The Literacy Council of Clermont and Brown Counties
 

THE LITERACY BUZZ

A Publication of
The Literacy Council
of Clermont and Brown Counties

One Tutor, One Student, One Word at a Time November 2008
Volume 4
In This Issue
Holiday Auction
Tips for Tutors
A Student's Passion
Elbow Grease Needed
Mark Your Calendar
Busy Bees Buzzzing About
Dear friends,
 
The Board of Directors and the staff of The Literacy Council wish you a very warm and laughter-filled Thanksgiving Holiday.  The agency will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 27th & 28th.  
 
A Twist on T-H-A-N-K-S-G-I-V-I-N-G
 There are many times throughout the day,
 Hardly a moment that we don't say,
"Accolades for the best present of all,"
 New and old students who made that first call.
 Kindred spirits welcome here,
 Support, instruction - a listening ear.
 Gains are made with letters and words,
 Initiated by a tutor's kind urge.
 Victory comes when you can read,
 Ignite your dreams; plant the seed.
 Nothing impossible for a "stu-tor pair,"
 Gratitude and Thanksgiving replace despair.

Hope you enjoy this issue of The Literacy Buzz.
 
Happy Reading,
Susan Vilardo
Executive Director
Holiday Auction
 
Auction Fundraiser Benefiting The Literacy Council
Auctioneers:  Instructor & Students from Live Oaks Auctioneering School; Bennett N. Vaughn/Auctioneer Instructor; Students - Lee Morris, Ken Vordem Esche, John Baitz, Pat Vaughn and RJ Vilardo
When:  Thursday, December 11, 2008
Location:  Live Oaks CDC Vocational School, 5956 Buckwheat Road, Milford (Cafeteria)
Preview & Registration:  6:30 p.m.
Auction Starts:  7:15 p.m.
Donations Happily Accepted -   Used or New (Items added daily)
More information:  Live Oaks  - 513.575.1900 or The Literacy Council - 513.943.3740
Great Items Already Collected - Tricycles, Gas & Gift Cards, Scaled Electric Train, Collectible Dolls, Glass ware, Men's Clothing, & Gift Baskets.  This is an auction you won't want to miss!  Munchies and refreshments provided.
Perfect time to do your Christmas shopping and support The Literacy Council.
Tips for Tutors
 
Tutors are the heartbeat of The Literacy Council.  In this and future issues of The Literacy Buzz we will feature teaching ideas and tips for our fantastic tutors.

Tutors, you and your student can benefit from two helpful books stocked in our Resource Library - Teaching Adults: A Literacy Resource Book and Teaching Adults: An ESOL Resource Book, both developed by Laubach Literacy Action.  The pair offers a diverse range of ideas from bolstering your teaching confidence to valuable easy-to-adapt tutoring activities to use with your adult learner.

Seasoned Tutor Trainer, Kathy Gillespie recommends this tip for your tutoring session: "Word Parts: Compound Words."
  1. Select five or six compound words that are made of smaller words that the learner can already read.
  2. Put the first half of each word in one column.
  3. Put the second half of each word in a second column.
  4. Ask the learner to connect the two words that form a compound word (draw a line to connect) and then read the new word.
  5. Ask the learner to use the word in a sentence.
Example:
     pay       plane
     air         room
     bed       house
     grand   check
     tree      mother
 
Excerpted from - Tutor News, an Electronic Newsletter from The Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati, September/October 2008, Volume VI, Issue 5.
 
Do you have an idea, teaching technique, tip or tutoring story you would like to share?  PLEASE contribute to our newsletter.  Your ideas are accepted throughout the month. Submissions to: susan.vilardo@clermontbrownliteracy.org
A Student's Passion 
 
"I LOVE that machine."  That's what Literacy Council student Stan (not his real name) says about his new skills in the agency's computer reading lab. After many years working in manufacturing, Stan's employer relocated and he was laid off. Now in his 60s and unemployed for the first time in decades, he wondered what he would do to support himself. He struggled just to write his name and address and he knew he would have to take the plunge and learn to read and write.
 
When he first came to the Literacy Council, Stan was quiet and pessimistic about his ability to successfully tackle such a big challenge. The computer reading lab seemed particularly intimidating. He'd never used a computer before, was unsure of how to even turn it on. After his initial training session Stan began making rapid progress. Now Stan stops by several times a week for hourly reading lab sessions. Stan rarely leaves the lab without reminding the staff of his next visit. He's not nearly as quiet or pessimistic anymore. The computer reading lab helped Stan so quickly and profoundly that he breaks into a smile when he says, "I LOVE that machine!"
Elbow Grease Needed!
 
The Literacy Council could use some extra help in the office -- specifically, filling in when the Administrative Assistant is unable to cover the front desk. Duties range from answering the phone & filing to assisting with monthly special projects.  If you have a few hours to spare and would enjoy a diverse volunteer position, consider helping us out. We would welcome any time you can give.  Call Susan at 513-943-3741 for details.
Mark Your Calendar
  • December 5 - Book Bee Open House from 11:00 - Noon
  • December 11 - Auction Fund Raiser at Live Oaks, 6:30 p.m. (see related article)
  • December 15 - Gift Wrap your purchases at Borders in Eastgate - come shop and have your items lovingly wrapped by the staff, volunteers and students from The Literacy Council.  All tips directly benefit The Literacy Council.

Call or visit our web site for additional information about these events:  Literacy Council 513-943-3740, www.clermontbrownliteracy.org.

Busy Bees Buzzzing About
 
Gratitude to the "busy bees" that assisted with our fourth Literacy Council Newsletter: Suzanne Bona Hatem, Kathleen A. Gillespie and Tom Rocklin   
 
A big buzz of gratitude to our agency funders.  Thank you for your support.