9th Annual Scrabble Challenge

It's time to dust off your dictionary!

Reading Connection's 9th annual Scrabble Challenge will be held on April 7th, 2009 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Marriott Hotel in Downtown Greensboro (304 N. Greene Street).

Come join us for an evening of entertaining wordplay, food, and prizes!

Tickets are $35 for individual players, $100 for a team of 3 players, or $30 for spectators. For more details, including registration and rules, visit our website at www.readingconnections.org/scrabble.asp. Don't miss this fantastic fund raiser. Door prizes will be awarded, and we will draw the winners of our "Go the Extra Mile" raffle:

Buy a raffle ticket.
Support Reading Connections."
WIN A NEW SCOOTER OR BIKE!

Every year, in conjunction with our Scrabble Challenge, we hold a raffle to benefit Reading Connections. This year the prizes are fantastic!

First Prize:
Zongshen Metro 50 Scooter

$1100 value. This zippy scooter will get you where you're going...no license required! (You still have to wear a helmet.) From Scooternerds.

Second Prize:
Haro Flightline 2 Unisex Bike

$350 value. Courtesy of Friendly Bike. Get in shape and save some gas in the process! Perfect for trails or pavement.

Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Contact info@readingconnections.org or call 230-2223 to purchase tickets or to help sell tickets.

Back to the top

GED Instructor Needed

Dedicated GED students seek instructor!

A small group of GED students have been working with A&T intern and instructor, Shawana Torrence, since January on Monday and Thursday nights from 6-8 p.m. at the Greensboro Reading Connections office. Beginning in mid-April we will need another instructor to take over, as she is graduating from her Master's program (Congratulations Shawana!).

Come help our higher level students work to obtain their GED by instructing one or all of the different sections (Reading, Science, Social Studies, Writing, and Math) of the GED. We will provide a new edition of the GED practice book to use as a guide. 

If you are interested, please contact Rhiannon at 336-230-2223 or rkelly@readingconnections.org .

Back to the top

Computer Lab Assistants Needed

If you are interested in assisting students as they work using educational websites and software in the Greensboro or High Point computer labs or instructing a small computer class, please contact Rhiannon at 336-230-2223 or rkelly@readingconnections.org. Times can be flexible based on your availability.

Back to the top

English For All Offered at Reading Connections

We are pleased to announce that we will be using the Greensboro computer lab to offer English For All (EFA). EFA is a computer based English literacy program for non-native English speakers. This program will help students improve their reading, writing, and listening skills. Visit the website here www.myefa.org

Please spread the word to your Intermediate-Advanced ESOL students! The class will be held on Wednesdays from 10:00 am-12:00 p.m. in the computer lab. The class will begin April 22 and go until June 24. It is closed enrollment so please encourage your students to RSVP as soon as possible at (336) 230-2223.

Back to the top

Supplemental Tutor Training

Save the date for Thursday April 23rd from 5:30-7:00 p.m. as Kathy Dunn, experienced tutor and retired Guilford County Schools teacher, will be instructing a workshop on how to incorporate more kinesthetic and tactile activities in your weekly lesson plans. This training is appropriate for tutors of students at any level. Please call the office at 336-230-2223 or email Rhiannon at rkelly@readingconnections.org to RSVP.

Thursday April 23rd
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Reading Connections
122 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, NC

Back to the top

Wish List

Reading Connections is in need of a few basic supplies:

We need fifty 1 1/2" white Basic Economy binders.
(Similar to item #396251 at Office Depot)

We need fifty 1/2" white Basic Economy binders.
(Similar to item #396941 at Office Depot)

These binders are perfect for organizing tutor and student materials, and we go through them like hotcakes!

Reading Connections is also in need of one or two used laptops. These are great for making presentations on the road or for checking out to tutors and students for instructional purposes.

If you have or could arrange for donation of any of these items, please let us know.

Back to the top

Monthly Tutor Reports

If you are an active tutor, please remember to turn in your Monthly Tutoring Report, which is due on the 5th of each month.  If you have done so already, thank you!  You can submit these hours by email, mail, fax, or phone.  Call the office if you have questions about reporting your tutoring hours.

Remember that Reading Connections' state funding depends on being able to demonstrate success. That includes the number of instructional hours per student. If we don't get your tutor reports, we can't record student hours and are likely to get reduced state funding. Please be sure to turn these in monthly!

Back to the top

NEW! Health Literacy Classes

We are please to announce a Health Literacy class is being taught by tutor, Tom Rafferty, at the Greeensboro Reading Connections office. It will focus on a variety of health related topics while improving literacy for Intermediate- Advanced students. The class is Thursday afternoons from 1:00-2:30 pm, April 2- May 7 in the 5th floor conference room. It is not too late to sign up! If your student is interested in attending, please contact Micah at (336) 230-2223 or mguindon@readingconnections. org . If you are interested in teaching this class in the future, please contact Rhiannon at rkelly@readingconnections.org.

Back to the top

Updated Web Site Listings

Reading Connections posts links to helpful web sites for students and tutors. Please check out our newly-updated web sites online:

Student activities:
http://readingconnections.org/students-what-we-do.asp#activities

Tutor resources:
http://readingconnections.org/private-tutors-helpful-sites.asp
(Log in using your tutor login and password. Contact rkelly@readingconnections.org if you have lost or forgotten the login and password for tutors.)

Back to the top

Reading Connections Receives Grant from City of High Point

For the third year, Reading Connections is proud to announce that we have been awarded a Community Development Block Grant from the City of High Point. This year we received $5,000 to support our continued presence as a literacy provider in High Point.

Reading Connections began serving students in High Point in 2005. In that first year we served only 46 students and 8 tutors. Since then, our program has grown to over 250 students and 130 tutors. This kind of rapid growth would not have been possible without the support of the City of High Point and other High Point foundations. We look forward to continuing to provide literacy services for adults throughout Guilford County!

Back to the top

Office Closed Friday April 10

Reading Connections' offices will be closed Friday, April 10th in observance of Good Friday.

Back to the top

We are always interested in your feedback. Do you have questions or concerns? Please contact the office. Sincerely, Reading Connections Staff

Greensboro Office
122 N. Elm St., Ste. 520
Greensboro, NC 27401
info@readingconnections.org
Phone: (336)230-2223
Fax: (336) 230-2203

High Point Office
919 Phillips Ave, Suite 107
High Point, NC 27262
info@readingconnections.org or cdixon@readingconnections.org
Phone (336) 882-4141 or 404-3474
Fax (336) 882-4142

If you think you've received this email in error or would like to be removed from the list, send an email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line to info@readingconnections.org