Earth Day and Literacy!

Earth Day is this Sunday, April 22. What are you doing to celebrate? If you aren’t sure where you can focus your energy, try doing something with your students. Here is a list of different things you can do and websites you can visit to promote Earth Day Literacy!

Check out your EcoFootprint! Have you taken the quiz to see what your carbon footprint is? Many of us, myself included, are unaware of how our daily actions impact the environment. I like to think that I’m environmentally conscious and doing positive things, but we would need 3.51 Earths if everyone lived my lifestyle! From here, you can start a discussion with your student about different activities you can do to decrease your footprint.

Have your student read about the history of Earth Day. After your student is done reading, go over hard words and ask the student to rephrase the paragraph or page. Find examples of different English rules and practices you have been studying (ex. long vowels, consonant blends) and have your student point them out. Then have a discussion about what positive steps have been taken for the environment or possibly what environmental conditions were like in their country of origin.

State agencies provide many resources online about natural resources and environmental issues in each state. Parks, museums, and nature centers have many special programs for teachers and students. Learn about Florida’s resources and “plan” a trip to one of the areas. Have your student pick a location, schedule events, plan out the resources they would need to get to the location (food, gas, money), and turn it into an inclusive lesson! Perhaps include a Language Experience Story.

Last, National Environmental Education Week, PBS Teachers, National Geographic, ThinkFinity, and Earth Day Network have TONS of resources for you to use in the classroom.  Some of them are K-12 focused, so you might have to altar some of the lessons to better suit your adults.

Literacy and the Homeless

Homelessness literally means ‘without a home,’ yet this definition may not include those persons who live in small quarters with relatives or friends, those who face frequent evictions, or those who are just a paycheck away from homelessness. In FY 2010, Florida had approximately 57,643 men, women and children classified as homeless. Florida has the third largest homeless population in the nation and is the second highest state for home foreclosures.

The profile of Florida homeless has shifted.  Although single adult males make up 41% of the total homeless population, families and children continue to be a growing segment of the homeless in Florida.  Families now make up 40% of all homeless persons. Children under 18 years of age comprise over 35% of all homeless persons.

When children become homeless, they face educational setbacks.  Requirements of the legal guardianship, lack of a permanent address, and immunization records often delay or prevent homeless children from enrolling in schools and receiving an adequate education. Without a chance to get an education, children who are homeless are often unable to acquire the necessary skills they will need to escape from the poverty that led them to become homeless in the first place (National Coalition). The stresses and immediate needs of food, shelter, and safety put literacy training far down the list of priorities for the homeless.

While there are several factors that lead to homelessness for both individuals and families, encouraging family literacy and continuing education can ease this epidemic. Professor O’Neil-Pirozzi from Northeastern University in Boston, created a volunteer program for her students to teach family literacy in homeless shelters. She encourages parents to participate in the literacy program because it could also help to connect the family to external services. Parents are able to learn and watch as different methods of learning are taught to their students.

Another national trend to encourage literacy among the homeless population is newspapers written and sold by people who are homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless. The Homeless Voice, based out of Hollywood, Florida, is the second-largest street newspaper in the country. It covers issues related to homelessness and is written by homeless people. The paper is sold for donations on the streets of South Florida with proceeds going to the medical and food programs at the COSAC Shelter in Hollywood. Tampa recently adopted another homeless based newspaper called the Tampa Epoch. Each copy of the Tampa Epoch will cost a dollar. Homeless vendors are sponsored through donations for the first 25 papers and then will be able to purchase more to sell for 25 cents.

The Florida Literacy Coalition’s report on Literacy and Homelessness inspired and provided information for this post.

Quotes on Education and Literacy from Presidents

“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

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

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 12^th 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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.