know! We can set it up so you can blog during your breaks at one of the computer stations donated by Florida TechNet. You also can reflect on the experience as a whole and submit something after you’re back home. Either way, we’d love to hear about your experiences.

We’ll also have a text/twitter updates going on. If you text “Follow FlaLitCon2013″ to 40404, you can get text message updates on room changes, silent auction updates, and session reminders. If you plan on checking twitter frequently, follow us at @FlaLitCon2013.

For those who love tweeting great ideas! Be sure to include #flalitcon so those not at the conference can follow the conversation.

Don’t forget to check out our Conference Pinterest to stay updated on all the hotspots and happenings!

Can’t wait to see you there!

• Admission tickets into Florida’s most exciting attractions, including: Walt Disney World, Great Explorations Children’s Museum (1 year membership!), Orlando City Soccer, Wonderworks, Central Florida Zoo, Bush Gardens, SeaWorld Orlando, and Kennedy Space Center. Make a family fun day out of any of these auction items!
• Two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the continental U.S. that Southwest flies. There are no blackout dates and checking luggage is always free with Southwest! Go ahead and plan that trip you have always wanted take and plan it on your time.
• One night deluxe accommodations gift certificate to the beautiful JW Marriott in Orlando, Florida. This could make a perfect get away weekend where you could pamper yourself and whoever else you enjoy spending your time with!
• Gift cards and gift certificates to a number of places, including: Staples, Billy’s Bike Rentals, the KeyWest Express Cruise, The Florida Orchestra, The Florida Aquarium, and The Dali Museum.

All proceeds from the silent auction will help FLC support community based literacy organizations with their training and program development needs. The auction will be open for bids beginning Wednesday, May 8 at 8:30am and will close on Thursday, May 9 at 3:10pm.

Besides the items aforementioned, we will have many more fabulous gifts to bid on so be sure to stop by the silent auction tables and bring back something for your loved ones!

Do you or someone you know have something to donate for our silent action? Don’t fret! We are always happy to accept items for the silent auction! Please email me at Intern@FloridaLiteracy.org and I will be sure to get your item in for bidding!

The Daughter

A baseball star always crowded by many friends,

A Fashion student always dressed to impress.

Both had Dreams set so up high,

yet habits they couldn’t control.

They Crossed paths and a month later they got the news.

A Daughter to call their own, Half of him and half of her.

The happiest day of their lives,

When they heard their little bundle start her first cries.

Still their dreams vanished, disappeared.

Lives crumbling down slowly, but surely,

They just couldn’t take control.

Their child would take on becoming something more than they had become

Shoving their hopes and dreams down her throat every chance they could.

Not knowing the pressure they put on her

would also tempt her and she would fall astray.

Feeling the pain flowing through her veins,

Their broken hearts and failed dreams.

They say it was never supposed to be this way.

Now 20 years later, a life of her own.

She cautiously looks back at her past mistakes and regrets.

Remembering her parents suffering,

with tears sliding down her cheek,

She whispers to herself: “I will not fail, I will not suffer

I will not continue to follow their footsteps.

I will be true to myself.”

Alexandra Hernandez is a 20 year old student. She was born in Arlington, Virginia. She now resides in Miami and is an ABE/GED student in Ms. Arriete’s class at The English Center, Miami, Florida.

Don’t just come to the 2013 Florida Literacy Conference; share your thoughts, impressions, and take-aways with your and FLC’s community! Whether you’re coming to the 2013 Florida Literacy Conference to attend sessions, exhibit products and services, or present your own, FLC is inviting guest bloggers to help contribute content before, during, and/or after the event.

You might want to consider becoming a guest blogger if:

• you enjoy writing/ are a writer
• you have previous experience blogging OR have always wanted to try it
• you like to share your thoughts with others whom share your passion for literacy
• you need to put aside that half-finished novel you’ve been working on

You might not want to consider becoming a guest blogger if:

• you’re not attending the conference
• you have cyberphobia, or the fear of computers
• you didn’t read this blog entry

By now you’re probably wondering how to go about fulfilling this desire to blog, so here’s how to get started: Simply write an email expressing your interest to blog during the Florida Literacy Conference to John Sanchez, sanchezj@floridaliteracy.org, by Monday, April 29^th. After receiving your email, you will be asked several questions about your previous experience, when you’d prefer to blog, and how often you’d prefer to contribute, etc.

We welcome any and all attendees to take advantage of this opportunity, especially because the more you collect your thoughts during the conference, the more likely you’ll be able to recollect what you learned after you’ve returned home. When you think about it that way, blogging is not only a great way to share what you’ve learned; it’s also the teach-back method at work!

According to the Retirement Confidence Survey, only 66% of workers have saved money for retirement.  These numbers go down significantly for workers who make less than $35,000/year (24%).  A number of people live for today and handle tomorrow when it gets here.  However, these are the same individuals who do not have enough money to pay for both medical and housing expenses.  Are you depending on Social Security to help you with tomorrow?  What happens if social security changes the way it provides funds in the future?  Could this change reduce the amount of money you will need to live on tomorrow?  Let’s say that Social Security does not change and you will receive the same amount that a retiree is getting today, is that enough to live on?  Why don’t you go ask a couple of our seniors who are currently living on Social Security alone and find out how comfortable they are living?

Saving for retirement is a good first step but you have to do more.  You have to determine how much money you will need to save before you can retire. More than 50% of workers, according to the Retirement Confidence Survey, do not know how much money they will need to have to retire.  It is equally important to know if you are on the right track with your retirement goals.  How will you pay for medical expenses?  How will you pay for housing and food expenses?  Do you want to travel or visit your potential grandchildren?  Do you want to spend time playing golf, tennis or bingo?  Do you want to volunteer or work part time?  There are so many decisions that have to be made and while you can’t foresee the future you can definitely plan for it.

There are numerous calculators on the Internet that can help you make a determination on how much money is needed for retirement.  One such calculator is from CNN Money http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/retirementneed/retirementneed_plain.html and AARP also has a good retirement calculator http://www.aarp.org/work/retirement-planning/retirement_calculator/

For more information on retirement and other money management questions, feel free to come to the Money $ense classes where we speak about the above issues as well as how to build and/or fix credit, how to get a free credit report, how to create a spending plan and what are the advantages of using a financial institution.  The class schedule is located at http://www.goodwillcfl.org/services.php.  Go to the bottom of the page for financial programs and select Money $ense class schedule.

Are you working for income or wealth?  Why don’t you use the income you are making to achieve the wealth you want?  How do you accomplish this goal, come to the Money $ense class to find out.

Employee Benefit Research Institute. (2013). Preparing for Retirement in America.  2013 RCS Fact Sheet #3.  Retrieved from http://www.ebri.org/files/Final-FS.RCS-13.FS_3.Saving.FINAL.pdf

The Florida Literacy Awards Banquet is on Thursday, May 9 from 6:30-8:30. The banquet is a time to relax with peers as we highlight the many accomplishments in literacy over the past year. Awards will are given to adult learners, literacy practitioners, literacy programs, volunteers, and business partners. The awards that will be given include: the Mary J. Brogan Leadership Award, Flight for Freedom Award, Outstanding Literacy Volunteer Award, Excellence in Education Award, and Outstanding Business Partner Award. Author Angela Lane will be the keynote speaker for this inspiring night.

It’s not too late to reserve your spot!

For more information or to register for the event, please contact Amanda Terrell (intern@floridaliteracy.org).

Always read sunscreen labels, and only use products that offer:

• Broad-spectrum coverage (label may say “broad spectrum,” “protects against UVA/UVB” or “UVA/UVB protection”).
• SPF of 30 or higher.
• Water resistance.

Main messages to get across to students-

1.  Apply sunscreen (absolute minimum SPF 15) at least 15 minutes before you go outside.

2.  Re-apply sunscreen every two hours when outdoors.

3.  Use plenty of sunscreen to obtain maximum protection.  This is usually one ounce for the entire body, or the amount that can fill one shot glass.

3.  Whenever your shadow appears to be shorter than you are, find shade.

4.  It’s not just about sunscreen.  Wear protective clothing, including long sleeves, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

5.  Avoid the sun between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M. if possible.