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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.

July 8, 1999

Bulletin #74

Dear Colleagues,

Notice of upcoming professional development events, meetings, funding and employment opportunities and summer programs. To post information, please contact me at LR/RI or leave a message (863-2839).

Thanks.

Janet Isserlis

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NOTICES

Worksite tours for educators: Join the RI Workforce Literacy Collaborative for a facilitated one and a half hour site visit at TACO, Inc., 1160 Cranston Street, Cranston, Wed., July 14 at 2:15 pm sharp. Tour manufacturing areas, see the TACO learning center, meet with trainees. Refreshments available, Q&A discussion follows. Please RSVP to Yvette Kenner at 861-0815 or Chris Hedenberg at 785-8167 by July 9th. Limited to 25 participants. Directions will be mailed or faxed.

save the date The Workforce Literacy Collaborative is also planning a Workforce Education Conference for Thursday, October 7, and Friday, October 8. This professional development day for practitioners and business people will begin with a presentation and dinner on Thursday and continue throughout the day on Friday.

COMPUTER DROP IN SESSIONS

The Friday morning computer drop in sessions have been given a big boost of support by Brown's Computing and Information Services. We've been given access to Room 269 in the Center for Information Technology on the Brown campus, for the five Fridays in July, and possibly into August (depending on the university's plans for temporarily shutting down the room to maintain the equipment). The room contains 13 Macs, which have access to the internet and to a very large assortment of software which can be used, and will be available to us on Friday mornings in July from 9 to noon. Even if you plan to use a PC and not a Mac at home or at work, much of the software functions similarly on either a MAC or a PC, as does the internet.

The Center for Information Technology building is located at Waterman and Brook Streets, across from the Science Library. Its entrance is within the campus; if you're driving, you should try to park as near Brook and Waterman Streets as you can. If you need a map or clearer directions, please contact me. I hope you can participate. Please contact me if you think you'd like to participate, and/or if you need to come at another time. Registration is not required, but it will be helpful to know who would like to come in order to plan the sessions appropriately.

summer program: Let's Talk! The Family Reading Program at West Warwick Public Library will offer a conversation class for intermediate to advanced adult ESL students. The class will feature idioms, American proverbs, and useful phrases. Don't Miss The Boat! Class begins on July 12th, meeting on Monday evenings, 6:30 - 8:00, through August. Call Irene Peloquin for information or registration at 828-3750. Space is limited.

Change Agent share? The Change Agent's mission is to provide news, issues, ideas and other teaching resources that inspire and enable adult educators and learners to make civic participation and social justice related concerns part of their teaching and learning. This summer, I'd like to encourage practitioners to meet informally to discuss issues of interest covered in recent articles of the Change Agent and to consider how that writing can inform our education work. Are you using the Change Agent in the classroom? How? Could you document how you've used it and share your findings with the people who publish the Change Agent so that they can learn from your experience of what does and doesn't work? What have you found to be the most interesting or useful - do you like the mix of articles for students or teachers? What suggestions do you have for changes or improvements? Would you or your students be interested in contributing an activity or article to the Change Agent ? Please call if you're interested in participating so that we can find the best time[s] to meet.

Laubach Literacy's 1999 National Book Scholarship Fund (NBSF) distributes books and educational materials to qualified adult literacy and education programs nationwide. Grants are designed to help local educational groups expand their work or to begin new programs among under-served populations. First priority is given to family literacy programs working to improve literacy skills of parents and their children. For information or to receive an application package in September, contact Mara Roberts, Project Administrator, National Book Scholarship Fund, Laubach Literacy, PO Box 131, 1320 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210. Ms. Roberts can also be reached by telephone at 315-422-9121, x345 and via e-mail at mroberts@laubach.org. Grant applications will be accepted until December 8, 1999. More information -- http://www.laubach.org/NBSF/indexnbs.htm.

New on-line

from Education World site reviews: 40 Education Grants are being offered through their "Grants for Educators" program. These grants are funded through utilization of the new Education World VISA Card and will be awarded in $250 and $500 amounts. Grants will be awarded after Summer Break, and throughout the 1999/2000 school year. For more details and an application form, go to http://www.education-world.com/grants/ While this appears to be geared towards K-12, there's no reason not to explore the site - it doesn't explicitly exclude adult ed, and could provide the impetus for interesting, (if small) project.

ALSO, if your program has a website that is not yet linked to LR/RI's Literacy Centers page, please send me the URL so that I can update that page.

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Proposals packets for HRIC funding are available now. Proposals are due on July 30th, at 2 PM. For information, please contact Mike Kennedy at 222-6700.

FUNDING: Applications are now available for The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy FY 2000 national grant cycle

The Foundation's mission is to establish literacy as a value in every family in America, and to support the development of family literacy programs where parents and children can learn and read together. Since 1989, 204 such programs across the country have been awarded a total of more than $6 million. Program sites include homeless shelters, housing projects, Indian reservations, libraries, schools, community centers, and correctional facilities among others. To qualify for funding, an organization must have maintained current non-profit or public status for at least 2 years as of the date of the grant application, demonstrated fiscal accountability, currently have an instructional literacy program that has operated for at least 2 years and includes one or more components of a family literacy program, specifically, literacy for adults, parent education, pre literacy, literacy for children, or intergenerational literacy activities, and must propose a family literacy project that promotes families reading together.

Guidelines, application, and information about the Foundation appear on the Foundation's website: www.barbarabushfoundation.com. Written requests for application packages can be emailed to sooc@erols.com or sent to The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, 1112 16th St., Suite 340, Washington, DC 20036. (or contact Benita Somerfield (202) 955-6183 for more information)

The Foundation was launched on March 6, 1989. In addition to operating two other grant-making programs, the First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas, and the Maine Family Literacy Initiative, the Foundation publishes First Teachers: A Handbook for Parents, Policy-makers, and Literacy Providers; Barbara Bush's Family Reading Tips, in both English and Spanish; and Lessons Learned, a pamphlet that summarizes what works in the programs funded by the Foundation.

New England Literacy Resource Center (NELRC) Board Vacancy

The NELRC's mission is to strengthen adult literacy services in the region by developing and facilitating collaborations and special projects among adult literacy practitioners, state literacy resource centers and policy makers.

NELRC takes its direction from its diverse constituency groups. Each state has 4 representatives on the governing board: the State ABE director, the SLRC or staff development director and two practitioners. In addition, NELRC convenes work groups composed of practitioners and board members who help plan and implement the organization1s work in the chosen priority areas. Board members help develop, approve and monitor annual work plans; approve budgets; develop policy and operating principles for NELRC; serve as advocates for NELRC; help identify funding and support for NELRC projects and meet quarterly in different locations in New England.

There is a vacancy on the board to represent Rhode Island. If you are interested in contributing to the work of the NELRC as a board member (for at least a two-year term), please send a letter of interest and a resume briefly describing your experience in adult education and literacy to Robert Mason, Adult Education Specialist, RI Dept. of Education, 255 Westminster Street, Providence RI 02903 A selection committee of current board members will be formed to determine the RI representative. The next board meeting is scheduled to be held in RI on September 16, 1999. other meetings: MA, World Ed: Friday, December 10 NH: Wednesday, March 1, 2000 ME: Friday, June 2, 2000

August 18/19 2-day Pilot Training: A modified training process for adult educators that acknowledges that many in the field have limited access to the Wilson certified training model. Although this training does not lead to certification, it should provide additional guidance to teachers implementing multisensory structured language teaching for adults.

Prerequisite for individual participation is attendance at a Wilson Overview Workshop or viewing of the 6-video 1999 overview set. The pilot training will take place in Newburyport, MA. The outline follows: - select a student for the pilot project, administer the WADE (Wilson Assessment of Decoding and Encoding) and other formal reading assessment; schedule student 2 sessions per week (minimum), submit student selection form and begin instruction; watch Wilson Language Training Step2\ videos; access Wilson trainer via WilsonLanguage.com, or phone; Post test. Site cost , $179 per video set, $139 per teacher cost for the Wilson Starter Kit, $195 training cost. (Wilson will loan tapes free for this pilot study, if you enroll in the study and pre-post your student after 60 sessions and completion of substep 4.2 in the Wilson Program. For information, call (508) 865-5699. Registration is limited, deadline July 15.

from Thursday Notes From the Desk of Ronald S. Pugsley, Director, DAEL Office of Vocational and Adult Education Editor: Sarah Newcomb Production: Rose Tilghman July 1. A Fact Sheet from the Division of Adult Education and Literacy Office of Vocational and Adult Education OVAE Homepage http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/

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Appropriations Mark Up July 15 The House Labor, Health and Human Services and Appropriations Subcommittee has scheduled the FY 2000 mark up for July 15.

Conference Board Shows Workplace Education Pays

A just-released Conference Board study of workplace education reveals that a male employee with high literacy skills has lifetime earnings totaling $1.36 million more than a male with low literacy skills. That's $2.16 million instead of $806,000 over a lifetime, or a 267% increase with improved skills. For female employees the return on workplace education is an even higher-a 362% increase in lifetime earnings over females with low literacy skills. The findings reveal that employees studied gained eleven important workplace basic skills in these programs that helped them perform at a higher level at work. The new study was funded by OVAE in partnership with the Conference Board. **For free copies from our Clearinghouse, contact rickie_gallmon@ed.gov

Mixed Citizenship Families Up

The Urban Institute reports that ten percent of US children live in a family in which at least one parent is a foreign national and one child is a US citizen. Mixed-status families are most common in California and New York which have high concentrations of immigrants. In Los Angeles, nearly half of all children live in mixed-status families while in New York City slight more than one quarter do. Written in the context of welfare reform, the report All Under One Roof: Mixed-Status Families in an Era of Reform has implications for designing English language and family literacy programs. Download at www.urbaninstitute.org or contact 877/847-7377.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Educational Coordinator/Grantwriter, International Institute of Rhode Island, 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 -- English Language Center, August 1999 - June 2000

The Education Coordinator/Grant Writer will be responsible for researching and writing federal, national and local grants, and in assisting the administration in securing the financial future of the education division.  He/she will also be responsible for supervising and coordinating all activities of the English Language Center (ELC) and the English for Work (HRIC) programs. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Work as a member of the administrative team to research and write federal, national and local grants for educational programs; Interview, hire, supervise and evaluate program staff; Facilitate in-service training and staff development for program staff; Conduct regular staff meetings to facilitate effective program operation;  Document target community's need for English as a Second Language; Conduct student recruitment, screening and registration; Develop and maintain an ongoing system of student assessment and evaluation; Document student outcomes and provide internal and external reports in a timely manner; Maintain student waiting list and contact new students to enter class; Establish community service opportunities for students; Organize program events and arrange speakers for student workshops; Maintain student records including attendance, tuition, intakes, test results and entries and exits to programs; Develop and manage program budget; Provide liaison to adult education community; Maintain liaison with Job Training, Citizenship and Literacy programs to insure that all educational programs of IIRI are functioning smoothly together; Provide training and supervision to substitute teachers and program volunteers; Input program records into database for monthly reports to funders; Prepare all internal and external program reports; Order and maintain program books and materials;  Monitor proper functioning of the language and computer labs.

Requirements: Experience in grant writing and in seeking public funding, prior experience managing/teaching adult education programs   Qualifications - Required extensive grant writing and grant research experience, excellent writing, organizational and oral communication skills Preferred experience in community-based adult ESL education, excellent program management skills with emphasis on collaborative supervisory ability, documented evidence of working with sensitivity in multicultural setting,bilingual capability, in any language, MA in related field Full time - 35 hours per week, including 2 evenings per week with 15 hours devoted to grant research and writing

Salary: $34,000 per annum plus benefits Responsible to: Deputy Director Starting date: End of August 1999 To Apply:  Submit resume to Nazneen Rahman by July 23,1999 Position must be filled by August 23, 1999

conferences

12th National Adult Literacy and Technology Conference July 29 - 31, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Keynote speakers include Ray Suarez and Dave Sperling. Over 50 sessions will be offered. To obtain a registration form with a list of sessions contact Dana Huber <dmhuber@ties.k12.mn.us>. Fees: Registration: received by June 18th -- Attending conference July 30-31: $165. (includes breakfast, lunch both days and picnic dinner on Thursday) Attending pre-conference July 29th: $95. (includes breakfast and lunch) Per day registration (select days: July 30 or July 31): $95. (includes breakfast and lunch each day) Dorm room rate $40. Per person, per night or Sheraton Inn St. Paul/Midway ($82/single or double, $92/triple, $102/quad).

A Woman's Place Is...in the Curriculum" conference, August 1- 5, 1999, Rohnet Park, California, focusing on multicultural approaches to incorporating women's history into the k-12 curriculum. Contact: National Women's History Project, 717-838-6000 or nwhp@aol.com .

Galaxy II Conference -- Action Strategies for Lifelong Learning October 12-17, San Antonio, TX -- to share opinions/views about lifelong learning and develop action strategies for the future. The first Galaxy Conference was convened in 1969, to determine 6 imperatives for action:

1.prepare each person to understand and cope with the issues of the day; 2.remedy educational deficiencies; 3.provide for equal opportunity; 4. enable learners to function more effectively as workers, parents, neighbors, and citizens; 5. improve the quality of life; and 6.share the meaning, values, purpose, and power for ourselves and others around the world.

Galaxy II would strive to address the following questions: 1.In the past 30 years, has the field achieved these imperatives? 2.How has the field changed? 3.Are there new imperatives to be addressed? 4.What are the implications of lifelong learning on the family, education, the workplace, economic development, and the community? 5.As the new millennium arrives, what issues face adult education? 6.What are the priorities for the country and the field? 7.What role will adult education organizations play? 8.What strategies will require collaborative action by these organizations? 9.How do these compare with a global perspective? 10.What will be the role of adult education leadership and what strategies, skills, and collaborative actions will be essential? Information: http://www.albany.edu/aaace/conferences/annual.html

relatively new on the website:

Mike Kelly, moderator of an on-line workshop on Computers and Learning invites participants to join the workshop from May 12 to June 11. The Computers and Learning seminar will: encourage programs to share their best practice ideas with each other; allow us to look at what has been happening in other jurisdictions; encourage literacy students to say what has worked best for them; raise important issues, hopes and fears that emerge from this work, and develop a list of interesting web sites and resources. To join, go to http://www.alphaplus.ca and follow the prompts to join the new discussion Computers and Learning.

- An update on VALUE, the national learner organization, (go to learners), new postings on the links, women and literacy and inquiry pages, as well.

- Research Agenda for Adult ESL The National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education, in collaboration with National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy and with additional sponsorship and support from Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, has published a Research Agenda for Adult ESL. Its objectives are to provide funders with clear priorities for funding; to provide researchers with support for proposing specific projects; and to provide a focus for dis-cussion about how to improve adult ESL programs. The document incorporates feedback from learners, instructors, program administrators, policymakers, and researchers, and is available, free, from NCLE, 4646 40th street NW, Washington, DC 20016; (202) 362-0700 extension 200, or can be downloaded from NCLE at http://www.cal.org/ncle (and is also linked to LR/RI's ESOL page).

- The Key on line - Monthly newspaper for adults in Wisconsin's basic education and ESL programs.  http://www.keynews.org/ (and is linked to LR/RI's learner page).

from previous bulletins: REMINDERS, RESOURCES:

The National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy has recently released a set of informative fact sheets outlining for practitioners and others the projects with which NCSALL researchers are currently engaged. Project histories, plans, and implications for practice are all highlighted in the fact sheets. Projects include studies of Learner Motivation, Impact of Literacy Programs on Adult learners, Adult Multiple Intelligences, Home Literacy Uses, Adult Development and Literacy Learning, Staff Development, Assessment, GED Impact, Health and Literacy, and Reading Diagnostics, Anyone interested in reading about one or all of the projects or anyone who may be interested in project participation information may receive copies by contacting David Hayes at (401) 331-9261. (The PDRN bulletin, including a link to the NCSALL fact sheets is also available online.

list servs:

LEARNER is intended primarily for adult learners. LITERACY is a general list for adult literacy practitioners and others. Information on these electronic lists is below.

LEARNER To subscribe to LEARNER, send an email message to: listserv@nysernet.org

Skip the message header and in the body of the message, type: subscribe LEARNER Yourfirstname Yourlastname All submissions to LEARNER should be addressed to: LEARNER@nysernet.org Questions regarding the list should be sent to: Beverly Choltco-Devlin Moderator, LEARNER bdevlin@dreamscape.com

LITERACY To subscribe to LITERACY, send an email message to: listserv@nysernet.org

Skip the message header and in the body of the message, type: subscribe LITERACY Yourfirstname Yourlastname All submissions to LITERACY should be addressed to: LITERACY@nysernet.org Questions regarding the LITERACY list should be sent to: Beverly Choltco-Devlin bdevlin@dreamscape.com

Welfare to work listserv: from Glenn Young - For those interested in the subject of welfare reform and learning disabilities, there has been a listserv created through NIFL. To sign up, please send a message to: listproc@literacy.nifl.gov write in the body of the message subscribe nifl-wtwld and your name. Do not write anything in the subject line and do not use any dots or dashes other than between nifl and wtwld. (Click here for more information on listservs).

women and literacy listserv.

To participate, subscribe by sending an email message to: LISTPROC@LITERACY.NIFL.GOV with the following request in the body of the message: subscribe NIFL-Womenlit firstname lastname Substitute your first and last name spelled exactly as you would like it to appear. For example, to subscribe to the NIFL-Womenlit list Sue Smith would type: subscribe NIFL-womenlit Sue Smith There should be no other text in the message (e.g., your signature block). It is recommended that the subject line be left blank if possible.

PROJECT BASED LEARNING AND ACCESS TO THE INTERNET

How is the internet being used in adult education? What are some helpful uses, and how do we sort through the huge amount of material available on line? Susan Gaer is interested in helping programs link to one another, and has been doing so through an email project homepage on-line, at http://www.otan.dni.us/webfarm/emailproject/email.htm. If you have or know of similar learner work on line, please contact Susan at SusanG2@aol.com.

David Rosen has asked that we have a look at the inquiry maps on the Adult Literacy Resource Institute's home page. As he explains, "[a]n Inquiry Map is a group participatory research process on a topic of high interest to the group. Participants (in this case, adult learners) make their own questions, and then set about finding answers to them. The Inquiry map is a process which is never finished. Many of the questions go unanswered, are only partially answered, or have only one answer given where other points of view are possible. So, there is room for other participants to join in the process at any time, to add their answers, their comments on the answers already given, and questions which they might also choose to research." Questions, answers and comments can be posted to David Rosen <DJRosen@world.std.com>, and he'll add them to the inquiry map. So, it keeps on being an inquiry process with each new person who reads and adds to it. He welcomes additions of questions and answers; as you may know, many internet sites run threaded conversations on a variety of topics. The ALRI sites are: http://www2.wgbh.org/MBCWEIS/LTC/ALRI/I.M.html and http://www2.wgbh.org/MBCWEIS/LTC/ALRI/IM3.html (How to make inquiry maps).