Our many thanks to tutor Rebecca Lambert and her employer for their support through a charitable giving program. Because she is an AACLC volunteer, Rebecca was eligible to nominate the Literacy Council for a gift from her workplace: Rosen, Sapperstein & Friedlander (RS&F). In March, we were selected for their support!
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Check out this link for facts on the importance of adult literacy and more on why our work matters.
For information on how and where to get the COVID vaccine — and how to get a ride to your appointment, CLICK HERE.
For anyone facing difficulties, dialing 2-1-1 connects callers with trained health and human services personnel who provide guidance and help with a range of needs from utility assistance to legal guidance to mental health help.
211 help is available in more than 100 languages. Please see 211md.org to know all that the service offers. Calls are confidential, and there is a texting option as well.
Available 24/7 at 410-768-5522
The Anne Arundel County Community Warmline is always open to help anyone experiencing stress, depression, or anxiety. Access mental health, substance misuse, and grief counseling. Get referrals and support.
For more information, visit aacounty.org/coronavirus.
With Many Thanks,
Jane Seiss, Executive Director
This month marks the 50th anniversary of NPR’s (National Public Radio) first on-air original broadcast. Over the years, the organization has featured a broad range of education coverage, including stories about literacy. Here’s a compelling piece from 2018 that talks about adult literacy efforts and the impacts programs like ours have on students’ lives.
This moving video on the power of literacy is a popular part of AACLC’s training program — it is worth revisiting and sharing!
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The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy recently published a reading resource guide for readers of all ages and levels. Visit the resource library to see recommended books by topic, including Civil Rights, Science Fiction, and Inspirational Text. Browse book summaries, author websites, book trailers, reviews, and more.
The Literacy Council’s staff and tutors compiled this suggested reading list, available as a PDF.
Tutors, please email us your book or resource recommendations at any time, and we will share them: director@aaclc.org.
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“I retired December 2017 and in early 2018 took the training offered by the AA County Literacy Council for volunteer tutors! Tutoring was on my bucket list. Ivonne and I were matched (brilliantly!) and started our journey together in March 2018.
“From our first weekly meeting at Linthicum Library we ‘clicked.’ We share a love of learning and a heart for helping others be their best selves. Ivonne is a Middle School Spanish teacher and her goal was to improve her spoken and written English — particularly business English; formal and informal correspondence with the administration, parents, and students…
“Little did we know in 2018 how much written correspondence would be required at all levels during the past year-plus as we navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic and online school presented a whole new set of challenges, and Ivonne was prepared for the unexpected.
“As we began our work together, we used the Challenger Series provided by AACLC, quickly completing the first series and moved on to books 5-8. Each week Ivonne came prepared and enthusiastically shared ‘The Best Thing that Happened’ from the journal we agreed she would keep. Her journal entries started out focused on facts — persons, places, and things — and gradually became much more complex focusing on emotions/ perceptions, and goals for the future utilizing more advanced sentence structures and her growing vocabulary.
“Ivonne read books about famous historical figures, newspaper articles, and shared her love of art with me. I learned she loved baseball too and we studied baseball terms! Her written and conversational English improved through tireless practice and most importantly, her confidence grew!
“Ivonne is fearless. As a teacher, she copes with many challenges inside and outside the classroom. Her ‘WHY’ is her students — she cares deeply about them and has built a trust with each of them that lingers long after they leave Middle School. I love hearing about the notes and visits she receives from current and former students who share what a difference-maker she is. Where others might see defeat and obstacles, she sees opportunity and growth. Ivonne inspires me!
“Speaking of inspiration, during the summer of 2020, the church my husband and I attend was in need of a Spanish translator. Without hesitation, Ivonne stepped up to bridge the gap between our church and the community we were serving. Not only did she help us understand what they needed as far as food, etc., but she also provided spiritual support.
“Ivonne and I look forward to meeting in person again and in the meantime, we continue to talk over the phone, send texts, and emails, and be there for each other. We both love the Library of Congress and hopefully, that will be an outing we can share! She is a friend and I look forward to the milestones she will achieve in the future.”
To coordinate transportation, call 410-222-3663 (TTY 7-1-1), Monday – Friday from 8 am to 6 pm. Read more about this program here.
With Many Thanks,
Jane Seiss, Executive Director
For more advice about tutoring from a distance, please contact Wendy to receive our Virtual Tutoring Guide — a compilation of tips and resources from AACLC staff, trainers, and tutors. Tips on low-tech virtual tutoring are included.
This month, we are sharing news on the impact of tutoring. Read more at these links:
Learning to read as an adult changes deep regions of the brain
“Even learning to read in your thirties profoundly transforms brain networks,” one researcher said in follow up to a 2017 study. “The adult brain is remarkably flexible to adapt to new challenges.” (Mental Floss)
Lawyer reunites with teacher who taught her English as a child
A lawyer and immigrant whose teacher spent an extra hour a day volunteering to teach her English finally gets to thank the woman who changed her life. This piece was shared by a Literacy Council supporter. (The Washington Post)
ProLiteracy breaks down its most recent findings on adult literacy including some of the costs of low literacy in the United States. (ProLiteracy)
