Literacy for Life 2012 Online Registration
ALL WORKSHOPS ARE NOW FULL AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED!
Click on each session to see a list of the workshops available and a description for each.
Double Session (9:15 - 12:30)
Session One (9:15 - 10:45)
Session Two (11:00 - 12:30)
Session Three (2:45 - 4:15)
After choosing two workshops for each session, please continue to the registration form at the bottom of this page.
Double Workshop (9:15 - 12:30)
Trainer Tune-Up: Make Every Interaction in Tutor Training a Win-Win
Target Audience: Trainers
This workshop is designed to help you “think on your feet,” so you can more easily deal with unexpected questions or misunderstandings from trainees related to content, methodology or their personal mindset. For example, how do you respond when a prospective tutor asks you how much he should control a student’s goals or why phonics isn’t our sole method for teaching reading? How do you handle a situation where trainees interject their own ideas in a disruptive manner, or are habitual latecomers to every session? Working in small groups, you’ll develop answers to questions or concerns related to tutor training. Our goal is for you to leave this workshop knowing that every interaction in training can be a win for your tutors and a win for you.
LVNJ Master Trainers Connie Schwein, Liz Wilk & Darnelle Richardson
Session One (9:15 - 10:45)
Student Roundtable
Target Audience: Adult Learners
Come and meet fellow students from throughout the state. Everyone will have a chance to share their success stories and challenges. We'll also discuss ways that students can take leadership roles in their local literacy programs.
Ehteree Stephenson, Jersey City Library Literacy Program
How to Turn Your Volunteers (Board & Non-Board Members) into Fundraisers
Target Audience: Program Leaders & Board Members
Committed volunteers are always looking for new and interesting ways to assist the organizations they care about, and fundraising is one way to utilize these dedicated individuals. Many organizations overlook their volunteers as potential donors and advocates for the organization. This session will move beyond the traditional practice of utilizing only board members as fundraisers, and will focus on how many different types of volunteers (including board members) can play an active role in all areas of fundraising. This introductory session will focus on how volunteers can play an active role in all areas of fundraising, including events, individual donor solicitation, proposal writing, and direct mail.
Amy Eisenstein, TriPoint Fundraising
From Classroom to “Chat” Room -
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL!
Target Audience: ESOL Tutors & Trainers
This workshop will provide you with numerous tools for facilitating active conversation in your group. We will explore activities that promote interaction and help create a comfortable learning environment, including different types of exercises, discussion topics/questions, and games that will support your students' oral fluency.
Daniel Scibienski, Greater Brunswick Charter School & LVNJ Master Trainer
Using Trade Books in Adult Literacy: How to Find and Use Outside Reading Materials
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL!
Target Audience: ESOL/Basic Literacy Tutors & Trainers
As literacy instructors we hope to teach our learners not only how to read and understand basic and informational texts, but also to pass on the great joys and learning experiences that reading a wonderful story or poem can bring. One of the ways to do that is to enrich our instruction with great reading materials. Often the problem is finding materials that are interesting, engaging, and are written at an appropriate reading level for adult learners. This workshop will focus on finding and using trade books in literacy instruction. (Trade books are books that you buy in a bookstore or find in the library). This presentation will cover: how to find great reads, examples of texts that work, criteria for choosing texts, and teaching ideas/strategies to help you use this type of reading material in your instruction.
Perrine Robinson-Geller, Union County College & LVNJ Board
Creating Technology-Based Projects for Adult Basic Education
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL!
Target Audience: ESOL/Basic Literacy Tutors & Trainers
This workshop will begin with a presentation of sample projects that teachers have crafted with their students using easily accessible technology (e.g., PowerPoint, voice recording, video editing, blogging, Google maps, etc.). Participants will then try their hand at using some of these technologies to create classroom activities. The facilitator will provide technical support and will help participants think through the benefits and drawbacks of technology-based projects.
Erik Jacobson, Montclair State University
Understanding Yourself as a Learner: Taking the First Step to Develop Your Literacy for Life
Target Audience: ESOL/Basic Literacy Tutors, Trainers, Program Leaders & Board Members
Understanding yourself as a learner is the first step in developing your literacy skills. This interactive workshop will enhance your understanding of yourself, your literacy clients, and the materials you use. The result is more effective learning and more powerful literacy skill development—skills that last a lifetime! Participants in the workshop will complete the Learning Connections Inventory, learn how to validate the results, and engage in discussions about what the results mean for them as tutors, adult learners, and literacy facilitators.
Christine Johnson, Let Me Learn & Laura Weber, LV Salem-Cumberland
Session Two (11:00 - 12:30)
How to Talk to Your Doctor
Target Audience: Adult Learners
What questions should we ask at a doctor's office, clinic, or hospital? In this workshop, we will discuss and practice the three most important questions to ask our nurses and doctors.
Anna Weisberg, LVA Cape-Atlantic Counties
Investment 101
General Audience
Join this session to learn about a weekly investment literacy course offered to English language learners at the Jersey City Library Literacy Program. The curriculum focuses on teaching participants the fundamentals of investing, including stock market basics, key investment concepts, and a working knowledge of how companies are evaluated. The goal of the Investment 101 course is to provide students with knowledge about the economy and different investment paths so they can make wise decisions with their hard-earned money.
Alex St. Lifer, Jersey City Library Literacy Program
Board Talk
Target Audience: Program Leaders & Board Members
Join your fellow board members and program leaders from around the state to discuss the most pressing issues currently facing LV programs. We will explore ways our network might work together to make our organizations more sustainable.
Pat Tumulty, LVNJ Board President
From Stress to Success with Math Word Problems
Target Audience: ESOL/Basic Literacy Tutors & Trainers
Word problems are a special source of anxiety for students. Word problems require students to: accurately recall math facts and complex math operations across several areas; apply appropriate critical thinking, decision making, and problem-solving strategies; and use their developing reading comprehension skills and strategies. Often students are doing this in the high stress environment of the timed GED test. In this workshop, we will examine teaching strategies and classroom activities to draw on students' own experiences, engage active reading strategies, and apply consistent processes to build their confidence in solving word problems.
Todd Evans, ProLiteracy
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL!
Target Audience: Basic Literacy Tutors & Trainers
Phonological awareness (understanding the sounds and syllables that make up words) is essential to learning to read effectively. Many studies have found that critical levels of phonological awareness can be developed through carefully planned instruction and that this development has significant influence on reading and spelling achievement. Join this workshop to learn research-based strategies for helping your reading student succeed.
Ilene Millman, Speech and Language Therapist
Tutor Forum
Target Audience: ESOL/Basic Literacy Tutors & Trainers
This forum is a chance for tutors and teachers to share "successes and stresses" during an open discussion. This session will not have a structured agenda. It will be an opportunity for tutors to gather and speak openly with each other about their struggles and successes. An emphasis will be placed on problem solving and sharing best practices and other tricks of the trade.
Daniel Scibienski, Greater Brunswick Charter School & LVNJ Master Trainer
Learning Styles
Target Audience: ESOL/Basic Literacy Tutors, Trainers & Program Leaders
Understanding both students’ learning preferences and one’s own learning style can greatly enhance any learning experience. This workshop will help instructors develop teaching techniques to encompass the learning styles of all learners in the classroom and will focus on instructional strategies, resources and assessment tools, and instruments for measurement of learning styles.
Chris Sienkielewski, Three Bridges & LV-Union County
Session Three (2:45 - 4:15)
Financial Planning: Budget, Bank and Save for Your Future Success
Target Audience: Adult Learners
Learn the benefits of making a savings plan for your hard earned money and how to keep it safe. Learn how to create and use a financial plan for your future. You will also learn how your bank account works so you can avoid unnecessary fees and expenses. Get your finances in gear in 2012! Too many people don’t have a financial plan or know how to create one. Without defined financial goals, people end up in debt they cannot control. This workshop addresses taking control by helping you prepare a savings plan. We will talk about short term and long terms goals and “needs” versus “wants”. We will then discuss some savings tips and set up a budget that you can use. We will also discuss how to manage a bank account and how to avoid fees.
Christopher Vecere, LV-Monmouth County
Literacy Education in New Jersey
General Audience
This presentation will review the findings of a study of adult literacy and adult basic education in New Jersey. The study examined the need for adult literacy and adult basic education and the current services provided (with a focus on the location and intensity of instruction). The presenter will share information about what is happening in other states and recommendations for changes to the system in New Jersey.
Erik Jacobson, Montclair State University
Cultivating Leadership Using Personality Traits
Target Audience: Program Leaders & Board Members
Often the best approach to utilizing volunteers is to integrate individuals with different behavioral patterns so that each can maximize their skills for the good of the organization. By taking advantage of natural compatibilities, the organization can increase its overall efficiency and improve its results. Participants will take a short personality test and examine case studies to explore how integrating personality traits can maximize volunteers’ skills for the good of the group.
Chris Sienkielewski, Three Bridges & LV-Union County
Supporting Student Writing
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL!
Target Audience: ESOL/Basic Literacy Tutors & Trainers
This workshop will explore the steps of the writing process and demonstrate ways to use the process to help your students improve their writing. Participants will look at tools such as dialogue journals and graphic organizers for getting started as well as practice strategies for responding to writing during the revision process.
Vivian OKrepky, LVNJ Master Trainer
Adding Spice to your Conversation Class: Kick It Up a Notch with Technology
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL!
Target Audience: Basic Literacy Tutors & Trainers
This workshop will demonstrate how to use technology to spice up conversation classes and reduce tutor workload in lesson planning. We will explore many ESL language teaching websites and YouTube videos as excellent sources for lessons, readings, puzzles and pronunciation exercises in conversation classes.
Elinor Williams & Alice Harper, LV-Mercer County
Preparing Students for Work Using EFF
Target Audience: ESOL/Basic Literacy Tutors & Trainers
The presenter will provide a quick overview of Equipped for the Future. The group will then explore the skills necessary to be successful in jobs and careers. Participants will learn how to provide activities and opportunities for students to gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in work.
Leigh Freeman, LVNJ Board Member
ProLiteracy Education Network—Free Resources for Literacy and ESL Instruction
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL!
Target Audience: ESOL/Basic Literacy Tutors, Trainers & Program Leaders
Are you a literacy instructor looking for new ideas for teaching reading comprehension and vocabulary development? Are you an ESL instructor looking for resources to teach life skills or prepare students to pass the citizenship test? Are you a program manager looking for budget friendly ways to train instructors in the latest research and teaching practices? In this hands-on workshop, you will explore the extensive collection of free resources available through ProLiteracy Education Network (http://www.proliteracyednet.org/). Ednet is a complete revision of the site that used to be called Thinkfinity Literacy Network - come see what's new!
Todd Evans, ProLiteracy
Registration Form
