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Best of Texas: Best Practices & Research

May 28, 2025 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Learn from peers about best practices and innovative ideas being put into action at literacy programs across our great state. Best of Texas brings together local experts to share their wisdom and experience – and maybe help us all avoid a few pitfalls along the way.

QUICK LINKS FOR THIS EVENT:

Click on any of the links below to go straight to that section, or simply scroll down the page.

  • Basic details
  • About this month’s topic
  • Program
  • Program, Schedule, & Sessions
  • Guests this month
  • Online registration
  • PD Certificates
  • Special thanks

BASIC DETAILS

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, July 17, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (CT).

The Zoom room will open at 9:50 AM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

This online learning session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

ABOUT THIS MONTH'S TOPIC

This session will focus on [brief description of topic]. This is such a crucial topic that we have dedicated a morning to it, in place of the standard 1-hour format for Best of Texas sessions.

[session description]

GUESTS THIS MONTH

Guests to be confirmed.

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Host:

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker
Executive Director
Literacy Texas

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker serves as the Executive Director of Literacy Texas. She was a first-generation college student who personally knows the powerful role that education plays in helping change the course of a person’s life. This passion has fueled a career in education that has spanned over two decades and impacted thousands of students. She earned a doctorate in education leadership and a master’s degree in education administration, both from Texas A&M University–Texarkana. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. Dr. Walker also attended Texarkana College and was a graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School. 
 
She is a member of the 2025 Leadership Texas class and she currently serves as a member of the Digital Opportunity Advisory Group for the Texas Broadband Development Office. In 2024, Dr. Walker represented Texas in COABE’s 2024 State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship. 

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

Registration will open soon – watch this space

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Online registration has now closed – but we have a few spots available for last-minute registrants! Call us on 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.

PD CERTIFICATES

NOTE TO WEB ADMIN: Most Best of Texas sessions will not include a PD certificate, but the longer in-depth sessions currently scheduled for 3 times a year will be the exception.

Someone who completes the full session will receive X hours of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.

SPECIAL THANKS

[presenter]

[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

Checked/updated 6/19/25

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, ceos, community, ideas, literacy programs, research based

The Expert Edge: Students as Leaders

March 27, 2025 by Kathryn Bauchelle

The Expert Edge: Online training on core topics that all adult and family literacy professionals should know. Stay sharp with The Expert Edge!

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

QUICK LINKS FOR THIS EXPERT EDGE SESSION:

Click on any of the links below to go straight to that section, or simply scroll down the page.

  • Basic details
  • About this topic
  • Meet the presenter
  • Online registration
  • PD Certificates
  • Downloads and printable documents
  • Special thanks

BASIC DETAILS

This online session will be held on:

Wednesday, May 7, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM (CT).

Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 8:50 AM. 

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

This training session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

ABOUT THIS TOPIC

Professionals often point out the importance of empowering students to have ownership in their own educational experience. However, a challenge for some adult learning instructors is knowing exactly how to facilitate that empowerment while also supporting learning outcomes.

This virtual workshop offers research-based, practical advice for helping students lead the way both in their own academic journeys and in their learning centers.  

MEET THE PRESENTER

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker serves as the Executive Director of Literacy Texas. She was a first-generation college student who personally knows the powerful role that education plays in helping change the course of a person’s life. This passion has fueled a career in education that has spanned over two decades and impacted thousands of students. She earned a doctorate in education leadership and a master’s degree in education administration, both from Texas A&M University–Texarkana. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. Dr. Walker also attended Texarkana College and was a graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School. 
 
She is a member of the 2025 Leadership Texas class and she currently serves as a member of the Digital Opportunity Advisory Group for the Texas Broadband Development Office. In 2024, Dr. Walker represented Texas in COABE’s 2024 State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship. 

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Online registration has now closed – but we have a few spots available for last-minute registrants! Call us on 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.

PD CERTIFICATES

Someone who completes the full session will receive 1.5 hours of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.

DOWNLOADS & PRINTABLE DOCUMENTS

Download a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending [link whole sentence to PDF of flyer].

Downloadable PDF flyer for this training session is coming soon.

SPECIAL THANKS

[presenter]

[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Last checked/updated: 5/7/25

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, literacy programs, professional development, research based, training, webinar

Who you gonna call? A librarian!

February 10, 2025 by Jenny Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Author: Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker, Literacy Texas Executive Director

Life was pretty lonely for me in 2022 while I was finishing my doctorate and preparing for the final defense of my dissertation. Everyone else in my friend group is cool and fun, so while they watched football and drank beer at the local pizza parlor, I was in the corner booth trying to connect the dots between Paulo Freire and functional literacy.

As I was adding chapters to my paper, I was walking through a very sad chapter in my social life. That was until I made a new friend who matched my extreme level of nerdiness – the librarian.

As I followed one of the thousands of rabbit holes I went down into the abyss of adult literacy research, I stumbled upon a random Powerpoint Presentation that mentioned a statistic I thought seemed interesting and relevant to my study. 

Since this presentation didn’t include references, I knew it would be a long shot to track down the original source of information. I wrote to the presenter, whose email address was listed on the presentation, but received no response. I spent days scouring databases and search engines trying to find the source. When I had exhausted all of the options I could think of on my own, I knew it was time to call in a professional.

I emailed the general library help desk and explained my predicament. Within the hour, I received an email from Emma, a young, newly hired librarian who was eager to help me search. She wanted to learn more about my project and this specific statistic so that she could help me best. We chatted on the phone for about 30 minutes, and then she went to work.

The next morning, I opened my email to 20 new messages. Emma not only was able to track down a valid resource for the statistic I needed, but she had also made contact with the university professor across the country whose graduate student had created that Powerpoint.

Through their exchange, Emma learned that the professor had lost touch with the student but that she had conducted research similar to mine. Emma took it upon herself to make a virtual introduction, and the professor ended up becoming a valuable mentor for me. Emma also found at least 10 other resources that I had never seen that supported my study. She had gone above and beyond, and I felt as though I had hit the research jackpot with Emma.

Over the course of the next year, Emma didn’t mind listening to me geek out over obscure infographics I found, and she cared about the success of my study almost as much as I did. She checked in on me, and she always gave me the best advice for Boolean searches and choosing databases. We never had pizza or beer together, but she certainly became a trusted friend. I felt so fortunate that she answered my email that day.

Looking back, I realize that when I reached out to the library for help, my problem really was not a research issue as much as it was a disconnect in information literacy. I knew there was information I needed to access, but I was at a loss on exactly how and where to find that information.

This is a challenge for many adult learners. They may not be writing academic dissertations, but they often need help simply knowing how and where to find important information. When this situation arises, I hope they find someone like Emma who can help them get connected and care about their success enough to support them like a friend.

Our theme throughout February is Literacy at the Library, and we’re focusing on related topics throughout the month. Plan to join us at our next Best of Texas online session, focused on library literacy programs, on February 27.

Amazing things are happening in Texas!

“Best of Texas” brings local experts together to share their wisdom and experience.

find out more about this monthly series

Filed Under: Digital Literacy, Information Literacy, Library, Literacy for Work, Research & Best Practice, Resources Tagged With: adult literacy, community, ideas, literacy programs, research based

The Expert Edge: Community Collaboration

December 18, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

The Expert Edge: Online training on core topics that all adult and family literacy professionals should know. Stay sharp with The Expert Edge!

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

QUICK LINKS FOR THIS EXPERT EDGE SESSION:

Click on any of the links below to go straight to that section, or simply scroll down the page.

  • Basic details
  • About this topic
  • Meet the presenter
  • Online registration
  • PD Certificates
  • Downloads and printable documents
  • Special thanks

BASIC DETAILS

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, March 6, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (CT).

Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 12:50 PM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

This training session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

ABOUT THIS TOPIC

In non-profit organizations, we carry the weight of many heavy challenges facing our student population. Imagine how light our adult literacy load would feel if we were able to spread the weight across many shoulders. Imagine how much more you could do if you had more hands to help.

Participants in this session will learn how to make those visions a reality through community collaboration. We will discuss research-based strategies for engaging with other organizations in your community and working together toward common goals. You will learn how to cast a vision, get people on board, and transform your entire community. 

MEET THE PRESENTER

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker serves as the Executive Director of Literacy Texas. She was a first-generation college student who personally knows the powerful role that education plays in helping change the course of a person’s life. This passion has fueled a career in education that has spanned over two decades and impacted thousands of students. She earned a doctorate in education leadership and a master’s degree in education administration, both from Texas A&M University–Texarkana. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. Dr. Walker also attended Texarkana College and was a graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School. 
 
She is a member of the 2025 Leadership Texas class and she currently serves as a member of the Digital Opportunity Advisory Group for the Texas Broadband Office. In 2024, Dr. Walker represented Texas in COABE’s 2024 State Advocates for Adult Education Fellowship. 

FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Online registration has now closed – but we have a few spots available for last-minute registrants! Call us on 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.

PD CERTIFICATES

Someone who completes the full session will receive 1.5 hours of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.

DOWNLOADS & PRINTABLE DOCUMENTS

Download a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending [link whole sentence to PDF of flyer].

Downloadable PDF flyer for this training session is coming soon.

SPECIAL THANKS

[presenter]

[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Last checked/updated: 3/26/2025

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, expert edge, literacy programs, professional development, research based, training, webinar

Best of Texas: Language Learning

October 17, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Learn from peers about best practices and innovative ideas being put into action at literacy programs across our great state. Best of Texas aims to bring local experts together to share their wisdom and experience – and maybe help us all avoid a few pitfalls along the way.

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, December 19, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM (CT).

The Zoom room will open at 9:50 AM.

Please arrive on time – the Zoom room will close to late arrivals 30 minutes after the session begins.

This session will focus on best practices in language learning, language acquisition, and ESL/ESOL in community-based adult and family literacy programs.

ABOUT THIS SESSION

We’ll start with Dr. Katie Welch (UT-Arlington) to share some data and information about ESL in Texas. Then we’ll switch to an interview format with Betty Reyes (Refugee Language Project) and Ysela Arechiga (Literacy Volunteers of Laredo) who will tell us about their ESL programs and insights they have for language-learning among adult literacy students.

Guests this month:

Welch, Katie

Katie Welch
Educational Consultant
Welch Education

Katie Welch, Ph.D., is a university instructor, teacher trainer, and active volunteer in adult ed classrooms. In addition to teaching international students in UT-Arlington’s English Language Institute and volunteering weekly in a community-based ESL/GED program, Katie currently provides professional development to language teachers through partnerships with the U.S. Department of State, Cambridge University Press, and Literacy ConneXus.

Katie’s innovative classroom ideas have been published in academic journals such as Language and American Speech, and she presents regularly at national and international conferences, including TESOL International, COABE, and the National Center for Families Learning.

Reyes-Medina, Betty 300px

Betty Reyes-Medina
Director of Language Services
Refugee Language Project

Betty Reyes-Medina serves as the Director of Language Services at the Refugee Language Project (RLP) in Amarillo, Texas. Initially joining RLP as a volunteer, she was officially hired in 2022 to lead the Interpreting Services program and oversee the Storybook Project and ESL initiatives. In her efforts to effectively serve the language needs of the refugee population in Amarillo, Betty developed an in-house curriculum tailored to Literacy, Beginner, and Intermediate students. This curriculum has been successfully implemented and continues to yield positive results in the classroom. Betty and her team are passionate about fostering a relational approach to teaching English, emphasizing community and connection.

Betty’s English education journey began in Chile while serving in the United Nations program English Opens Doors. There, she fell in love with teaching and helping others get better access to opportunities through language education. Her deep commitment to service and education inspired her to establish Mochilas para la Esperanza in 2012, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting underserved communities in the Caribbean and Central America. After finishing her M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language, Betty was hired as a professor at the University of Puerto Rico and other private institutions, where she taught courses in Basic and Intermediate English, Conversational English, Literature, and Research Writing.

Arechiga, Ysela M 300px.

Ysela Arechiga
ESL Specialist
Literacy Volunteers of Laredo

Ysela M. Arechiga retired in December 2022 from the position of Assistant Director, Field Operations – Mission Support for the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Laredo Field Office. Mrs. Arechiga was administratively responsible for managing a $45 million dollar budget and a broad portfolio of departments including Human Capital, Finance, Facilities, Field Training Programs, Strategic Communications, and Labor/Employee Relations. Ysela now volunteers with several organizations including Literacy Volunteers of Laredo, Laredo Theater Guild International and St. Patrick’s Church (Lector) and in her spare time, crochets.

Host:

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker
Executive Director
Literacy Texas

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker joined Literacy Texas in January 2024, after a successful run as the Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties, a small non-profit that made a big impact on the Texarkana community during her tenure. Dr. Walker helped the organization find financial stability and expanded innovative academic and workforce program options for adult learners at her center. She and her team launched the first 100 Families Alliance in Texas, and this innovative approach to holistic support for students led to impressive growth in enrollment and goal completion rates for those she serves.

Dr. Walker was a first-generation college student who personally knows the powerful role that education plays in helping change the course of a person’s life. This passion has fueled a career in education that has spanned two decades and impacted thousands of students. She is a certified Texas teacher and principal, and she has worked in both adjunct faculty and staff positions in higher education. She has also led professional development trainings for teachers and administrators and served as a public speaker. She earned a doctorate in education leadership from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and her dissertation research focused on the importance of holistic support for adult learners. She holds a master’s degree in education administration from Texas A&M University–Texarkana, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of North Texas. Dr. Walker also attended Texarkana College and was a graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School. 

This online learning session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

Special thanks to:

Katie Welch & Welch Education

Betty Reyes-Medina & Refugee Language Project

Ysela Arechiga & Literacy Volunteers of Laredo

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated 12/20/24

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, community, esl, ideas, literacy programs, research based

What Leaders Need: Fundraising for Nonprofits

August 21, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Thank you so much for coming!

This event is now over.

The “What Leaders Need” training series for new and emerging literacy leaders is proud to present:

What Leaders Need: How to Write a Fundraising Plan

This online leadership training session with special guest presenter Rachel Muir will be held on Tuesday, September 24, from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM (CT).

Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 8:50 AM. 

This training event is a special collaborative activity of Literacy Texas, Adult Learning Alliance of Arkansas, and Oklahoma Literacy Coalition, and is offered free of charge to nonprofit professionals in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma who work in the fields of adult and family literacy.

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

ABOUT THIS TRAINING SESSION

Are your fundraising operations disorganized, unplanned, last-minute, or reactionary?

If your largest funder went away tomorrow would you be able to make up the difference?

You wouldn’t drive a car blindfolded, so why would you fundraise without a plan? Your success depends on the decisions you make about your fundraising strategy.

Join us to learn:

  • The winning ingredients (and eye-candy examples) of successful fundraising plans
  • The simple three-step process to building your fundraising plan
  • How to set realistic measurable goals and ensure they are followed
  • Examples and templates to follow
  • How to create a fundraising budget with plenty of approaches and formats to choose from

As a special bonus, you’ll get easy-to-implement fundraising plan templates and budgets.

Click here to read more about the What Leaders Need training series
Muir, Rachel

Presenter: Rachel Muir

When she was 26, Rachel Muir launched Girlstart – a non-profit empowering girls in math, science, engineering and technology – in the living room of her apartment with $500 and a credit card.  Several years later she had raised over $10 million and was featured on Oprah, CNN, and the Today show.  

Today Rachel delivers workshops and offers a monthly membership, League of Extraordinary Fundraisers, transforming people into confident, successful fundraisers.  Learn more about Rachel at rachelmuir.com.

PD Certificates

Someone who completes the full session will receive 1.5 hours of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.

Special thanks to:

Rachel Muir

[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Page checked/updated: 9/25/24

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, ceos, directors, executive directors, fundraising, leadership, literacy programs, professional development, program administrators, research based, training, webinar

The Expert Edge: Plain Language

July 31, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

The Expert Edge: Online training on core topics that all adult and family literacy professionals should know. Stay sharp with The Expert Edge!

Thank you so much for your interest!

This event is now over.

This online session will be held on:

Thursday, November 7, from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM (CT).

Check-in for registered participants will open on Zoom at 1:20 PM.

Join us for “Plain Language for Clearer Communication & Better Understanding.”

This literacy training session will focus on the importance of using plain language with adult literacy students. Presenter Kathryn Bauchelle will take us through some reasons to make plain language a priority, and some practical ways to incorporate it into your programs.

This training session is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy. The session provides 1.5 hours of professional development.

click here to register now

REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM

Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!

ABOUT THIS TRAINING SESSION

Simplifying the way we communicate with one another can benefit everybody. Focusing on Plain Language means that the highest priority of a document, speech, or other piece of communication is being understood.

Most of us already start with that priority – but it’s very easy for other aspects to get in the way, without us even being conscious of them. Sometimes we give too much information. Sometimes we use big words in an effort to sound knowledgeable. Other times our layout, or word choices (like using too many idioms, for example), or other factors, can get in the way of clear understanding.

Plain Language can particularly benefit adult learners. When someone is learning English, or learning to read, having information made as clear as possible can make a huge difference. 

Speaking and writing plainly is an intentional approach that we adopt in order to help those around us. Plain Language is not an exact science – but there are some guiding principles that can help us. Come along to this session to learn about some of those principles, and have a chance to practice them with peers and in a learning environment.

Bauchelle, Kathryn

Presenter: Kathryn Bauchelle

Kathryn began her plain language journey in Houston, in around 2010. Directing a volunteer-based adult literacy program at that time, it became very clear to her that too many things – from new student orientation sessions, to flyers, to intake forms, to much more – were simply too complex for the students. Over the next few years, she and the programs team overhauled pretty much everything – always with clear communication as the main goal.

Kathryn’s background is in literacy, language acquisition, and education. She has worked in the Texas adult literacy field since moving to Houston in 2008.

PD Certificates

Someone who completes the full session will receive X hours of PD credit.

Certificates of completion will be awarded after the event. Complete the survey after the training is finished to give your details and get your certificate. Surveys will be sent via email in the days following the training.

Downloads

Download a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending [link whole sentence to PDF of flyer].

Downloadable PDF flyer for this training session is coming soon.

Special thanks to:

[presenter]

[name of any sponsors or other partners – as many as relevant, new line for each]

The Texas Workforce Commission

STAY IN THE KNOW -

click here to go to the literacy texas calendar
click here to see the national literacy calendar

Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:

Checked/updated: 11/7/24

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, ideas, learning differences, literacy programs, plain language, professional development, research based, training, webinar

The Dignity of Knowing What’s Going On

June 28, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

When you work in adult and family literacy, there are so many reasons to pay more than passing attention to the language you use. By definition, folks participating in our programs and activities are still learning – to speak English; to read and write fluently; maybe both – and how we present information and ideas to them really matters. 

It can be the difference between –
– understanding classroom instructions – or not.
– getting to attend a great event or activity – or missing out.
– finding the right room or person in our building – or going astray.

So language choices matter first of all for basic comprehension.

But close behind is the concept of dignity. And this can be overlooked at first glance, but it’s also crucially important. Even better, it’s a concept we can make natural and largely effortless with a bit of attention and practice.

Why does dignity matter when it comes to understanding?

Because sadly, for people in adult literacy classes, there are already too many places where their dignity has been challenged. For new Americans, there are long lines and Alien Registration numbers and maybe having to have their kid translate for them on parent-teacher evening. The brow-furrowing concentration of a simple shopping visit or the bewilderment of a doctor’s appointment. For English-speakers with low written literacy, there can be the stress and shame of hiding a reading deficit, and the vulnerability of admitting that you can’t complete the form or read the notice or sign the papers – because you can’t read them.

We want our classrooms and our literacy programs to be places of grace – of safety, and relaxation, and yes, of dignity. So taking extra time and making extra effort to make sure our signs, our instructions, our paperwork, our websites, our new student orientation, even what we say on the phone, is as easy to udnerstand as possible – well, all this is a gift. A gift of dignity.

—

The simplest and most straightforward way to make your materials and programs accessible is to make a study of plain language. Literacy Texas has a page on plain language right here on the website, and we’ll be holding an online training session on this topic soon. Stay tuned, and watch our website, newsletter, and socials for more info.

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Filed Under: EAL & ESL, Family Literacy, High School Equivalency, Immigrants & Refugees, Learning Differences & Disabilities, Research & Best Practice Tagged With: adult literacy, ideas, literacy programs, research based, training

2025 Literacy Texas Annual Conference

June 26, 2024 by Kathryn Bauchelle

The Literacy Texas Annual Conference is THE event for educators, nonprofit administrators, and organizations working with adult and family literacy in Texas.

Learn about the latest research in the literacy field.

Rub shoulders with experts and connect with like-minded people.

Most importantly, leave with the tools, relationships, and inspiration you need to continue making a difference.

2025 Conference Basics

Location: Embassy Suites, San Marcos, TX
Street address: 1001 E McCarty Lane, San Marcos, TX 78666

Our hashtag is #LitTX25

Monday, August 4, 2025: Pre-Conference workshops
Plus general arrival, check-in, exhibitor set-up, VIP Reception

Tuesday, August 5, 2025: Conference Day 1

Wednesday, August 6, 2025: Conference Day 2

The theme of the 2025 conference is “Literacy looks like this.”

There’s so much more to literacy than classrooms and whiteboards.

What does literacy look like in your part of the world?
How are folks in your programs linking their learning to family, work, and life outside the classroom?

There’s no one “right” way for literacy to look! We’ll showcase literacy in all its breadth, diversity, and beauty with “Literacy looks like this.”

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE MAIN CONFERENCE PAGE

Quick guide to the 2025 conference:

conference home page
conference theme & focus
breakout sessions
sponsors & exhibitors
registration
scholarships & grants
schedule & program
breakout presenters
location & venue
pre-conference
request for proposals
take a look at recent past conferences

Checked/updated 4/9/2025

Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, community, ideas, literacy programs, professional development, program administrators, research based, training

Adults only?

May 26, 2023 by Kathryn Bauchelle

“Andragogy” and “pedagogy” can seem like niche academic words – does the difference between them really matter?

At the recent South Plains Literacy Symposium, one of the most popular breakout sessions was A is for Adult: An Introduction to Andragogy. The session was an in-depth exploration of some of the major tenets of teaching adults, and some of the motivators, barriers, and drivers of persistence specific to adults.

And we say, hallelujah!

Too often, our field has taken the approach that “teaching is teaching” – and assumed that someone with experience teaching children must automatically also be able to teach adults effectively. Of course, that’s sometimes true – but it’s far from automatic. 

So what are the key differences?

Malcolm Knowles is one of the foremost experts in this area, and he’s broken his definitions down into five assumptions and four principles. Let’s take a look.

Knowles' 5 Assumptions of Adult Learners

1. Self-Concept
People become more self-directed as they age and mature.

2. Adult Learner Experience
People gain practical and theoretical experience as they age, and bring it to the learning process.

3. Readiness to Learn
Adults have a strong motivation to learn things that help them accomplish relevant tasks and gain practical skills.

4. Orientation to Learning
Adult learners are motivated to solve problems, moving from “knowing about” a topic to “knowing how” to do a specific task.

5. Motivation to Learn
Motivation for adults is usually internal, rather than external – and motivations are individual for each learner.

Knowles' 4 Principles of Andragogy

  1. Adults need to know why they need to learn something.
  2. Adults need to learn experientially – by doing.
  3. Adults approach learning as problem-solving.
  4. Adults learn best when the topic is of immediate value.

 

So much changes for us as we age – in both our bodies and our minds.

Doesn’t it make sense for the way we’re taught to change as well?

Find resources to help you explore andragogy – and build it into your literacy program – in our Resources library.

Get Texas literacy updates

Join our mailing list so you don’t miss any news:

  • Local and national literacy news
  • Conference updates
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  • Best of Texas
  • Advocacy 
  • …more!
Click here to join the list

Filed Under: EAL & ESL, High School Equivalency, Learner Persistence, Research & Best Practice, Uncategorized Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, literacy programs, research based

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    • Annual Conference
      • NEW: Pre-Conference
      • Theme & Focus
      • Schedule & Program
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      • Sponsors & Exhibitors
      • Location & Venue
      • Request for Proposals (RFP)
      • Past Conferences
    • Regional Symposia
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