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Diabetes and Vision Clinic

On April 10, Reading Connections, in partnership with the Moses Cone Congregational Nurse Program and the Montagnard-Dega Association, helped facilitate a community diabetes testing and vision screening clinic at a local Montagnard-Dega church. This was a continuation of a series of clinics begun last year at the request of a number of students. Teresa Sulliva, our 2009-10 Tutor of the Year, was instrumental in envisioning, planning and successfully coordinating the clinic.

Participants received free screenings and referrals, and then discussed diabetes prevention and management with Reading Connections tutors and instructors, who prepared lessons to explain diabetes even to those who don't speak English. Our outreach education included activities that explored books in the "What To Do For Health" series, and all participants that wanted a book went home with one. We are so grateful to our wonderful tutors and instructors that spent their day serving the community! Thank you!

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Mosaic Festival

The 2nd Annual MOSAIC FESTIVAL: International Food and Music in Downtown Greensboro (free admission)  is upon us! This year's event is shaping up to be a fantastic celebration of diversity in our community with a jam packed schedule of events and a full house of ethnic food vendors, crafts, jewelry, games for kids, and information booths surrounding the park. 

The 2011 Mosaic Festival will take place on Saturday, May 21st from 2pm-8pm at Festival Park (200 N. Davie St) in Greensboro. After an outstanding turnout last year, organizers have expanded the length of the event and have added a number of new musicians including some of North Carolina's most popular international bands. This year's headliners The Brand New Life (Global Jazz / Funk), Braco (Latin Rock), and Kairaba! (West African Dance Band) will perform alongside an array of amateur musicians and dancers from more than a dozen countries around the world (see full line-up here: Mosaic 2011 Music Line-Up). 

As you listen to the incredible music, wander through the marketplace where you can peruse handmade crafts and jewelry . If you're feeling confident you can even stop by the CWS Citizenship booth and test your civics skills before heading over the ethnic street food fair, featuring snack size treats from 15 different countries - the favorite fixture of last year's event! Come hungry and ready to try something new! An inflatable moonwalk for the kids and a Natty Greene's beer garden for the adults will give everyone a chance to have fun, relax, and enjoy the show. 

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Training Opportunities

New Tutor Training

Please pass these dates along to friends and colleagues you think might be interested in becoming a tutor.

High Point:

All sessions will take place in the 2nd floor Board Room of the Wachovia building in downtown High Point at 200 N. Main St.

Orientation: Thursday, June 16 - 9:00 -11:00 am
Session 1: Tuesday, June 21 - 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Session 2: Thursday, June 23 - 9:00 am - 12:00 noon

Greensboro:

All sessions will take place in the 8th floor conference room in the Self Help building at 122 N. Elm Street in Greensboro

Orientation: Tuesday, July 19 - 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Session 1: Tuesday, July 26 - 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Session 2: Thursday, July 28 - 5:30 - 8:30 pm

Tutor Reflection Meeting

These meetings are a great opportunity to gather with other tutors to share concerns, stories, and resources.

High Point:

Wednesday, May 18th from 10:00am-12:00pm
(Board Room on the 2nd floor of the Wachovia Building in Downtown High Point) 

Thursday, May 26th from 5:30-7:30pm
(Board Room on the 2nd floor of the Wachovia Building in Downtown High Point) 

Greensboro:

Tuesday, June 7 from 10:30am-12:00pm
(5th floor conference room)

Tuesday, June 7 from 5:30-7:00pm
(8th floor conference room)

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Student Council Activities

Students and tutors attended Steel Magnolias at Triad Stage as part of Reading Connections' Student Council. There wasn't an empty seat in the house, and attendees enjoyed the moving story of a group of friends who gather at Truvy's Beauty Salon to laugh, cry and support each other through the good times and the bad.

On Wednesday, May 11, learners visited the Greensboro Farmer's Curb Market as part of the Reading Connections Student Council program. Meeting inside the market, learners discussed the foods they eat most often and where they shop for food. Only one learner had visited the market before and all were excited to explore it. The conversation led into the advantages and disadvantages to buying food at the farmer's market, as well as what is seasonally available. Some learners are avid gardeners and others grew up on family farms from Sudan to South Carolina, and everyone was interested in learning more about fresh, local food.

The group then spoke with different vendors, asking questions about the varieties of vegetables for sale, types of breads and location and size of their farms. Almost everyone ended up making a purchase, including breads, honey and strawberries. Everyone was enthusiastic and expressed a desire to return to the market on the weekend, now that they knew it was there. 

For learners who want to visit the market, tutors and instructors can structure the trip in a similar fashion to a reading assignment. Beforehand, either in a previous session or outside the market, talk about what learners eat and where they buy it, as a lead up to thinking about what foods are available at the market and when. Incorporate readings on organic food and local farmers, and study market-related vocabulary, such as "produce", "vendor", "organic" and "CSA". Talk or write about what foods are not available, and why, how markets are good for consumers and farmers, and what obstacles learners have or perceive to participating? Once in the market, learners can search out their favorite foods and compare prices, talking to farmers about how and where they grow their food. Afterwards, do a writing activity or a language experience approach story about the visit, and what assumptions and ideas were true and which were not. For ESOL students, lead up to the visit with dialogs or role plays around talking to vendors and reviewing money. Try to assist your learner in synthesizing the experience with his or her experiences food shopping in their home country.

The Student Council's next event is on Thursday, May 26. There will be a potluck on the 8th floor of the Self-Help Center at 6:00pm. All learners and volunteers are encouraged to bring a favorite food or drink, as well as serving utensils. Please contact Andrew Trump (atrump@readingconnections.org) or Laura DeMaria (ldemaria@readingconnections.org) with any questions.

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Specific Class and Tutoring Needs (Greensboro Office)

Many of our students have very specific literacy goals and needs. We currently have a need for tutors to teach math and computer skills and for an instructor to teach our Beginning Basic Literacy class using our Level 1B Toolkit. If you are interested in any of the following opportunities, please contact Laura at ldemaria@readingconnections.org or (336) 230-2223.

Morning Level 1B Instructor needed
Reading Connections needs a volunteer to take over Kathy Dunn's morning Level 1B class, which meets every Monday and Wednesday morning from 9:30-11:30 and is structured around our 1B toolkit. Kathy will be taking a break for the summer, so if you are interested in shadowing her class first, and eventually taking over, please let Laura know! This is a great group of students who have been working for several months together, and they (and we!) would greatly appreciate someone to continue their class.

Math tutors needed
There are currently several math students on our waiting list who are in need of a math tutor. Because our math classes occur less frequently than reading classes, many of these students are only getting a minimum amount of instruction time per week. Students' abilities range from very basic, elementary math up to GED (high school) level.

Computer 1:1 tutors needed
Students are increasingly asking for more help with computers, and while we do offer a computer class in-office, many students' schedules do not allow them to attend. Tutoring would focus on beginning and basic computer instruction (parts of a computer; how to use Word; how to type; what is email, etc.). You could tutor 1:1 or with a small group of students. We already have a curriculum with lesson plans established, which would make it very simple to know where to begin with these students and what topics to cover.

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Distance Learning

Looking for an easy and fun way to incorporate technology into lessons? The California Distance Learning Project www.cdlponline.org has articles which include audio with the text. Each article is accompanied with comprehension, vocabulary and spelling exercises. Please take advantage of this terrific (and free!) resource.

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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
901 N. Main Street
High Point, NC 27262

P.O. Box 2530
High Point, NC 27261

info@readingconnections.org
Phone (336) 884-7323
Fax (336) 883-3636

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