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| The Rhode
Island Adult Education Professional
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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 February 5, 2010
Bulletin
#334 Dear
Colleagues, Calls for participation, employment, funding, and conference and workshop opportunities, online and other resources. To post information, and/or to receive the bulletin via email, please contact the AEPDC or leave a message at (401-863-2839). 
Janet Isserlis Haiti. http://swearercenter.brown.edu/new/news/haiti-earthquake-relief http://twitter.com/#/list/nytimes/haiti-earthquake http://doctorswithoutborders.tumblr.com/ - photo blog; please be aware there are some difficult images at this site. http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/project-haiti-holding-a-teach-in/?src=twt&twt=nytimes (NY Times learning materials about Haiti)
NOTICES -
– in
addition to events listed here, a recently updated list of events
(including workforce development workshops, new practitioner Please save May 26, 2010 for the state's Adult Education Conference, to be held at Rhode Island College. Details coming early next year. Want to make better referrals for adult education students in Rhode Island? An interactive referral website for adult education services in the state has been created at http://groups.google.com/group/rhodeislandreferrals. Find profiles of adult education agencies, post class openings or request help with a student referral. Please update your agency's profile information, and if your agency is not listed, contact Karisa Tashjian at ktashjian@yahoo.com to have your agency added to the list. This site is open to all agencies who provide services (educational, social service, etc.) for adult education students in the state. You only need a Google account to access and post information. If you need help setting up an account, please contact Karisa Tashjian at the email above or Bernice Morris at BerniceM@pha-providence.com.  follow up to the Learner Persistence conference – February 11, at 1 pm - International Institute of RI 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. Even if you were unable to join us for the conference, please come learn about what people have been working on and share your own views and work with learner persistence. ESOL Share February 11th at 3:00 pm at IIRI – Materials. What's working? Do you make things up? What commercially prepared materials work well? What about childhood lead safety materials? We also plan to address the issue of transitions – continuing conversations that started about a year ago, and also to continue investigations into what materials are useful for adult English language learners. We are very happy to announce that our name change to OpenDoors (from the Rhode Island Family Life Center) is now official. Please join us on our new website: http://www.opendoorsri.org - Sol Rodriguez, Executive Director OpenDoors is offering free tax preparation assistance to our clients and other low-income community members. Free Tax Preparation is Available Wednesdays 4-8pm and Saturdays 10am-4pm In addition, OpenDoors offers financial literacy classes to hellp VITA clients make the best use of their refunds. For more information: http://www.opendoorsri.org/financialliteracy learning opportunity New Roots Providence is offering an Introduction to Grantwriting training on Saturday, February 27th, Please note that space is limited so registration will be on a first come first serve basis. Deadline for registration is February 19th. A workshop description is listed below as well as time and location. Please email nrptraining@provplan.org to register. Time: 9:00am - 12:30pm Location: Independent Square Foundation 500 Prospect Street, Pawtucket, RI This introductory workshop is designed to give novice grant writers the confidence, knowledge and tools they need to prepare winning grant proposals. Strategies for preparing applications and budgets for foundation, corporation and federal sources will be discussed, with a special emphasis on writing for grassroots organizations. Participants will learn: - tools for identifying prospective grant funders, - strategies for preparing letters of intent and proposals that clearly articulate your mission, vision and programs · tips on building relationships with foundation staff, budget basics and strategies for developing a grant "calendar" to get your grants written and out the door on time Trainer: Suzanne Alden New Roots Grants' Opportunities This year, New Roots will give up to 39 Capacity Building Grants to individual organizations and partnerships of organizations working or serving communities in the state of Rhode Island. Grants will be used for activities that strengthen organizations and increase their ability to serve people in need. Faith-based and community-based organizations are encouraged to apply. To learn more about the opportunities that are available, please register to attend one of the following Grant workshops at http://nrp.eventbrite.com Tuesday, Feb. 9th 1:00pm-3:00pm Newport Public Library - 300 Spring Street, Newport Thursday, Feb. 11th 11:00am-1:00pm Peacedale Congregational Church - 261 Columbia Street, Wakefield RIRAL/TRANSITION TO COLLEGE INFORMATION SESSIONS: comprehensive college preparation program including Free College Reading class (ENGL 0850) at CCRI, Providence; student success, career exploration, and mentoring workshops; academic writing, basic math, and pre-algebra; computer lab & tutorials; academic advising, support services, registration for college; college application and Financial Aid preparation. RIRAL TTC is a partner in the RI Statewide Transition to College initiative and a natural segue for GED, EDP, and Advanced ESL students prior to post-secondary education. Information Session: February 6; March 6; April 10; May 1; June 5 on Saturdays @ 10:00 am. Allow 2 -3 hours for assessment. Please do not bring children. 175 Main Street Pawtucket (above the Visitor’s Center) Contact MarieCrecca-Romero@riral.org 722-9800.  The Newport Skills Alliance is launching its 2nd Hospitality On-Ramp Training Program, Feb 26 - Apr 23. Through attendance participants will gain a range of work- readiness skills and training to help them gain employment in the Aquidneck Island hospitality sector with a ServSafe certificate. Participants may also be eligible to receive a performance-based grant to help cover personal expenses as they participate in this free training program. To learn more contact Tom Costello, NSA Project Coordinator: 401-851-1656 or Lynne Porreca, Case Manager, 401.848.6697 ext. 343.  Dorcas Place is offering a Healthcare Exploration Track in March. The course includes 5 weeks of class time followed by a 4 week internship in a hospital or nursing home. This class prepares the student for entry level positions in health care, for example- dietary, housekeeping, or transport. Admission is based on a qualifying test and an interview. This is a great opportunity for individuals looking to begin a career in Health Care. Contact Rene Rico or Naomi Foster at 273-8866 or stop by Dorcas Place 220 Elmwood Ave. Providence from Thursday notes, January 28: Assistant Secretary Brenda Dann-Messier and Dr. Jill Biden addressed the Center for American Progress forum Community Colleges and Competitiveness: Generating Economic Opportunity Through Innovation in Postsecondary Education <http://www.americanprogress.org/events/2010/01/commcoll.html> held Jan. 27, 2010. The event celebrated the release of the center’s policy papers on a student-centered vision of community colleges and how to integrate three historic missions of community colleges. video recording here: http://www.americanprogress.org/events/2010/01/commcoll.html  Join us in launching the 2010 Reading Across Rhode Island project at a conference designed for educators, librarian and book discussion leaders and readers from across the state. Kick-off Conference on January 30 at Bryant University 9 am – 2:30 pm $25 registration fee (includes a copy of the book, breakfast and lunch!) Designed to give book group leaders an introduction to the novel and the resources and materials to develop an interesting discussion, conference attendees will meet workshop presenters ready to link the themes of the book to Rhode Island-based activities. Presenters include Dr. Judy Litoff, author of Since You Went Away, letters from the homefront during WWII; Dr. Jim Brosnan, reflecting on the literary aspects of the novel and Mary Flynn, of Miriam Hospital, on Economical Eating. The cast of Living Literature, under the direction of Barry Press, will close the day with a Reader’s Theater adaptation of the novel. - more information and downloadable version of the conference brochure: http://www.readingacrossri.org Save the Date: The 8th Annual May Breakfast - May 1, Rhodes on the Pawtuxet 9 – 12 noon $25 Featuring Annie Barrows, co author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Mary Ann Shaffer, a librarian and editor, nurtured the tale about Guernsey for twenty years before committing pen to paper. Unfortunately, Ms. Shaffer passed away in February, 2008 before the final edits to the manuscript were complete. She asked her niece, Annie Barrows, to complete the revisions - and the story is now ours to share with all Rhode Islanders. Ms. Barrows is also the author of the children’s series Ivy and Bean and The Magic Half. Look for more details and the registration form in February learning opportunities ProfessionalStudiesAE.org, a partnership of ProLiteracy and World Education, is pleased to announce the launch of two new online professional development courses that are part of a six-part series of online courses focused on effective adult numeracy instruction. For more information and to register, look for the Numeracy topic at: http://www.professionalstudiesae.org/. If you have questions, e-mail prodev@proliteracy.org. Teaching Reasoning and Problem Solving Strategies March 1 - April 9, 2010 Course Description Numerate adults do more than calculate figures. They think about the relationships between mathematical concepts and real-life situations. They look for patterns, make predictions, and evaluate their conclusions. They can form problems, represent them, and solve them. They apply critical thinking skills. As an instructor, you stimulate their numeracy development by choosing appropriate problems and guiding students as they try out new reasoning and problem solving strategies. This course examines mathematical reasoning and problem solving strategies and provides numerous teaching strategies and activities that you can apply to your teaching right away. By the end of the course, you will be able to: understand the five processes of the cognitive and affective component of numeracy that adults use to solve mathematical problems build students' comfort and skills in numeracy use numerous reasoning and problem-solving strategies and activities in your own teaching Course Format and Schedule: facilitated, online. Throughout this course you will engage in self-paced activities and readings, as well as asynchronous discussions with the facilitator and course participants. Course Facilitator: Barbara Goodridge Estimated Completion Time: approx. 2-3 hours per week; 12 hours total Prerequisite: Foundations of Teaching Adult Numeracy or equivalent experience Number Sense: Teaching About Parts and Wholes April 12 - May 21, 2010 Course Description Teaching students how to use estimation, mental math, benchmarking, and calculators will enhance their conceptual understanding of numbers and what numbers represent. This course focuses on helping adult students develop number sense by addressing two key questions: When is it necessary to have an exact answer, and when is an estimate sufficient? When calculation is necessary, which tool is appropriate to use? This course examines how students develop and apply number sense and provides numerous teaching strategies and activities that you can apply to your teaching right away. By the end of the course, you will be able to: analyze appropriate uses of various computation approaches (estimation, mental math, calculator, paper and pencil) compare and contrast two models for developing a conceptual understanding of benchmark fractions and their equivalents design math activities that are permeated with estimation, mental math, and reasonableness strategies. Course Format and Schedule: facilitated, online. Throughout this course you will engage in self-paced activities and readings, as well as asynchronous discussions with the facilitator and course participants. Course Facilitator: Jean Stephens Estimated Completion Time: approx. 2-3 hours per week; 12 hours total Prerequisite: Foundations of Teaching Adult Numeracy or comparable experience Introduction to College Transition Math March 1 - April 16, 2010 Course Description and Objectives You will reflect on your own and your students’ math backgrounds, examine and experience the college placement test your students take and try out math activities and exercises you can use in your classroom in preparation for determining what math knowledge and skills you want to present to your own college transition students. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify your own attitudes toward math and develop strategies for helping your students understand their attitudes and build on their strengths, describe the math skills assessed by the college placement test your students take and use that information to enhance their understanding of math concepts and skills, explain ways to build your students’ skills in math for a successful college transition, and develop (or revise) a curriculum outline for your own math class. Course Overview and Schedule: http://professionalstudiesae.worlded.org/index.html#ctmath Course Format and Schedule: facilitated, online. Throughout this course you will engage in self-paced activities and readings, as well as asynchronous discussions with the facilitator and course participants. Course Facilitator: Pat Fina Estimated Completion Time: approx. 4-5 hours per week; 24 hours total  Differentiated Instruction for the Multilevel ESL Classroom A free webinar from ProLiteracy Thursday, February 11, 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET Presenter: Erik Jacobson The demand for ESL instruction continues to challenge teachers, particularly in the area of managing the multilevel classroom. During this webinar we will explore the unique features of a multilevel classroom, as well as the challenges and opportunities it offers for instruction. We will look at practical strategies for tailoring instruction to meet the needs of students at different levels of language learning. In particular, we'll focus on differentiating the content, process, and products of learning activities. http://www.proliteracy.com/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=https%3a%2f%2fwww.proliteracy.org%2fNetCommunity%2fSSLPage.aspx%3fpid%3d767&srcid=3589&srctid=1&erid=271062 You may also be interested in the upcoming online course: Managing the Multilevel ESL Classroom March 1–April 9, Course Instructor: Erik Jacobson http://www.proliteracy.com/NetCommunity/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.newreaderspress.com%2fItems.aspx%3fhierId%3d6500&srcid=3589&srctid=1&erid=271062 About the Presenter Erik Jacobson is an assistant professor at Montclair State University. He worked in community-based adult education in the greater Boston area for 10 years, teaching and working in ESL, citizenship, and family literacy programs, and served as a research assistant at the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy. He received his Ed.D. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, where his research was focused on adult basic education in Japan. He is currently president-elect of the New Jersey Association for Lifelong Learning. CURRICULUM: Something is Wrong: Exploring the Roots of Youth Violence Project NIA, the Chicago Freedom School and Teachers for Social Justice have partnered along with other volunteers to develop a curriculum guide in order to contribute to the ongoing efforts by young people and their adult allies to analyze the root causes of youth violence and to create local solutions.At a time when frustration is running high and many are expressing a sense of powerlessness in the face of pervasive violence, this curriculum guide is an offering intended to make a positive contribution to the dialogue about violence in the lives of young people. http://www.teachersforjustice.org/2010/02/curriculum-something-is-wrong-exploring.html The Childhood Lead Action Project is a statewide organization working to eliminate childhood lead poisoning through education, parent support, and advocacy. With the support of a recent EPA grant, the Childhood Lead Action Project has developed a comprehensive lead poisoning prevention ESL curriculum to help ESL providers to supply their clients with important information to keep themselves and their families safe. The Childhood Lead Action Project is making this curriculum available to ESL providers throughout the state. Contact Emily Godfrey, at 401-785-1310(x207) or emily@leadsafekids.org to inquire about the curriculum. In addition to the ESL curriculum, the Childhood Lead Action Project also provides free trainings, seminars and workshops on lead poisoning prevention, and tenants' rights. These presentations can be tailored for ABE audiences, or for service providers. Please contact Emily Godfrey for more information. -Emily Godfrey, Community Educator, Immigrant and Refugee Lead Prevention Project, Childhood Lead Action Project, 1192 Westminster St., Providence, RI 02909 (401) 785-1310 ext. 207 emily@leadsafekids.org talk about it : In July 2009, a World Education team that included John Strucker, Steve Quann, Sally Waldron, and consultant Ros Davidson completed extensive updates and revisions of Davidson's popular Website, Assessment Strategies and Reading Profiles (ASRP) http://www.nifl.gov/readingprofiles/index.htm for the National Institute for Literacy. In addition to providing useful information and free resources on reading assessment and reading profiles, the site has a unique interactive feature that allows teachers to match their adult learners' test scores to research-based adult reading profiles and then to receive instructional suggestions based on the matches. To publicize the newly-updated Website, World Education will sponsor four special discussions (described below) on the Institute's LINCS Discussion Lists. Each discussion will be led by one or more prominent researchers in that topic area joined by in most cases by practitioners with expertise in that area. Below is the schedule for the four special ASRP discussions. To join any or all of the four special discussions, as well as the regular LINCS Discussion Lists, go to: http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/discussions.html March 22 Reading and Writing Skills of ABE Transition Learners Guest discussants: Cynthia Zafft (World Education), Lauren Capatosto (Harvard Graduate School of Education), and Sally Gabb (Bristol Community College) Moderator: Ellen Hewett April 12 The Literacy Development of ESL Beginners: Observations and Analyses from the NCSALL ESL Laboratory Classrooms Guest discussant: Kathy Harris, Portland (OR) State University Moderator: Miriam Burt June 21 Reading Patterns and Profiles of Adult Literacy Participants Guest discussants: Daryl Mellard (Kansas University) and Daphne Greenberg (Georgia State University) Moderator: Daphne Greenberg New Math & Numeracy Discussion List moderated by Brooke Denney from the Adult Education Program at Cowley College. The purpose of this list is to provide an on-going professional development forum where adult educators, advocates, researchers, policy makers, adult education providers, and others can discuss mathematics and numeracy issues in adult basic education and GED programs. This list promotes the sharing of information, research, expertise, and resources on topics such as motivation and math, math skills for GED completion and transitions to post-secondary and workplace settings; common math and numeracy instructional issues; technology in math education; and current on-line numeracy or math classes being piloted in ABE/GED settings. The list will share information and resources on these and other related topics so that participants can increase their breadth and depth of understanding of adult numeracy and mathematics issues. http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/discussions.html funding opportunities - large and less large 2010 Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year Award applications now available Presented by the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) and Toyota, the Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year Award is given to educators who demonstrate exemplary efforts to help parents and children learn together and achieve their academic and non-academic goals. The 2010 Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year will receive a $7,500 award for his/her program, courtesy of Toyota. He/she also will receive a trip to the 19th Annual National Conference on Family Literacy in San Antonio, Texas on April 11-13. He/she will be recognized during the Opening General Session at the Conference. Nominations will be accepted online through February 24, 2010 To access and complete the nomination form, click here http://datacapture.doe1915.com/ncfl/form.php. - grants posted on the National Institute for Literacy website: http://www.nifl.gov/cgi-bin/lincs/search/gsearch/dbsearch.cgi?action=Show%20Results - 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. Refugee Resettlement Program, Refugee Skills Development Case Worker, International Institute of RI The Refugee Skills Development Caseworker participates in a team that serves recently-arrived refugees who are attending Rhode Island Department of Education funded classes (ESL/ Job-Readiness) at IIRI. Clients are highly diverse and living through an exciting, at times, traumatic transition. Many are preliterate with varying levels of exposure to Western culture. Many need assistance with basic life skills. The period of student enrollment varies from 6 weeks – 18 months, however service often extends on an as-needed basis. This a full time position, 35 hours per week. Approximately 20 hours are devoted to direct service addressing immediate barriers to student participation in classes. The remaining 15 hours are reserved for developing holistic initiatives to promote the retention, empowerment, stability, and self-sufficiency of students. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Direct service: case management and social work. • Facilitate student understanding and management of paperwork such as bills, DHS documents, and applications (including SSI, heating assistance). • Advise and assist students with practical concerns such as budgeting and managing finances, collecting documents, housing decisions, accessing available social services. • Initiate and maintain communication with representatives of other community or government agencies to advocate on students’ behalf. •When necessary, accompany clients to appointments. •Be available to students for crisis-management, crisis intervention, decision making. • Approach providing services as a teacher with the goal of empowering students to take increasing responsibility for the challenges facing them • Partner with Reception and Placement caseworkers to enable a smooth transition of case management for students participating in RIDE classes. • Partner with the Volunteer Coordinator to enable volunteers to assist in providing services for students. •Seek out information and inform the staff team about community resources. Development initiatives • Partner with the skills development staff, job developers, and students to identify barriers and potential barriers to class participation and job readiness • Develop initiatives (in and out of class, with either groups or individuals) to address rising concerns and promote student empowerment, confidence, employability, and self-sufficiency • Lead and/or organize monthly town meetings (with assistance of other RIDE staff) to build community among learners, invite input, and address common concerns • Assist program coordinator to create a stable, productive learning environment for students •Liaise with volunteers and other outside resources to best meet student needs. Administration • Document activities and interactions with students including narrative case notes in IIRI database. •Participate in staff development opportunities. •Attend and participate in program and agency staff meetings and objectives. QUALIFICATIONS •B.A. or M.A. in social work or education. Experience working with adult learners and high-needs groups • Effective in a multicultural setting. •Ability to: teach and communicate effectively across significant language and cultural barriers; to multi-task, problem-solve creatively, manage stress.; identify recurring problems and design systemic solutions and navigate red tape in bureaucratic systems •Sensitive to the needs of refugees •Excellent advocacy skills. Familiar with social service systems in Rhode Island. •Car, driver's license, willingness to transport clients •Excellent computer (Microsoft Office), writing and organizational skills •Willingness to pursue certification. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter (email preferred) to Keith Cooper kcooper@iiri.org Jobs for Change "seeks to spark a nationwide movement toward careers in the nonprofit, government, and social enterprise sectors" – online at http://jobs.change.org/ 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. RI DLT's Rhode Island Red job search feature draws 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
Unemployment
lifeline – from the AFL-CIO,
with locally-searchable links to resources http://www.unemploymentlifeline.com/
online / resources available Center for Applied Linguistics: The Power of Language in a Diverse Society On March 12, 2009, CAL assembled a distinguished panel of scholars to consider how the power of language plays out in our diverse society. CAL has posted video and the accompanying PowerPoint presentations to allow Web visitors to benefit from the information shared at the Symposium. Language, Diversity, and Learning: Lessons for Education in the Twenty-first Century, Dr. Sonia Nieto, University of Massachusetts (Professor Emerita) Language and Opportunity, Dr. John Baugh, Washington University in St. Louis, Changing Misconceptions About Dialect Diversity, Dr. Walt Wolfram, North Carolina State University http://www.cal.org/cal50/symposium/index.html online: CAAL E-News Issue #6 (January 26, 2010) <http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs067/1102572750256/archive/1102965950211.html> – A Message From CAAL's President; Point of View: Let's Get Real with the GED; CAAL News in Brief - Cheryl King Moderates at CIC President's Institute; ED Awards $8 million to JFF for Green Pathway Initiatives, Getting Serious About the GED in NY State, OVAE Selects Eight States for Customized Transition Training, MDRC Releases Report on Ways to Reduce Ex-Prisoner Recidivism, Edward Gordon Gives Chicago Federal Reserve Bank Keynote, New Report from Working Poor Families Project, Workforce Alliance Becomes National Skills Coalition, New CLASP Publications on WIA, CAEL Comments on WIA Reauthorization. http://www.caalusa.org/enews.html (scroll down) a math resource: http://mathsnacks.org/baddate_flashSub.html - the right question project – have you been to this site recently? http://www.rightquestion.org/ – what sites do you visit? contribute to? want to share? let us know – janet_isserlis@brown.edu LINCS Resource Collection’s Workforce Competitiveness Collection, covers Workforce Education, English Language Acquisition, and Technology. http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/resourcecollections/RC_workforce.html Discussion lists also are available, providing a forum through which you can ask questions and share ideas with colleagues across the country. To subscribe to the Workforce Competitiveness, Technology and Distance Learning, and Adult English Language Acquisition discussion lists, go to http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/discussions.html. Additional workforce education resources, organized by career clusters or occupational categories, are located in the Career Pathways Instructional Materials Library. Professionals in state adult education departments shared these examples as online materials that teachers use in the classroom to build basic skills and prepare adults for success at work. Most of these materials are not reviewed by the Collection’s external content experts; an asterisk marks those that have been externally reviewed and are also available in the Resource Collection. The new Career Pathways Library includes Virginia Adult Learning Center’s Building Basics: ESOL Toolkit for General Construction, Landscaping, Painting, and Plumbing. This instructional package covers four topics; each contains four or five lessons and includes activities designed for different proficiency levels. Each lesson also provides a facilitator guide and materials, and student handouts. While this resource has not been externally reviewed, the Embedded Learning Portal has been externally reviewed and is included in the Workforce Education Collection. The United Kingdom Department for Education and Schools developed this resource that includes various work-related basic skills curricula embedded in the context of jobs in specific industry clusters. It is often difficult for teachers to integrate technology into their classes. Under Construction: Building Web Sites as a Project-Based Learning Activity for ABE/ESOL Classes: Tips for Teachers offers some simple, user-friendly guidance on using project based instruction and technology to build a Web site with students. You might consider having students in a work preparation class develop a Web site that includes information on work skills. A project such as this would include content of interest to adult learners and help them build communication, math, and problem- solving skills. Visit the Workforce Competitiveness Collection for additional resources, and/or contact content experts for additional information and to learn more about the resources, technical assistance, and professional development opportunities that are available at no cost: Workforce Education – Wendy McDowell, wlm12@psu.edu and Priscilla Carman, psc3@psu.edu; English Language Acquisition – Blaire Willson Toso, bwt121@psu.edu; and Technology – Tim Ponder, tponder@literacy.kent.edu. LINCS is a service of the National Institute for Literacy, providing online information and communication networks for adult and family literacy practitioners. LINCS' offerings include Discussion Lists, Regional Resource Centers, the Collections, and training opportunities. http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/  Free online resources that are very appropriate for adult learners are available at http://www.AskRI.org. They include online homework help for grades 3 to adult from 2-10 everyday at tutor.com. Includes career help (resume review, job search, interview help), GED prep, citizenship, review of a document by a live tutor. Also check out the Skills Center for thousands of worksheets, tutorials, study guides and more. Check out the online encyclopedia - World Book Discover - for adult learners and those with reading challenges includes translation capabilities into 14 languages along with employment, financial, health, and housing resources and more. AskRI is available not only in your public library, but also in schools, community centers and at home. With just an Internet connection, you have a whole world of authoritative information at your fingertips. And if you have a card from a public library, you have access to even more information tools. The service includes Spanish resources as well as English.  new brief from CAELA: Managing Programs for Adults Learning English http://www.cal.org/caelanetwork/resources/managing.html Many professionals in our field have expressed a concern about the difficulty of keeping up-to-date with the latest advances in technology for people with low vision. The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has received a gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation to address this issue. Four 1-day workshops on Low Vision Technology presented by Ike Presley, National Project Manager, AFB, including this one in Boston next spring: April 22, 2010, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, 8:30-4:30; Applications due 3/12/10 Who should attend? Ophthalmologists, optometrists, low vision therapists/specialists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation teachers, teachers of the visually impaired, assistive technology specialists, allied health professionals working with people who have low vision Free! In fact, we will be able to offer a travel reimbursement stipend of up to $400 for each participant. These workshops have two broad objectives. Participants will acquire a general knowledge of the current types of technology available for people with low vision, and participants will provide input to AFB about the most effective strategies to keep professionals up-to-date on this topic. Please contact Shirley Landrum at slandrum@afb.net for an application. Selected participants will be notified within 5-days after the application due date. For additional information please visit http://www.afb.org and select Calendar of Events under AFB Community, or contact Ike Presley at presley@afb.net, 404-525-2303.  interesting: an article in the UK Guardian weekly about ESOL provision in the US. http://www.guardianweekly.co.uk/?page=editorial&id=1254&catID=18 Rhode Island Employment Disability E-News, newsletter from the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities, available at: http://www.ric.edu/sherlockcenter/onlinepublications.html the Math Bulletin, developed by SABES http://www.sabes.org/resources/publications/mathbulletin/math-bulletin-june2009.pdf Good geography refresher...and good mouse skill practice as well. http://jimspages.com/States.htm from Kate Northcott, Director, Student Literacy Corps Webster University resources at FREE, the website that makes it easier to find teaching and learning resources from the federal government: http://www.free.ed.gov/ Math - What's the Problem? examines the state of math education in the U.S. and the roles of culture, technology, and research on improving math learning and proficiency. Learn about the "miles per gallon illusion" and the train problem. Discover resources on fractals, matrices, human face recognition, biomimetic research, computational conformal mapping, and the "kissing number" of a sphere. (National Science Foundation) http://www.free.ed.gov/resource.cfm?resource_id=2131 from NIFL's workplace literacy list (for more see http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/workplace/2009/002275.html ) Community Literacy Planning Guide - This planning guide will support communities as they: gather together to talk about literacy; decide to participate in the Literacy Now Communities program; submit an application for planning funds; mobilize local community energy and knowledge; assess the community’s literacy needs; build on existing literacy work and address important gaps; and prepare a community plan. http://www.2010legaciesnow.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Embrace_Learning/PDF/LiteracyNow_Guide.pdf 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/ Refugees From Iraq - 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 Lots to do at the library Providence Public Library's calendar of events: http://www.provlib.org/calendar.asp 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/ 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/trainin Strategies for supporting Learners and Educators an interactive workshop exploring ways in which stress and anger in the lives of adult learners and practitioners impact adult education. Join us as we review approaches to support adult educators whose work encompasses ongoing contact with men and women experiencing various stresses and strains – some of which have a direct impact on learning and classroom interaction. Thursday, January 28, 10 to noon, Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane, Warwick. Please contact Jessica Ortiz at jortiz@ric.edu or (401) 456-2838 to register by January 14th Call for presenters: The 45th Annual PAACE Conference on Adult Education, the largest gathering of adult educators in Pennsylvania, will be held at the Penn Stater Conference Hotel, State College, June 1 - 3, 2010. Adult educators and those from related are invited to attend the premier professional development and networking opportunity for all aspects of adult education in Pennsylvania. Check back often for more updates. http://www.paacesite.org/web-data/Diagrams/PAACE%20Site/conference.html deadline: February 1, 2010  7th Annual WE LEARN (Net)Working Gathering on Women & Literacy http://www.litwomen.org/conference.html March 4-6, 2010 University of Rhode Island / Providence Campus / Providence, RI Special Forum: Thursday, March 4 / Annual Conference: Friday - Saturday, March 5-6 March 4, 2010 / PRE-Conference (Journeys to the Center: Spiritual Supports for Our Teaching and Learning) WE LEARN is looking for volunteer interpreters/translators (Spanish/English) for its Please, consider sharing your time and/or your Spanish-English or Sign Language interpreting skills with us. We have work exchange opportunities available but the deadline is FEB 5th! Email to obtain the volunteer application at: Alicia.Pantoja@gmail.com Deadline to submit volunteer/interpreter forms is Feb 10th. THANK YOU! The call for proposals for the 2010 Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers conference has been posted here: http://aleronline.org/conference.html deadline, February 8, 2010 Sharing Skills – Building Connections, March 10 – Commonwealth Workforce Coalition. Registration materials will be available on line early in January. http://cwc.cedac.org/index.html The call for proposals for the 2010 Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers conference has been posted here: http://aleronline.org/conference.html deadline, February 8 National Community Literacy Conference in partnership with ProLiteracy and COABE 2010 Conference Registration Now Available Register before January 18th to lock in the lowest rate (Martin Luther King option) Registration is online through our conference partnership at http://coabeproliteracy2010.org Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) 2009 Annual Convention – Re-Imagining TESOL http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/convention2010/ March 24 – 27, 2010, Boston The Connecticut Association for Adult and Continuing Education Conference March 25-26, Water's Edge Resort Westbrook, CT (800) 222-5901 http://www.caace.net/Content/Conference.asp  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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