Arizona is Up!

The Arizona Adult Literacy Resource and Technology Center, Inc. (AALTRC, Inc.) Web page is up and running. Arizona is the second Center of the Hub IV Project (after California) to have a Web presense. Good work and the tip-of-the-hat to Steve Rutberg, Resource Specialist and Maureen Ambrose, Executive Director.

The AALRTC, Inc. supports adult education and literacy providers in Arizona by fostering innovation in programs and staff development, research and evaluation.

A new literacy web site to explore is the National Center for the Study of Writing and Literacy. One of the educational research centers sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the NCSWL is located at the Graduate School of Education of the University of California at Berkeley, with an additional site at Carnegie Mellon University.

The mission of the Center is to improve understanding of how writing is best learned and taught--from the early years through adulthood. The Center supports research projects examining how students learn to write, how teachers can best help students who come from an increasing diversity of cultural backgrounds, how writing can be used more effectively across the curriculum, how larger social forces (such as ethnic background, relations with family members, social class, and the neighborhood) affect success in school, how we might develop better ways to assess what students are learning, and how new technologies and new demands in the workplace affect the literacy skills students need to learn.

Dr. Carole Talan, Director of the State Literacy Resource Center of California, has authored a new book entitled "Founding and Funding Family Literacy Within a Library." "What's New" will be extracting parts of this interesting resource in the following months soooooooo stay tuned!

This is a true story about Enrique Ramirez. Like millions of others in the United States, he never learned to read in school. He tells in his own words how he came to learn how to read as an adult and how it changed his life and the lives of those in his family. It is a story of his failure and his success.

There are two video versions available. One for libraries and one for adult schools, community colleges, and CBOs. For libraries: This version highlights the fact that it was a library literacy program that Enrique attended. Enrique is seen entering a library proram and working with his tutor. Two editions are contained on the same video, one narrated and one non-narrated. Each edition is 7.5 minutes long. For adult schools, community colleges, CBOs: This version does not specify the type of program Enrique attended. It refers to the adult literacy program in a generic way and could be used by any group to promote its own offerings. Two editions are on the video, one narrated and one non-narrated. Each edition is 7 minutes long.

If you would like to obtain a copy of Enrique's Story, write the California State Library Foundation, 1225 8th Street, Suite 345, Sacramento, CA 95814 or call at (916) 447-6331.

Click here to hear audio
Enrique's Story


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What is the F.A.T.H.E.R.S. Program? The acronym stands for Fathers As Teachers: Helping Encouraging, Reading, Supporting. Born out of the California state-wide, state funded Families for Literacy programs, it has three components: classroom instruction (literacy tutoring), gift books, and monthly visitation storytimes (library storytimes). F.A.T.H.E.R.S. was specifically designed to serve incarcerated men. The F.A.T.H.E.R.S. Program curriculm aims toward raising consciousness and changing behavior in numerous ways, but primarily in breaking the cycle of incarceration. You can find out more by clicking here (F.A.T.H.E.R.S. Program overview) and reviewing the contents of the program manual.

Is there a literacy question that's keeping you up late at night? Questions about literacy manners, literacy relationships, literacy trivia? Caroline has the answers!

Dear N A:

This has been a problem ever since Moses lent Joshua those tablets and had to get somewhat miffed to get them returned. Caroline has learned from the library and has her friends commit to a return time. She has also had to resort to the "My books are like children to me" soliloquy just for the guilt factor. If you cannot come straight out and ask for the book back at least ask the offender how she/he liked the book. Most times you will find they just plumb forgot.

Dear Caroline:

I have a problem! I run a Literacy Resource Center and have a real need for a Literacy Glossary. I have searched everywhere, even conducted an extensive literature review, and I cannot seem to locate one. Help!!!

Signed,
Lack of Definition

Dear Lack:

I, too, am in need of such a glossary and I am sorry to say, I haven't been able to locate one either. Maybe our devoted readers could help. If you know of one, please e-mail Caroline at cdobison@otan.dni.us.