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Program Update
We trained 16 well qualified literacy volunteers in April who are being attached to clients in need of reading and writing skills, English language skills, GED diploma (General Education Development) and specialized certification. We are extremely fortunate to recruit such high caliber tutors!
Ionie, who was a student in the program years ago, recently returned with a goal of getting her GED ultimately to become an LPN. Her work as a home health care worker does not provide the income and benefits she needs. Barry, another returnee, wants to become a preacher. He knows his reading skills are lacking and reading the Bible is a struggle. Presently he is a parking valet, but the Bible and a church are his goals.
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Future Dates
Wednesday, June 12, 2002--Student Tutor Reception 7:30 P.M. Celebrate student achievements and recognize tutors at a gala reception. Come one, come all!
Monday, August 12, 2002--Tutor Support Meeting 7: P.M. Computer hardware and software. What's new? This Works for Me. Continuing education.
Wednesday, September 18, 2002--Tutor Support Meeting 7 P.M. The GED 2002- What is it? What are the materials available? Who is a candidate? How do we teach what is needed? Everything you want to know about the GED. Continuing education.
Monday, October 7, and Tuesday, October 8, Fall Tutor Training 6:30-8:45 P.M. Both nights mandatory!
Wednesday, October 16, 2002--Tutor Support meeting 7 P.M.
Learning Styles--How does my student learn? What are learning styles? How can we adjust our teaching to maximize learning? Continuing education.
Tuesday, November 12, 2002--Tutor Support Meeting 7 P.M. Lesson Plans-What? When? Where? How? Why? Practical ideas to make tutoring sessions comfortable and successful. Continuing education.
Tuesday, December 10, 2002--Tutor Support meeting 7 P.M.
Materials--fiction, non-fiction, Adult New Readers and resources available to you and your student. Continuing education.
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Spring 2002--Tutor Training Graduates
Bonnie Brown
Maria de la Torre
Johanna Ludwig
Cynthia Perkel
Dianne Carroll
Ronald Fagan
Art Magilner
Robert Rovine
Flossie Clyman
Sydney Jaffe
Marly Marks
William Ruddell
Will Clyman
Barbara Klein
Irene Naughton
Bruce Weitzman
Congratulations, and may your literacy association be a gratifying, memorable and positive experience. Welcome!
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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, Dorrane Smith, Annabelle Folk and Marlyn Cohen.
Assessment Committee--Lois Bachman, Doris Kalan, Annabelle Folk, Carolyn Henderson, 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.
Citizenship Committee--Doris Kalan, chairperson, will lead U.S. Citizenship candidates from their green card to full-fledged citizenship. She is available to answer any questions about necessary U.S. requirements. Call 215-885-5183.
Conversation Please! The daytime class continues to meet Tuesday morning 10:30 till noon under the supervision of four volunteer teachers. Ann Gaugler, Edis Hall, Marion McCallum and Marlene Bookbinder welcome ESL students and help them feel comfortable while learning the language and culture of America.
Conversation, Please! Each Monday evening at 7:15 Mary Doug Maisenhelder, Gladys Weiss, Beverly Willett, Dorrane Smith and Irene Wolf lead an English as a Second Language class for foreign-born students at the library. Many countries are represented. Only English is spoken!
EQUAL-- (Educational Quality for Adult Learners) Marcia Jacoby (Practitioner), Marlyn Cohen (Administrator), Annabelle Folk, and Carolyn Hendrickson work toward program improvement.
GED Advisory--Lois Bachman, GED advisor, is available to answer GED 2002 questions regarding requirements, materials and testing sites. Please call 885-5183 for information.
Library Bridge League--Mary Doug Maisenhelder, chairperson, will happily add you to our growing list of intermediate and advanced bridge players. We meet at the library the last Wednesday of each month, 10 A.M. to noon. Call 215-885-5183 for more information. Come and join the fun!
Literacy Live--A talented group of performers are eager to spread the literacy word through 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? They answer the myriad questions from the volunteers and the students. 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, Annabelle Folk, and Doris Kalan) are available to answer your questions regarding students, programs, materials and all literacy matters. Please utilize this superb 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 responsible for mailing the Literacy Link and calling the tutors regarding meetings, special events and program information. We meet on Mondays, once a month, and we 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.
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Classifieds--Help Given, Help Wanted and Orchids!
Orchids--To Jeanette Andrews, Karen Burnham, Rick Guyton and Nancy Hammeke for typing, layout, printing and editing this edition of the Literacy Link. Many, many thanks!
Orchids--To the many literacy tutors working one-on-one who give their time and energy with terrific results. You are the mainstay of our program.
Help Wanted--A new sign-out book on the desk in the literacy office has an alphabetical index. Please look for the first letter of your last name (T=Taft) to sign your name, the date and the title of the material taken (if it is to be returned--no need to sign out workbooks to be consumed). When material is returned, find your name and then cross it out.
Help Wanted--Many of our special projects can use new members and new ideas. If you are inclined, please call 885-5183 and you will be contacted with more information. For a good overview, please review Project Progress in this issue.
Orchids--To our remarkable class teachers. Conversaton, Please! evening, and Conversation, Please! daytime, the workplace (Rydal Park), The Learning Center (technology) and Family Literacy these classes fulfill many program needs and enrich our tutors and students.
Help Wanted--Please continue to complete the monthly attendance sheets and deposit them in the brown envelope at the circulation desk. And don't forget to sign in at the circulation desk in the black sign-in book. The hours you spend are important for the library and the literacy program. We appreciate your cooperation.
Orchids--To all the committee members--Tutor Support, EQUAL, Assessment, Family Literacy, GED, Citizenship, Workplace, Master Tutors and previously mentioned classroom teachers. Everyone is important and appreciated! Thanks.
Help Wanted--Genuardi tapes supply extra money for the Adult Literacy Private Funding. These funds supply money for programs not available through our State grant. Reimbursement for outside speakers, special workshops, equipment and educational needs are paid for through private funding. The tapes enable us to cover expenses.
Help Wanted--Please plan to attend Tutor Support Meetings and workshops. These are designed as continuing education programs for your enrichment, and they are a time to connect and learn.
Help Wanted--Please submit your articles or a student's for use in a future newsletter. Your experience as a tutor can be valuable for others. Student writings are inspirational. All are welcome.
Orchids--To Annabelle Folk for the superb 8-week Family Literacy Program thoroughly enjoyed by the 3 and 4 year olds and their caregivers. She was assisted by Donna Hower, Dawn Kantor, Barbara Hanauer, Ann Sickles and Marla Benjamin. The Friday morning programs were extraordinary from start to finish. Many thanks to Annabelle and her staff. We anticipate a great Fall Family Literacy experience.
Orchids--To Doranne Smith for administering the BEST test to new Conversation, Please! attendees. She is enabling us to fulfill the state requirement regarding testing.
Orchids--To Lois Bachman for scoring TABE and BEST tests taken by new students.
Orchids--To Marcia Jacoby and Joan Schwerin for their conscientious input of data needed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Orchids--To all committee members who make the June 12 reception so special. Setting up, greeting and serving--you are exemplary!
Orchids--To the members of the Adult Literacy Advisory Board representing Abington Hospital, Abington Township Public Schools, Penn State Abington, Eastern Center for Art and Technology, Rydal Park Retirement Community and Abington Free Library. We are connected to serve clients in need of our services.
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The Long and Short of It
Testing Procedure Changes
Each student, upon entering the program, will be pre-tested using the TABE for American-born students and the BEST for foreign-born students. After approximately 50 hours of tutoring, they will be post-tested using a different form of the previous test. You will be notified when your student should be post-tested by a member of the Assessment Committee (described on the Project Progress page). This is a Pennsylvania Department of Education requirement and we must fulfill it. Many thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
New Materials Arrive
Please survey the ABE, GED, and ESL materials in the literacy office. In addition to Challenger, Focus on Phonics, Voyager, Laubach Way to Reading, Laubach Way to English, Life Prints, fiction and non-fiction adult new readers, we are constantly adding new materials. Take advantage of it. Just sign the book out and cross out your name when you return it.
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Ten Ways to Stay Young While Growing Older
- Exercise daily
- Keep a positive attitude
- Read widely and often
- Play with children
- Enjoy nature
- Laugh heartily
- Take a class
- Plant a garden
- Eat healthy
- Count your blessings.
Have a pleasant summer!
See you at the library.
Marlyn Cohen, Program Supervisor
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