Contact LR/RI
| The Rhode Island Adult Education Professional
Development
Center produces a bulletin roughly every
two
to three 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, please go to Bulletin Archives. To receive the bulletin via email, contact LR/RI. To learn more about professional development opportunities, please contact the RI AEPDC at (401) 456 -2838 or (401) 863-2839 March 23, 2009
Bulletin
#297 Dear
Colleagues, Calls for
participation, employment, funding,
and conference and workshop
opportunities, online
and other resources.
Janet Isserlis NOTICES -
– in
addition to events listed here, a recently updated list of events
(including workforce development workshops, new practitioner Offer VALUE membership opportunities to your students Student leadership organizations are a critical component of any education system. VALUE is a national student organization. VALUE is currently very active in making sure that student voices are heard. The Rhode Island Office of Adult and Career and Technical Education is very interested in supporting student and alumni organizations and has supported several in the career and technical education arena. As for adult education participants, EDP assessment candidates, and GED test takers and graduates, it is important to clarify that membership fees in reputable student leadership organization is an allowable expense. Please, feel free to review the membership materials contained in the link below and discuss with your students, alumni, test takers, and staff. http://valueusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=104 Rhode Island Adult Education Conference, Tuesday, May 19th at Rhode Island College. Call for participation here (word document); conference program should be online by mid-April. needs and strengths The Professional Development Council is conducting its annual survey of the field, in order to inform the PDCenter’s workplan for 2010. Please click on the link below and take a few minutes to answer the short survey; your input is critical to this process. Many thanks. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=eJIW3qmEqMwq3mklkj0dSQ_3d_3d ESOL share Tuesday, April 21st, 3 pm at the Genesis Center, 620 Potters Avenue, Providence. TESOL? COABE? read a good book, had a good lesson? Sharing conference reports, ongoing ideas and approaches. Please join us. A reminder, that if you or a staff member are interested in being trained as a Wilson certified teacher (to teach reading to learning disabled adults), please join Susan Grislis at an information session from 1-2 p.m. at the Genesis Center on Wednesday, March 25. Costs of the training (to be offered at a time to be determined) will be supported by the PDC and RIDE. For more information please contact Jill Holloway holloway@ric.edu or Susan Grislis susan@projectlearnri.org practitioner share Tuesday, March 31st at Reflections Café, corner of Wickenden and Governor Street, Providence. On May 3-5, VALUE, in partnership with ProLiteracy, will be holding its 6th biennial National Adult Learner Leadership Institute and Adult Literacy Congress. As part of this Institute, we will hold a mock hearing on each of four recommendations made by the National Commission on Adult Literacy. Adult learners will listen to "testimony" from experts in the literacy field, ask questions, and then offer their views, the consumer perspective, on each of the four recommendations. The Commission made both general and specific recommendations. From all its recommendations, we came up with the top ten that we think adult learners may be able to provide insight to policy-makers. Now we need your help. From this list, we need to pick the four on which we'll hold mock hearings. Please rank these recommendations. On which ones would it be most important for policy-makers to hear the views of adult learners? To participate in the survey, go to: http://tinyurl.com/adabw6 Please share this message with as many people as you can. We'd like as much input as possible in selecting the four topics for the mock hearings. To learn more about this Leadership Institute, go to http://www.valueusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=81&Itemid=100 You can register now. The early registration discount ends April 3rd. In advance, thanks for your help with this. I look forward to seeing many of you in the DC area May 3-5. - Marty Finsterbusch, VALUE Executive Director http://www.valueusa.org Urban League of Rhode Island, Inc. Early Learning Childcare Center 246 Prairie Avenue, Providence Now Enrolling Infants to 5 years old Monday - Friday from 6:30 AM – 5:30 PM Before and After School Program Children ages 5-12 years old. Monday – Friday from 6:30 AM – 9:00 AM After School from 2:30 – 5:30 PM Please call Dawn Olagbegi at 401-351-5000 ext 166 for more information or to enroll your child/children in our quality and affordable childcare programs. Applications forms are available at the Urban League of RI. Urban League Of RI operates a DCYF licensed childcare program and accepts DHS childcare subsidies. Sliding scale fee is also available for working parents. A Merlyn's Pen Writing Contest is launched. If you know a young writer 12-18 who might like to participate, please visit http://www.merlynspen.org. Entry is free. You're also invited to learn which of today's acclaimed novelists were published in Merlyn's Pen--as teens. Their early works appear in the Merlyn's Pen New Library of Young Adult Writing. Look at "Success Stories" under "You Succeed" at the home page. R.I. immigrant leader is go-to man for new arrivals 02/23/09, by Hillary Russ - profile of immigration leader Juan Garcia http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090223/NEWS/902230323 President Obama's Remarks on Education Reform - http://thepage.time.com/president-obamas-remarks-on-education-reform/ online CAELA Network Brief Uses of Technology in the Instruction of Adult English Language Learners This brief discusses three ways of using technology with adults learning English—onsite, blended, and online—and briefly describes examples of specific technologies and programs for adults learning English. The brief concludes by identifying issues to consider when using technology and by offering suggestions for further research. http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/pd_resources/usestechnology.html The Providence Public Library is sponsoring a 2009 Bilingual Young Authors Family & Class Book Writing Contest for 4-6 year-old children and a Story Writing Contest for children ages 7-12. Children from across the state are welcome to join. There will be Writing & Illustration Workshops this Spring. Contest Guidelines: 1. Write your own book and create a drawing to go with each page of your story. An adult may write the words, but the child must draw the pictures or create a collage. 2. Stories must be unpublished and completely original. No adaptations. 3. Each page must be numbered and typewritten in English and Spanish. 4. The book must be least 5 pages but no more than 10 pages. Stories must be postmarked no later than April 15, 2009. Please submit the original. Two winners will be chosen by a panel of judges: an individual winner and a class book winner. An award ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009. Día de los Niños: Día de los Libros — a day to celebrate kids and books! Please call Carolina at 455-8035 to register for the contest. learning opportunities from the American Foundation for the Blind: AFB CareerConnect® presents two free online seminars for professionals working with children and adults with visual impairments. Session 1: Lifelong Learning in Career Education April 28, 2009, 2–3:30 pm (EST) Dr. Karen Wolffe, Director, Professional Development and CareerConnect, will discuss the career education model, how to help move children and adults through the appropriate stages of the model, the activities and resources available to instruct children and adults with visual impairments in career education, and more. Session 2: Determining Current and Future AT Needs April 29, 2009, 2–3:30 pm (EST) Ike Presley, Project Manager, Professional Development, will show attendees how to create a "toolbox" for success by presenting the tools needed to access and create printed and electronic information. This session will also feature professionals with visual disabilities discussing the career planning techniques and assistive technologies that have helped them compete in the workplace and advance their careers. Both seminars will broadcast live to your computer. For more information, and to register for one or both webcasts today, visit http://www.afb.org/careerconnect, or contact 888-824-2184 or careerconnect@afb.net. Brought to you free-of-charge through the generous support of AT&T. new on MLOTS (Media Library of Teaching Skills) at http://mlots.org, a free web-based video library of short classroom or tutoring adult literacy education (including ESOL) videos. The library was created to enable adult education teachers to have a video window on other adult education teachers' classes for program-based or PD center-based online or face-to-face professional development workshops, study circles and courses. Of course individual teachers can access it, too. Each MLoTS-made video is based on state content standards and/or research, theory or best practices. There is also an MLoTS page with links to adult education videos made by others, as MLoTS is intended as the "go to" library for adult literacy education classroom videos. In October, the MLoTS team video recorded a workshop at the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education Conference, Network08. We showed two classroom videos (numeracy and ESOL) and we video recorded a small group of teachers discussing the videos. Find these two classroom videos, and the teacher discussion videos, at: ESOL/ESL Video: Food Vocabulary and Verb Tenses http://mlots.org/lorrie/lorriepage.html Numeracy/Mathematics Video: Ratio and Proportion http://mlots.org/abby/abbypage.html We would love to hear what you think of these videos, especially the new "Teacher Discussion" videos. - David J. Rosen, President Media Library of Teaching Skills, djrosen@mlots.org Two new sections of the online course, Research-based Strategies and Models for Adult Transitions to Postsecondary Education, are open for registration. In this course you will read and discuss research on the changing workforce and examine reasons why adult learners need to go beyond the GED to advance their earning potential, and examine program models that support adult transitions to postsecondary education. For information, or to register: http://www.professionalstudiesae.org Scroll down to College Transitions and click on the course title. Course dates: April 2-May 27. Content overview: http://ProfessionalStudiesAE.worlded.org/pdf/ct_overview_Mar09.pdf Registrations accepted on a first come basis. For more information about the course and the policies. please read the Course Overview at http://www.professionalstudiesae.org If you have any questions about registering for these courses please contact Leah Peterson at lpeterson@worlded.org. COLLEGE PREPARATION FOR ADULTS: The Rhode Island Transition to College (RI TTC) at Rhode Island Regional Adult Learning Center (RIRAL) is now enrolling students for its upcoming sessions. RIRAL/TTC is an intensive college preparation program that provides student success workshops, academic instruction in reading, writing, math, computer, and study skills to prepare students for college readiness. Career Exploration using DISCOVER online and monthly mentoring workshops are also part of the curriculum. In addition, students receive assistance with financial aid, college applications, and academic advising. While attending RIRAL/TTC, students enrol as a cohort in College Reading at CCRI in Providence. Information Sessions for fall Evening and Weekend programs: Tuesdays: April 14, May 5 and June 16 at 5:00 pm Saturdays: April 18, May 16 and June 20 at 10:00 am The RIRAL/TTC initiative is a free program with funding provided by the Rhode Island Department of Education and the Nellie Mae Educational Foundation in collaboration with the Community College of Rhode Island. For more information, contact: Marie Crecca-Romero, Program Director at 722.9800 or by email at MarieCrecca-Romero@riral.org. from World Education: The fall/winter issue of the excellent journal, Field Notes, with a focus on transitions from ABE to college, is now online, and includes articles such as "A Student's Perspective of a College Success Class" by Katie Shaw, "Technology Tools for College Success" by Pat Weisberger, and "Students Leading Students: An Interactive Campus Tour Model" by Karen Van Kirk. http://www.sabes.org/resources/publications/fieldnotes/index.htm National Priorities Project analyzes and clarifies federal data so that people can understand and influence how their tax dollars are spent. Numeracy, critical thinking and technology: have a look http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home funding opportunities - large and less large Applications Being Accepted for Grants from the National Book Fund ProLiteracy's National Book Fund (NBF) supplies books and materials to local adult basic education and literacy programs. The resources available through the NBF are from New Readers Press, the publishing division of ProLiteracy. In addition to New Readers Press materials, National Book Fund grants may also be in the form of ProLiteracy’s online self-paced professional development courses. Programs providing direct service in the areas of basic literacy, adult basic education, English as a second language (ESL), and family literacy will be considered for support. Applications must be postmarked by April 10 or earlier to be considered. For grant guidelines, application, and order forms for New Readers Press materials and online professional development courses, please see http://www.proliteracy.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=356 Programs awarded a grant must provide a cash contribution to ProLiteracy equal to 20 percent of the grant award. ProLiteracy organizational members provide only 10 percent of the grant award! Explore the many other benefits of becoming an organizational member. - grants from the Public Education Network: http://www.publiceducation.org/newsblast_grants.asp - The federal government's new one stop
grant
site: http://www.grants.gov/ 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.php Funding Solutions for Small Nonprofit Organizations A collection of resources to help small nonprofit organizations fundraise including ways to motivate your board, sample fundraising letters, phonathon advice, and tips to improve your direct mail solicitation. http://www.nonprofit-innovations.com/ employment opportunities employment opportunities are generally sent as they arrive via email; if you would like to receive this bulletin, and those updates by email please contact janet_isserlis@brown.edu. Substitute teaching: The Genesis Center is interested in adding to its substitute list. If you are an ESOL instructor who is interested in occasional work as a substitute, either day, evening or Saturday hours, please call Nancy Fritz or Pat Clarkin at 781-6110. Jobs in Literacy – nation wide postings on the National Institute for Literacy's LINCS site: http://www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/lincs/jobs/jobs.cgi Substitute list: if you would like your name added to the general list, please see contact LR/RI. The list needs to be updated so that it can function more usefully for teachers and programs hoping to work with them. (http://www.brown.edu/lrri/sub.html) Rhode Island Community Jobs (RICOMJOB) is a public e-mail announcement list that seeks to raise the profile of meaningful work in Rhode Island by helping non-profit and public interest employers publicize openings effectively. Anyone seeking a job that makes a difference in Rhode Island can join the list. Any non-profit, government or private sector employer advertising a paid position related to the public interest or community concerns can post a free job listing. Positions must be paid but may be part-time, full-time or temporary. To join the list as a job seeker or to post a job as an employer go to: http://www.ricommunityjobs.org Rhode Island Community Jobs is supported by
the Swearer
Center
for Public
Service at Brown University and the Rhode Island Campus Compact.
online / resources available ProLiteracy and the Verizon Foundation have compiled a set of free resources for citizenship teachers and tutors: http://literacynetwork.verizon.org/tln/content/how-can-i-help-immigrants-prepare-take-us-citizenship-test The collection includes: - 3 self-paced on-line professional development courses: Citizenship: The Interview, Citizenship: The Civics Test, and Citizenship: The Literacy Test. (These courses are easy to navigate--you can go forward or back among the screens, skip around, and start/stop/resume anytime you like. The courses include audio and visual presentations, interactive review sections, a course summary exam, and printable certificate of completion.) - a pair of podcasts (recorded by Lynne Weintraub) Citizenship: Engaging Multiple Modalities in the Citizenship Classroom Citizenship: Teaching Conversation Strategies in the Citizenship Classroom (with short PDF handouts to accompany each podcast) 4 short fact sheets: Citizenship: Starting a Citizenship Class, Citizenship: Becoming a U.S. Citizen Checklist Citizenship: Benefits of Becoming a U.S. Citizen, Citizenship: Things to Consider Before You Apply, and reproducable lesson activities. coming soon: interactive on-line activities (for students) with skills practice for the citizenship test Navigation note: For each resource, click on the word "go" in green text--this will lead you to a description of the resource. At the bottom of the description, look for "Resource: Link" (in green). Clicking on this link will take you to the material you have chosen.- Lynne Weintraub, Amherst MA talk about it: two guest speakers on National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) discussion lists: Emotional, Occupational, and Self-Esteem Issues in Adults with Learning Disabilities, on the NIFL LD discussion list serv April 6, 7, and 8, 2009 Guest Speaker: Dr. Mary S. Kelly Dr. Mary S. Kelly is the Director of the Fisher Landau Center for the Treatment of Learning Disabilities and its Adult Literacy Program. She is an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. After graduating from Boston College, she worked as a special education teacher. She then went on to earn her M.A. in Remedial Reading and her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She has taught courses in reading, learning disabilities, and psychology at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She has worked with adults with learning disabilities at the Fisher Landau Center since 1994 and has directed the program since 2002. Tentative Agenda: Resources to Preview Before Discussion http://ncld.org has a wealth of information directed to adults with LD Reading: Barton, R.S. & Fuhrmann, B.S. (1994). Counseling and psychotherapy for adults with learning disabilities. In P.J. Gerber & H.B. Reiff (eds). Learning disabilities in adulthood. (pp. 82-92). Boston: Andover Medical Publishers. Questions from Subscribers Welcome, Self-Introduction, and Invitation to Ask Questions and Comment Goals for the Discussion: To foster an understanding of the learning and psychological needs of low-literacy LD adults and how they affect vocational attainment To examine external and internal obstacles to employment for low-literacy LD adults To examine potential interventions for improving self-esteem Hank and Max: Two low-literacy men with learning disabilities (LD) What impact has their LD had on their self-esteem and ability to work? What can we learn from their experiences? What would you do to help them? Self-esteem and Learning: A reciprocal relationship The experiences of the Adult Literacy Program at Fisher Landau Obstacles to Employment (they’re not just from the outside) What do we know about the employment needs of low-literacy LD adults? Where is the research? Outcomes: What happened to Hank and Max? Is learning to read a panacea? Please begin thinking about questions to submit to Dr. Kelly. A message will be posted in a few weeks asking for discussion questions to be submitted. To participate in the discussion, people must be subscribed to this list. To subscribe: http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/learningdisabilities - and - NIFL's Special Topics Discussion List will address Green Jobs and Adult Basic Skills from April 6 – 10. To subscribe (and later, if you wish, to unsubscribe) go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/specialtopics Adult literacy education practitioners, adult learners and those concerned about the environment will find this topic of interest. This discussion will help adult literacy practitioners to understand what new employment opportunities may exist for their students, and how to help students prepare for these green jobs. What exactly are “green” jobs? How many of them are there nationwide? Why are these jobs important to adult learners? What are the qualifications for these jobs? What role can adult literacy education programs play in helping students to prepare for “green” jobs? These and other questions about environmentally friendly work and adult literacy education will be addressed by our guests and by discussion participants. We hope you will join us. Background on Discussion Guests Alex Risley Schroeder has worked in the adult literacy and workforce development field for over twenty years. She currently works as a Green Careers Coach with adult literacy and ESOL learners and displaced and dislocated workers for the Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board in western Massachusetts. She also works with the Massachusetts Workforce Alliance <http://massworkforcealliance.org/> on workforce development policy education and advocacy which is currently focusing on the opportunities the green economy presents. Alex has a consulting practice, Finding Earth Works http://www.findingearthworks.org/, that assists ABE/GED/ESOL programs and staff and learners to consider ways to prepare for work in the green economy and to understand the environmental challenges we face. Alex worked with SABES, the adult education professional development system in Massachusetts, for a number of years. She has a M.Ed. as well as a D.Min. Her dissertation examined the opportunity for job creation for adult literacy students in green industry sectors and included the design of professional development training for ABE professionals. Last summer she helped to draft the Massachusetts Green Jobs legislation, which included funding for Pathways out of Poverty green jobs training programs. Chris Cato is the Green Initiative Project Manager for YouthBuild USA <http://youthbuild.org> . Chris's primary role is to support the Greening process for YouthBuild programs throughout the United States. Chris is currently assisting with the development of a "green agenda" for Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition, and has implemented demonstration and planning projects that promote building affordable Green Homes, and increase awareness of renewable energy technologies as a pathway to prepare young adults to become a part of the new green economy. Chris has over 25 years of management experience in youth and community development with a focus on environmental awareness and responsibility. Understanding that we all have an important role in relation to our environment, it has been Chris' mission to increase access to opportunities, build awareness and develop environmental leaders within low-income urban communities. Chris is a member of the Board of Directors of Eagle Eye Institute, (Eagle Eye uses the power of nature to transform urban youth) a Corporate Advisory Board member for the Trustees Of The Reservations (one of the oldest and largest private land conservation and preservation organizations) and of the United South End Settlements (a Boston based multi service non profit). Vien Truong is the Senior Policy Associate at Green For All <http://www.greenforall.org/> . She supports and collaborates with state policymakers and community leaders in the development and implementation of green jobs policies and programs in states throughout the country. She concurrently serves as the Associate Attorney for the New Business Practicum at UC Berkeley's Boalt School of Law. She is a Commissioner for the City of Oakland's Fund for Children and Youth Planning and Oversight Committee. She also serves on the board of a labor association and a local nonprofit developer. Previously, Vien was the Community Economic Justice Law Fellow at the East Bay Community Law Center, where she worked to develop innovative, long-term economic development solutions to address the systematic problems confronting low-income communities. Vien was the founding instructor for the Legal Assistance Program for Clarita Career College, a legal training program for entering legal professionals. She also taught Street Law at Castlemont High School, a program that teaches law to high school students. She has worked for a U.S. Chief Magistrate, researching and analyzing issues before the federal court. She also worked with a California State Senator, researching and developing state law. Vien holds a B.A from the University of California at Berkeley. She also holds a J.D. from the University of California at Hastings College of the Law. Kate Davenport has spent several years working and exploring the link between natural resource management, community assets, and economic development in both the private sector and non-profit sector. As part of the EcoVentures International <http://www.eco-ventures.org/> team, she has managed green business and green jobs development projects, including trainings and analysis of environmental business industries. She is part of the management team for a start-up environmental microenterprise providing organic waste removal and reuse services for commercial clients in the Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Atlanta area. Looking to widen her range of private sector environmental enterprise experience, Kate has also co-managed the development of an internal Member Care Center for Flexcar, a national car-sharing company in a restart-up phase and oversaw the transition of the Member Care Center during the merger with Zipcar, a national competitor. Kate has a B.A. in History and African Studies with a Minor in Child Development from Tufts University. Uses of Technology in the Instruction of Adult English Language Learners, by Sarah Catherine K. Moore att http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/pd_resources/usestechnology.html The brief discusses three ways of using technology with adults learning English—onsite, blended, and online—and briefly describes examples of specific technologies and programs for adults learning English. It concludes by identifying issues to consider when using technology and by offering suggestions for further research. Although specific programs are mentioned, they are provided solely as examples; their inclusion in the brief is not intended as a product endorsement. Data show that in the 2005-2006 program year, adult English language learners received an average of 72 hours of classroom instruction, less than 2 hours per week. Integrating technology in instruction for adult English language learners may offer the flexibility to extend learning beyond that available in a formal program and thus increase opportunities for language and literacy learning. It may also offer access to new opportunities for interaction among students and between teachers and students. - Miriam Burt moderator, Discussion list for those working with adult English language learners, mburt@cal.org (note: of the sources cited in the brief, this referece, to Lower-Literacy Users is of particular interest to those working with both ABE and ESOL learners: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20050314.html) The New England Literacy Resource Center (NELRC) has published the findings of action research done by 18 New England adult education programs that investigated persistence strategies in their varied contexts over the course of a semester. This report of the New England Learner Persistence Project is online at http://nelrc.org/persist/report09.pdf. In addition to describing the specific strategies and outcomes that resulted in each program, the researchers concluded that persistence can be improved by addressing key adult needs, such as the need to feel competent or the need for a sense of community. To see other work being done at NELRC, see http://www.nelrc.org/expertise/index.html. - Andy Nash, New England Literacy Resource Center On February 12th, the National Commission on Adult Literacy was represented on a panel that appeared before the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness (of the House Committee on Education and Labor). The written and supplemental testimony for this appearance is available from the Publications page of the Commission's website http://www.nationalcommissiononadultliteracy.org ) and CAAL's site http://www.caalusa.org -- as items NC-CAAL4 and NC-CAAL5. Minnesota Literacy Council's online training site – for out of state users: The courses for adult learners and educators on the Minnesota Literacy Council (MLC) online training site are developed and maintained by MLC staff through supplemental service grants from the Minnesota Department of Education. They are provided free of charge to Minnesota’s adult learners, teachers, volunteers, and other Adult Basic Education practitioners. Out-of-state visitors are welcome to explore the site to access learning resources as well, but we cannot offer CEUs or course completion certificates to out-of-state users. If you are a not a Minnesota resident, you are welcome to browse the self-access online learning materials, but please do not submit course assignments as we will not be able to respond to your submissions. http://online.themlc.org/ from The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) : National Assessment of Adult Literacy: Indirect County and State Estimates of the Percentage of Adults at the Lowest Literacy Level for 1992 and 2003, from the National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL). The report provides the only available snapshot of adult literacy rates for individual states and counties. The report, based on the 2003 NAAL and the 1992 National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS), will serve as an important source of literacy information for policymakers and researchers. The report will be accompanied by an interactive web tool, which will show data for all states and counties. The tool will also provide the ability to compare states, counties, and progress in states and counties over time. http://nces.ed.gov/naal/estimates/index.aspx (estimates) and http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009482 Refugees From Iraq Now Available his publication provides in-depth information about refugee groups from Iraq, describing the various ethnic and religious communities of Iraqi Arabs (both Sunni and Shi’a), Iraqi Christians, and others. Topics include history, conditions in countries of asylum, characteristics of the refugee population, cultural features of each of the different communities, religion, language, education, and resettlement considerations. http://www.cal.org/topics/ri/backgrounders.html online: LessonWriter.com is a free website where teachers can copy, paste and submit any text (an article, essay, story, etc.) and create comprehensive, standards -based lesson plans and student materials in minutes. LessonWriter is a simple, fast and free way to use authentic, high-interest content to motivate students while delivering the explicit language instruction that ELL's need in both English and content-area classes. There are advanced features that can differentiate instruction for multilevel classes and class tracking features that will automatically scaffold lessons. http://www.lessonwriter.com RI DLT's Rhode Island Red job search feature is now drawing job postings from ALL local jobs boards (except Monster.com). To access this resource visit RI RED http://www.dlt.ri.gov/rired/ -- under quick menu click job search; choose location search criteria, provide job title or other criteria. Source codes are listed at the bottom of the page Lots to do at the library Providence Public Library's calendar of events: http://www.provlib.org/calendar.asp National Coalition for Literacy Launches Online Advocacy Toolkit The National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), a national leadership organization dedicated to advancing adult education in the United States, has launced its new online Advocacy Clearinghouse and Toolkit (http://www.ncladvocacy.org/). Developed with an aim to change the conversation about adult education in the U.S., the Toolkit provides adult education and literacy advocates with the tools and knowledge to raise awareness of 30+ million Americans with limited literacy and 11+ million who cannot communicate in English. Recent statistics from the National Center on Education Statistics (NCES) showed that 1 in 7 U.S. adults have below basic literacy skills. Although numbers remain little changed from similar statistics taken 15 years ago, federal support and resources for adult education have steadily declined over the years. During this period of economic crisis, millions of adults are in search of improving their education and work skills in order to re-enter the workforce. There is no greater time than now for states and the federal government to invest in adult education, and NCL hopes to push that effort forward by providing the tools and resources to adult education advocates across the country. Containing resources, facts, and reports provided by member organizations of the NCL, the Advocacy Clearinghouse and Toolkit is a one-stop shop for advocates interested in improving adult education. This project has been supported by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, which invests millions of dollars each year in literacy programs that help individuals reach their full potential. The NCL is a national adult education leadership organization comprised of member organizations and adult education professionals, committed to promoting adult education and literacy, family literacy, and English language development in the US. NCL advances adult education, language, and literacy by fostering collaboration at the national level among public and private organizations. - Jennifer Maloney, Director National Coalition for Literacy PO Box 11592 Washington, DC 20008 301-602-6358 (cell) jennifer.maloney@ncldc.net http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org Workplace Essential Skills and GED Connection series Available Through VIDEO-ON-DEMAND The adult learning series Workplace Essential Skills and GED Connection are available online through the Rhode Island PBS video streaming portal. In 25 half -hour segments, the Workplace Essential Skills series presents refreshers in fundamental reading, writing, and math skills as they relate to getting, keeping, or advancing in a job. Lessons also cover job applications, resume writing, and job interviews. An orientation segment touches upon the use of the different components included in this series. Lessons are written at a pre-GED level, and can help prepare adults for the GED tests. Four workbooks accompany the series. In 39 half-hour programs, the GED Connection helps learners prepare for the GED exam. Episodes cover subjects and skills related to work, community, and home life. Practice tests help learners know what to expect, see which skills they need to strengthen, and build confidence. Access to Workplace Essential Skills and GED Connection series through RI PBS video streaming is free. Users access VOD through an account and passcode, available by email request to Education@ RIpbs.org or by calling Education Services at 401-222-3636 x 211. Video streaming, also known as video on demand (VOD), allows users the convenience of watching lessons at any time from an Internet-connected computer. VOD is also flexible, allowing users to watch several episodes in one sitting, or repeat lessons as often as desired. Both the Workplace Essential Skills and the GED Connection series are also broadcast on RI PBS LEARN, digital 36.2 and Verizon 787. The Workplace Essential Skills broadcasts Fridays at 12:30 PM and the GED Connection series broadcasts Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays at 12:30 PM. For Workplace Essential Skills and the GED Connection broadcast dates please visit: http://www.pbs.org/tvschedules/ For information about RIPBS Education Services please visit out web pages at http://www.ripbs.org/Education/ - Dr. María D. Velásquez de Tondreau Education Director Rhode Island PBS 50 Park Lane Providence, RI 02907 Phone: (401) 222-3636, ext. 211 Fax: (401) 222-3407 Education@RIpbs.org National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy, dedicated to conducting research and development projects to improve literacy, numeracy, language and related skills and knowledge. On this site you will find information on all our activities, including: Research and development projects <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/projects.asp> Creative routes to specialist teacher qualifications <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/creativeroutes> The Voices on the Page storybank is now live! Read all of the 640 stories here <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/voicesonthepage.asp> Research reports and reviews <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=329> Latest e- newsletter <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=671> News and events <http://www.nrdc.org.uk/news.asp> google literacy site: http://www.google.com/literacy/ outstanding resource: http://www.youthliteracy.ca/ - Youth Literacy work in Canada The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) - The U.S. Civics and Citizenship Online: Resource Center for Instructors is available online at: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b36e663784bcd010VgnVCM100000d1f1d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=b36e663784bcd010VgnVCM100000d1f1d6a1RCRD The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), Assisting Refugees with Disabilities Program : Resource Guide for Serving Refugees with Disabilities available at http://www.refugees.org/DisabilityGuide The guide, written for refugee case managers and those serving refugees with disabilities, includes 139 pages of information about resources for serving adults and children with disabilities, housing for refugees with disabilities, assistive technology, medical resources, citizenship and disability, benefits for refugees with disabilities and more. If you have any questions or technical assistance needs, please contact Xuan Nguyen, Director of USCRI Health and Human Services at xnguyen@uscridc.org or at 202-347-3507 ext 3056. RI Foundation online scholarship directory - searchable by city/town, intended field of study, current high school, and more. http://scholarship.rifoundation.org/ YouthBuild USA Learning Network has links to Web sites and full-text documents, and includes a section on "Authentic Materials/Engaged Learning/Constructivism/Contextual Learning/Project-based Learning." http://www.youthbuild.org/learningnetwork/professionaldev.html conferences and workshops - conferences and workshops are listed chronologically and are updated with each bulletin Rhode Island - Training/events around employment issues for people with disabilities http://www.ric.edu/uap/training.h
RI-TELL - RI Teachers of English Language Learners Spring Conference Teaching ESL Through the Arts: Part One: Using the Visual and Dramatic Arts to Teach A Second Language Saturday, April 25th Rhode Island College Student Union Ballroom 8:45 AM-12:30 PM Featured Session: John C. Chamberlin, Associate Professor, Department of Teaching + Learning in Art + Design, RI School of Design The Power of Visual Arts and Design in Generating Verbal and Written Language Adult: Drawing in the Adult ESL Classroom, Katherine Meyer, ESL Specialist, Institute for Labor Studies and Research (ILSR) and International Institute of Rhode Island and Artist Secondary: Getting Hands On Experience in Communicating in a New Language, Elizabeth Anne Keiser (and student leaders), TALL University (Arts Literacy Project), Central Falls Public Schools Elementary: Developing Language and Literacy through the Arts—How to Use Calligraphy to Teach Critical Literacy Skills, Margaret Garcia-Engstrom (and art mentor students), Art in Education, Robert L. Bailey and Alfred A. Lima Elementary Schools Register Online http://www.matsol.org Non-Members: $55 Conference Fee for Current Members: $10 Become a Member and Conference Fee: $45 ($30 for full-time Students-Proof Required) Includes all member benefits; Conference registration and canvas tote for first 50 to sign up! Member Benefits: Biannual Newsletter “Currents” E-Bulletin RIWorks—Job Postings Member Rates at Two Conferences Per Year, other PD Opportunities Sponsored by Melanie Greitzer ESL Specialist & Representative R Questions: contact jane_george@nksd.net MATSOL Annual Conference : May 7-8, 2009 at the Sheraton Four Points in Leominster, MA. The 2009 conference theme is Multiple Literacies: Launching English Language Learners into a New Era. There will be a K-12 strand on both days and an Adult, Workplace and Higher Education strand on Friday, May 8. Our keynote speakers will be Stephen Krashen and Jim Cummins. http://www.matsol.org COABE Conference 2009, Louisville, KY April 17-22 Commission on Adult Basic Education (COABE), Kentucky Association of Adult & Continuing Education, and Kentucky Adult Education Council on Postsecondary Education are pleased to announce a Call for Proposals for the 2009 COABE national conference. . The goal of the Annual COABE National Conference is to provide best practices and program guidance to adult basic education professionals. http://www.coabeconference.org/ For more information, contact: Lorena Lasky, COABE 2009 Concurrent Sessions Chairperson, Jefferson County Adult & Continuing Education Lorena.Lasky@kentuckianaworks.org 502-574-4123 other events and conferences http://www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/Calendar/calendar_world.cgi TESOL worldwide
calendar of events http://www.tesol.org/isaffil/calendar/index.html
breathe - everyday yoga at your desk. http://www.mydailyyoga.com/yoga/everyday_yoga.html street yoga - Through the teaching of free yoga, meditation and wellness classes we seek to help homeless youth increase their physical, emotional and spiritual strength, stamina and flexibility so they can better meet their own core needs. We work closely with those service providers striving to help homeless youth secure safe housing, nutritious food, accessible health care, employment, clean clothing, educational choices and human dignity.
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