Fall-Winter 2004
Program Update
Hard to believe that June 9 is behind us! The evening of our Tutor-Student Reception was enjoyed by all. A terrific gathering of students and their families and friends, many tutors, library board members and a Township Commissioner contributed to an inspirational, uplifting event. We received a letter of commendation from Governor Rendell and awarded many certificates of achievement. Students became United States Citizens, passed the General Education Development (G.E.D.) and became readers, writers and English language speakers.
Many new clients are entering the Abington Free Library Adult Literacy Program. We are able to accommodate them because of our extraordinary volunteers who act as one-on-one tutors, classroom teachers, and committee members. Tutor Training and continuing education workshops are provided so that our tutors and students are able to reach their goals. We anticipate many future successes for all involved in our literacy program.
Future Dates
Wednesday, August 11, 2004 --7 P.M. Tutor Support Meeting--Teaching Adult Basic Education --methods and materials. Phonics, the reading--writing connection, journaling and language experience. Program Continuing education credit.
Monday, September 13, 2004 and Tuesday September 14, 2004 -- 6:30-8:45 P.M. Fall Tutor Training. Both nights mandatory! Welcome to all new literacy volunteers.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004 -- 7 P.M. Tutor Support Meeting-Comprehension. What are the different levels? How can it be increased? How can it be measured? Materials available to increase comprehension. Program Continuing education credit.
Monday, November 8, 2004 -- 7 P.M. Tutor Support Meeting--General Education Development. G.E.D. What does the test contain? What materials are available to tutors and students? Computer software and workbooks. G.E.D. guest speaker. Program continuing education credit.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004 -- 7 P.M. Tutor Support Meeting--English as a Second Language E.S.L. One-on-one tutoring methods and materials. The importance of conversation, pronunciation and idioms. Classroom instruction. Program continuing education credit.
Project Progress
Adult Literacy Advisory Board - Representatives of Abington Free Library, Abington Memorial Hospital , Eastern Center for Art and Technology, Penn State Abington, Abington Township Schools and Rydal Park Retirement Community comprise this committee. Library representatives are Nancy Hammeke Marshall, Doranne Smith and Marlyn Cohen.
Assessment Committee -Lois Bachman, Doris Kalan, Marcia Klafter, Marcia Jacoby and Marlyn Cohen oversee procedures for the TABE and BEST TESTS. Pre-test and post-test outcomes are analyzed and reported. The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires administration of these standardized tests. Selma Dafilou and Arlene Franco are new committee members.
Citizenship Committee -Doris Kalan, Chairperson, will lead U.S. Citizenship candidates through the process from green card to citizenship. She is available to answer questions about U.S. requirements only. Call 215-8855183.
Conversation Please! The Daytime class continues to meet Tuesday mornings, 10:30 till noon under the supervision of two volunteer teachers. Ann Gaugler and Edis Hall welcome ESL students and help them feel comfortable while learning the language and culture of America .
Conversation Please! Monday evenings at 7:15 , Mary Doug Maisenhelder, Beverly Willett, Doranne Smith and Donna Hower lead an English as a Second Language class for foreign-born students at the library. Many countries are represented, and only English is spoken.
E-QUALITY Program Improvement Committee Lois Bachman, Selma Dafilou, Arlene Franco, Doris Kalan, Marcia Klafter, Marcia Jacoby and Marlyn Cohen work together toward program improvement. How can our tutors and students be served better?
Family Literacy --An 8-week program in the fall and spring, meets Friday mornings at 10 a.m. for 3-5 year olds and care-givers. Led by family literacy committee members.
GED Advisory --Lois Bachman, GED advisor, is available to answer GED 2004 questions. Please call 885-5183 for information.
Literacy Live --A talented group of performers who are eager to spread the literacy word via a live, script-in-hand performance at your club, service organization, school, church or synagogue. What does it take to be a volunteer, how does a student feel about needing help, how can we help as tutors? Our group is talented and inspirational. Please call 885-5183 to volunteer your talents or inquire about a performance.
Master Tutors --Three Master Tutors, (Lois Bachman, Marcia Klafter and Doris Kalan) are available to answer your questions regarding students, programs, materials and all literacy matters. Please utilize this great resource for any special needs. Call 885-5183
Technology Committee ( Learning Center ) Computers, TV-VCR, and cassettes are all available in the literacy office. Our "techies", Marcia Jacoby and Joan Schwerin, are ready to help. Call 215-885-5183
Tutor Support Committee --We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of volunteers who mail the Literacy Link and call the tutors regarding meetings, special events and program information. We meet once a month on Mondays and have a delightful time.
Workplace-- Rydal Park Retirement Community is the site of a Tuesday afternoon class for employees who need literacy help. Doranne Smith, Peg Cheney, Ingrid Rivel and Milton Saloman work together to produce fine results in the workplace.
Write It Right -- Students in need of extra help with grammar and writing skills are welcome Thursday afternoon from 1-2:30. Judi Rosen will lead this class and individual instruction is available when needed.
Classifieds: Help Wanted, Help Given and Orchids!
Orchids--to Mary Doug Maisenhelder, Marcia Jacoby, Beverly Willett, Peg Cheney and Doranne Smith for hostessing and greeting at the June reception.
Orchids--to John Raffaele, Donald Messner and Brian Maurer who recently passed their G.E.D. A big congratulations to them and their remarkable tutors-Sandy Wilk, Jessica Leonard, Stan Hoffman and Alice Sachs.
Orchids--to the forty seven students who received certificates June 9 th at the Student--Tutor Reception. We are so proud of your many accomplishments.
Orchids--to the Family Literacy Committee for their successful 8-week spring session and their upcoming fall Family Literacy program.
Orchids--to our Master Tutors--Lois Bachman, Marcia Klafter and Doris Kalan for answering all the difficult program questions. They can be reached by calling 885-5183. Please call on them whenever necessary.
Orchids--to Nancy Hammeke Marshall, Jeanette Andrews, Karen Burnham and Rick Guyton for editing, typing, laying out and printing the Literacy Link. A great job!
Orchids--to Lois Bachman, our GED advisor and test scorer for all standardized testing.
Orchids--to Marcia Klafter for her informative and helpful Tutoring Tidbits. Her practical advice hits the bull’s-eye each time. Many thanks, Marcia.
Orchids--to Marcia Jacoby and Joan Schwerin for their unfailing assistance in collecting program data for Pennsylvania Department of Education and their computer expertise. They are ready to help you and your student.
Orchids--to Pennsylvania Department of Education for providing an annual grant which makes the Abington Free Library Adult Literacy Program possible past, present and future.
Orchids--to Judi Rosen for leading the Write It Right class, helping foreign-born students to improve English writing skills, GED candidates with their essays and all students with writing needs.
Orchids--to our conscientious and loyal classroom teachers--Conversation, Please! and Rydal Park Workplace. They help ESL students at the library Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings and at a workplace class on Tuesdays. Donna Hower, Ann Gaugler, Edis Hall, Mary Doug Maisenhelder, Doranne Smith and Beverly Willett are specialists at the library. Peg Cheney, Ingrid Rivel, Milton Saloman and Doranne Smith are the terrific Rydal Park crew. Many, many, many thanks to all!
 Help Wanted--Committee members for literacy program projects are always needed. If you would like to volunteer, please call 885-5183. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
 Help Wanted--please sign out all materials in the brown sign-out book on the office desk under the first letter of your last name. When returned, cross out. Please return any manuals and re-usable materials so that others may use them.
 Help Wanted--Please mark your calendars for future dates till December. Come to Tutor Support Meetings as often as possible. Program continuing education credit is given.
 Help Wanted--Call 885-5183 with any special news, any changes, goals reached, anecdotal accounts, problems and questions. Please keep the lines of communication open. If you need an answer, we will reply.
TUTORING TIDBITS BY MARCIA KLAFTER
Just Don’t Call It Homework!
The word “homework” conjures up all sorts of negative childhood experiences. But without practice and application provided by homework, how will our students make the progress they hope for when they meet with us only once a week? One of these ideas might be something you might try:
- Select a reading for your next session (possibly with the help of the student.) Introduce new words and, if appropriate, you read the selection aloud. Taking no more than 10 minutes during the week, ask your student to independently read that same passage. Begin your next lesson with this reading.
- Ask your student to choose a short newspaper or magazine article from something in the house and try to read at least the first two paragraphs prior to your next meeting. Bring the article and use it as an opener for your next lesson.
- Suggest that your student watch a TV news broadcast and select a newspaper article that corresponds to something seen on that program and then read the first two paragraphs prior to the next lesson. (Familiarity with the context may help your student recognize unknown words encountered in the article.)
- Have your ESL student identify a TV program usually watched during the week. Pose one or two questions to focus on the content (e.g. “How are the children in that program similar to and different from children from your country?”) Use these questions to begin conversation at your next meeting.
The Long and Short of It
General Education Development Software
The literacy program has recently acquired a complete study guide for the five parts of the GED exam. This may be used in the literacy office at your convenience. It is an excellent teaching aid and a great systematic approach to passing the exam. It will be introduced at a future Tutor Support Meeting. Also, a pre-assessment program for the GED is now available. Please take advantage of these excellent teaching tools. Computers and computer teachers are available.
Autumn in Abington
Where did summer go? It was relaxed, carefree and delicious. And we are fortunate to have a beautiful fall season to enjoy. The changing colors and the cooler air will be welcomed and greatly appreciated by all. After a quiet summer, the literacy program revs up in the fall. Students and tutors come forward in greater numbers and we're marching forward. Welcome to all. See you at the library.
Marlyn Cohen
Program Supervisor
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