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Winter 2002-2003
Program Update
Many American and foreign born students, have been entering the program the past summer and fall. We are able to answer the student's needs by providing excellent tutoring services and classes for workplace and ESL. Individualized tutoring is provided for GED preparation. Many students are reaching their goals which may include a high school diploma, getting a new job, entering technical school or a community college and living a fuller life.
In an effort to communicate with under-graduates after they leave the program, we hope to report many achievements that have been unavailable in the past. A booklet published in 1991 reporting student successes was our first initiative. With newly accumulated material, a new success booklet is in the works.
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Future Dates
(Please mark your calendar!)
Tuesday, November 12, 2002--Tutor Support Meeting--7 P.M. Lesson Plans--What? Where? When? 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.
Wednesday, January 8, 2003--Tutor Support Meeting--7 P.M. Testing, Testing 1, 2, 3. State required pre and post test, simple procedures for the TABE and BEST administration. Continuing education.
Wednesday, March 12, 2003--Tutor Support Meeting--7 P.M. This Works for Me! Your opportunity to share ideas, ask questions and discuss obstacles and how to overcome them. Continuing education program credit.
Monday, April 7, 2003 and Tuesday, April 8, 2003 Spring Tutor Training 6:30-8:45 P.M. Both nights mandatory!
Monday, April 21, 2003--Tutor Support Meeting--7 P.M. ESL (English as a Second Language) Materials (Hands on English newsletter) and methods for individual tutoring and classroom. Continuing education.
Wednesday, May 14, Tutor Support Meeting--7 P.M. Learning Disabilities--film, discussion, continuing education
Wednesday, June 11, 2003--Student Tutor Recognition Reception--7:30 P.M. Come one, come all!
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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, Doranne Smith, Annabelle Folk and Marlyn Cohen.
Assessment Committee--Lois Bachman, Doris Kalan, Annabelle Folk, 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, Doranne 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), and Annabelle Folk work toward program improvement.
Family Literacy--An 8-week program in the fall and spring, meet Friday mornings at 10 for 3-4 year olds and care-giver. Led by Annabelle Folk.
GED Advisory--Lois Bachman, GED advisor, is available to answer GED 2002 questions: 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. 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 who mail the Literacy Link and call the tutors regarding meetings, special events and program information. We meet once a month on Mondays 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 our new tutors trained October 7 and 8. We have many new students waiting to be matched.
Orchids--to Marcia Jacoby and Joan Schwerin for their attendance at a 2-day conference in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania for training in the new Pennsylvania Department of Education computer software necessary for entering data required for our literacy program.
Orchids--to Selma Dafilou and Arlene Franco for their attendance at a one-day literacy workshop in Harrisburg sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education the end of October regarding program improvement (testing procedures).
Orchids--to Marcia Jacoby for her attendance at an EQUAL kick off (Education Quality for Adult Learners) in Harrisburg. Three subsequent workshops will be held in Glenside and, as an EQUAL practitioner, she will attend. Many thanks to her for excellent program improvement planning!
Orchids--to Gladys Weiss and Marion MacCallum on their recovery following surgery. We're anticipating their return to "Conversation, Please!" teaching ASAP!
Help Wanted--your feedback regarding student achievements on the form provided. Leave in brown envelope near sign-in book at main desk.
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. Conversation, 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--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 an article for use in a future newsletter. Your experience as a tutor can be valuable for others. Also, 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, Marla Benjamin, and Eileen Rigney. The Friday morning programs were extraordinary from start to finish. We anticipate a great Spring Family Literacy experience.
Orchids--to Doranne Smith for administering the BEST test to new Conversation, Please! attendees. This is a state requirement.
Orchids--to Lois Bachman for scoring TABE and BEST test taken by new students.
Orchids--to Marcia Jacoby and Joan Schwerin for their conscientious input of data required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
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.
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The Long and Short of It
Snow Alert
We're hoping for a mild winter once again but just in case, here are some guidelines.
Please call the Library general number--215-885-5180. If the Library closes due to the weather, tutoring and literacy functions are cancelled.
Call 215-885-5180 to check for re-opening. All literacy functions depend on the Library closing and re-opening.
Call student to relay information and re-schedule a date.
Don't risk traveling in treacherous weather.
Tutor Support Meetings will be re-scheduled. Call the Literacy Office at 215-885-5183.
Success Stories
In 1991, under the leadership of Lorraine Lindhult, a booklet entitled "Success Reads Success" was produced. We would like a follow-up rendition and your help is needed. Please see the sheet provided, give it some thought, fill it out and return it so we may begin to compile a new booklet.
See you at the Library!
Marlyn Cohen, Program Supervisor