Dan Pink: The surprising science of motivation

Labor Day Lesson Plans

What does Labor Day mean to you? End of summer? Pools closing? School Starting? A day off work? After growing up in the Midwest, the last day the pool was open was a big one for me (pool weather year-round was a major decision factor for moving to sunny Florida). And while I’m no longer on a school calendar, it does bring bittersweet feelings of an end to summer fun.

So what can this mean for adult education and ESOL practitioners who have been practicing all year? A chance to mix up your curriculum. Here are three things you can do to celebrate Labor Day and diversify learning with your student.

Learn about the history of Labor Day

• The History Channel has great resources and video clips explaining the origins of Labor Day, the history of the assembly line, child labor in the United States, and brief biographies on the industrial moguls in the US. Watch these videos with your students and then pose comprehension questions to your students.
• The US Department of Labor also has a brief History of Labor Day on their website. You can print out these sections and practice reading them aloud, silently, and together. Many of the events addressed in this page are also in the videos from the History Channel. Try combining the two to engage different learning styles.

Integrate College and Career Pathways in your curriculum!

• Even if you have been slowly incorporating career pathways and workforce readiness, make your next lesson special by having it as a main focus. You can practice writing a cover letter and resume, explore Florida CHOICES with your student, practice interviewing, or help your student create an action plan to reach their career goals.

Learn about Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Worker Movement

• Since the origins of Labor Day may seem distant, take the opportunity to include more recent labor and human rights struggles. Cesar Chavez started the National Farm Workers Association, later to become UFW, in 1962 and used nonviolent tactics to gain better working conditions for grape farmers and the opportunity to unionize.
• You can find a book on Chavez in your local library to read with your student. You can hand out a vocabulary sheet to go over new words addressed in the book, or in a section of the book  you are going to read, and highlight words that include phonemic elements that you are currently working with. Suggestions for books are Cesar Chavez and La Causa by Naurice Roberts and Cesar Chavez by Ruth Franchere. Finish by asking topic questions
  • How did Chavez help migrant farm workers?
  • What were the reasons he had for helping the farm workers?
  • How has Cesar Chavez affected farm workers today?

Celebrating Literacy Month!

As you are probably aware, September is literacy month. Several Florida State Parks will host a day where residents can get in free with the donation of a book. But how are you going to celebrate this year?

Here is a list of different activities you can do! Feel free to add your suggestions!

• Organize a special event to take place in your school and invite key people from government, business, education, and media to attend and participate. Ask an adult learner involved in a literacy program to give a testimonial.
  
• Have older students make books of their own to be shared with younger students at their school on International Literacy Day.
• Conduct a read-a-thon where individuals get sponsors to raise money for a community literacy program by reading.
  
• Invite a publisher to your classroom to discuss how books are developed.
  
• Approach a local bookstore about donating books for disadvantaged children, or to use as school prizes for reading awards.
  
• Establish a book discussion group with adult learners.
  
• Ask a manufacturer in your region to help heighten awareness about a reading or literacy topic. A supermarket might agree to print a literacy message on its shopping bags.
  
• Organize an essay contest about “A Book That Changed My Life.”
  
• Sponsor a book collecting drive. Give books to nursing homes, schools, and adult learner centers.
  
• Sponsor a book reading with local authors reading their favorite book.
  
• Ask your governor to get literacy on the National Governor’s Association’s agenda.
  
• Invite key officials to sit in on a class at your community’s literacy center on Sept. 8.
  
• Make Sept. 8 a Swap-a-Book day at your adult learner center. Have your students swap a book with another student and explain why they liked it.
  
• Take learners to the library to get library cards.
  
• Recognize community literacy centers in a press release or at an event.
  
• Compile a calendar of book reading events. Distribute them throughout your community and schools.
  
• Publicize and distribute a recommended list of books for beginner readers.
  
• Sponsor a child or adult in a reading program.
  
• Invite students, parents, or guests who have lived in other parts of the world to read a story from or to talk about literacy issues in those countries.
  
• Form links with a school or educational group in another country and have letter-writing campaigns, book collections, and other activities that generate media and public interest in your school or group’s activities as well as interest in literacy issues in other parts of the world.
  
• Invite city council members, the mayor, or other public officials to visit and observe classes.
  
• Identify opportunities for adult learners to volunteer in children’s tutoring or mentoring programs.
  
• Publish a book or e-book of learner writings and have a party to celebrate.
  
• Announce a new partnership with another community organization.
  
• Hand-deliver a list of student accomplishments to politicians, community leaders, and the media, with a cover note from the learners.
  
• Take a field trip to a local literary landmark.
  
• Publicize and distribute lists of recommended books for readers of all ages.
  
• Give awards for reading achievement.
  
• Compile a calendar of community book and reading events.
  
• Sponsor a book fair

Most common mistake when teaching writing

What’s the difference between revising and editing a piece of writing?  Many people, including tutors and professionals, confuse the two.

Revising is the process of expanding and clarifying what is written and should be done before the piece is edited.  The writer may revise a piece several times.  The tutor uses questions to get the learner to do the work.  Strategies could include the following:

• Ask what the piece is about, who the audience is and how this should affect the audience.
• Have the learner read the piece to you and then discuss the content.  Ask if the topic is clear and can any details be added, changed or taken out to make the ideas clearer.
• Are the ideas put in a logical order?
• The tutor reads the piece aloud as the learner listens critically.  You might ask, “Does this say what you want it to say?” “What do you like best about it?”  “Can you do anything to improve it?”

When you make suggestions, use the form of questions, such as

• What would happen if …..?
• How would it sound if…..
• When this happened, what else did you notice?

Editing involves correcting the grammar, spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, etc.  In other words, editing works on the mechanics.  We don’t want to overwhelm the learner—just work on one or two errors or one general principle at a time.  It is very important to encourage the writer that the message is more important than spelling, grammar or penmanship.  Show the learner that you value and understand what (s)he has written by responding to the message before correcting minor errors. This may give the learner the courage to actually use writing.

Regardless of whether the writing is a personal letter, essay or term paper, the process is the same.

-A lesson in writing compliments of Olive Burkard,
Certified ProLiteracy Trainer, Lake County Library System

You don’t know me

You watched me come to your class just like any other student. You greeted me with a warm smile and caring eyes. You asked me to have a seat in your inviting classroom. I watched you speak words I didn’t understand. I watched as the other students raised their hands to question your words. I sat in the cold seat as the minutes went by like hours. I heard you call my name, and I waited for you to ask me, who I was.

You don’t know the painstaking ordeal it took for me to get here this morning. You don’t know how it feels to wake up in the dark or the fear in my heart when I have to wait for the bus. You don’t know that I have no umbrella, or why my clothes are wet and unkempt when I enter your class. You think I can’t feel your disappointment in me.

You don’t know I am grateful that I have an opportunity to learn. You don’t know that despite my appearance, my color, my imperfections, I choose to look beyond your quizzical gaze.

You don’t know that last night’s cold dinner was from the dumpster outside that fancy restaurant, the one near the bridge where we sleep.

You probably wonder why I stare at you as you eat in front of the class. You don’t know the noise in my stomach is because I didn’t have enough change in my pocket for breakfast this morning.

You don’t know why I come to your class half-asleep. You don’t know how uncomfortable it is for three people to sleep in a car, to sleep with one eye open, just in case.

You don’t know how lucky I feel that, at least, we have a car.

You don’t know I am listening, I do care, and I do want to learn.

You don’t know the tremendous courage it takes to raise my hand to answer your questions. You don’t know the last time I was in a classroom and how they ridiculed me for not pronouncing the words correctly.

You don’t know that in your classroom, I am the luckiest person in the world.

You don’t know that I am your student.

-Submission by  Armando J. Gutierrez, Ed.D., The English Center

Finding Your Place in Today’s Economy: Four Steps to the Career You Want

By: Gloria Mwase, Jobs for the Future

Even in today’s slow growth economy, many employers continue to note that they can not find the skilled workers they seek. Here are some steps adult learners can take to access this economic opportunity as they seek to establish a career.

1. Know your interests.
Many of us have never stopped to think about the kind of work we would love to do. However, there are many resources available to help you identify your skills and interests, and the types of careers related to them. For example, check out the DOL’s MyNextMove career tool or visit Florida’s Career Choices.

2. Choose your “best bet” career.
Once you have identified your skills, interests, and potential careers, narrow down to the one you want to pursue. Consider whether this selected occupation has current job openings in your region, the certificates or degrees needed to get the job, and wages or salaries offered to those who hold this position. Your local One Stop Career Center is a good source for this information. Get real time information (through job shadowing or interviewing someone doing the job) before you make your final selection.

3. Get the skills valued by the employers in your region.
After you’ve made your career choice, your One Stop Career Center can help you identify some training options.

Be sure to do your homework! Some training programs don’t have a good track record of helping participants complete their programs, get the certificates or degrees that employers want, and enter into a career. Other programs differ in their costs and in the length of time it takes to complete.

Keep in mind that some training programs offer more help than others. You might need to get a GED or  be in need academic support, financial aid, child care, or transportation assistance. You might need skills to help you prepare for the world of work (resume writing, interviewing, time management, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, using a computer, etc.) Seek programs that provide access to these services and resources for eligible students or partner with organizations that do.

4. Find your place in a new career.
Once you are equipped with the skills and credentials that employers value, you will be ready to go out there and apply for a good job. Get assistance with job placement through your One Stop Career Center or other programs that have trusted relationships with employers. You can also help to increase your marketable skills by seeking work experience (e.g. paid or unpaid internships) in your related career wherever you can find it.

The length of this process will, of course, depend on a number of factors, including your skill levels, the amount of time you have to apply to training, and the resources you have to contribute to this effort. But if you stay the course, you’ll reach your goal. You’ll find not only the job you want, but a career you’ll love.

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Gloria Cross Mwase is a program director at Jobs for the Future, a national nonprofit that aligns education with today’s high-demand careers. With its partners, JFF develops policy solutions and new pathways leading from college readiness to career advancement for struggling and low-income populations in America. Learn more at www.jff.org.

I’m back!

Hello literacy world!

Annie Schmidt

I realize that not too long ago I wrote a farewell blog for FLC, but I have since returned with a new role within the organization. I will be the Resource Specialist/Americorps VISTA Supervisor. I will be assisting Yari with the blog and other social media platforms until we hire our next VISTA. I am very excited to be back with the Florida Literacy Coalition. Literacy is important to me because it is the basis for helping someone succeed in life. Everyone defines success differently, but being able to read gives one the freedom to understand and think for themselves. You are able to learn from a variety of sources instead of relying on what someone else tells you. You can also advance yourself into the career of your dreams. Literacy opens up many doors and I’m excited to be part of a team that values, promotes and advocates for the irradiation of illiteracy. My goal for helping with this blog is to help you, our reader, find new and interesting ways to teach literacy with your students and to remind you why you continue to do what you do.

I look forward to being part of the conversation again 🙂

New Happenings at FLC!

Many of you already know me…I (Yari Payne, education and training coordinator) will be guiding you through our social media channels until our next AmeriCorps VISTA joins us.

I asked our newest staff to send me a picture that represents them. Here’s an inside view on how they think.

Meet our newest staff additions…

Jennifer Caldron, Referral Specialist, grew up in Southern California where she graduated from Cerritos College with an A.A. in Business. She has a passion for education and tries to teach her niece and nephews that school/learning can be fun!  Jennifer enjoys spending time with friends and family and teaching her dog new tricks!

Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.  ~Vernon Howard

Camille Davidson, AmeriCorps VISTA, is currently a graduate student studying International Higher Education and Nonprofit Management. She has been involved and employed in the fields of special education, disability, ESOL, and higher education for the past 10 years. Camille completed her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education at the University of North Florida and her Master’s Degree in TESOL at the University of Miami.

The picture is from a trip to Paris in 2011. It was taken outside of the golden gates of Versailles (the original was torn down during the revolution). My attempt to replicate the perspective of an impoverished citizen looking in on the luxuries of the palace.

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Being involved with FLC and having a family that is touched by illiteracy every day, I understand the struggles and concerns that the support system feels. I am thankful of all the community based organizations and the thousands of volunteers who are there to help.

That’s why I’ve made a commit to read to my little one every night. AND she loves books!

This is a great opportunity to send us feedback about what you want to read or learn about.

Healthy Eating Just Got Easier

Imagine going to the grocery store with peanut butter on your list.  When you get there, you realize there are over 20 different types of peanut butter – smooth, chunky, light, reduced fat, natural, organic, etc.  Then, try to compare the nutrition labels and ingredients.  This is a difficult task!  We know healthy eating is important.  However, too many choices, difficult words, and limited time make such selection frustrating.  Well, it has just gotten a bit simpler – all you need is a smart phone.  Here are some phone apps (most are free) for you and your students that make healthy eating as easy as pie.

FOODUCATE (free – iTunes or Android)

Fooducate is an app that allows you to scan a food item’s UPC barcode – it then displays a grade (A through F) for the nutrient density of that food – the more dense with nutrients, the better it is for you.  The grading takes into account such things as high salt content, high fructose corn syrup, additives, trans fats, and artificial colors and flavors.  Each food item is graded, calories and notes are provided, and healthier food choices are listed as alternatives.

WATER WORKS ($1.99 – iTunes)

The Water Works app tracks how much water you drink in a day, and then charts your progress over time.  The more water you drink, the more water fills the on-screen jug until you reach your goal.  Especially in these scorching summer months, it is important to stay hydrated – this app will help you do just that.

 

5-A-DAY (free – iTunes)

Similar to the water app, this app records the number of fruits and vegetables you eat each day.  Fun sounds and screen rewards encourage you to eat more produce, a great way to get nutrients and fiber.  The app also tracks and charts your progress for the day, week, and month so you can see your improvement.

 

LOCAVORE ($2.99 – iTunes)

Seasonal produce is often the most affordable and best tasting.  Plug your state into this app, and it will list the foods that are at their peak freshness.  It also maps the locations of nearby farmer’s markets, so you can buy locally too.

 

NUTRITION TIPS (free – iTunes and Google Play [Android])

The Nutrition Tips app is just that – over 500 useful tips to help you remember, understand, and learn good nutrition.

 

RESTAURANT NUTRITION (free – iTunes and Android)

At home, you know exactly what you put into a dish when cooking.  When you go out to eat, however, it is hard to know exactly what you are eating and whether it is as healthy as you might think.  This app provides the calorie, carbs, protein, and fat content for more than 60,000 menu items in over 250 restaurants, helping you find the nutrition fit that works for you.

GOOD FOOD NEAR YOU (free – iTunes)

If you’re hungry and can’t decide where to go for dinner, this app is perfect.  Type in your location, and this app will list healthy options at nearby restaurants – based on fat content or based on the distance from your location.

Now there are no excuses – healthy eating is just a click away.  Enjoy – bon appétit!