Tutor Susi Smith and Ha Nordrum
I have been working with Ha Nordrum since October. She is a delightful woman with a cheerful, sweet personality. She moved here from Vietnam six years ago, and learned about the Literacy Council from her niece, Phung Phan, who recently signed up for tutoring sessions.
Ha is very motivated to improve her skills in reading and writing English. Speaking and reading English with more ease will help her on the job, since she works as a nail technician and interacts with English-speaking clients all day.
Ha’s persistence will pay off, since English is a difficult language for many Vietnamese learners to master. Our verb tenses, the pronunciation of certain consonants, and shades of meaning in vocabulary words can be daunting for Vietnamese speakers, since their language is tonal (word meanings can be altered by various tones, unlike English.) But Ha receives the kind of incredible support from her husband Tuan Nordum, her mother-in-law (who speaks both English and Vietnamese), and her niece, that enable her to set her sights high: Ha is looking forward to the day she can become a U.S. citizen and vote.
It is a joy working with Ha.
~ Susi Smith
Tutor Ray Davis and Johnny George
I’ve been working with 63-year-old Johnny George, Sr. since September and have enjoyed every minute of our time together. Johnny is both a gentle man and a gentleman. He has struggled with reading throughout his adult life, but decided to sharpen his literacy skills after his wife Pauline encouraged him to sign up with the Literacy Council.
Like many of our students, Johnny was put on a “vocational” track when teachers noted that he was good with his hands. He advanced in that program until the 10th grade, when he left school to join the military. After serving in Vietnam, he left the service with the rank of Sergeant and returned home to find work at Baltimore Gas and Electric. Johnny rose in the ranks at BG&E, becoming a supervisor.
Although Johnny is quick to laugh and smile, in our early months together he often seemed to tear up when he told me about his difficulties with reading. When I told him that he certainly wasn’t alone in this battle, and that so many of our students have struggled with acquiring reading skills as adults, he seemed amazed and shocked. I think he now understands that this process will take a while. But Johnny’s game to try. We often start our lessons with flash cards and current events discussions before digging into Laubach Skillbook 2 and Phonics 2.
~ Ray Davis
Our next 2-day tutor training is scheduled for February 28th and March 7th, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, and will include both Basic Literacy and ESL instruction. We have a class size limit of 35.
If you, or someone you know, would be interested in attending this training, please email director@aaclc.org, or call 301-523-6750 as soon as possible to reserve a seat.
We have wonderful talent at the Literacy Council. Jae Sherwood has created a website to showcase her writing. Please check it out and let her know your thoughts. If you enjoy what you read, check back often, because she will be adding new poems, essays, and blog postings as well as responding to emails, etc.
Jae is a former Literacy Council tutor and played a major role in the creation of our first database, along with Hank Zimmerman and Christine Harrison.
Literacy Council tutors Mary Austin and Evelyn Rubel
Evelyn Rubel and Mary Austin are true unsung heroes, faithfully changing lives of inmates at the Ordnance Correctional Center (ORCC) through their literacy tutoring. Evelyn, a former elementary school teacher for 30 years, has been tutoring at Ordnance for the past 15 years. Mary has tutored at Ordnance for 11 years and has also tutored several Special Needs students during that time.
At Ordnance, Mary and Evelyn have worked with inmates from 16 to 83 years of age and have found that the Laubach phonics program has enabled many of them to improve their reading skills. They have cherished the notes and comments of students who have appreciated what we have done for them and have found their tutoring experiences to be very rewarding.
Hattie McCullers and tutor Bonnie Wright
Hattie McCullers first learned about the Literacy Program when she saw an ad in the Capital, and she carried it with her until she had the opportunity to call. I am glad she did!
Hattie was born in South Carolina, the third in line of five girls and six boys. She said life growing up was a combination of work and fun – and lots of babysitting. Understandably, family is everything to her. Hattie and her husband, George, have one son and daughter, and four grandchildren. Her family is very supportive of her lessons.
Hattie with granddaughter Natalie
Hattie told me that her literacy goals are”to understand everything I read” and “to spell any word at the drop of a hat.” She would like to write a children’s book and has been working on a project to create a book of family history for her granddaughter Natalie, who was born in March. There is a lot of heart in it.
Hattie is a pleasure to work with. She is always cheerful and prepared. Assessed at Laubach 4, she is excelling in her reading, and doing well in spelling. Hattie is conscientious about doing her homework, which any tutor will tell you is a blessing. She feels that being in this program has helped her come closer to her goals of learning to express herself in writing and improving her spelling. Most importantly, her self-confidence has really grown. Her whole demeanor shows it, and I am very proud of her.
Bonnie Wright
Koons Toyota General Manager Wendel Williams presents
Literacy Council Director Lisa Vernon
with a $5,000 donation.
Koons Toyota Annapolis donated $5,000 to the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council as part of their “Koons 25 Days of Giving” in December. Please stop by their beautiful new showroom at 1107 West St. in Annapolis to thank them for their generous support for our adult and out-of-school youth literacy program.
Exciting news!
Beginning in February, 4 Naval Academy Midshipman will be providing free math tutoring for our students on Saturday mornings from 10 am to noon at Bloomsbury Square in Annapolis. This will be a great opportunity for our pre GED students to receive help in math from the Midshipmen. Tutors please share this opportunity with your students and encourage them to attend.
Giving Tuesday A Huge Success!
In other news, the Literacy Council won $2,000 in prizes from AACares on Giving Tuesday and raised a total of $7,425. Out of 29,484 organizations participating in Giving Tuesday throughout the country we placed 49th on their list of Top Nonprofit Organizations. Thank you for your amazing generosity and support for our free adult and out-of-school youth literacy program!
Warmest regards,
Lisa Vernon
Executive Director
Anne Arundel County Literacy Council
301-523-6750
