Hi all,

I'm new to this discussion list. (As my kids would say, I'm a real "NEWB.")  But since Ms. Terrill asked, I thought I'd share that I will be doing a Spotlight Session at the National Conference on Family Literacy (in Louisville, KY) on Monday March 31st from 10:30 to noon, entitled "What We Can Do to Get 'Tweens and Teens Reading."

Here's what's on the NCFL Website about the presentation:

Today's society presents adolescents with many alternatives to reading, even for those who read confidently. When teenagers are reluctant or struggling readers, the challenge to get them reading is even tougher. Hear strategies from a former inner city teacher who began writing her own high interest series for adolescents in order to engage more young people in reading.

But I must add that since our nation's tweens and teens are really quite similar to our adult population, I'm addressing tweens, teens and adults. [I don't know about you, but I've been an inner-city teacher for many years, and find my students (as well as my own two teenage sons) to be more like adults than kids.]  My presentation will open your eyes as to what our nation's tweens and teens deal with on a daily basis (from their point of view--which always throws most educators off kilter, since they're used to thinking about things from their own huge list of problems and concerns), as well as what our publishing industry is and is not doing for the older struggling, emergent and ESL reader. I must admit that my presentation, although dealing with a serious topic, is highly comical (I'm a comedy writer, I can't help myself, it just sort of seeps in!), and is not a long-winded, pontificating, statistic-spewing lecture. Instead, it's fast-paced, eye-opening, funny, and, if I may say so myself, quite colorful!  :-)

Although I like to play, anyone who knows me knows that literacy is my passion. We've GOT to start getting our nation reading, and I firmly believe that in order to get emergent, struggling, and ESL readers reading, we have to give them something they CAN read, and something they WANT to read! [Please, I'm begging you, stop humiliating older struggling readers by giving them the Poky Little Puppy! Guys would rather quit school than be caught reading baby books. (Perhaps that's why our nation's drop-out rate is so astounding.)]   :-)

As to addressing adult English language learners, yes, there are many materials out there for teaching this target audience--workbooks, programs, scaled down materials that offer "just the facts, Ma'am," and some things that are so complex, so convoluted and offer so many bells and whistles, you'd think they'd clean your classroom windows for you too!--but in order for our learners to actually build their reading muscles and strengthen and improve their reading skills, they need to (as I was saying LONG before Nike picked up the saying) just do it!  They need to just read. 

English language learners (and with anyone trying to learn how to read) need to read books that are on an easy-to-read reading level to help them gain the skills and confidence that only reading can offer. [I know, it seems like a no-brainer to me, but I added it in here for clarification.]

But all (semi) joking aside, I do hope you'll come see me at the NCFL conference, and will stop to introduce yourself. And to all of you who sincerely care about literacy (you know who you are), I just want to say thank you for all you do for literacy! It's the people on the front lines--our tutors, coaches, volunteers and educators--that are the unsung heroes of our fight with literacy! As a former inner-city school teacher, I know that it's rare to hear "thanks" (although I know firsthand that that's not why we do what we do) but... THANKS!!!!  :-)  You guys ROCK!  Hang tight, stay tough, and keep up the great work!

Elise Leonard
elise.leonard at gmail.com
www.NoxPress.com

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lynda Terrill 
  To: englishlanguage at nifl.gov 
  Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 8:22 AM
  Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2230] TESOL, NCFL, COABE


  Dear subscribers, 

   

  Conference season is upon us again with the National Conference on Family Literacy, TESOL, and COABE all occurring in the next six weeks. Dates and links for each of those conferences are below.

   

  As in other years, I hope after the conferences that some of you can find time to share your experiences and resources  with the others on the list who are not able to attend these or other conferences. 

   

  From reviewing the materials for these three conferences, there looks to be a wealth of topics of interest to adult ESL practitioners.  The sessions include topics from standards, assessment, and  multilevel classes to using music in project-based learning with children and adults, reading, the new citizenship exam, and phrasal verbs.

   

  So,  I'm hoping that some of you who will be  presenting at these or other conferences will consider sharing what you will be presenting now, and later, after the conferences, your reflections and materials. . .

   

  Thanks,

   

  Lynda Terrill

  List moderator

  lterrill at cal.org



  ***************

  March 30-April 1, 2008
  National Conference on Family Literacy 
  Literacy Grows Families and Communities 
  Louisville, Kentucky 
  http://www.familit.org 

   

  April 2-5, 2008
  The 42nd Annual TESOL Convention & Exhibit 
  Worlds of TESOL: Building Communities of Practice, Inquiry, and Creativity 
  New York, New York
  http://www.tesol.org

   

  April 28-May 1, 2008
  COABE Annual Conference 
  St. Louis, Missouri 
  http://www.coabe.org 

   



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