Notable Notes:
MCOL 25th Anniversary
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by Jim Landers
The Mayor's Commission on Literacy: A Quarter Century of Dedication to Lifelong Learning
Part I: The Early Years
1983: Ronald Reagan was president, Gandhi won the Academy Award as Best Picture, the United States invaded the tiny country of Grenada, the Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA championship--the last Philadelphia team to win a national title. It was also the year, 25 years ago, that the Mayor's Commission on Literacy was founded as the literacy coordinating agency for the City of Philadelphia. Over the last quarter century, the motto the MCOL adopted in the mid 1990's--"Dedicated to Lifelong Learning"--best characterizes how the Commission has served the citizens of Philadelphia over the past 25 years.
The Mayor's Commission on Literacy started in 1983 through an Executive Order from Mayor William Green in the final year of his administration. Local literacy providers, some of whom had already been offering adult education services for Philadelphians for ten or fifteen years prior to 1983, got together and recognized the need for a central resource agency for adult education. At its start, the MCOL staff consisted of the executive director, Marciene Mattleman, a part time support person, and an advisory board appointed by the Mayor. The MCOL offices were established in the City Hall Annex building (now a Marriott Hotel).
W. Wilson Goode gave the MCOL new vigor by making adult literacy part of his agenda in his first term as mayor. Mayor Goode brought the issue to the US Conference of Mayors and helped to raise awareness of the importance of adult literacy issues throughout the USA.
In her nearly five years as the MCOL's first executive director, Marciene Mattleman launched initiatives that set the tone for the Commission for years to come. One of the most important of these was establishing and working with an advisory board-the Commission-consisting of business and community leaders, representatives of educational institutions, and administrators from literacy provider agencies. Dr. Mattleman also worked closely with the Philadelphia business community and forged important relationships with such companies as Bell of PA, First Pennsylvania Bank, IBM, and CIGNA Insurance.
In the next issue: MCOL's 25th Anniversary, part II: New Initiatives to Meet New Challenges. |
Following Family Literacy
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by Shirley Dyson
Families That Work Warms Up The Winter
On Friday, December 21, 2007, the Mayor's Commission on Literacy's Families That Work program held its annual Winter Celebration. Over 150 Philadelphia family literacy participants and family literacy program staff filled the Skyline Room of the Central Library of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Attendees celebrated the season with refreshments, activities, and the latex stylings of The Balloon Man. Each child who attended the event received a gift of a toy from the Toys for Tots program of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station and a children's book from the Pennsylvania Bar Association. The Families That Work Winter Celebration was also made possible by generous contributions from the Woodcrest United Church of Christ in Philadelphia and the PA Department of Education, ABLE Bureau.
Winter Celebration attendees check out children's books provided by the Pennsylvania Bar
Association.
The Balloon Man rules!
(l to r) Linda Haywood, MCOL tutor training coordinator; Tracey Holder, MCOL Family Literacy Assistant Coordinator; and Shirley Dyson, MCOL Family Literacy Coordinator "elfin' up" the Winter Celebration.
MCOL Family Literacy Assistant Coordinator Tracey Holder and a Cindy Lou Who impersonator found no Grinch in the house at the Winter Celebration.
Families That Work participants relish in Toys for Tots from the US Marine Corps.
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Save the Date!!! |
The Mayor's Commission on Literacy presents
The 20th Annual Technology and Adult Education Conference:
"Looking Back, Moving Forward"
Friday, May 2, 2008
8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Community College of Philadelphia
Winnet Student Life Building
For more information, contact Meagan Hess (hessm@freelibrary.org) |
Spotlight On...Voting |
by Jamie Bowers |
Education
Iraq
The environment
Healthcare
The economy
Oil
Which issues matter to you? During this period of media oversaturation leading up to the presidential election in November, it is difficult to find out where the candidates stand on important issues. Instead critical analysis of currents policies and plans for the future, much of the media covers in-depth reporting on matters that have much more to do with surface than substance. But what matters to you?
Over fifty years ago, when African Americans were being harassed, murdered and denied the right to vote in the South, the people decided to address the issue. After boycotts, sit-ins, demonstrations, beatings and jailings, Congress finally enforced the 14th and 15th amendments. In a commencement address to Spelman College in 2005, Howard Zinn reminded the audience that "many people had said: The South will never change. But it did change. It changed because ordinary people organized and took risks and challenged the system and would not give up. That's when democracy came alive."
If you are feeling discouraged because of the state of the world or the choice of candidates, have hope. Democracy does not come from the government. It lies in the hands of ordinary citizens and the movements they create around the issues that matter to them. Vote and exercise your right to help shape our government. If you are a registered voter, the Pennsylvania general primary election will take place April 22. Your voter registration application must be postmarked no later than March 24. To obtain a voter registration form or find your polling place, please visit the Committee of Seventy website at www.seventy.org . |
Ask Michelle
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by Michelle Bailey
This time around rather than answering questions, I wanted to remind the readers of some 'helpful tips'.
Updating Your Information is KEY!
If you are currently reading this e-newsletter over your co-worker's shoulder, and you are wondering "How come I didn't get one of these in my inbox?" It's probably because you did not update your contact information. The information that you provide in your ecampus profile; your name, address, phone number, email address and agency name, all of this needs to be updated by you or the person at your agency who does edata can update the information.
We use this information to contact you if trainings have been cancelled or rescheduled, or to send you informative things like this newsletter. Don't be out of the loop! UPDATE your information today!
Technical Difficulties
If you are having technical issues with your e-campus account, or you can't seem to register for an upcoming training, your best bet is to contact ABLE Tech directly. MCOL/PPDC cannot assist you with technical issues, so call 1 877.857.8869. Anyone who answers the phone can assist you.
What's a PPID Number?
If you want ACT 48 credits to keep your teaching certification active, then it is imperative that you get a PPID number. Contact me at if you would like me to send you instructions on how to obtain a PPID number.
Waiting for Credits to Show on your E-campus Transcript
If you took a training at the beginning of the month and you want professional development or ACT 48 credit for attending, and the credits are not showing on your ecampus transcript right away, don't fret. At the end of the month, usually the last week of the month, all credits are uploaded by the PPDC for that month and sent electronically to ABLE Tech. If you need verification that you attended a training sooner, contact me, baileym@freelibrary.org , and I can assist you!
Feel free to contact me if you have questions, I would be happy to talk with you about any of these topics.
Until next time, ask me anything!
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Keeping Up With Tutor Training
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by Jim Landers
Tutor Training with the Mayor's Commission on Literacy
One of the core activities of the Mayor's Commission on Literacy over the 25 years has been tutor training for volunteers. Since the MCOL started recruiting and training volunteer tutors in the 1980's thousands of individuals have taken the Commission's training and been referred to literacy agencies throughout Philadelphia. There are currently three varieties of tutor training that the MCOL offers to those interested in volunteering: basic training that covers the essentials that tutors need to know in working with adult basic education learners; ESL tutor training that focuses on the specific needs of tutors working with learners whose first language is not English; and GED training for working with learners preparing to take the GED. Training sessions take place on the 16th floor of the Municipal Services Building, 1401 JFK Boulevard, across the street from City Hall. The trainings are nine hours of instruction and take place either on three successive Wednesday nights from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, or on two successive Saturdays from 10 to 2:30.
For more information on upcoming training sessions, check the MCOL's website-www.philaliteracy.org-or call the MCOL at 215-686-5256.
The MCOL is in the process of redesigning its basic tutor training that has been in place now for more than ten years. The ESL and GED trainings will also be revised after the basic is complete. Sandy Harrill, formerly with the Reader Development Program of the Free Library and now the executive director of the YMCA adult education program, has redesigned the MCOL tutor training. Sandy has years of experience as an adult education teacher, trainer, and administrator, and was the perfect choice to re-envision the MCOL's tutor training.
The new training is divided up into three sessions. The first provides an overview of the programs, services, and personnel of the Mayor's Commission on Literacy. It also includes important overview information for beginning literacy tutors: tutor expectations and what happens after the training, principles of adult learning, and learning about learners. Session one wraps up with important information with dealing with new learners: needs assessment, goal setting, and keeping track of a learner's progress.
The second section of the training deals with the "meat and potatoes" of many adult learning situations-reading. Specific section headings include balanced literacy and the four components of reading, strategies and activities for teaching reading, vocabulary, fluency, reading comprehension, ways of reading together, and materials and resources for reading.
The third session covers a variety of other learning situations and topics that will help tutors as they begin working with learners. These topics include a discussion on adults with learning disabilities, teaching writing, using technology in tutoring, and teaching math. The session wraps up with two essential topics for tutors-lesson planning and wrapping it all up.
Of course, the tutor training is really mostly an overview for new tutors. Since the MCOL does not provide direct services for adult learners, we refer tutors out to one of the many direct service providers throughout Philadelphia. A MCOL representative will meet with each volunteer tutor during the training to find out about his or her availability to tutor and provide the tutor with a referral to an agency. Once tutors are referred to a literacy agency and get paired with a learner, the MCOL supports the tutors work with professional development offerings through the Philadelphia Professional Development Center.
For more information about tutoring, the MCOL's tutor training, or the Philadelphia Professional Development Center, call the Mayor's Commission on Literacy at 215-686-5250. |
Learning Perspectives
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by Gail Miles
Motivating Your Learners
Educating the adult the learner is a task I've enjoyed. To see students proud of accomplishing literacy goals is a wonder to behold. Motivating the adult student is not that difficult to do. Adopt these three methods of engaging, encouraging, and enthusing and you will have students ignited and ready for the day's lesson.
Engaging your student always requires creativity. Ask your students what their interests and hobbies are. If applicable, use some of what the students tell you to select reading material. When the adult learner sees the relevance in the lesson, he or she will be engaged. Every lesson that is presented may not readily engage the student; however, continue to point out the value of it in terms your students will understand.
One book that my class read was The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Reading this novel engaged, encouraged, and enthused the class. I initially thought this lesson would be an arduous task. Especially because this book was the first novel we read that was not earmarked for the low literacy student. We pulled it off!! Our class read the book from cover to cover. The students began to see themselves in the characters in the book. The students took the book home and read it with their children. They came back to class each day reporting some place they read the book. Some took it to playground, some took it to the laundromat and others just took it everywhere.
This lesson is my all-time favorite. Watching the students evolve after reading Alice Walker's words was very powerful, and at that moment I realized what obtaining the precious, priceless gift of literacy could do for any human being.
Encourage your students to be the best that they can be. During my time teaching adult learners, I've encountered that students may need a little TLC (tender loving care, figuratively of course). Some students are like onions in which you may need to pull back the layers to get to the core. You can do this by just taking a few minutes to listen to your students. Don't take too much time away from your lesson. If the chat session becomes extensive, refer the student to the most suited resource. You may also use some of the student's concerns as a journal topic or a math problem of the day. Offer advice and suggestions that will help them to stay focused on their education.
Enthusiasm can be your friend. Deliver your lessons with such zeal and zest. If you are enthusiastic about what you are implementing than your students will feel it and catch on. Bring vigor and vitality the classroom. This will surely not only enthuse your students but motivate them as well.
These methods may not be foolproof, but give it a try. You may find that you need adjust the above steps according to the population that you serve and the climate of your classroom. My classes and I have experienced great success following this road map. I hope that you will be able to experience the same success. However, the most important thing is to treat your students with dignity and respect. Take chances with your class. Don't be afraid to go out on a limb because after all that is where the fruit is.
Gail Miles is a Beginning Literacy Instructor for the Move Up project in Philadelphia. She teaches Move Up classes for The Center For Literacy. |
For Your Information
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by Michelle Bailey
Delivering the Word and Literacy to the North Philadelphia Community
Deliverance Evangelistic Church is one of the biggest churches in Philadelphia; located in the heart of North Philadelphia, at 2001 West Lehigh Ave.; the church houses seating for approximately 5, 000 members. The thriving church community has endless activities from Bible Institute classes to Marriage Enrichment workshops.
Among the vast array of activities there is an adult literacy program that offers morning and evening GED classes Monday through Thursday 10 AM - 1PM and Mondays and Wednesdays 6PM to 8 PM. Heading this successful program is Celeste Palmer, who has been involved with the program since 1996; the program has been in existence since the early 80s.
In Celeste's spare time she helps by teaching GED classes, and says that being the program coordinator is challenging, because the main focus is meeting the needs of the students. One would think that another challenge would be not having enough teachers to help fulfill the needs of the students, but Celeste says there is a wealth of volunteers in the congregation that are willing to help.
In the future, the vision of the literacy program at Deliverance hopes to expand by having GED classes five days a week; they also have hopes of becoming a GED testing site. It seems that the sky is the limit for this thriving force in North Philadelphia.
If you or someone you know lives in the North Philadelphia area and you would like to be a part of a program like the one at Deliverance Evangelistic Church by becoming a tutor, please contact the Mayor's Commission on Literacy for details at 215-686-5256. |
PAACE 2008
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by Diane Inverso
The 43rd Annual PAACE Midwinter Conference on Adult Education was held at the Hershey Lodge, February 6-8, 2008. Approximately 750 people registered to attend this year's conference. This year's conference, with its theme "Opening Windows," was an exciting look toward what the future holds. Conference attendees included representatives of literacy, ABE, ESL, and family literacy services; corrections education, higher education, and training providers; and the workforce development community.
The Keynote speaker was Dr. Cheryl D. King, Study for the National Commission on Adult Literacy. She spoke on "Connecting the Dots to Improve Educational Attainment of Adults," about the importance of coordinating with postsecondary education as well as workforce development to better serve adults and achieve greater outcomes.
Honorary conference chair was the PA Workforce Investment Board. Executive Director, Dr. Robert Garraty was available throughout the conference and delivered remarks at the PAACE banquet Thursday evening.
Other events to note was the special session, "The Politics of adult Education," featuring Art Ellison, New Hampshire's state director. At the Marketplace Grand Opening Suzanne Bloom, famous children's book author was available to sign books. One of the special invited guests was Cheryl L. Keenan, Director of the U.S. Department of Education's Division of Adult Education and Literacy.
An impressive line-up of concurrent sessions offered a rich context for adult education topics and issues. As a special note the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Adult Basic and Literacy Education designated sessions for ABLE providers and a breakfast meeting with Rose Brandt was available for administrators.
Many conference attendees enjoyed participating in PAACE Night: reception, banquet, and after dinner entertainment celebrating Chinese New Year and Mardi gras. And as always there were plenty of networking opportunities.
If you are a teacher, tutor, program administrator, postsecondary educator, community collaborator workforce development partner, trainer, publisher, or researcher-or you are simply interested, attending the PAACE conference is an important aspect of your professional growth.
Next year join us in Hershey, February 11-13, to reconnect with others, meet new people, and to continue to open your own adult education windows. |
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About MCOL |
Founded in 1983, the Mayor's Commission on Literacy was the first literacy agency in the country to be established by a local governing body. The Mayor's Commission on Literacy became part of the Free Library of Philadelphia in 2004.
The MCOL was established to ensure that quality education is available to equip all adults in Philadelphia with the skills necessary for the workforce, parenting, and beyond.
The Mayor's Commission on Literacy works closely with Philadelphia literacy organizations, local corporations, social service and government agencies, community groups, religious leaders, and adult learners to ensure that the voices of all stakeholders are heard.
MCOL Programs/Initiatives:
- Information and Referral
- Adult Education Standards
- Tutor Training
- Careerlink Information and Referral
- Family Literacy
- Move Up Philadelphia
- PPDC
- Site Support
- Technology Support
MCOL
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-686-5250 |
Diane Inverso
Director of Education
Jim Landers
Assistant Executive Director |
MCOL e-News Staff |
Editor
Alyson Showell
Writers
Jim Landers
Michelle Bailey
Diane Inverso
Shirley Dyson
Jamie Bowers
Photography
Jim Landers
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