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New Tutor Training
All of our new volunteer tutors are required to complete a free, three-part training.

February 
Training:

February Tutor Training will take place in the Morgan Community Room on the first floor of the High Point Public Library.

Orientation: Wed., 2/15 at 5-7:00pm

Session I: Tuesday, 2/21 at 5-8:00pm

Session II: Wed., 2/22 at 5-8:00 pm

For more information or to register, please  email us or call (336) 230-2223.  
Like us on Facebook and check out our Tutor Tips of the Week!

Upcoming Events

Supplemental Training

Join us for a supplemental training about using News For You with students at various literacy levels. This training will be led by veteran tutor Kathy Dunn.


Wed., Feb. 22

High Point
10am-11:30pm
High Point Public Library

Greensboro
5:30-7:00pm
Self Help Building at 122 N. Elm Street

Email Laura Mims to register.

Literacy Leadership
Breakfasts
Please mark your calendars to attend our annual Literacy Leadership breakfasts.

High Point
Tuesday, April 4 at 8:00-9:00 am

Greensboro
Thursday, May 18 at 8:00-9:00 am

Please contact Associate Director Jean Pudlo to learn how you can help with planning and fundraising.
Reading Connections NEWSFLASH
January, 2017


We hope you are having a nice January! Every month we look forward to sharing Reading Connections' news and community happenings to keep you in the loop and well connected.
Mary Adams Stephens: A Reading Connections Founder

Reading Connections lost one of its founders last July when Mary Adams Stephens died at 87, but Greensboro lost a tireless advocate for learning who believed education was the surest way to help people help themselves. She backed up her belief with philanthropy, leadership and personal example.

It's not hard to understand her motivation. She graduated from Manhattanville Sacred Heart College in New York, a school ahead of its time in promoting racial equality. After school and as a devoted Catholic, she worked for The Christophers, a religious organization that advocated putting hope into action. 

She combined the rest of her life with a love of learning and with action.

Supplemental Training: News For You

News For You is  a weekly publication for adult learners that uses current events and human interest stories to engage learners' interest while building skills in reading, comprehension, vocabulary, and more. Veteran tutor Kathy Dunn will lead a training that will give tutors strategies on how to use this valuable resource with various levels of learners. 

Wednesday February 22

10:00-11:30am: Research Services Classroom (3rd floor) of the High Point Public Library located at 901 N. Main Street

5:30-7:00pm: 8th floor of the Self Help Building located at 122 N. Elm Street in Greensboro

Please email Laura Mims or call (336)230-2223 to register.
YELP Foundation Awards $5,000 Grant

Thank you to everyone who voted for Reading Connections to win a grant from YELP Foundation. We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded $5,000. We could not have done it without the many people who voted daily. Thank you!


Student Spotlight: Alvaro Torres

When Alvaro first came to Reading Connections in August of 2013, he wanted to be able to communicate fluently in English in his role as a Pastor.

In October, Alvaro invited his Tutor, Carolyn Flynn, and Reading Connections' Coordinator, Anna, to hear him speak at his church's homecoming services. Since he spoke at our Literacy Breakfast in the past, we knew he would be a fantastic speaker. He delivered his message using beautiful fluent English and also translated in Spanish for the Spanish-speaking congregation in attendance. What an accomplishment! Congratulations to Alvaro for achieving this goal!
Innovative Literacy Class Creates Sewing Initiative

A little over a year ago, previous ABE Tutor, Charlie Quesenberry reached out to Reading Connections in High Point to find services for a family from Burundi who began attending his church. Charlie recruited and assembled a team of tutors from Sunday School, along with his wife Pat, to receive our ESOL Tutor Training and begin serving the family.

The group meets each Sunday during regular Sunday School times. Even with low intensity of instructions and the challenges of learning a second language for pre- and non-literate students, the group saw progress when they tested at the end of the fiscal year.

Join the 100 Hours Club
Each year at our Student and Volunteer Celebration, we recognize students and tutors who accrue 100 or more instructional hours throughout the fiscal year (July-June). At this point, we are more than halfway through the year, but there is still time to reach this goal. Please speak with your coordinator to learn more about how you can enter the 100 Hours Club this
year.
 
Obtaining a High School Equivalency Credential - the  HiSET or GED test

Students seeking a high school equivalency diploma now have the opportunity to choose from two testing options at Guilford Technical Community College: the General Education Development (GED®)  test and the new High School Equivalency Test (HiSET®). Both tests result in a high school equivalency diploma from the North Carolina Board of Community Colleges.
 
HiSET® is offered in both a paper-based testing for
mat for students who may be apprehensive about taking the computer-based GED® test. HiSET® consists of five tests: reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies. Each test costs $10 - or $50 for all five tests. The GED® test is offered electronically only and consists of four tests: reasoning with language arts, science, social studies and mathematics reasoning. The GED® test costs $20 per test - or $80 for all four tests.
 
Do your students struggle with organizing their thoughts to prepare for the HiSET essay?  You and your student may find the  Writer's Workshop Series helpful. Developed by the Tennessee Division of Adult Education, these three short videos guide students in preparing for the essay: the first video describes the essay prompt and shows examples; the second video tells how to plan an essay and organize an argument; and the third video shows how to follow the plan to write an essay. 
Student Success Stories Needed
We would like to showcase our students who have reached their educational goals and have gone on to achieve dreams in further education (GTCC, UNCG, A&T) or in their world of employment. These students may have already graduated from our program- that's just fine.

We would also like to showcase students who are working hard currently to reach their literacy goals. Have you been moved by your student's courage, perseverance, humor and life skills? Then they would be a great candidate!

For more information or to submit your student's name or volunteer to tell your tutor story, please call Jenny Gore at (336) 230-2223 or email at 
[email protected]. Thank you and happy tutoring!
Our mission is to provide and advocate for free, individualized adult literacy services to promote life changes for Guilford County residents and surrounding communities.  We always welcome your questions and feedback. Please don't hesitate to contact us to hear more about how our programs are making a difference in our community.
 
Sincerely,

Jennifer Gore, Executive Director
Reading Connections, Inc.
For more information visit www.readingconnections.org
or contact us at one of our offices:

In Greensboro
336-230-2223
122 N. Elm Street, Suite 920
Greensboro, NC 27401
FAX 336-230-2203

In High Point
336-884-7323
901 N. Main Street
High Point, NC 27262
FAX 336-883-3636