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Introduction to I2O + NEW Employability Soft Skills module

January 3, 2023 by Kathryn Bauchelle

SAVE THE DATE!

It’s a new year, and thanks to sponsorship from TCALL, the Intake to Outcomes (I2O) online instructor training platform is available to Texas Literacy nonprofits for another year. Read more about I2O here.

Join us for one or both parts of this special two-part introductory session:

Introduction to I2O + NEW Employability Soft Skills module

This online session will be held on Tuesday, January 17, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.
10:00 am – 10:30 am – General introduction to the I2O online training platform.
10:30 am – 11:00 am – Specific focus on the brand new module, “Employability Soft Skills.”

Register for this session by emailing Kathryn Bauchelle: [email protected]


Special thanks to:

Literacy New York

TCALL

The Texas Workforce Commission


See the whole calendar of Literacy Texas training sessions.

Watch this space, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on social media:

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Tagged With: adult literacy, cbo, I2O, literacy programs, research based, training, webinar

Literacy Training: YOU decide the topic!

October 4, 2022 by Kathryn Bauchelle

SAVE THE DATE!

In response to your requests, Literacy Texas presents:

???  – you decide!

We’re using the results from our 2022-23 Needs Assessment to choose a topic of most relevance to the Texas literacy community.

This online session will be held on Tuesday, April 4, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am.
Online check-in will open at 9:15 am and all other details are to be confirmed.

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


 

See the whole calendar of Literacy Texas training sessions.

Watch this space, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on social media:

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

An intriguing balance of abilities

October 2, 2022 by Kathryn Bauchelle

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month

Dyslexia is a learning difference, one that specifically affects language processing. 

Dyslexia is many things, and among them, it’s an intriguing balance of abilities.

“The advantage of dyslexia is that my brain puts information in my head in a different way.”
Whoopi Goldberg
Actor

Some basic facts about dyslexia

Dyslexia is a specific learning difference that affects reading and spelling ability, along with literacy skills development. It’s a different way of dealing with language in the brain. The most common form of dyslexia interrupts a student’s ability to split words into their component sounds, which makes sounding out words and spelling extremely challenging.

People are born with dyslexia, and it runs in families. It’s estimated that between 15 and 20% of Americans have some form of dyslexia, but the majority of people who have it don’t know that they do.

There’s more to dyslexia than getting words mixed up or out of order – and some people with dyslexia never even display this symptom. Since dyslexia affects how the brain processes language, someone might:

  • Memorize words but be unable to sound them out
  • Substitute words in sentences for other words that make sense
  • Have difficulty with handwriting
  • Show confusion with directions (left and right, before and after, over and under – this is where the reversal of “b” and “d” might show up, a symptom of dyslexia many people know)
  • Find recall difficult, especially for names and words
“If anyone ever puts you down for having dyslexia, don’t believe them. Being dyslexic can actually be a big advantage, and it has certainly helped me.”
Richard Branson
CEO, Virgin

Some distinct advantages

While dyslexia – especially when undiagnosed – can definitely cause people a lot of frustration and problems, there are some distinct advantages to the condition. People with dyslexia often have:

  • Heightened levels of creativity
  • Higher levels of intelligence
  • Greater artistic and mechanical abilities
  • Outside-the-box thinking
  • Ability to see the big picture and connect ideas
“I didn’t succeed despite my dyslexia, but because of it. It wasn’t my deficit, but my advantage. Although there are neurological trade-offs that require that I work creatively [and] smarter in reading, writing and speaking, I would never wish to be any other way than my awesome self. I love being me, regardless of the early challenges I faced.”
Scott Sonnon
Professional Athlete

Preparing for success

Perhaps most importantly – dyslexia needs specific interventions. The earlier a person is diagnosed with dyslexia and given personal help, the better, but it’s never too late.

Effective instruction for people with dyslexia is:

  • Personal to their specific needs, including in pace
  • Delivered one-on-one or in very small groups
  • Repetitive, to allow lots of practice and error correction
  • Positive and encouraging 
“Dyslexia is not a pigeonhole to say you can’t do anything. It is an opportunity and a possibility to learn differently. You have magical brains, they just process differently. Don’t feel like you should be held back by it.”
Princess Beatrice
UK royal family

Sources and further reading

  • What is dyslexia? infographic, Friendship Circle
  • Inside Dyslexia: What You Need to Know About 20% of Your Students, Reading Horizons
  • Understanding Dyslexia, Dyslexia Center of Utah
  • Dyslexia Facts & Statistics, Austin Learning Solutions
  • 10 Dyslexia Facts Literacy Therapists Wish Everyone Knew, Lexercise

Get Texas literacy updates

Make sure you’re on our mailing list so you don’t miss any news:

  • Conference updates
  • Regional symposia
  • Online training
  • Advocacy 
  • …more!

Filed Under: Dyslexia, Learning Differences & Disabilities, Research & Best Practice Tagged With: adult literacy, dyslexia, learning differences, learning disabilities, research based

2023 Literacy Texas Annual Conference

June 2, 2022 by Kathryn Bauchelle

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

Dates for the 2023 Literacy Texas Annual Conference:

Monday, July 31 – Arrival, check-in, exhibitor set-up, VIP Reception & Exhibitor Grand Opening
Tuesday,
August 1 – Conference Day 1
Wednesday, August 2 – Conference Day 2

The theme of the 2023 conference is “Literacy Unleashed” and our hashtag is #LitTX23.

Find everything you need to know about Literacy Texas annual conferences here.


Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media for all the news and updates:

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Tagged With: abe, adult literacy, cbo, esl, family literacy, professional development, program administrators, research based, training

Building Your Literacy Program Around Adult Learner Persistence

January 3, 2022 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Thank you for your interest! Registration is now closed.

—–

Adult students don’t need literacy for its own sake – literacy needs are always linked to other life goals. Most adult students know what they need and why they want to learn – so how can we always put them at the very center of their own learning process?

In this session, we will:

  • Take a look at the 6 Drivers of Persistence developed by the New England Literacy Resource Center, and discuss ways they can be incorporated into your program structure;
  • Talk about how building your programs around Adult Learner Persistence principles can help learners to “stick with it”, learn more, and increase in confidence,
  • Look at the close links between Adult Learner Persistence and Plain Language, and
  • Discuss some practical ways you can embed the principles in your adult literacy programs.

Presenter: Kathryn Bauchelle

Kathryn has a background in education and languages, with degrees in language acquisition, literature, and education from the University of Sydney, Australia. She worked as a teacher of foreign languages and English literature in high schools in Australia and the UK, and served as a Head of Faculty for Modern Languages. Her work with the Jubilee Debt Campaign, a London-based NGO, fueled her interest in social justice and community work, leading her to volunteer as an ESL tutor with Literacy Advance following her move to the United States in 2008.

She joined the Literacy Advance staff in 2009 as the Volunteer Manager, became Program Director in 2011, and then VP of Programs & Partnerships in 2017, working closely with both Programs and Development staff. After the successful merging of Literacy Advance with Memorial Assistance Ministries in 2019, Kathryn moved to consultancy work, including her part-time work with Literacy Texas. Kathryn continues to love adult literacy and learning, and found the Adult Learner Persistence Principles to be transformational when she was researching ways to structure the programs she was directing.

Tagged With: abe, adult literacy, esl, literacy programs, persistence, professional development, program administrators, research based, training, volunteers, webinar

Introduction to Intake to Outcomes (I2O) – Online Event

October 22, 2021 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Thank you so much for coming! This event is now over.

Check the Literacy Texas YouTube channel for the recording of this session, and from many others.

—–

Q: Who will gain the most from this training?
A: While anyone is welcome, this training will be most helpful to program directors and anyone who manages or coordinates volunteers.

Across Texas, hundreds – maybe thousands – of community-based literacy organizations get new volunteers ready to work with adult literacy classes. Every week, trainings take place on topics like How Adults Learn, Reading Basics, Intro to ESL, and more. That’s a LOT of duplicated effort.

Intake to Outcomes is designed to assist programs with volunteer tutor and teacher training, covering the core topics that are universal to all adult literacy programs, and leaving coordinators free to focus on the details specific to their site or process.

Come along to this introductory session to learn how you can use Intake to Outcomes to deliver quality literacy training to your volunteers, at no cost to you. Workshops available include basic self-paced sessions on how to teach Reading, Language, Math, and Citizenship, and the video-based, online sessions are supported by experienced facilitators ready to answer questions. I2O is designed to be equally useful to brand new volunteers just getting started, or as a refresher for instructors who have been teaching for a while.

This introductory presentation will be one hour, with an extra 30 minutes for questions.

“I2O saved our program a lot of time and money. I no longer have to hire and train trainers, find a site, and deal with no-shows. I2O made our tutor training inexpensive, easy, and efficient, I couldn’t have asked for more.”

I2O Tutor Training workshops available to your program (fee covered 100% by TCALL):

  • Reading Basics 2.0 (for Adult Basic Literacy tutors)
  • Language Basics 2.0 (for English Language tutors)
  • Math Basics 2.0 (for entry-level Math tutors)
  • The Citizenship Coach (for Citizenship tutors)

I2O is flexible, interactive, and evidence-based:

  • Training based on latest research and evidence-based practices
  • Instructional text, audio, videos, and interactive activities
  • 24/7 access with smartphones, tablets, or computers
  • Tutors can start and stop on their own schedules
  • Video demonstrations with real tutors and students
  • Tutors earn certificates of completion
  • Resources available to the tutor after the training is complete

“The videos are excellent! Tutors can see authentic demonstrations of teaching strategies and techniques with real students.”

Experienced facilitators monitor, support, and provide feedback to tutors throughout the highly-structured online workshops.

“Knowing that an experienced trainer is available to answer any question that comes up along the way, makes training online so easy.”

I2O is cost effective: Say goodbye to trainer recruitment, finding a site, preparing materials, travel expenses, sporadic training sessions, and no-shows.

Tagged With: adult literacy, literacy programs, professional development, program administrators, research based, training, volunteers, webinar

2021 Gulf Coast Literacy Symposium – Online Event

September 28, 2021 by Kathryn Bauchelle

Thank you so much for coming! This event is now over.

Check the Literacy Texas YouTube channel for recordings from this session, and from many others.

—–

We’ve all had to pivot, make do, and be flexible – and more – during this last couple of pandemic years. What might go back to how it was? What’s shifted permanently? What new opportunities has the pandemic given us and what silver linings can we find on the cloud?

Join us online on Friday, October 29, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (Central time) as we look at program structure and fundraising through the lens of “The Next Normal”.

SCHEDULE

9:00 am – 9:15 am – Welcome
Steve Banta, Executive Director, Literacy Texas

9:15 am – 10:15 am – Session One: The Next Normal – Powering Through the Pandemic with Adaptable Fundraising
Panelists – Jonita Fair-Payton and Tara M. Thompson, The Funding Strategists, and Ernest Lewis III, President and CEO, Adult Education Center
Moderator – Jackie Aguilera, Project Manager, City of Houston Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy

10:15 am – 10:45 am – Session Two: Best Practices in Distance Education
Presenter – Claire Gilliam, AEL Instructor (Digital Literacy), TX Region 5 Adult Education Program

10:45 am – 11:00 am – Break & Door Prizes

11:00 am – 12:00 pm – Session Three: The Next Normal – Strategies in Building Sustainable Programs During and After a Pandemic
Panelists –  Angela M. Johnson, Director of Learning & Workforce Development, BakerRipley; Martin Loa, Past President of TALAE (Texas Association for Literacy in Adult Education); and Wes Young, Executive Director of Tarrant Literacy Coalition
Moderator – Jackie Aguilera, Project Manager, City of Houston Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy

Following the session, continue the conversation in the Texas Literacy Network Facebook group.

PANELIST & PRESENTER INFORMATION

The Funding Strategists

The Funding Strategists (TFS) are proven industry experts who are highly sought after for their innovative business strategies and funding success ratings. They retain clients nationally with geographical hubs in Texas, California, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Their current client base includes various disciplines: non-profits, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, local governments, for profits, etc. TFS has secured over $100 million dollars in funding dollars for organizations.

TFS is a firm built on strong foundational principles. Their core values of Faith, Transparency, Integrity, Innovation, and Strategic Focus govern all business interactions and further solidify their esteemed reputation in the professional services industry. The Principal Partners of The Funding Strategists are Jonita Fair-Payton and Tara M. Thompson. The firm also has a Firm Associate and a team of researchers.

Ernest Lewis III

Nonprofit veteran Ernest Lewis III has a diverse background in the areas of management, fund development, media, literacy, arts administration, and community development. The New Orleans native has called Houston home for 12 years. Ernest has acquired varied experience in developing and shaping signature programming focusing on basic needs, disaster recovery, youth development, adult and family literacy, senior services, workforce development, art education, and homeless prevention. During 20+ years of service in the nonprofit arena, Ernest has cultivated, secured, and managed more than $20 million in private, federal, and public funds to advance the mission of many noteworthy nonprofits in New Orleans and Houston.

The American Leadership Class XL Senior Fellow and Literacy Texas and ARTreach Board President holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in business. Ernest is also a member of the Houston-Galveston Area Council Workforce Development Board and the Pearland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Claire Gilliam

Claire is currently a Texas AEL Instructor with a focus in Digital Literacy for the Region 5 Adult Education Program which serves Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin counties in southeast Texas. Previously, she was Distance Learning Coordinator, Tech Integration Coach, and Adult Basic Education (ABE) & High School Equivalency (HSE) Instructor at the Literacy Council of Tyler in East Texas.

She enjoys giving back to her community through the promotion of education and literacy. She has a bachelor’s degree in English (Linguistics) from the University of North Texas and currently she is completing a master’s degree in Adult Education from Texas A&M University. Claire is passionate about helping adults achieve their academic and life goals through literacy and technology.

Angela M. Johnson

Angela is the Director of Learning & Workforce Development at BakerRipley, and has been active in the field of adult education and workforce development for nearly 20 years. She has served as a program lead for distance education, workforce development, college prep, and internationally trained professionals. She has collaborated with various industries on workforce initiatives, job readiness, and capacity building grants supporting the upskill of incumbents and new entrants in healthcare, construction, oil and gas, and service industries.

Angela holds an advanced degree in business, has completed course work for the doctoral program in developmental education at Sam Houston State University, and is conducting research on measures of student resilience and grit for her dissertation.

Martin Loa

Martin is Past President of TALAE (Texas Association for Literacy in Adult Education). He previously served as vice president for Houston Center for Literacy, where he supported the literacy organizations, engaged the community to join efforts in solving Houston’s low literacy problem, and connected adult learners to literacy providers. Prior to joining HCL, Martin was a program manager for Harris County Department of Education Adult Education Division. HCDE is the second largest adult education provider in the state. He is an experienced educator, trainer and conference organizer. Martin has served as an instructor and an administrator in Adult Education.

Wes Young

Wes is the Executive Director of Tarrant Literacy Coalition, a nonprofit located in Fort Worth, Texas. He has spent the last 7.5 years working in adult education classrooms of all types including tutoring Adult Basic Literacy students in Fort Worth & Arlington, teaching HSE in White Settlement and Fort Worth, and digital literacy classes in Arlington. Wes and the Coalition emphasize program creation and resource support for community programs through professional development opportunities. In the realm of state-funded AEL, the Coalition offers two innovative and groundbreaking services: the Adult Education and Literacy Call Center – a referral service for adult learners in North Texas – and the newly established Orientation & Testing Team – responsible for handling all new student orientations, pre- and post-testing for our local consortium. He holds a master’s degree in Library Science from the University of North Texas.

Jackie Aguilera

Jackie Aguilera, Project Manager of the Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy (MOAL) Houston, has dedicated more than three decades of her life to tutoring, teaching, training, consulting, serving student support services for “at risk” college students, and contributing to non-profit leadership for community based adult literacy organizations. She was recently nationally recognized as one of 2021’s Mujeres Legendarias de Ford (a legendary Latina woman) for education through technology.

Jackie has led many literacy initiatives and projects including the McGraw Hill sponsored Financial Literacy Carnival, Houston Money Week, [email protected] program, the Houston Area Adult Literacy Collective, and the 2019 Xprize Tier 3 winning team, the Adult Literacy Partners of Houston. As an advocate, she is one of two Texas State Advocates for Adult Education Fellows through COABE. Her current position at MOAL allows her to explore literacy innovation on an expanded scale and to help the team develop support for providers across the nation.

Tagged With: adult literacy, fundraising, literacy programs, panel discussion, program administrators, research based, roundtable, webinar

2022 Literacy Texas Annual Conference

August 13, 2021 by Kathryn Bauchelle

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

The 2022 Literacy Texas Annual Conference will be held on August 1 & 2, 2022. The theme of the 2022 conference is “Literacy for ALL.”

Find everything you need to know about the conference here.


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Tagged With: abe, adult literacy, cbo, esl, family literacy, professional development, program administrators, research based, training

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