OCTOBER 2018
READ TO LEARN Adult Literacy/Volunteer Program
Site Supervisor Roberta Pennett and new volunteers at Tutor Training RTL REGISTRATION TEAM MPPL
STDL
Pat Denman
Art Briggs
Lillian Clinton
Sue Katz
Betty Edgecombe
Deb Fredricks
Francine Norling
Mike Emigh
Sathya Ganeshan
Barbara Otte
Sharon Madison
Donna Glade-Tau
returning tutors! We can’t do what we do
Bob Hinrichs
without you!
Debbie Sheade Erin Wegner
OSLC
Bob Kacprowicz
Carolyn White
Linda Falotico
Joen Karmanian
Ronnis Oher
Linda Kaye
Susan Kahle
Jo Korreck
Roberta Sweet
Linda Linder
NING EGVL
ON
From My Desk to Yours
AHML
Cathy Bert Lisa Heermann
Michael McGinley
by Jo Ann Fletcher
I would like to welcome all of our new tutors and give a hearty “welcome back” to all our
The Fall semester brought with it some positive program changes. We opened a new site at Schaumburg Township District Library on Wednesday mornings, bringing the total number of Read to Learn sites to 12. Also, we
Terri Mertz
POP
Lois Murphy
Kim Petersen
Cathy Bert
Ansuya Patel
Maureen Roth
Chris Chasen
Jan Plachy
and added a formal writing assessment,
changed the test we use to assess our learners
Linda Kaye
Pat Romejko
allowing us to get a better picture of a
FVEC
Karen Schlote
Geri Sandford
Daizy Silva
learner’s English language skills. With this
Mary Simonis
Sharon Schneider
information, site supervisors are better
Irma Torres
Kathy Youngs WHS
ITPL
Peg Credo
RMHS
Pat Denman
Marlene Delaney
Miles Ducore
Pat Horejs
Denice Dirks
Heather Popp
Judy Liles
Miles Ducore
Erin Wegner
Judy Salganik
Mark Lundberg
Connie Wilson
Ardis Sophian
Michael Mokate Margaret Reed
equipped to provide materials that fit each learner’s specific needs. I’m excited about the direction Read to Learn is heading, and even more excited that you’re a part of it. Thank you for all you do, and have a great semester!
OCTOBER 2018
Tutor Training Fall 2018 There was a large and enthusiastic turnout for tutor training this semester! Sixtyeight new tutors attended a full day of workshops, while 144 returning tutors came together for the presentation on “Strategies for Grammar & Interactive Lessons.” AEFL Manager Karen Oswald spoke about the many methods tutors can use to help their adult learner with grammar and writing. Here are a few ideas from her presentation.
Teach basic grammar first, before presenting more complex structures. Stay focused on the lesson; don't get distracted or go off on tangents. Practice grammar in context and through activities. Review, repeat, and reinforce lessons over time.
OCTOBER 2018
The presentation also .
covered multiple ways to practice writing with your students. • Write sentences based on a photo or icon. • Write sentences based on a “story starter.” • Use “yesterday, everyday, or tomorrow” to practice
SEASON'S GREETINGS | 1
different tenses. • Rewrite sample paragraphs, changing singular to plural,
Looking for more ideas? Multiple websites provide
affirmative to negative, or
information and ideas that can help with your
feminine to masculine.
tutoring. One favorite is www.rtl4you.weebly.com. Run by former site supervisor Karen Butzen, it's
3 SPECIALTY COFFEE DRINKS TO KEEP bursting with reading, vocabulary, grammar, and YOU WARM | 2
I was very impressed with Karen's presentation. With all of the materials and sites she presented, I feel I can approach my student with some clear-cut examples. I plan to present different verb tenses and have my
writing materials to practice with your student. Other sites with valuable content are www.englishclub.com, which has grammar lessons and quizzes, and www.newsforyouonline.com, which offers easy-to-read news stories. Incorporating one or more of these ideas into your tutoring sessions will enrich your student's learning experience and make tutoring more | 3 THE BEST HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE interesting and enjoyable for both of you.
student write applicable sentences. --Nancy Mieszala, RTL Tutor at Indian Trails Public Library
BEST GIFTS FOR THE COFFEE LOVER | 4
OCTOBER 2018
New Student Testing & Registration Team Rocks! Fall Semester marked the beginning of a new testing
Testing & Registration Volunteers at Schaumburg Library
and registration procedure for Read to Learn. Serious discussion and research over the past months made it clear that our current methods were becoming outdated and that changes were necessary. AEFL Manager Karen Oswald and Read to Learn Coordinator Jo Ann Fletcher worked long hours to determine which new testing materials and procedures would help us assess each learner's proficiency level in the most efficient and accurate way. With so many changes taking place, extra help was needed to ensure a smooth testing and registration
Expository Grading Volunteers
day for each of our twelve sites. Forty-one
Once all 377 students had completed
experienced volunteer tutors attended a special
testing, their writing samples were graded
training session to learn about the new testing
individually. So – volunteers came to the
procedures and to become part of our new Student
rescue once again! Six seasoned tutors
Testing and Registration Team.
plus Kim Petersen, our Read to Learn Administrative Assistant, gathered to score all the writing exams. Accuracy and precision were emphasized so that all test scores would be statistically reliable. Whew! After lots of time and effort, all tests were graded, students and tutors were matched, and the semester is now underway at all sites. We are so grateful to everyone who helped with registration. Because of you, this program
Testing & Registration Volunteers at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
excels and together we are able to help hundreds of adult learners improve their literacy and their lives.