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Registration now open for a Literacy Symposium unlike any other

September 13, 2021 by Literacy Texas

Guest blog post by Wes Young, MLS, Executive Director, Tarrant Literacy Coalition

The effects of the ongoing pandemic have brought many deficiencies into sharp focus.

The people who have been most severely affected by the pandemic tend to be those we work with in adult education classrooms across our community; lost jobs due to layoffs, decreased income, health scares and related concerns – all are new realities that our adult learners AND their families experience.

On top of the daily responsibilities our learners face in everyday life, these new burdens strain capabilities and threaten personal growth through education.

Those who work with learners in any capacity do not always know the whole story or see the complete picture. We see a student drop out of class, and we think, “Well, there goes another one,” but the reality is that educators could do more to save that student with a little more understanding.

The old-as-time expression ‘walk a mile in my shoes’ may seem like a cliché, but it is an essential part of reaching learners where they are; Tarrant Literacy Coalition is using this year’s DFW Literacy Symposium as a way into the lives of our learners.

Join us for the in-person 2021 DFW Literacy Symposium: Poverty and Education – a professional development experience unlike any you have ever participated in.

The symposium will be held:

Friday, October 8, 2021
7:00am to 5:00pm

Venue: George W. Hawkes Downtown Library and the Arlington City Council Chambers, two buildings on the same block.

Registrant check-in will open at 6:30am in the Council Chambers building, with the day officially beginning at 7:00am. Our general session speaker will feature Dr. Horacio Sanchez, author and neuroscientist, presenting the session “Overcoming the Impact of Poverty on the Brain.”

Following the opening session, attendees will be split into two groups, and each will participate in the two remaining sessions for the day. One is a fabulous session presented by Theresa Sands of TCALL, “Beyond Poverty & Trauma with Adult Literacy.” The other session is a full-scale poverty simulation presented by ACH Child and Family Services. After lunch, the two groups will attend the session they did not participate in during the first half of the day.

A simulation like this has not been offered to educators in DFW in many years, and it is something you DO NOT want to miss.

Registration for the event is now open. Read more about this one-of-a-kind event and register for the Symposium FOR FREE.

Film Director Richard Eyre once said, “Change begins with understanding, and understanding begins by identifying oneself with another person: in a word, empathy.”

Tarrant Literacy Coalition and our sponsors hope that you will join us for an event sure to change your perspective and increase your empathy.

Professional Development credit (8.5 hours) is available.
Lunch will be provided.
Parking instructions can be found here.

National Literacy Month 2021

August 29, 2021 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Literacy transforms Texas.

How often have you seen “the literacy problem” framed in terms of doom and gloom? Lost wages, lost opportunities, lost tax dollars, lost hope. It’s true that low literacy damages lives and potential in countless ways. But why not look at it through a different lens?

Helping an adult increase their literacy, even modestly, can have a positive ripple effect through their life, the lives of their children and family members, and on out into society. An adult who can read fluently and well is more confident. They’re more likely to understand forms, paperwork, and medication labels. They’re able to get a job more easily, move up in that job, and need less financial aid.

An adult in a parenting role – whether a parent, a grandparent, or another adult important in a child’s life – who can speak English fluently and read well is more likely to be involved in that child’s education. They can read the notes sent home from school and participate confidently at parent-teacher nights. They make reading aloud a regular practice and children grow up with a love for books, curious minds, and valuing education.

And raising literacy scores is a dynamic cash injection for the economy. By some counts, the impact could be as much as $2 trillion every single year.

So, during September – National Literacy Month – let’s celebrate the power of literacy. It can transform lives, whole communities, and this nation. And then let’s continue our work.

Opportunities for you to make a difference this month:

Find a program local to you and get involved as a volunteer or in other ways.
Amplify the literacy message on International Literacy Day, September 8.
Celebrate Welcoming Week, September 10 – September 19, and help our newest neighbors feel at home.
Advocate for literacy issues during Adult Education & Family Literacy Week, September 19 – September 25.
Learn about the importance of a local focus at a special webinar, A Blueprint for Literacy Action, on September 23.

And of course literacy work never stops – even after September ends, there are ways to stay involved:

Tell your colleagues in the Dallas-Fort Worth area about the latest Literacy Texas Regional Literacy Symposium, coming up on October 8.
Prepare to learn at the National Families Learning Conference online, October 25 – October 27.

Literacy transforms Texas. And you’re part of that transformation. Thank you for your efforts!

Can we stay in touch? There’s so much to do. And our efforts will be richer and more effective if you’re part of them.

Add your voice to our socials on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Sources for information in blog post:

Low Literacy Levels Among U.S. Adults Could Be Costing The Economy $2.2 Trillion A Year, Forbes, September 9, 2020

Fast Facts on Adult Literacy, National Center for Education Statistics

Family Ties to Literacy

May 23, 2021 by Literacy Texas

Who was your first teacher? For most of us, it was our parents or caregivers.

Who was your favorite teacher? For most of us, it was someone who shared their passion in a way that we not only understood, but connected with us.

Someone who had resources, training, and experience that many parents don’t. We know that in Texas alone, 90,000 citizens lack basic literacy and therefore the skills they need to encourage literacy in their families.

Albert Einstein (we believe) once said that “If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.” As we educate parents, aunts, uncles, and other caregivers who are part of family units, they are in turn passing on what they’ve learned. Since we’re teaching teachers, why not get the whole family involved?

While reading is fundamental, literacy turns this skill into a tool we can use to build the life, career, and relationships that we desire. When used correctly, this tool not only has a ripple effect on those around us, but also on the generations to come. As an educator, and especially as a parent, we are preparing our students and children to be better citizens, access more economic opportunities, achieve upward mobility, and have a greater impact socially. They, in turn, do the same for their children.

Family literacy programs take that even further, providing specific and specialized knowledge. What kinds of foods make up a balanced diet and healthier bodies? Which activities do bodies need to remain healthy? What choices do we have when dealing with sickness or injuries? What’s the best way to pay for that health care?

Learning basic literacy may help answer these questions, but it’s not guaranteed. Adult learners need literacy programs designed with this in mind. Engaging the entire family in literacy activities can help educate and motivate adult learners to create a culture of literacy at home.

This holistic, family-centered approach is based on the simple reality we began with: the parent is the child’s first teacher. Helping them be the best teacher that they can be helps them advocate for their child academically, emotionally, and in other ways they need to succeed.

What better motivation could a parent or caregiver ask for?

On August 2-4, speaker Dr. Ida Acuña-Garza dives deeper into this subject in “Family Ties to Literacy”. This session is part of the 2021 Literacy Texas Annual Conference, which explores the interconnected issues of adult literacy, early childhood education, and immigration. Her session will discuss strategies for engaging the whole family in literacy and try out some hands-on activities. You’ll walk out with a Family Literacy Festival Planning Guide and greater confidence to pull off a family literacy event that’s fun, engaging, and successful.

Visit https://www.literacytexas.org/calendar/2021-literacy-texas-annual-conference/ to register and learn about the other speakers and sessions offered at this extraordinary event.

Registration now open for a Literacy Symposium unlike any other

National Literacy Month 2021

Family Ties to Literacy

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