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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.June 23, 2000 Bulletin #98
Dear Colleagues, News of upcoming community and professional development events, conferences, meetings, employment opportunities and online resources. To post information, please contact LR/RI or leave a message (863-2839). Thanks.
Janet Isserlis ____________________________________________________________ NOTICES ESOL sharing/discussion meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 25, at 3:00 PM at the Genesis Center, 620 Potters Avenue. summit follow-up: Reports from and information about next steps following the National Literacy Summit (held in February) are now available online at http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/summit.html . Comments are being shared on the NLA , TESOL Adult Ed and the ALA lists. For information about accessing these lists, or the summit materials, please contact LR/RI. Comments are due to NIFL at the end of June. LD WORKSHOP MONDAY - Learning Disabilities in Adults - Strategies for Instruction. Monday, 6/26 at the International Institute of RI, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Please register by calling LR/RI by June 23rd. (863-2839) Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence Teaching
English Language Learners: Effective Programs and Practices - Presented
by the Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence and
the Center for Applied Linguistics, June 27-29. University of Connecticut,
Storrs. information available at http://www.ce.uconn.edu/tell.html
Health Literacy Needed for oral diseases Among Poor: The government's first comprehensive look at oral health in America shows "profound disparities." Many poor people and some racial and ethnic groups have disproportionate levels of untreated oral diseases. The report, commissioned by Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala, says the reasons why include economic and social barriers to getting care. Could one barrier be lack of health literacy skills necessary to get treatment or carry out oral health care instructions? Don't forget oral health on your list of health literacy topics we need to cover. See the report at http://www.nidcr.nih.gov [from Thursday notes, June 1] computer drop in sessions - will begin on July 7, and continue on Friday mornings from 9 to 12, most likely at the Center for Information Technology at Brown University (where sessions were held last summer). Please contact LR/RI to confirm time and location. Join the Dorcas Place community and help make a difference in someoneís life. Dorcas Place, an adult education center, needs volunteers to work with low-income adults as Mentors or as Literacy Tutors. At present, we have a long list of students waiting for volunteers to work with them. Training sessions for both Volunteer Literacy Tutors and Volunteer Mentors will begin with orientation on Wednesday July 12, 2000. Literacy Tutors meet with their students once a week to instruct them in reading, writing, and math skills. Mentors meet with their students once a week to guide and assist them with their career and educational goals. If you are interested in volunteering at Dorcas Place, please contact: the Tutor Program Coordinator, Joan Anthony, or the Mentor Program Coordinator, MarÌa del Pilar Velasquez at 273-8866. - The Rhode Family Literacy Initiative will hold Summer Adult ESL Conversation Classes at the East Providence Public Library. Classes are for all levels of ESL students. We will discuss, in English, a variety of interesting topics while working on English skills in a relaxed atmosphere. Classes begin on Thursday, July 13, 2000 at 6:30-8:00. The class will run until the end of August every Thursday night. Volunteers are also needed to work with Adults or to work with children in the literacy program. Please Call Kristen McKenna for information or registration at 435-1988. - The Rhode Family Literacy Initiative will hold Summer ESL Conversation Classes at the William Hall Library. Classes are for all levels of ESL students and children ages 3-12. We will discuss, in English, a variety of interesting topics while working on English skills in a relaxed atmosphere. Classes begin on Wednesday July 12, 2000 at 5:30-7:30. The class will run until the end of August every Wednesday night. Volunteers are also needed to work with Adults or to work with children in the literacy program. Please Call Kristen McKenna for information or registration at 781-2450. From Thursday Notes, 6/22/00 VALUE Selects Director; Chairman On the Mend Voice for Adult Literacy United for Education, the national adult learner organization, tapped board member Marty Finsterbusch as its new Executive Director at its board meeting in New York May 21-23. Starting in September, Marty will take on some duties of current administrator Paul Jurmo, who has a new job. Marty is a long-time learner leader from Pennsylvania and a Literacy Leader Fellow at the National Institute for Literacy. He helped to organize VALUE's 1999 Adult Learner Leadership Institute and develop a strategic plan for VALUE activities in 2000 and 2001. We're also pleased to report that VALUE chairman Archie Willard is on the mend after a heart attack that led to triple bypass surgery. Reports say his prognosis is good. Archie tells us that expressions of support and encouragement are helpful, so send yours along today to 30 Parkview Drive, Eagle Grove, Iowa 50533, where Archie is recovering at home. For more, contact http://www.literacynet.org
employment opportunities
Adult education teacher; 30 hour position, beginning July 3.
Coordinator Providence Urban Debate League (PUDL) - a cooperative project between the Providence Public Schools and Brown University's Swearer Center for Public Service and Institute of Elementary and Secondary Education. The PUDL seeks to make public discourse and debate an integral part of Providence's public high schools and seeks to use communication skills to empower individuals while working towards improving academic skills. The program specifically aims to institutionalize debate in order to broaden public debate on the controversial issues of our time, ensure that all voices are heard, and seek innovative solutions to the challenges facing our city and our society. The Program Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the organizational integrity and direction of the program. To this end, the Program Coordinator must develop an in-depth understanding of the regional debate circuit at the high school and college levels, and exhibit an ability to work in effective collaboration with high school administrators and students. S/he will communicate with coaches and school administrators and a wide range of university departments to encourage their support for, and assistance in building school-site debate programs. Responsibilities: Coordination of PUDL programs: Manage school relationships:
recruit new schools; communicate with and provide support to coaches and
school administrators, organize Coaches' Seminars; maintain relationships
with university debate programs; develop and implement PUDL's by-laws;
supervise the PUDL Assistant and Coordinators; fundraise to support program.
Development of Programs: Advise students on the development of new initiatives;
write and manage grants to support programs; work to integrate programs
into Center and Brown; Coordination of Resources: Act as resource
for individuals, community agencies and campus departments; assist in the
production of relevant newsletters, databases and web pages; Student
Advising: Meet with and advise students regarding career and academic
goals, fellowship programs and grant opportunities; senior theses; service
opportunities; and the development of new initiatives; Other duties as
assigned by the Director or supervisor.
CALL FOR ARTICLES - The Harvard Educational Review (HER) is planning
to publish a symposium on Immigration and Education. Although immigrant
learners are a growing presence in schools and educational programs throughout
the United States, there is a lack of sustained inquiry and dialogue about
their education.
ONLINE from E P N N e w s 6.21.00 http://www.epn.org/whatsnew/ Resources Page for Health Advocates: NHeLP has posted a new page of links and citations to documents and studies that may be of use to health advocates. http://www.epn.org/whatsnew/full_cite/133.html "School-to-Work and Work-Based Learning" The Institute on Education and the Economy has carried out several related studies on high school programs that include work-based learning. These programs were encouraged and funded under the 1994 School-to-Work Opportunities Act, which called for new partnerships to be formed between educators and employers. Two recent research reports http://www.tc.columbia.edu/iee/PAPERS/Abstracts/wp12.htm, http://www.tc.columbia.edu/iee/PAPERS/Abstracts/wp15.htm focus on pedagogy for work-based learning, and the potential of work-based learning for teaching academic skills. http://www.epn.org/whatsnew/full_cite/134.html "Faith-based Institutions and High-Risk Youth" by Harold Dean
Trulear Based on field observations during the first 18 months of P/PV's
national demonstration project, Faith-Based Institutions and High-Risk
Youth, the report includes lessons learned about the distinct contributions
of faith-based institutions to the work of civil society, and the challenges
of building partnerships between faith-based groups and other institutions.
http://www.epn.org/whatsnew/full_cite/135.html
also on line - proposals from this summer's minigrant projects, now in progress. Look on LR/RI's advocacy and ESOL pages for proposals and also for updated links and information. draft standards are now posted on LR/RI's standards page. We hope to have a half day meeting in May to discuss the standards and gather feedback. In the meantime, please view the standards at http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/standards.html and send comments to LR/RI. Hard copies of the standards are also available upon request. Almost 20 adult educators have participated in drafting these standards and welcome your input. Stop the Hate, http://www.stopthehate.net/index1.htm
- provides numerous resources of value to anyone working in adult education,
community development and/or hoping to consider viable ways in which to
approach social change.
resources New Publications from The Center for Applied Linguistics: Welcome to the USA Trainers' Notebook , designed for refugee orientation trainers using the Welcome to the USA Video. The Notebook describes three general activity types: Pre-Viewing; Viewing and Checking Comprehension, and Post-Viewing. The video addressees: pre-arrival process, resettlement agency / community services; housing and transportation; working in the USA; education, health care, money management, and cultural adjustment, and the rights and responsibilities of refugees. The corresponding print Notebook offers trainersí notes on knowledge, skill and attitudes about each topic and handouts to help refugees link the information with their own experiences and ideas. Appendices describe additional activity ideas that can be used with refugees in the USA. (140 pp.) Single, reproducible copy available to Refugee Resettlement Agencies. English-Somali Phrasebook The English phrases and Somali translation contained in these books have been selected for their directness, brevity, and relevance to the needs of newly arrived residents of the United States. The 19 units include phrases and supplementary vocabulary for use in the daily activities of American life (e.g., giving information, recognizing signs, dealing with money, health, food, clothing, housing, jobs, etc. - 167 pp.). $5.00 includes postage. CONTACT: La Ditthavong Fax: 202-362-3740, email: la@cal.org Center for Applied Linguistics 4646 40th St NW Washington DC 20016-1859 www.cal.org New RESOURCE MANUAL on IMMIGRANT ACCESS to HEALTH BENEFITS - Released by The Access Project and the National Health Law Program explains basic eligibility requirements for key federal and state programs and identifies issues that can be significant barriers. Free; email: info@accessproject.org.
conferences - conferences are listed chronologically and are updated with each bulletin The New Readers for New Life conference: August 5-6, 2000 at
the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois, about an hour north
of Chicago. This 7th annual conference is planned, organized and led by
adult learners from Illinois, and is open to anyone who would like to attend.
The site is about 45 minutes away from Chicago's O'Hare airport,
and lodging is available at a Super 8 for about $55 for a 2 person room
.
Adults Learning Mathematics (ALM-7) Conference July 6-8, 2000 Tufts University Boston/Medford, MA The theme of this year's conference is: "A Conversation Between Researchers and Practitioners" Adults Learning Mathematics is an international research forum which brings together researchers and practitioners in adult mathematics/ numeracy teaching and learning in order to promote the learning of mathematics of adults. The conference will be hosted by the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy at Harvard in conjunction with Tufts University Dept. of Education and the NCTM-affiliated Adult Numeracy Network. Program and registration information: http://www.euronet.nl/~groenest/alm/alm7/ Call for Papers: See http://www.euronet.nl/~groenest/alm/alm7/ALM7-call%20for%20papers.html The 2nd National Conference of REFORMA (National Association to Promote Library Services for the Spanish Speaking), is scheduled for Tucson, AZ, August 3-6. Conference information may be found at: http://clnet.ucr.edu/library/reforma/rnc2/ Theme: The Power of Language: Planning for the 21st Century. The conference chair is Susana Hinojosa (shinojos@library.berkeley.edu); (510) 643-9347. The president of REFORMA is Toni Bissessar (t.bissessar@yahoo.com); (718) 230-2750. Further information may be obtained through the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS) at 800-545-2433, #4294; and the office of the ALA Diversity Officer at 800-545-2433 #4276. The Immigration and Refugee Services of America's National Alliance
for Multicultural Mental Health and the International Institute of Los
Angeles are hosting Future Directions in Refugee Mental Health on
July 24-26, 2000, in Burbank, CA.Ý This conference will explore the knowledge,
skills, and approaches necessary to integrate mental health concerns into
programs that assist refugees in moving beyond survival to personal success
and self-sufficiency.Ý Plenary sessions, break-out sessions, and intensive
three hour working groups will be held to provide in-depth information
exchange. Featured topics include:
Call for Proposals to present at the 10th Annual National Conference
on Family Literacy, Partners in Learning, to be held March 18 - 20, 2001
in Dallas, Texas. Deadline to Submit Proposals: October 6, 2000. Call for
Proposals available at: www.famlit.org If it is not possible to access
the form off the website, you may call 502-584-1133x135 and make a request
for one to be mailed to you or faxed to you. (If you leave a voice
message, please provide your complete mailing address and/or fax number)
AAACE brochure - national adult education conference schedule is available online at http://www.cdlr.tamu.edu/tcall/aaace/conferences/aace2000.htm. AAACE will be held in Providence this fall. More information will appear in bulletins this summer.
January 22-24, 2001 Atlanta, The Center for the Study of Adult Literacy at Georgia State University, in collaboration with Laubach Literacy Action and the Centre for Literacy of Quebec, announces the third International Conference on Women and Literacy. The focus of the conference is Language, Culture, and Literacy as they relate to women in adult basic education classes. Call for Presenters - presentation proposals are due July 1. We are defining adult basic education as basic literacy, ESL, family literacy, health literacy, workplace literacy, pre GED, and GED classes. We purposely did not define language and culture in the proposal, because we want presenters to feel free to define these terms in ways that are meaningful for them. The conference will address the following question: How do language, culture, literacy and women interact in basic literacy, ESL, family literacy, health literacy, workplace literacy, pre-GED, and GED classes? Proposals for presentations are invited from Practitioners, Researchers, Policy Makers, and Learners. Proposals with an international perspective are particularly encouraged. All proposals should address Practice, Research, and/or Policy, and can be presented as a seminar, workshop, demonstration, panel discussion, or round table. The round tables will be scheduled for 1 hour, and all others for 1 1/2-hours and 3 hours. Lead presenters will be notified regarding proposal acceptance by September 1. More information: contact LR/RI, or download forms at http://education.gsu.edu/CSAL .
from previous bulletins: REMINDERS, RESOURCES: Jenny Horsman's new book, Too Scared to Learn: Women, Violence, and
Education (1999: McGilligan Books), is a critical resource for anyone
working with adult learners. Based on Horsman's in-depth research into
ways in which violence (political, personal, physical, emotional) influence
women's ability to learn, the book provides not only Horman's thoughtful
insights, but also pulls together the voices of literacy learners and practitioners
who have been affected by violence in one way or another into a very comprehensive
whole. For those of us struggling with making our classrooms safe places
for learners, for anyone working in adult education, Too Scared to Learn
must be required reading. To order: contact Toronto Women's Book Store
(email: twb@web.net) or McGilligan Books
in Canada at 416-538-0945, or print an order form at http://www.nald.ca/canorg/cclow/scared/tooscare.htm.
The book has been published in the US; for US ordering information contact
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 10 Industrial Ave. Mahwah, NJ 07430-2262 [8009BOOKS9].
email: orders@erlbaum.com
list servs: LR/RI listserv: As some of you know, Literacy Resources has a list serv - an email discussion group available to anyone with access to email in the state (or beyond, as interest warrants). To learn more about the list, or to subscribe, please send an email message to janet_isserlis@brown.edu. To date, about 30 people have joined the list. Its purpose is to provide a forum for local educators to discuss policy, practice, resources, issues and news related to our work with one another. Unlike the bulletin, which arrives as email, the list is interactive - when you respond to message from the discussion list, everyone else on the list receives your message -- and the conversation, we hope, continues and grows. listserv for ESOL teachers-in-training: TESOL Student Discussion List ...the perfect resource for students in ESL/EFL teacher training programs who want to exchange information about methodologies, classroom applications, theory, ESL/ EFL Research, ESL/EFL, resources. To subscribe, send an email to subscribe-students@lyris.tesol.edu <mailto:subscribe-students@lyris.tesol.edu> In the body of the e-mail, type subscribe students and your name. Details will be sent to you. Participants must be current members of TESOL VALUE e-list: VALUE has established a valuelearners mailing for
email users, hosted by the Western/Pacific Literacy Network, part of the
National Institute for Literacy Information and Communication Network System
(LINCS). This "e-list" is a way for adult learners who are members of VALUE
to communicate with each other. Only adult learners who are members of
VALUE can subscribe to this e-list. VALUE is the national organization
for adult learners (current or former participants in adult basic skills
programs) in the United States. VALUE provides training and other supports
to adult learners who want to be more effective leaders in their education
programs, communities, and states. This e-list is being managed by members
of VALUE's Communications Committee. Subscribers are encouraged to communicate
about information, ideas, questions, or problems of interest to them. If
you are a member of VALUE and need help subscribing, please contact LR/RI.
If you're not a member, but would like to become one, contact LR/RI or
visit the VALUE website at http://literacynet.org/value.
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). Professional development initiative: In 1998, I spent time at the RI Dislocated Worker Program, facilitating classes for teachers there so that they could have an opportunity to observe one another's classes and to reflect on their learning and teaching. (The full text of their reflections is available on the LR/RI web site at Writing from the Field - or contact LR/RI for a hard copy). Please let me know if you would like to participate in this process of professional development. All that's required is your willingness to share your reflections about the observation/learning process for others. I hope to build a block of writing and thinking about this and other forms of our own professional development both through the bulletin and the web site.
Please contact LR/RI if you have information, questions or announcements to share with adult educators in Rhode Island. Bulletins go out at least twice a month; more frequently when there's more to share. To submit information for the next bulletin, please contact LR/RI by phone (401-863-2839), mail (PO Box 1974, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912) or email. back to LR/RI home |
