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Spring 2004
Program Update
Welcome, Springtime! Our literacy volunteers, tutors and clients managed to fill every available corner of the library throughout the grueling winter months. And the programs and successes are many: Improved reading, writing, spelling, math, speaking; passing tests, acceptance to college, advancing on the job, getting a job and gaining confidence are some of the achievements our program is reporting. It's a two-way street. Our classroom teachers and tutors feel fulfilled and gratified by their experiences with motivated, goal-oriented participants in the adult literacy program.Special Events: On April 21 "The Doctor Is In". Dr. Richard Cooper, Pennsylvania Department of Education Learning Disability specialist, will lecture, followed by an opportunity to hear from tutors regarding their challenges. Please reserve Wednesday, April 21 from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. A great opportunity to hear an expert opinion! Our second special event occurs June 9 when we honor students and tutors at our annual exhilarating reception. Please plan to attend both!
Future Dates
Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 7 p.m. Tutor Support Meeting Tutoring Tips for ABE, ESL, GED. Practical suggestions for teaching-methods and materials. Program continuing education credit. Guest speaker Marcia Klafter, our Tutoring Tidbits creator.Monday, April 19, 2004 - 7 p.m. Tutor Support Meeting Language Experience Method and newspapers for ESL and ABE students. What is language experience? How can reading and writing improve using this method? Program continuing education credit.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. Learning Disability Workshop--"The Doctor Is In!" with Dr. Richard Cooper, Pennsylvania Department of Education, who will lecture on accommodating adults with learning disabilities and then answer individual questions regarding your student. Program continuing education credit. See flyer.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 7 p.m. Tutor Support Meeting Learning Disability. What is dyslexia? Can it be overcome? Book Review – Overcoming Dyslexia by Dr. Sally Shaywitz--a new compendium of latest research and current conclusion on the subject. Program continuing education credit.
Wednesday, June 9, 2004 - 7:30 p.m. Tutor-Student Reception Certificate of achievement for students, dedication of World Book Encyclopedia set to library in honor of literacy volunteers, and special awards to 5 year+ volunteers. Students and literacy volunteers invited along with family and friends. Please note enclosed form to fill out and return to the literacy office.
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.
Adult New Reader Book Discussion Group-This class, led by Arlene Franco, Donna Hower and Mary Doug Maisenhelder, will read and discuss a book of their choice the last Tuesday of each month 7-8:30 P.M. American and foreign-born students and their tutors are cordially invited to learn in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.
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! Each Monday evening 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.
Help With Homework--Initiated by Jennifer Cohen in the spring of 2003, this class for kindergarteners through sixth grade students will continue to meet from 4-5 P.M. each Thursday. Volunteer literacy tutors will alternate as class leaders to supervise and teach. Ongoing weekly meetings will be available.
Literacy 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 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? 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 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 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 with individual instruction where needed.
Classifieds: Help Wanted, Help Given and Orchids!
Orchids to Arlene Franco, Donna Hower and Mary Doug Maisenhelder for re-starting the monthly Adult New Reader Book Discussion. Good luck to you and your students.Orchids to the E-Quality Program improvement Committee who have met several times to recommend and implement areas in need. Marcia Klafter, Lois Bachman, Arlene Franco, Selma Dafilou, Doris Kalan and Marcia Jacoby.
Help Wanted--please sign out all materials in the brown sign-out book on the desk under the first letter of your name. When returned, cross out. Workbooks written in by students do not have to be signed out or returned. Please return all materials!
Orchids--to Ann Fields, reference librarian, for recruiting Abington High School students and Copper Beech children for Help with Homework.
Orchids to Nancy Hammeke Marshall, Jeanette Andrews, Karen Burnham and Rick Guyton for typing, editorializing and printing the Literacy Link. A great job!
Orchids to our Master Tutors--Lois Bachman, Marcia Klafter and Doris Kalan for suggesting, informing, cajoling, resolving and encouraging tutors and students. Bravo!
Orchids to Jack Starrantino who has faithfully given Thursdays from 4-5 for Help with Homework.
Orchids to our loyal ESL teachers at "Conversation Please!" classes Monday evening and Tuesday morning. Donna Hower, Beverly Willett, Mary Doug Maisenhelder and Doranne Smith alternate Monday evening and Edis Hall with Ann Gaugler teach Tuesdays. These classes serve as a most important introduction to literacy at the library for ESL students. Carolyn Messinger recently joined the teaching staff.
Orchids to our "Books are a Beginning" family literacy teachers. Dawn Kantor, Marla Benjamin (and guitar), Ann Sickles, Marcia Klafter and Barbara Hanauer are responsible for the great 8 week Spring program.
Orchids to Lois Bachman, our resident test-scorer and GED consultant.
Help Wanted--We are always in need of committee members for many program projects. If you feel you would like to volunteer, please call 885-5183. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Help Given--Please take a minute to call 885-5183 and leave your name and the number of years you've been associated with Abington Free Library Adult Literacy Program over 5 years. You will be specially recognized June 9 at the tutor-student reception. See flyer.
Orchids to all who filled out the Student Recognition Sheet. We appreciate the jump start towards a "success story" booklet. We are including it in this issue and looking for more replies. Thanks!
Help Wanted--A gentle reminder! Please mark your calendars for future dates to June. Come to monthly Tutor Support Meetings for program continuing education credit and be attached to the program and the people.
Help Wanted-- Please keep the line of communication open, Call 885-5183 with any special news, changes, problems, questions. The Master Tutors are willing and able to respond to your queries.
Orchids--to Leo Bennett, a Career Link counselor and former literacy tutor, who was a guest presenter at a December Tutor Support Meeting relating to jobs and careers.
Dear Tutor,
On Wednesday, June 9 at 7:30 in the Abington Free Library Community Room we would like to recognize you and your student's achievements at a special reception. We need to hear from you by June 1st if you would like your student to receive a certificate of accomplishment at our reception. Please tell us about any special progress made that could be placed on that certificate. And plan to attend the reception with your student for a wonderful event. Our committee is planning delicious refreshments and a memorable evening should be enjoyed by all present. A complete set of encyclopedias will be dedicated to the library in your honor and recognition of tutors serving 5+ years.
Please drop me a note giving me the following information:
1. Your name and your student's name
2. Achievements you would like recognized
3. Whether or not you and/or your student will attend
Thank you,
Marlyn Cohen
The Long and Short of It
Success Stories
We hear many wonderful anecdotal accounts and inspirational stories regarding students but these should be documented to create a booklet for all to share with pride. A student recognition sheet has been included again. Please take the time to fill it out and return it to the marked envelope on the literacy office desk.
Reception Request
June 9 Student--Tutor Reception, we would like to honor every student who attends and give special recognition to volunteers and tutors in the program 5+ years. Please fill out the form provided and return it to the envelope on the desk in the literacy office.
Spring has Sprung
Welcome to all the flowers and birds and sunshine. We are anticipating a beautiful Spring and many special programs. And welcome to all the spectacular students and tutors at the Abington Free Library. Your great efforts make it all happen here. See you at the library.
Marlyn Cohen, Program Supervisor
Tutoring Tidbits by Marcia Klafter
This month’s column is limited to a single but powerful idea. Whether you are tutoring in reading or writing or in helping an “English as a Second Language” student develop facility in American grammar and vocabulary, this tidbit can be useful.Let your student’s errors drive what you teach (for at least a part of every session.) The following are examples on how to use this technique.
1. When an error is made in reading, even if you immediately correct it, record the mistake and use it for a “teaching moment” after the student finishes the reading. For example: if the error is a misreading of the word “when”, review with your with your student all other common “wh” words such as “which”, “what” and “why”. If the error is the word “light”, provide the student practice with other members of that “word family” such as “right”, “might” and “sight”. Create sentences containing these words, ask the student to read them and then write them (if appropriate), and keep the work. Take a minute to do a review at the next session to check for retention.
2. In conversation, if a grammatical error is made such as “I didn’t went there”, develop a short review of the usage of “go”. Provide many examples of the use of “I go” and “he goes”, “we go” and ask the student to make up personally meaningful examples. Ask a variety of questions that will require your student to use the correct tense in the response. Record these for later reading and speaking practice. Go on the the past tense “went” only after the use of the present tense is mastered at a reasonable level.
3. Obviously you can use this same approach in writing and spelling practice. Look for errors and use the “word family” approach mentioned above to increase the student’s familiarity with a larger number of words that may have the same difficult spelling patterns. You can address grammatical errors using the approach outlined in the previous paragraph.
Tutors: Please take a moment to read and fill out. Return to Literacy Office.
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ABINGTON FREE LIBRARY ADULT LITERACY STUDENT RECOGNITION SHEET
Dear Tutor:We are so proud of what you and your student have achieved together.
If you previously had a student who left our program and you still communicate, we would greatly appreciate knowing of their current achievements. We are trying to compile a booklet showing our student’s progress and need your input.
At the bottom of this page is a listing of certain achievements we would like to know about. However, please feel free to add others.
You may also use this form for your current student’s achievements.
Thank you.
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Achievements:
1. Entered Employment
2. Retained Employment
3. Received Diploma or GED
4. Post Secondary Education/Training
5. Removed from Public Assistance
6. Became US Citizen
7. Registered to Vote
8. Voted for First Time
9. Involvement in Community Affairs
10. Involvement in Children’s Education