James Henry Arruda taught himself to read at 92 and wrote and published a book at 96.
“I said, If he can do it, I’m gonna try.”
It’s never too late to learn to read, and AACLC is here to help you. Call us today at 410-269-4419.
Here is a recent ProLiteracy blog link with interesting tutoring tips to try with your adult English Language learner. (ELL):
Pasadena Voice Vice President of Operations Brian Lancione (right) presenting JoAnne Dement with a Pasadena Volunteer of the Month award.
For about 40 years, Riviera Beach resident JoAnne Dement educated children in Baltimore County, striving to get kids to see the value of education. When she retired four years ago, she saw an article highlighting Anne Arundel County Literacy Council volunteers and she immediately contacted the nonprofit to see how she could help.
“I realized that, unlike many of the kids, the adult population loved getting help,” she said. “When I started, it was the perfect match. I thought, ‘I now have an audience that really wants to learn.”
The Anne Arundel Literacy Council requires tutors to meet one-on-one with students for at least one hour per week. Using the Laubach book series provided by the council, Dement and other volunteers teach students who sometimes don’t have a fifth-grade reading ability, some who have dyslexia or had a bad education, and others for whom English is a second language. In the last few years, the council added a math component.
One of Dement’s students has continued his work with her for all four years, while others come and go as they meet their specific goals. Because of her education background, the former librarian is able to go off-script if needed to meet each student’s unique needs.
“A lot of these adults need job stuff. I try to make it as relevant to the real world as I can and concentrate on what their need is,” Dement said. “Laubach is great, but we’re here for whatever they need.”
Aside from tutoring, Dement also assesses incoming students to decide what Laubach books they need…So, what is Dement’s favorite part about volunteering? “Probably making new friends,” she said. “My students have become great friends and the volunteers are good people, helping others in a way that is totally non-judgmental.”
Dement encourages others to join Anne Arundel County Literacy Council, particularly those who can help students from North County. Anyone interested should contact Executive Director Lisa Vernon at director@aaclc.org or 410-
Written by Zack Sparks
Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy & Learning (TCALL) at Texas A&M University has outstanding resources available for adult education and literacy practitioners. Please take a moment to check them out:
TCALL Librarian Paula Bauer stands ready to assist you! Call her at 800-441-READ (7323) or email tcall@tamu.edu to borrow loan title materials by mail or for more information on the Library’s services.
Books and other resources may be requested for a 30-day loan.
Borrowers must be affiliated with a nonprofit program providing adult or family literacy services.
Annotated bibliographies of their entire library of resources are available in hard copy by request, and the library can also be searched in ‘real time’ on their website (http://tcall.tamu.edu). Call 800-441-7323 or email tcall@tamu.edu to check out materials described here or to request hard copy listings of even more resources.
A two-day GED-Math training has been arranged by trainers at the Dept. of Labor Licensing and Regulation (DLLR). Details for Day 2 are as follows:
Training will be led by: Daphne Atkinson, a state relationship manager for GED Testing Service for many years and also a certified GED trainer.
Saturday, May 20th
9 a.m. – noon
Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church
If interested in attending this workshop
please RSVP no later than May 18th by
calling 410-269-4419 or
emailing perinaazgandhi@gmail.com
A tremendous thank you goes out to the following restaurants, businesses, and supporters for their contributions to the 2017 Appreciation Dinner. Please be sure to dine at their restaurants, support their business, and tell them “Thank you!” for the support they have shown for our students, tutors, assessors and volunteers.
Adam’s Grille, Severna Park
Bertucci’s, Annapolis
Bow Tie Harbour 9
Buffalo Wild Wings, Annapolis
Jolene Caspar
Chick-fil-A, Edgewater
Chick-fil-A, Pasadena
Chick-fil-A, Severna Park
Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que, Annapolis
Fuddruckers, Annapolis
Giant Food, Edgewater & Annapolis
Glory Days Grill, Edgewater
The Greene Turtle, Annapolis
Sarah Griffith
Michelle Howell, photograqher
Jimmy John’s, Severna Park
Outback Steakhouse, Annapolis
Maggiano’s, Westfield Annapolis
Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe
Mary Jane McCarthy
Pizza Hut, Edgewater
Potbelly’s Westfield Annapolis, Harbor Center Annapolis
Qdoba Annapolis Towne Center
Joanne Riley, photograqher
Sam’s Club, Annapolis
State Farm Marie Waring, Odenton
TGI Fridays, Annapolis Harbor Center
Tom Vernon
Weiss Markets, Edgewater
Wegmans, Waugh Chapel Towne Center
Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church
Oh, what a night! On April 27th, two hundred and six students, tutors, assessors, volunteers, and supporters celebrated AACLC’s 40th anniversary serving Anne Arundel County adults and out-of-school youth.
Incredible community support for our students and tutors was evident – Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church graciously donated their Fellowship Hall and banquet table/chairs for the evening; twenty-six area restaurants, businesses, and individuals donated the delicious buffet food; and Marie Waring State Farm Agency in Odenton donated the tablecloths and tableware. Table centerpieces were created from three hundred donated books from AACPL which afterward were taken home by the guests; and a 40th Anniversary display, donated by Sarah Griffiths, our Appreciation Dinner Chair, topped each stack of books.
Student testimonies were again the highlight of the evening! Along with spontaneous sharing from students in the audience, we had guest speakers Joanne Riley, Robert Smith, and Angel Clickner who all shared their inspiring testimonies of how their lives have been transformed through literacy. It was an evening of celebration I will always treasure.
Kind regards,
Lisa Vernon, Executive Director
Anne Arundel County Literacy Council
301-523-6750 (cell)
director@aaclc.org
Lisa Vernon, Executive Director
Wage Trajectories for Adult Basic Literacy Skills Program Participants vs. Nonparticipants
During the 10-year period of the study, participants showed mean income gains of 53 percent (in constant 1997 dollars) as compared to an income drop of 2 percent for nonparticipants. – See more at The Case for Investment in Adult Basic Education.
According to the LSAL study report, “This large overall difference suggests that adult basic literacy skills program participation may be central to sustained income growth for this low-education population.”
Support our students and tutors while you shop:
When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to Anne Arundel County Literacy Council.
How do I shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device.
