TUTOR READY READING AND WRITING
In the February 2021 newsletter, we talked about the fact that there were limited resources for adult writing tutors working with low-level adult writers compared to tutoring reading resources. Tutor Ready Writing was developed as a response to that need. Literacyworks also helped develop Tutor Ready Reading for low-level adult readers.
Until now, both sites remained hosted at Portland State University’s Learner Web platform. As of May 2021, Learner Web will be closing down. To save our nationally used and respected Tutor Ready Reading and Reading learning plans and videos, Literacyworks has contracted to port over both sites to Literacyworks website. Hosting both Reading and Writing on Literacyworks enables us to archive and update the sites. Also, it will be easier to provide training and workshops to ESL and ABE tutors and instructors nationally. Literacyworks continues to offer Certificates of Completion to those who complete the modules.
Tutor Ready Reading is a set of learning plans designed to provide volunteer tutors and instructors with training and information in a helpful and timely format. It is an excellent resource for programs to use to complement their pre-service and in-service training. Tutor Ready Reading is a free, online resource providing adult literacy tutors just-in-time answers to their questions about how best to help their learners improve their writing skills.
Tutor Ready Reading was developed by Literacyworks, the Literacy, Language and Technology Research Group at Portland State University, and subject matter experts/national trainers developed the modules. These set of 30 short Learning Plans modules use a question and answer format to present the most salient research-based information in bite-sized chunks that will make writing research accessible to tutors.
The research-based lessons teach strategies for assessing and tutoring adults in a variety of reading skills, including phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Each strategy is illustrated by at least one video showing a literacy tutor working with a literacy learner.
The videos were filmed using the project experts as tutors and actual adult learners as the tutorees.
MAJOR DONATION
Literacyworks staff and students want to sincerely thank the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria for their most generous donation this year. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria have recognized the importance of education and were among the earliest donors to the Literacyworks Center back in 2015. The Center’s students and their families have succeeded in meeting their educational goals because of the generosity of such donors as Graton Rancheria.
NEWS FROM THE CENTER
Over the past year, we shared how the Center was forced to change and adopt new strategies in this newsletter. This was necessary to support our students due to the pandemic's impact.
No in-person meetings or one-to-one interviews were possible. Only remote connections to provide support and even the simple act of filling out forms have become problematic. Many students stopped out of college for a wide variety of understandable reasons. Some lost jobs, others could not pay rent, some moved away, many stayed home to support their children's learning, and for some food, scarcity was a real issue. But it is important to point out that most stayed and are succeeding, although with difficulty. Our students are a great group of resilient and determined individuals who are changing their futures.
Now, suppose it is possible to imagine a return to face-to-face learning in the foreseeable future because of vaccines and herd immunity. What have we discovered that will help make our program more effective and our students more successful. Individuals learn best when they are inspired by others.
We will further develop our alumni program, where former students talk about how their lives have changed because of education. One can vision a new future when one can see it in others. Students can trust themselves when someone has their back when support during difficult times is there. So, we will develop a closer communication process both personally and online to create a value-added support model. Students learn best from one another. We will establish an informal tutoring program where students support one another in their academic work. Most people enjoy being part of a group where they are heard and can listen to each other.
We will expand our 'workshops' to further develop the sense of community where each individual sees themselves as members. Utilizing the communication technologies we were a force to develop during the pandemic, we will enhance our community building's efficiencies and effectiveness.
Clearly, we are not ready to institute these plans yet. Social distancing, face masks, no large gathering, and more vaccines are still very much called for. The Center will be ready to build a new future.
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS!
Our low-income students are among the most vulnerable in our community when it comes to suffering during a disaster. Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, many of our students are suffering a loss of income and housing. Also, SRJC has been closed since the first of April when online classes began.
Our staff is offering additional support services to ensure our students stay in school and complete their course of study. We are proud that most have persisted and remained.
Thank you for supporting our students with your donation during this difficult time. You are making a difference in their lives with your gift.
