Saturday, December 21, 2013

May 2014 Tutor Talk

Literacy Action Center 
Volunteer/Tutor Talk*

   Saturday, May 17, 2014 (10:30 AM - 12 noon)
   Place: 3595 S Main Street, Salt Lake City UT
   RSVP by: May 12, 2014

   *All active tutors are expected to attend all Tutor Talks for ongoing training.

Next Tutor Talk will be Saturday, September 27, 2014 (10:30AM - 12 noon). Please mark your calendar.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Work Logs:

Monitoring and Facilitating Change


Literacy Action Center is learner-centered as well as learner-directed.  Some of the best ideas often come from our learners.  During the summer of 2012, as part of the reading of Goals! How to get everything you want—faster than you ever thought possible by Brian Tracy, our learners tackled the question: “How do we raise each person’s test score by 1 grade level for every 60 hours of instruction?”  The result of this exploration was the creation of work logs—3-ring binders containing visible evidence of what each learner needs to study and the results of what has been studied.

“I’ve never set goals before. Now I know where I’m going and what I have to do to get there. And, I’m in charge!” -- Karl, a new learner, expressed this revelation today after setting up the first pages of his work log.  

Page 1 contains his overall goal—become a lawyer.  We then projected how many months he’d need to bring his reading score up to 12th grade—possibly December 2015.  He set short-term celebrations—buy a new reading book every time his retesting yields another full grade level increase.  When he reaches 12th grade, his final celebration is to bring us lunch.  The learners are encouraged to look at their goal pages every time they open their notebooks to re-focus their attention and remind themselves about why they are here.

Page 2 is the printout of a learner’s Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) score history.  Each time the person retests, a new sheet is printed.  The learning specialist and the learner examine the scores and review the learner’s current literacy tasks.  Some activities or materials are changed at this point to best facilitate the next phase in the learner’s journey.  The purpose of this form is to make visible to the learner and assigned volunteers the range of specific materials, strategies, and/or activities the adult should be using.

Page 3 is an actual log, written by the learner (perhaps with help from a volunteer), listing the actual work done on any given day and the concerns the learner may be having with the work.  This log captures the essence of what is being learned as well as monitors the quality of the learning.  The center emphasizes that learning is not about plowing through a stack of materials, but understanding and applying the concepts contained in these materials.

The content of these binders helps learners and volunteers understand where learners are headed…what needs to be done next.  Recently, Andy, another learner, successfully moved from 6.6 to 8.2 in reading on the TABE.  He was stunned by the change in his score.  Once his disbelief dissipated, he took off to call his brother with his news -- he left to put into action his "short-term" reading celebration.

(This story is adapted with permission from Literacy Action Center News (Spring 2013), Volume 28, Issue 1, page 3.)

Monday, September 30, 2013

Wish List (Updated 10/21)

Office/classroom equipment
¨ Smartboard on stand with laptop + projection equipment
¨ 2 desktop computers with printers (DVD, rewritable CD, use with projection equipment, digital movie + still cameras; software--MSword, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, Adobe pdf maker, DVD/video editing software, Reading Horizons phonics software)

Marketing materials
¨ bookmarks—print 1,000 (for distribution at events)

Teaching equipment/materials
¨ instructional skill books, manuals, + support materials
¨ subscription fees to specific literacy software or apps (e.g., Learning Upgrade)
¨ annual Zoom subscription
¨ high interest/low-level books
¨ used computers (in good condition with word processing + wireless internet connection) to be used by adult learners

Support
¨ schedule Literacy Action Center as a speaker at local clubs, organizations, or businesses
¨ donate thank you gifts and incentives for tutors, such as gift certificates for movies, bagels, or chocolates
¨ donate thank you gifts and incentives for learners, such as gift certificates for movies, bagels, or chocolates
¨ prepare + serve lunch for Tutor Training Workshops (+ clean up after lunch)
¨ purchase + serve dinner to 200 people at our annual Recognition Dinner
¨ provide food + space for our June and August fundraisers
¨ donate a gift basket to our June and August fundraisers
¨ bring 5 enthusiastic friends to our June and August fundraisers
¨ write stories for adult learners to practice reading
¨ gift wrap for us for 2 hours at a time in December at a bookstore
¨ coordinate gift wrapping in December at a bookstore
¨ pay monthly phone/internet bill 

Sponsor...
¨ an hour of group reading instruction ($50)
¨ a table at our annual Recognition Dinner ($250)
¨ a “set of 4 chairs” at our annual fundraisers ($250)
¨ a 2-day Tutor Training Workshop ($700)
¨ a tutor/adult learner 6-month partnership ($800)
¨ 3 staff at annual national literacy conference ($5000)

Service
¨ volunteers—tutor (3 hours/week) or Board of Trustee member (6 hours/month); Treasurer (8 hours/month)
¨ billboards—signage design + printing plus rental fees for outdoor billboards + outside of buses
¨ posters—design + print (to hang in public spaces)
¨ annual Adult Learner Writings booklet—bookbinding/print 200 books; provide postage for distribution
¨ annual Recognition Dinner program—print 150
¨ newsletters—print 200 copies quarterly; provide postage for distribution
¨ invitations—print invitations for Recognition Dinner; print invitations for June and August fundraisers; provide postage for distribution
¨ reading materials—print original low-level reading materials for beginning adult readers
¨ PSA—produce 30-second + 15-second video/DVD to show on TV; produce 30-second + 15-second audio for radio
¨ PSA—produce 2-minute CD/DVD to show at work places (to recruit adult learners + volunteers + donors)

Supplies
¨ learning/teaching supplies: reams of white copy paper; reams of colored paper; 
white-erase markers (black, blue); spiral notebooks; #2 soft pencils
¨ address labels: Avery 5160
¨ postage

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Volunteer Opportunities (Updated 10/2021)

Literacy Action Center relies heavily on volunteers. 

We'd love your help. If not as a tutor, then perhaps you are interested in one of the tasks listed below. Is there something you could do for us that we didn't mention? Or do you know someone else who would be good at one of these tasks? Please let us know.

Funding: 
  • Weekly:  donors -- create/maintain relationships with donors; write/send thank you notes
  • Monthly: grants -- write/deliver grants; write/send thank you notes; write/send follow-up reports
  • fundraising -- set up and follow through with a range of fundraising activities
  • January-May -- set up and oversee annual May fundraising event; develop sponsors for spring event
  • January-August  -- set up and oversee annual August silent auction fundraising event; develop sponsors for annual fundraiser
  • August-November -- draft, produce and send out November "giving" letter
  • August-December -- set up annual Barnes & Noble gift wrapping event; oversee scheduling & paperwork for gift wrapping event

Literacy Action Center Library:
  • December -- inventory library/sales materials
  • March, August, October -- prepare purchasing information; order materials

Office tasks:

  • Daily:   take telephone messages; talk to prospective volunteers, learners, & advocates; call learners/volunteers about attendance, events, etc.
  • Weekly: compile/enter data into databases; analyze data to tell "stories"; complete housekeeping chores
  • Monthly: create/prepare/send mailings; photocopy materials; file paperwork; setup/organize filing system

Public relations/marketing:
  • Social media: create/follow plan for posting to social media accounts (especially LAC website, Learner website, LAC blog, tutor blog, LAC Facebook page), YouTube, add other appropriate accounts (e.g., Instagram); prepare/post entries based on plan 
  • Weekly: seek out and talk to groups (or schedule director to do the talks); contact and establish connections with local media; collect stories from learners about changes in their lives; collect changes to be included in blogs; Send out PSAs & billboards about upcoming events; get articles written by reporters from different media outlets; post appropriate social media entries
  • Monthly: write/send public service announcements; setup & staff marketing opportunities; create/send monthly e-news email to thank donors; include requests; post appropriate social media entries
  • Quarterly: produce and distribute posters; write and prepare quarterly newsletter for mailing; staff booths at events (get others to help); create materials for booths/tabling events; post appropriate social media entries
  • Annually: produce annual report; post appropriate social media entries

Recognition activities:
  • Monthly: write/send birthday cards/notes to volunteers & learners; create, prepare, distribute monthly volunteer thank you gifts
  • January-April: setup annual recognition dinner -- food, place, etc.; oversee annual dinner -- setup, cleanup, dinner crew; oversee production and distribution an annual Adult Learner Writings booklet (at dinner and mailings)

Teaching/Tutoring:
  • Daily: teach an adult to read/write/math; teach a group of adults to read/write/math; teach tech skills, such as word processing, internet, typing, social media, and/or email; help learner work through process of writing essays, papers, or letters
  • Weekly: review goals/tasks with learners; track test score changes; re-test learners (note: must pass official annual training )

Technology:
  • Weekly: Fix/update computers in office and lab; keep this equipment repaired and clean
  • Quarterly: refurbish older/extra computers donated to us to give to learners; deliver these computers to learners' homes (help them set them up)

Tutor Training:
  • Weekly: send out PSAs & billboards announcing training; create and check on web sites for volunteering; compile list of people interested in attending training; send out training materials; collect registrations; send emails/mailings, as appropriate; find sponsors for training
  • January, March, May, September, November: photocopy training packets; help set up training; help set up food
  • Become a trainer by taking the lead on several training segments (Note: Trainers must also be tutors. Trainers learn all segments so that they can eventually handle all aspects of training.)
Revised 10/2021

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Learner Characteristics

     July-December 2012
  • 95% had gross incomes at or below 50% of the median income.
  • 55% had high school diplomas, 9% did not finish elementary school, and the remaining 36% left before graduating.
  • Only 52% reported being in special education.
  • 55% were women.
  • 55% were Caucasian with 17% Hispanic, 17% African American, 6% Asian, 3% Native American, and 2% Pacific Islander.
  • 13% were 18-24 years old, 70% were 25-59 years old, and 10% were 60+ years old.
  • 52% entered with lowest scores below 2nd grade, 30% entered in grade 2-4 range, 15% in grade 4-6 range, and 3% in grade 6-8 range.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Welcome

Welcome to Literacy Action Center, where we teach adults to read.

That’s our elevator speech. In reality, with your help - donors and volunteers - we transform print challenged, English-speaking adults into skilled, passionate, habitual, critical readers, writers, mathematicians, and users of technology.

We work with an awesome team of people – the adults we teach, the volunteers who share their time, and the individuals who donate their financial resources! As a new member of our team, you must also be awesome!

Welcome! I look forward to getting to know you.

Deborah Young, Ed.D.
Executive Director
Literacy Action Center

Salt Lake City UT

Monday, August 12, 2013

Literacy Action Center Overview

Mission
Our mission is to deliver basic literacy education that is effective and confidential. We enhance the quality of life for adults who speak English and enter our program with less than 5th grade literacy skills. Our focus is on English-speaking adults who live in Salt or Davis Counties.

History
June Moss, a lay minister at First Baptist Church, Salt Lake City, Utah, started Literacy Action Center in 1983.

Niche
Literacy Action Center is the only nonprofit organization in Salt Lake and Davis Counties that focuses on transforming these "functionally-illiterate" English-speaking adults into skilled, passionate, habitual, critical readers, writers, and mathematicians. (Other programs that work with low-literate adults focus on refugees and immigrants who are just learning to speak English.)

What They Say

Functionally-illiterate English-speaking adults typically report the following:
  • Never learned phonics—They state that they can’t read because they can’t figure out how to sound out words.
  • “Stupid” or “You’ll never learn nothin’”—They report that a teacher or family member said these things (or worse) to them. These adult learners haven’t forgotten. Unfortunately, they have come to believe that they can’t learn.
  • Difficulty focusing—They are often distracted by others around them and the size of tasks.
  • Forget easily—Short-term memory problems abound in this population. Showing them something once will not result in learning.
  • Scared—Someone will find out their secret. Initially our enrollees don’t want people to know where they are spending their time.
  • “I’m the only one”—They are certain that no one else has literacy issues.