Literacy Link - Leamos
Newsletter
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Literacy Link - Leamos Newsletter |
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September-October 2007
Calendar of Events
September 8 International Literacy Day-Outreach at local Dollar General, 12 to 5 pm
September 15 Red Hot Children’s Fiesta at Penny Park, 10 am to 2 pm
LL-L Board Meeting Monday, Sept. 17, 5:15 pm Public Library Meeting Room All volunteers are welcomed!
September 19 El Grito Outreach Penny Park 6 pm
October 3 Tutors’ In-Service
The Public Library is closed Sept. 3rd in celebration of Labor Day Literacy Link – Leamos: A community of learners and volunteers dedicated to increasing literacy, reading and the love of learning throughout Grant County.
Literacy Link – Leamos is partially funded by the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy. www.nmcl.org
Literacy Link-Leamos 515 W. College Avenue Silver City, NM 88061 (505) 388-0892 literacylinkleamos@yahoo.com www.gilarangers.com/leamos.htm
Michelle Detterick Program Coordinator |
Coordinator’s Column
To love what you do and feel that it matters; how could anything be more fun? Katherine Graham
I can always count on one friend to punctuate the end of phone chat, an email, or the occasional face to face visit with, “Have fun!” That is her signature sign-off and a perfect fit for me as I’ve adopted the golden advice of all ages, “My heart rejoices in all my labor,” as one of my mantras.
Just a glimpse at some of my fun in August….It was a hot Friday afternoon, the heat which comes before a rainstorm in our New Mexico summers adding to the electricity in the air brought by the three and four year olds with slicked back hair, scrubbed faces, and shining eyes. Over 70 parents and children of El Grito Head Start had gathered in the Lion’s Clubhouse in Bayard for orientation and a presentation of the free tutoring available to adults through our literacy program. The three and four year olds were excited to meet their teachers and learn about riding the bus to school. Being able to choose a new book as their very own was a delightful surprise for them. Their big smiles and thank you will continue throughout the school year as our classroom readers whet their appetites for reading and nurture the love of learning. We will continue to support El Grito, its staff, and parents as we all have the ‘great responsibility and privilege of raising the next generation.’ (C. Everett Koop) Have fun! Michelle |
International Literacy Day Reading Around the World
International Literacy Day, observed annually on September 8, focuses attention on worldwide literacy needs. More than 780 million of the world’s adults do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children lack access to education. The International Reading Association cites:
• The 25 fastest growing professions have far greater than average literacy demands, while the fastest-declining professions have lower than average literacy demands. • Roughly 23% of high school graduates are not ready to succeed in an introductory level college writing course. • About 40% of high school graduates lack literacy skills employers seek. • Employment projections indicate that jobs requiring only a high school degree will grow by just 9% by the year 2008, those requiring an associate’s degree will grow by 31% and a bachelor ’s degree by 25%.
In celebration of International Literacy Day, Literacy Link – Leamos will partner with national literacy supporter and advocate Dollar General, in a community outreach designed to increase awareness of local literacy needs and services. Refreshments, books, and a drawing for a $50 savings bond from Western Bank will be available for the public on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 12 to 5 pm. at the Dollar General store. If you are interested in helping at this event, please call the LL-L office. |
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Computer Use Project Read Let’s see, where are we? 50,000 books and six years later is one answer! In the past six years, we have donated 50, 000 books to local families and children. Many of them were acquired through First Book National Book Bank at a cost of $.25 per book. The Target Foundation partnered with us making such a feat possible. Other books have been donations as board member Linda Ferrara cast the net of our need into the sea of publishers via the internet. We will be bragging on ourselves at the variety of community outreaches we have in September by having “Guess the number” games!
Take a deep breath and then be ready to move on because we are not done! Project Read 2007-08 has received 104 boxes of books. That means we will be labeling those books for distribution. Contact the LL-L office if you want to be a part of this wonderful project. It is a lot of fun from working together at labeling parties to beautiful smiles on kids’ faces. Remember, have fun! |
Red Hot Children’s Fiesta 50,000 and counting!
What’s my number??? Books, balloons, games, and clowns in September? It must be time for the Red Hot Children’s Fiesta at Penny Park. On Saturday September 15 from 10 am to 2 pm Literacy Link – Leamos will join with 25 other community groups providing fun for families and information on the wide variety of local services and activities. Families will learn more about our program by playing a simple game and winning a free book. In celebration of the 50,000 books given to local families in the past 6 years we will also have a guess the number game. If you like visiting with children and their parents this is an event which you won’t want to miss. What an excellent way to let our WHOLE community know that free tutoring help is available at The Public Library. We are looking for volunteers to work at our booth for one or two hours. Volunteer by calling the LL-L office today!
LL-L Bulletin
Watch your email for LL-L bulletins sent to you as plans are made for additional events and projects this fall, such as our 7th anniversary celebration and learner recognition potluck We will send you a “save the date” as soon as we have it for any event.
Very Successful NMCL Regional Training Over 20 LL-L volunteers were joined by 15 tutors from Deming, Las Cruces, and Lordsburg for very informative workshops on August 18th. Thank you, New Mexico Coalition for Literacy!
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Did you know?
Literacy Link – Leamos has a weekly English conversational class that meets year round on Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 am? The evening class will resume this fall. All ESL learners are welcome! If you know of individuals who want to practice speaking English, this is the class for them. Be our mouthpiece and spread the word!
Spanish Conversational Class this Fall
Literacy Link – Leamos will sponsor a conversational Spanish class, Vamos a Explorar los Verbos, this fall. The focus of the class will be the preterit tense of the regular verbs and tener, ser, estar, and ir. A variety of activities will be used to increase vocabulary and knowledge of common Spanish phrases and culture. Class instuctors are Oralia Rede, Reyes Lucero, and Michelle Detterick. Classes are scheduled for the following Wednesday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m.: September 12 & 26, October 10 & 24, and November 7 & 14. All classes will be held in the meeting room of the Library. Registration will begin on September 5 at 9 am in the LL-L office.
Tutors’ In-Service All tutors are encouraged to attend our tutors’ round table on Wed., Oct. 3 from 2 to 4pm in the meeting room of the Public Library. Discussion will center on the day long workshop from the recent training and tips picked up from the other classes. Refreshments will be served.
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