Fantastic, Fabulous, and Free Web Resources: Free Online Tutor/Teacher In-Service

There are many free resources available on the internet for teachers, tutors, and students. Knowing how and where to find them can seem like an impossible mission. Come learn about some great resources that are quick & easy to use for learners at all levels and for all subjects! Attendees will be able to participate from home via a computer with speakers and access to the internet on October 8th, from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm.

Register Today

Volunteer Tutor In-Service Symposium

This event will include a tutor roundtable, a session on new tutor resources, and much more. Hosted by the Literacy Council of St. Petersburg and the Florida Literacy Coalition.

October 17th from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at the USF- St. Petersburg Campus.

Register Today

Adding to Your Lesson Planning Toolbox: Volunteer Tutor In-Service Symposiums

Do you want to spice up and expand your lesson plans with new activities? Join us as we explore how to use three excellent tutor resources used by teachers and tutors around the country. The featured resources included Taking the Mystique Out of Learning Disabilities, Oxford Picture Dictionary, and the Adult Literacy Handbook for Students and Tutors.

This full-day training is being offered:

November 7, in Orlando
November 13, in Blountstown
November 14, in Gainesville

Register today for any of these upcoming workshops.

Literacy Ambassador Training Program

Do you know an adult learner with an interesting story to share? This dynamic workshop prepares adult learners to become effective advocates and spokespeople for their organizations and adult literacy in general.

November 6th and 7th at the Courtyard Marriott in Downtown Orlando.

For Literacy Month activities, as well as all other upcoming events, visit the FLC calendar.

FLC Welcomes

New Staff!

Bryan McCormack (on right) recently joined FLC as an AmeriCorps VISTA member. David Wagner is joining us from UCF as our Events Intern.

e-Literacy News is a publication of Florida's Adult and Family Literacy Resource Center, a program of the Florida Literacy Coalition. It is made possible through the support of the Florida Department of Education, Division of Workforce Education.

Promising Practices Among Florida's Adult and Family Literacy Program

The Florida Literacy Coalition has identified a cross-section of promising adult education, literacy, and family literacy program practices right here in the Sunshine State.

In selecting a practice for inclusion in this collection, the Coalition considered the following criteria:

Unique and/or innovative qualities
Ability to be replicated by other adult education, literacy, or family literacy providers
Evidence of effectiveness

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Governor Crist Issues Literacy

Month Proclamation

Governor Crist recently issued a proclamation recognizing September 2009 as Florida Adult and Family Literacy Month. Literacy and family literacy services are provided to more than 400,000 adults annual by Florida’s schools, literacy organizations, and libraries.

In the proclamation, Governor Crist emphasizes the need for highly literate citizens and the importance of literacy and lifelong learning. Recognizing the broad range of adult and family literacy service providers throughout our state, Governor Crist encourages Floridians to come together to promote literacy in their communities.

Download Proclamation

September is Literacy Month in

Florida’s State Parks!

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida State Parks will celebrate the Third Annual Literacy Month in September. In celebration of International Literacy Day, entrance to Florida's 161 state parks will be free September 11 through September 13 with the presentation of a library card, library book, or the donation of a new/gently-used family friendly book. Florida's state parks, along with local libraries, schools, and literacy programs, will host a variety of events during September including book readings, author appearances and book exchanges.

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Florida Literacy Coalition to Apply Innovative IBM Technology to Improving Statewide Literacy Efforts

Adults and families throughout the state now have access to new technology provided by IBM that can help them improve their reading skills. The Florida Literacy Coalition received a grant by IBM for the company’s Reading Companion software which will be used by thirty-four Florida-based literacy programs, with a total in-kind value of $340,000. Reading Companion uses speech-recognition technology that “listens” to emerging readers speak and provides individualized feedback, enabling them to practice their pronunciation as they acquire fundamental reading skills.

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Federal Adult Education Funding

Increases Likely

On August 13 the Senate Appropriations Committee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies completed action on their portion of the FY10 budget. It is anticipated that the figures in the bill will be accepted by the full Senate and included in an Omnibus Appropriations that is approved later in September.

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Literacy Volunteer Recognized

by Florida Senate

Virginia Hash was recently awarded the Florida Senate Medallion Award of Excellence for her volunteer service. State Sen. Steve Wise hosted an award ceremony, July 17th, at St. John’s Community College and the award was presented to Ms. Hash by Senate President Jeff Atwater. “It is my honor to recognize Dr. Hash for her long-time service to Clay County. Helping someone learn to read changes their life”, said Senator Wise. Dr. Hash currently teaches classes in writing and conversation for the Clay County Literacy Coalition. In the past year, she has dedicated over 1200 hours of service to her community.

Florida Literacy Conference 2010:

Call for Presenters

South Seas Island Resort • Captiva, FL • May 5-7, 2010

Do you have a something to share with Florida’s literacy practitioners? We are now accepting proposals for workshop presentations and invite you to take this opportunity to share your knowledge and showcase your programs.

Click here to access the form and submit your online proposal. The deadline for submissions is December 16, 2009.

Planning ahead pays off with discounts. Early birds be on the look out for registration to begin in early October.

Stay up on the latest 2010 Florida Literacy Conference news at www.floridaliteracy.org. Details on registration, sponsorships, exhibits and more will be posted soon.

Celebrate Health Literacy Month

this October!

According to Healthy People 2010, the average annual health care cost of a person with very low literacy (2nd grade and below) may be up to four times greater than the general population. People with low health literacy are more likely to report poor health, be unable to understand health problems and treatments, and be at greater risk of hospitalization. October is Health Literacy Month. How will you contribute to raising the awareness about health literacy issues in your community? This is the perfect time to organize activities that allow people in your community to understand why health literacy matters.

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Program Manager's Toolkit Now Online

The Florida Literacy Coalition is proud to announce the new Program Manager's Toolkit. Aligned with the ProLiteracy Program Accreditation standards, this unique resource offers a variety of sample documents, forms, policies, and procedures. Its primary purpose is to serve as a central repository for practical, hands on documents to be shared across programs.

Our thanks to the FDOE, Division of Workforce Education which supported this project and to all the organizations that contributed.

New Student and Volunteer Recruitment Posters Available!

Free recruitment posters are now available through the Florida Adult and Family Literacy Resource Center Clearinghouse.

These posters, which can be customized with your program's information, are available in hard copy 11x17 glossy posters and via electronic PDF that you can print yourself.

These posters were made possible through the support of the Florida Department of Education, Division of Workforce Education.

Order today!

House Bill Proposes Increases in English Language Literacy Funding, and Tax Breaks

Strengthen and Unite Communities with Civics Education and English Skills Act (HR 3249) was introduced in both the House and Senate (S. 1478) during the week of July 20 by Rep. Mike Honda (Calif.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) with several co-sponsors in both houses. The legislation is designed to help new Americans become part of the social and economic fabric of the U.S. through English language learning, civics instruction, and incentives for businesses to invest in the education of their non-English speaking employees. The bill would increase proposed funding for Department of Education programs serving all English language learners from $70 million to $200 million in FY 2010.