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LR/RI produces a bulletin roughly every two weeks in order to inform area practitioners of news, events, and calls for participation and also as a forum for posing questions, issues and discussion topics. The current bulletin is posted below. To read previous bulletins, go to Bulletin Archives.February 22, 2002 Bulletin #136
Dear Colleagues, Calls for participation, employment and conference opportunities, online and other resources. To post information, please contact LR/RI or leave a message (863-2839). Thanks.
Janet Isserlis
NOTICES
Please know that effective immediately, all visitors to the RIDE/URI extension building can only enter from the Washington Street side of the building and must sign in and out with security there. The Westminster Street door can be used for exiting the building only. ESOL sharing/discussion session will take place on Wednesday, February 27 at 2:15 pm at the Genesis Center, 620 Potters Avenue, Providence. Textbooks: which to do you use? like? What do your students like? What textbooks haven't worked for you? Bring them along ? weíll be talking about those texts we do/donít like and use at this meeting; thanks to Sherry Fiaux for the idea. Please join us. A survey about resources for ESOL activities, developed by Debby Venator, is available online. We request that teachers complete the survey and send their responses to LR/RI as sson as possible. 2002 Lobbyist Workshop Friday, March 1 The annual Lobbyist Workshop sponsored by Secretary of State Edward S. Inman, III takes place on Friday, March 1, 2002 from 8:30 to noon, in the auditorium of the Cannon Building (Department of Health) across from the State House. The workshop provides lobbyists, whether new or experienced, with a forum to interact with speakers, panelists or each other regarding the following topics: The interaction of Lobbyists and Legislatures; The role of the Media; Promoting Access - The Public Information Center; Rules and regulations for Lobbying, and The Ethics of Lobbying. information: (401) 222-2357 or see press release for this event: http://www.state.ri.us/press%20releases/lobbyistrelease.htm ; general lobbying information: http://www.state.ri.us/lobbyist/pg1.htm In Commemoration of 2002 Black History Month You are Cordially Invited To A Reception In honor of Rhode Island's Black Women Making A Difference Monday, February 25, 2002, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m, State House Governor's State Room Sponsors: Representative Aisha Odiase, Office of the Governor, Hospital Association of Rhode Island RSVP (401) 453-0792 Patricia Jackson Sharing/discussion session for adult educators with an interest in issues of learning disabilities will be held on Friday, March 15, at 2:30 pm at the Swearer Center for Public Service, 25 George Street, Providence. professional development - training opportunities The RI Workforce Literacy Collaborative and the Human Resource Investment
Council sponsor the following staff development events. Those interested
in workforce and workplace literacy are invited to attend. All events
are free :
February 23, 9:00 -12:00: Workforce Curriculum Design offered by The International Institute of RI, at 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence Participants will match SCANS competencies with desired work skills, demonstrate using workplace documentation and incorporate employer and learner needs in curriculum design. The Functional Context Method will be discussed. Call Nazneen Rahman at 784-4637 to register. February 25, 5:30 - 8:30: Workforce Curriculum Design offered
by The Genesis Center, at 620 Potters Avenue, Providence (See above
for workshop description.)
Women, Violence and Learning: Several practitioners are holding a series of four study group meetings between now and June on the topic of women, violence and education. Interested participants will read material on this topic and meet for one and a half hours to discuss it. The next meeting of the study group dealilng with impacts of violence on learning will be held on March 6 at 3:00 PM, Genesis Center. The group will discuss ways of presenting, teaching and dealing with domestic violence in the classroom. Weíll watch a short video clip of an ESOL class and talk about people's experiences with talking about domestic violence in the classroom. For more information, call Nancy Fritz at 781-6110. Participants are also invited to check online resources at http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/screen.html Year 2002 scholarship information from the Rhode Island Foundation is online at http://www.rifoundation.org/scholar.html; not all information about all scholarships is posted online, but information is available from the Rhode Island Foundation (401) 274-4564 [youíll be asked to send a self addressed stamped envelope]; as well, LR/RI has a list of current scholarships. from Thursday notes, February 14, 2002 From Point "ABE" to College Transition How can we help adult learners make a smooth transition to postsecondary programs? The New England ABE-to-College Transition Project can help. The project prepares GED and Adult/External Diploma Program graduates to enter and succeed in college. To date, the project has served 267 adults. Of entrants, 61% completed the 12-14 week transition course. Of completers, nearly three-fourths entered a postsecondary institution. The project grew from five to 21 programs this fall with a 2002 grant of $805,420 from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation which funded the effort last year. Programs offer instruction in reading, writing, math, and computers as well as education counseling. Peer mentoring is provided once learners are in college. Mentors help newcomers get acclimated to college culture and provide emotional support and guidance. Contact skallenbach@worlded.org from Daphne Greenberg, moderator NIFL Women and Literacy List: 2/13/02 - interesting statistics: In 1997-8, of the 4,020,500 adults enrolled in state-administered adult
education programs:
The Current Population Survey done in 1999 found that the average 1998
earnings for high school graduates was $23,594:
The same survey found the average 1998 earnings for people who were
not high school graduates was $16,053:
employment opportunities Literacy Volunteers of America-Rhode Island, Inc. Position vacancy: Executive Director: LVA-Rhode Island, Providence, RI Annual Salary: $32,000-$35,000, depending
on experience Benefits: Single health insurance, 2 weeks paid vacation
per year (after 6 mos. probation). 11 paid holidays. 3% employer
match for Simple IRA (after 2 years of service).
ESL teacher wanted for adult ESL classes, beginning levels, evenings and/or mornings. Experience preferred. Will train enthusiastic person. Strong emphasis on speaking. Downtown location. Send resume to Gloria Dei ESL, 15 Hayes St., Providence. 02908 attn. David Henry or email dnhenry@yahoo.com Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships is Seeking an Organizer SOAR provides a vehicle for survivors of domestic violence to join together, learn from each other's experiences, and work collectively to end domestic violence in Rhode Island. Organizing activities include: recruiting new members, assisting members in preparing for meetings, identifying training needs of members, coordinating training events, coordinating speaking engagements for members, coordinating chapter meetings. People of color encouraged to apply. This is a one year Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) position For more information contact Zulma Garcia, SOAR 422 Post Road, Suite 202, Warwick, RI 02888. Telephone: 467-9940 ext. 112. E-mail: zulma@ricadv.org
online / resources The Council for the Advancement of Literacy has published an Occasional Paper titled Adult Literacy & The American Dream. The essay, by Jump Start author and CAAL consultant Forrest Chisman, is posted, in pdf format and available at http://www.caalusa.org/occasionalpapers.html new Trends and Issues Alerts. from the ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education Vocational Rehabilitation by Michael E. Wonacott identifies important issues and trends in VR that can affect the relationship between VR and the One-Stop system including differing definitions of disability and eligibility for services, availability and appropriate use of services and resources from all partners, and consumer choice in selecting One-Stop services. Somatic/Embodies Learning and Adult Education by Sandra Kerka provides insights from sociology, dance, nursing, and adult education for using somatic approaches to learning. Accelerated Learning in Adult Education and Training and Development by Susan Imel examines some of the trends and issues associated with accelerated learning, including the different ways the term is defined. http://ericacve.org
from Eunice Askov: We invite you to join a process that began last October with a Think Tank on building a research agenda for family literacy. In October 2001, under the sponsorship of the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy at Penn State, Ö researchers, policy makers, and practitioners met to develop a research agenda for family literacy. After a report was written to summarize the meeting, participants were invited to provide suggestions for improvement which have now been incorporated into the revised draft report. Now we would like to seek the reactions from the field. Please send your comments on the revised draft Think Tank report (entitled Family Literacy: A Research Agenda to Build the Future) to Eunice (Nickie) Askov, Co-Director, Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy, Penn State, by email ena1@psu.edu, fax 814-863-6108, or postal mail, 102 Rackley Building, University Park, PA 16802 by March 15. Thanks for your help in advancing the research agenda in family literacy. The document, with appendices, is online at http://www.ed.psu.edu/pafamilyliteracy/forms/goodling/thinktankdraftrev.2.pdf What online, print or other materials have been useful to you in your own learning and/or in working with adult learners? share your findings with colleagues -- send them to janet_isserlis@brown.edu, or to LR/RI at PO Box 1974, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912. Check LR/RI's recently updated pages, as well, to see if theres something there you can use. search LR/RI - the search function at http://www.brown.edu/lrri has been improved so that the LR/RI website is now searchable. Please try it. Let me know what you think.. Thanks to Bill Dennen at Brown for his assistance in getting it to work. e-literacy: The National Institute for Literacyís electronic newsletter is online (new and archived issues) at http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/eliteracy/archive.html NIFL also maintains an online calendar of events at http://www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/Calendar/calendar_world.cgi
Free education publications are available from ED Pubs, the U.S. Department of Education's Publications Center. To order free books, brochures, videos, and more, visit the ED Pubs Web site (http://www.ed.gov/about/ordering.jsp) or call ED Pubs toll-free at 877/433-7827. The Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC) announces another round of education reform grants in areas of social science research. PRACC is particularly interested in issues such as high classroom turnover/mobility and its disproportionate impact on low-income, minority, and farm worker students. However, other issues will be considered as well. To apply, send PRRAC a proposal outlining the planned research and methodology, the advocacy work it is designed to support, a budget, timeline, and qualifications of the researchers. Maximum grant: $10,000. No application deadline. http://www.prrac.org/grants.htm The Change Agent In the new issue of the Change Agent,: Focus on Food "you
will find unsettling information, challenging viewpoints, innovative ideas,
and plenty of food for thought". The editors hope "the articles,
activities, artwork and stories will plant seeds of new knowledge, cultivate
reader's ideas, and help us all think how to harvest justice for people
and the earth". Subscription information can be obtained from http://www.nelrc.org/changeagent.Free
single copies of this issue can be obtained by contacting Art Ellison,
aellison@ed.state.nh.us Please enclose a US mail address.
Call For Articles theme: the Change Agent Expressing Ourselves - Creating Change Educators and Adult Learners: We are looking for lessons, activities, and student writings about the connection between creativity and social change. Some questions to think about: How can we develop our creativity so we can be better agents of change? What is the connection between personal growth (change, transformation) and social change? How can art, movement, writing, music, etc. help us express ourselves? What happens to us and others when we do this? What activities have you used in the classroom to help students give voice to their interior world? Articles must be received by May 6, 2002. All articles will be considered. Final decisions are made by The Change Agent Editorial Board. Please send material (by email or PC disk) to: Angela Orlando, World Education, 44 Farnsworth St, Boston, MA 02210 phone: (617) 482-9485 fax: (617) 482-0617 email: aorlando@worlded.org from Jon Randall, Dec 10: At http://www.natcoalitionliteracy.org you can see the latest version of the Omnibus Literacy Legislation concept paper developed by the National Coalition for Literacy. To get to it, click on "Policy and Legislation" on the home page, then on "Commitment Three," and then on "Omnibus Literacy Legislation." Last week the Public Policy Committee of the National Coalition for Literacy met by conference call to consider 49 recommendations submitted from literacy advocates throughout the country. Most of them were approved in one form or another. On December 13th, the National Coalition for Literacy will review and hopefully approve the document at its quarterly meeting in Washington, D.C. From there, we'll ask a Senator or Congressperson to have the paper drawn up as a piece of federal legislation. In the coming weeks, we'll help literacy supporters become familiar with its provisions by highlighting key sections. We'll also be targeting key potential cosponsors during this period. Check out the web site for additional steps in the process and to download the latest version of the concept paper. (You'll need the free program Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can get from www.adobe.com if you don't already have it on your system.) Call for Papers: Women and Literacy Edited by Mev Miller Women's Studies Quarterly is the leading journal on teaching in womenís studies. Thematic issues feature material for specialists and generalists alike, including the most recent scholarship available in jargon-free language; classroom aids such as course syllabi; discussions of strategies for teaching; and up-to-date, complete bibliographies as well as hard-to-find or never-before-published documents and literary materials. Intersections of race and class with gender are of special concern, as are international perspectives. The Quarterly seeks writing for a December, 2003 issue on Women and Literacy. Cross-cultural and international in scope, this issue seeks to include a selection of essays from practitioners in the fields of literacy and adult education as well as from women's studies. Contributions made by literacy practitioners co-authored with women learners or authored by women learners are especially encouraged. This issue encourages writings in a variety of genres, e.g., memoir, personal essays, collections of student writings. Essays may be both reflective of actual practice or theoretical issues. Contributors are asked to include a brief description of your experience in the literacy field. For the purposes of this issue, "women and literacy" pertains to the
concerns and issues for adult women learners (18+ years of age) who have
pre-basic or limited reading/writing skills in predominately print-based
cultures. This issue seeks to heighten the awareness of womenís studies
academics and feminist educators to the issues of literacy for adult women.
It also strives to explore beyond functional definitions of literacy. Questions
to be addressed may include: What are your definitions of "literacy"?
LR/RI website: a shortcut. The URL for Literacy Resources/RI's website has not changed; you can now get to it more quickly by using this new address: http://www.brown.edu/lrri/ -- with thanks to Kath Connolly and Bill Dennen at Brown University for making it so. http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011102/neffns1_3.html Applications for the 2002 Talbots Women's Scholarship Fund are available in all Talbots stores and on the Company's website. Now in its 5th year, this unique $100,000 scholarship program annually awards 5 $10,000 scholarships and 50 $1,000 scholarships to women seeking a bachelor's or associate's degree later in life. Since 1997, Fund has awarded college scholarships to nearly 220 women ranging in age from their mid 20's to their early 60's. The 2002 Board of Judges selecting the five $10,000 scholarship recipients will include Blythe Danner, Caroline Kennedy, Marlee Matlin, Joyce Carol Oates, and Deborah Roberts. Applicants must be women currently residing in the US who earned a high school diploma or GED at least 10 years ago; be seeking a degree from an accredited 2 or 4 - year college, university or vocational-technical school, and have at least two full-time semesters or 24 credits remaining to complete their undergraduate degree. Eligible entries must be postmarked no later than March 4, 2002. To download an application, please visit www.talbots.com/about/scholar/scholar.asp . conferences - conferences are listed chronologically and are updated with each bulletin
The 2002 National Conference on Family Literacy will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 3-5. The theme of the conference is "Shared Vision: Connecting the World of Family Literacy." Presenters from 32 states, Puerto Rico and Canada will present more than 100 different sessions. A list of session topics and more detailed information is online at http://www.famlit.org . Women In Transition, Inc. and Rhode Island Department of Corrections Women's Facilities Presents: Breaking the Chains: Re-Entry and Employment. Nationally, over 600,000 people who have been incarcerated re-enter their communities each year. In Rhode Island, 16,000 men and women are released from prison each year. There are 26,000 people on probation or parole at any one time in the state. This conference has been designed to focus on those people, and their struggles at finding and keeping meaningful employment. Several states have had some success in programming in this area. A recent study, run by the Texas Workforce Commission, found that ex-offenders with jobs commit fewer crimes than ex-offenders without jobs, and those with higher earnings commit fewer crimes than those with lower earnings. Employment for ex-offenders, therefore, is a critical factor in the reduction of recidivism and in keeping our communities safe. March 4, 8:15 am - 12:30 pm. Registration fee: $30.00; 3 or more people from same company: $25.00; Students: $15.00. Contact person: Marilyn Jacobson, Phone: 401-462-1767, FAX: 401-462-0281 e-mail: WomenTransition@msn.com LOCATION: St. Gregory the Great Church Hall, Lower Level, 360 Cowesett Road, Warwick, RI 02886 registation deadline: February 28 Parenting Matters: Saturday, March 23rd at Toll Gate High School in Warwick. All day event; fee of $20 includes lunch. Topics include: Kindergarten Readiness, Helping Kids Manage Stress, For Dads Only, Positive Approaches to Discipline, Homework, Bereavement: The Impact of Death on Children,, Discover the Web, Special Education: Rights and Responsabilities, Learning Disabilities:, Safety and Nutritional Concerns, Child's Play, How Children Think About God, Bullying, Conduct Disorder, Child Development http://www.lifespan.org/SvcLines/ChildHealth/Parenting_Matters/ rescheduled: The National Association for Adults with Special Learning Needs - NAASLN, in conjunction with the Greater Milwaukee Literacy Coalition and the Milwaukee Area Technical College, is presenting a three-day national conference Forging the Future, April 14 - 16, in Milwaukee, WI. The conference offers over 50 sessions for practitioners, administrators, and employers. Presentations include research, cutting-edge models, and practical ways to better serve adults with special learning needs, in addition to exhibits on products and services for adults with special learning needs. Conference sessions will be offered targeting up-to-date information on state and national initiatives. NAASLN is offering participation opportunities for conference presenters, attendees, partners, or exhibitors. For conference and membership information contact visit http://www.naasln.org, email NAASLN@aol.com or call us at 800.496.9222. This conference, previously scheduled for September 13-15, 2001, is rescheduled for April 14-16. Previously registered attendees and presenters need only confirm registrations/ presentations; email NAASLN@aol.com or fax written confirmation to 614.850.8687.
TESOL 2002 - April 9 - 13, Salt Lake City Utah http://www.tesol.org COABE May 6 - 11, 2002, Charleston, South Carolina- http://www.coabe2002.org/ Laubach Literacy Action Biennial Conference will be held in San Diego May 30 - June 1, 2002. http://www.laubach.org/USProgram/biennial.html http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/CASAE/cnf2002/call2002i.html 21st Annual Conference May 30-31 & June 1, 2002 Ontario Institute for Studies in Education University of Toronto Adult Education and the contested terrain of public policy: Heritage Languages in America: Second National Conference Washington, D.C. October 18-20, 2002 The first day of the conference will be an invitational research symposium at the University of Maryland,. The final 2 days will be a public meeting in Tysons Corner, VA. http://www.cal.org/heritage Joshua Fishman, Yeshiva and Stanford Universities from previous bulletins: REMINDERS, RESOURCES: Stop the Hate, http://www.stopthehate.net/index1.htm - provides numerous resources of value to anyone working in adult education, community development and/or hoping to consider viable ways in which to approach social change. Language and Literacy is a Canadian on-line journal for educators interested in a broad range of literacy issues encompassing research and teaching in multimedia, print, and oracy. Available at http://educ.queensu.ca/~landl/ list servs: LR/RI listserv: As some of you know, Literacy Resources has a list serv - an email discussion group available to anyone with access to email in the state (or beyond, as interest warrants). To learn more about the list, or to subscribe, please send an email message to janet_isserlis@brown.edu. To date, about 30 people have joined the list. Its purpose is to provide a forum for local educators to discuss policy, practice, resources, issues and news related to our work with one another. Unlike the bulletin, which arrives as email, the list is interactive - when you respond to message from the discussion list, everyone else on the list receives your message -- and the conversation, we hope, continues and grows. VALUE e-list: VALUE has established a valuelearners mailing for email users, hosted by the Western/Pacific Literacy Network, part of the National Institute for Literacy Information and Communication Network System (LINCS). This "e-list" is a way for adult learners who are members of VALUE to communicate with each other. Only adult learners who are members of VALUE can subscribe to this e-list. VALUE is the national organization for adult learners (current or former participants in adult basic skills programs) in the United States. VALUE provides training and other supports to adult learners who want to be more effective leaders in their education programs, communities, and states. This e-list is being managed by members of VALUE's Communications Committee. Subscribers are encouraged to communicate about information, ideas, questions, or problems of interest to them. If you are a member of VALUE and need help subscribing, please contact LR/RI. If you're not a member, but would like to become one, contact LR/RI or visit the VALUE website at http://literacynet.org/value.
Professional development initiative: In 1998, I spent time at the RI Dislocated Worker Program, facilitating classes for teachers there so that they could have an opportunity to observe one another's classes and to reflect on their learning and teaching. (The full text of their reflections is available on the LR/RI web site at Writing from the Field - or contact LR/RI for a hard copy). Please let me know if you would like to participate in this process of professional development. All that's required is your willingness to share your reflections about the observation/learning process for others. I hope to build a block of writing and thinking about this and other forms of our own professional development both through the bulletin and the web site.
Please contact LR/RI if you have information, questions or announcements to share with adult educators in Rhode Island. Bulletins go out at least twice a month; more frequently when there's more to share. To submit information for the next bulletin, please contact LR/RI by phone (401-863-2839), mail (PO Box 1974, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912) or email. back to LR/RI home |
