Free Online Courses for Instructors Teaching Citizenship

Check out these three free online courses for instructors teaching citizenship.

Video Examples of Technology Used in the Adult Education Classroom

Captured Wisdom is a set of videos that provide examples of technology being used effectively in the adult education classroom. To access the videos on the OTAN site you will be prompted to register - a quick and easy step which will give you access to numerous resources for those working in adult education.

New Newsletter for Tutors from TLC

Please follow this link to find TLC's first issue of our new newsletter Tips for Tutors. What tips do you have to share? Post them here so that I can add them to the next newsletter!

Florida Literacy Coalition Shares Its Teacher/Tutor Resource Site

I put out a request on Twitter for lesson plans for tutors working with adult literacy learners and I received a link from the Florida Literacy Coalition for their Teacher/Tutor Resource Site. Let us know what you found really valuable on this site.

Direct Instruction

This article will fully explain the concept of direct or explicit instruction. Direct or Explicit Instruction and Mathematics

Online Book Study

TLC will be offering the online book study based on Dr. Beverly Ford's book, "Making Case Management Work" starting August 9, 2010. Please contact Kim if interested in participating.

Does Reading Matter?

In case you ever wondered if reading was important ... (from Children of the Code site mentioned below).

Children of the Code

This site is a wealth of information on literacy; viewpoints from professionals, children and adults are provided in numerous information videos that shed a whole new light on the poor literacy skills of our nation.

childrenofthecode.org

Which is your favorite video? Please share by commenting below.

Online Social Networking Site

If you are interested in becoming a member of an online social networking site (similar to Facebook but strictly for adult literacy program tutors, tutor coordinators, and other similar practitioners) please send me an email.

You can view the home page of the site at: Adult Literacy Tutors

Online Resources

http://distancewebsites.wikispaces.com/ - This awesome website provides links to numerous topics pertaining to adult literacy.  It was put together by the Distance Learning Project.


http://www.clese.org/brightideas_eslcurric.htm - This site provides a 16 unit ESL Civics Curriculum designed for very beginning ESL learners.

http://www.esldiscussions.com/  - ESL Discussions, 650 conversations from which to choose and 13,000 conversation questions. Use in lessons, to practice speaking, etc.

ESL/ESOL Adult Learning Videos  - A variety of professional development videos can be found at this site.

Watch for Further Online Supports for Tutors of Adult Learners

Are you interested in web-based resources connecting you with other tutors of adult learners?

Tutors of Literacy is planning to start a wiki for tutors as well as a Ning social network account. A wiki is "the simplest online database that could possibly work" quoted from  http://wiki.org/wiki.cgi?WhatIsWiki; a wiki allows for anyone to create or edit information so tutors can ask questions, share information and share hyperlinks. Ning is a platform where a social network for a select group of people (namely adult literacy tutors) would be created and it would be similar to a Facebook account.

While this all may sound like overload, my goal is to provide your preferred mode of online support so that you can interact however you choose.

Watch here for links to these new resources.

Online PD Opportunity Starting March 22

Ever wonder what else you could do to help adult learners succeed? Of course you have - you are a volunteer tutor!

TLC is going to facilitate an online book study based on the book "Making Case Management Work" by Dr. Beverly O. Ford. Don't panic - no one is expecting you to turn into a case manager! This book simply describes numerous techniques that would also work well for tutors of adult learners.

The 9 week course starts with an introductory webinar and then consists of assignments that involve postings on Discussion Boards. There are two role plays to be done throughout the book study; the majority of the work can be done at times convenient to the individual.

If you are interested in participating in this course, you can sign up in e-campus, https://www.ecampus.ed.state.pa.us/courseregistration.asp?course=1949&Search=Month or contact Kim Rossman, kim@tlcliteracy.org.

What if ... ?

What if the student ______ ? Hopelink's Adult Education Tutor Support Site has a tutor FAQ page.
 http://eastsideliteracy.org/tutorsupport/OneonOne/OneonOneTips.htm
See if your question is answered there. If so, please share it with us.

More from the National Institute for Literacy

Have you checked out the Basic Skills section of the LINCS Resource Collections? http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/resourcecollections/RC_skills.html
This collection "focuses on reading, writing, mathematics and numeracy resources that can improve instruction in basic skills." Materials are listed in the topics of reading, writing and mathematics and you can search through and find both research and classroom/tutoring materials. One link (Marshall Adult Education: http://www.marshalladulteducation.org/reading-skills-for-todays-adult) takes you to a website with leveled readings for practice with fluency.
Please comment below on what you found most valuable in the Basic Skills section of the LINCS Resource Collection.

Refresher

Ever feel like you could use a refresher course in some of the basics of tutoring adult learners? The article "To Teach So They Can Learn" by Ilda Carreiro King, PhD provides just that. It summarizes adult learner characteristics and appropriate instructor/tutor responses. It also discusses the five critical elements of learning that must be addressed in order for learners to learn.

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B926mnQyIUuxOGQxMWI2MGItM2ZhMi00YmU2LWJjNTItMDdmZDJjOTFhNjc4&hl=en

Ever Have Trouble Maintaining Your Motivation as a Tutor?

If so, check out this link and the suggestions provided. http://literacy.kent.edu/cra/challenge/tutor.html
At this same site you can find other tutor questions and reader responses by clicking on the left links that say tutor's challenge and then select the option to see reader's suggestions.

Have You Heard of SABES?

SABES is the System for Adult Basic Education Support and according to the homepage, "SABES promotes high quality adult basic education services through training, support and resources that improve the skills and knowledge of practitioners and strengthen programs." http://sabes.org/
Check out their Math Bulletin which includes classroom related materials. http://sabes.org/resources/publications/mathbulletin/math-bulletin-dec2009.pdf
Working on writing? The tips and techniques provided in this Workplace Writing Skills publication will be helpful. http://sabes.org/curriculum/instruction/workplace-writing-skills1.pdf
Find these resources and many more on the SABES website. http://sabes.org

Free Online Study Circle Available to PA Tutors

Pennsylvania tutors have a wonderful opportunity to participate - at no cost - in the Research-based Adult Reading Instruction Study Circle. It is designed to engage adult literacy practitioners in discussing theories and concepts related to reading instruction. The 8 week course starts March 25 and ends May 26, 2010. Participants work on team projects, engage in self-paced activities and readings, as well as asynchronous discussions and synchronous chats with the facilitator and course participants.

If you are interested and willing to commit the time for participating in this course, please contact Kim at kim@tlcliteracy.org.

New Math and Numeracy Discussion List

The National Institute for Literacy is starting a new discussion list for adult education practitioners (and yes, that includes tutors!). The purpose of the list is to provide a means for ongoing professional development in math and numeracy. The list will share information and resources on motivation and math, common math and numeracy instructional issues, and other related topics so that participants can increase their understanding of adult numeracy and mathematics issues.

To join the discussion list go to: http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/discussions.html.

A Tutor Support Site

Hopelink's adult education tutor support site has FAQs, lesson plans, and further resources. It includes sections for ESL, basic literacy, and lifelong learning. Check it out and let us know what you think.

http://www.eastsideliteracy.org/tutorsupport/