Literacy: Learning in Action

Thanksgiving is just around

the corner, and during this

time of year, our thoughts

turn to gratitude for the many

ways in which we’ve been

blessed during the past year.

One of the things I’m most

thankful for is the privilege of

working with such a great

group of volunteers, who

give freely of their time to

help others achieve their

learning goals. Thank you for

all you do…

2012 will soon be upon us,

and the new calendar year

will bring exciting new events

and opportunities for literacy,

as well as some changes.

Some exciting new partner-

ships are in the works which

will allow us to expand our

adult learner base and better

reach the community. Look for

more details inside the related

articles.

Adult Literacy wishes you a

wonderful Thanksgiving holi-

day, filled with family, friends,

food and fun! — Stephanie

Literacy Lines

CA Connects—Student-Volunteers to offer assistance teaching computer skills

November 21, 2011

Volume 1, Issue 4

Literacy Lines 1

CA Connects 1

Monday Night

Meeting

2

Changes in

Literacy

2

Thanksgiving

Thoughts

3

Tutor Training

Graduates

6

Inside this issue:

Sacramento Public

Library

American River Colleges Students study-

ing Math, Engineering, Science (MESA)

are receiving technical training to help

teach adults in our community about com-

puters and technology. Through the CA

Connects program, Sacramento Public Li-

brary will be working with American River

College student-volunteers to bring much

needed training to library patrons including

our very own Adult Literacy Service.

Please contact Adult Literacy if you would

like to sign up for a class or receive one

on one instruction: literacy@saclibrary.org.

We anticipate offering assistance starting

in January, 2012 so be sure to let us know

if you are interested as spots will fill-up!

For more information about the program

visit the website for the Foundation for

Community College.

Adult Literacy Service of the Sacramento Public Library

Page 2 L i teracy: Learn ing in Act ion Volume 1, I ssue 4

Please join us for our final Monday

Night meeting for the year on No-

vember 28, 2011 at Arcade Library

(Fulton & Marconi). We’ll be sharing

our 2012 Literacy Calendar, upcom-

ing events for the next year, and

connect about supporting the needs

of the learners and tutors that make

our program a success! As always,

we’ll set aside time for our Tutor

Roundtable, where tutors have the

opportunity to share successes and/

or challenges with their fellow tutors.

Have a question? Ask the experts –

your fellow tutors!

In celebration of the upcoming holi-

day season, we’ll enjoy some deli-

cious treats.

If you are able to attend, please

bring a snack or dessert to share

with the group. Please bring a copy

of your favorite recipe to share.

Monday Night Meeting

Changes in Literacy

Coming in early

2012, our literacy

service will be part-

nering with the Read-

ing Center at Ameri-

can River College.

We will be recruiting

volunteer tutors interested in working

with adult learners at 4th-6

th grade read-

ing level, on-site at the Reading Center

on campus. These are adults who

would like to enroll in college, but

whose reading placement scores are

too low to qualify for remedial classes

at the college. Volunteer tutors would

work individually with these students,

using our regular literacy curriculum, to

bring their reading score up to a level

which qualifies them to enroll in

classes.

Due to the closures or class reductions

at many local adult schools, we are

seeing an increase in adult learners

with the goal of obtaining their GED. To

meet this growing need, in 2012 we will

begin training volunteers specifically to

work with this population. This will be

an added element of our literacy ser-

vice, and we will continue to provide in-

dividual tutoring for adults at a lower

reading level, as in the past.

If you are interested in volunteering or

learning more about either of these op-

portunities, please contact Stephanie at

264-5032.

"My favorite part of Thanksgiving is

the family being together and the

grandkids saying how good Nana's

cooking is."-Martha J.

“My favorite part of Thanksgiving is

helping to prepare Thanksgiving din-

ner and spending time with my fam-

ily. We like to sit around and look at

the Black Friday ads. Planning our

Black Friday shopping trip gets every-

one into the Christmas spirit.”-Tika W.

“Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

It's not about presents or having to

dress up. It's all about being thankful

and food. I love the way Thanksgiving

smells, the beautiful fall weather, and

the incredible food.”- Maria S.

"My favorite part of Thanksgiving is

cooking and preparing dinner with

family and friends, and enjoying the

great food!"

Melissa G.

One of the most important things

about Thanksgiving is family and

friends all getting together! After din-

ner, if you can get everyone to play

games you will have a blast! The best

thing about Thanksgiving is to be

thankful!" He emphasized the need

for the exclamation points! Jerry M.

with Sharon T.

Page 3 L i teracy: Learn ing in Act ion Volume 1, I ssue 4

Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate what we have and enjoy the people that

make a difference in our lives. It also happens to be a great holiday about eating.

Here are some noteworthy anecdotes from our very own Learners and Tutors!

Have a thought to share with our Adult Literacy Service Newsletter?

Please share your upcoming 2012 New Year’s Resolution by email:

literacy@saclibrary.org

Page 4 L i teracy: Learn ing in Act ion Volume 1, I ssue 4

November 21, 2011

Dear Tutors and Learners,

After nearly twenty years with the Sacramento Public Library Adult Literacy Service, I must bid you farewell. I have been asked to take on other duties at the Central Library downtown – effective December 5th.

Though I will be absent from the Literacy program, you will not be forgotten – trust me. What I will ask of the tutors is to please submit any outstanding reports as soon as possible so the transition will be easier. The literacy pro-gram will continue, but with a new format.

I want to wish each and every one of you a joyous Holiday season and a good and prosperous New Year.

Thank you for the kindness you have extended to me over the years and for your dedication to the advancement of literacy.

Sincerely,

Judith Alvi

Literacy Representative

It is with great sadness that I share with you that staff member Judith Alvi

will be leaving her position in literacy to work in other capacities at Central

Library, effective December 5th. Judith has been with literacy since nearly

its inception at Sacramento Public Library, beginning in 1992. For almost

two decades, she has served literacy with dedication and caring, sharing

laughter, joy, and a few tears along the way. Her knowledge, expertise,

and most of all, genuine concern for the tutors and learners will be sorely

missed. Please join with me in wishing her the best in her new position.

~Stephanie

Page 5 L i teracy: Learn ing in Act ion Volume 1, I ssue 4

Book Club Schedule

January 19

February 16

March 15

April 19

May 17

June 21

July 19

August 16

September 20

October 18

November 15

December 20

Third Thursday

5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

South Natomas Library

2901 Truxel Road

Sacramento, CA 95833

Monday Night Meeting

January 23

Arcade, 6 p.m.

March 26

Rancho Cordova, 6 p.m.

May 21

Colonial Heights, 6 p.m.

July 23

Arcade, 6 p.m.

September 24

Rancho Cordova, 6 p.m.

December 3

Colonial Heights, 6 p.m.

Arcade Library

2443 Marconi Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95821

Rancho Cordova Library

9845 Folsom Boulevard

Sacramento, CA 95827

Colonial Heights Library

4799 Stockton Boulevard

Sacramento, CA 95820

2012 Adult Literacy Service: Book Club & MNM Schedules

Kiyo’s Story:

Pages to Read for Book Club

1-110 (November 30), 111-226

(January 19), 227-339 (February 16)

Established in 1984 with a grant from the

California State Library, the Adult Literacy

Service strives to make Sacramento County a

more literate community.

Free one-on-one tutoring, using the Laubach

Way to Reading and other adult reading

services, is provided to English speaking

adults who want to improve their basic reading

and writing skills.

Our literacy services staff and volunteers

are ready to help—contact us today!

828 I Street

Fifth Floor / Adult Literacy

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-264-5032

Fax: 916-264-2970

E-mail: sallen@saclibrary.org

Sacramento Public Library: Adult Literacy Services

New Tutors Trained in October

On October 15th, 19 people took part in

the Adult Literacy Tutor Training.

The Saturday class provides a new tutor:

With an Introduction to being an Adult

Literacy tutor;

Information on the curriculum (Voyager,

Endeavour, Challenge); and

Foundations of the Laubauch Way to

Reading.

If you need materials or a refresher, please

contact Adult Literacy so we can help!

To all of our tutors, new and those that

are veterans, we give our thanks for

your support of adult literacy!

Congratulations to our Fall Class of 2011 Adult Literacy Tutors!

Sherry Benton Jeanne Cunningham Diane Gross-Hagerty

Evelyn Him Stacey Homler Bushra Jawadi Rita Marowitz

Christina McLaughlin Susan Michel Gail Mynard Mark Nielsen

Anna Ramirez Michael Shay Sanjay Singh Tamara Skiens

Taryn Smith Pat Stewart Elizabeth Wegenka Diane Yeargin