Volunteers Brighten Lives!
24W500 Maple Avenue, Naperville, Illinois 60540
630.416.6699
April 2019
 

April is a special month because it is National Volunteer Month. We  celebrate the impact of your service and the power of your efforts to address adult literacy in DuPage County.  Your commitment helps to improve and increase self-sufficiency for our learners and their families.  Your impact is witnessed and demonstrated in so many ways.  For example learners develop and demonstrate increased confidence in their daily communication activities, expand their spoken and written vocabulary, improve their capacity to express themselves clearly during conversations and in writing,  and increase their assimilation into their communities.   T hank  you for  selfishly giv ing your  time and effort to support our mission.   W e are very grateful to you, our Volunteer Tutors! 

From All of Us at Literacy DuPage
Peer Tutor Mentor Tip
provided by Tutor/Trainer/Mentor, Karen Fuist
Spring is coming, so now is a good time to talk to our students about plants, nature and weather. The Oxford Picture Dictionary (OPD) has some great pictures to help with your lesson.
 
Here are the ideas our tutors came up with to help with these worksheets:

Levels 0 - 1
* Use the KWL Chart (Know/Want to Know/Learned), ask your student these questions:
* What is a text message? (demonstrate on your phone)
* Do you send text messages?
* Do you send me text messages?
* Do you send your family text messages?
Click here to access the worksheet #1

* Say and write the days of the week and the months of the year.
Click here  to access the worksheet #2
Click here to access the worksheet #3

* Use the Dialogue to practice saying the days and months to talk about your next class meeting time.
Click here to access the worksheet #4

* Use your cell phones to practice the text messages. Now that you have taught about capital letters, you can make sure they use them.
Click here to access the worksheet #5


Level 2-3 (All of the above)
* Talk about "yesterday, today and tomorrow."
Click here to access the worksheet #6
 

Levels 4-5
*Discuss the writing checklist.
Click here to access the worksheet #7

* Read about what happened last week. Answer the comprehension questions.
Click here to access the worksheet #8

 
Levels 6-7 (All of the above)
* Discuss the proper form for writing an email.
Click here to access the worksheet #9
 
* Discuss the proper punctuation for an email.
Click here to access the worksheet #10
 

Thanks to everyone who helped with all these ideas!!!
Conversation Topic
 for April
"The Law"
Some of the conversation starters this month include questions, 
such as . . .

→ What law(s) should be abolished?

→ Do you think there should be more or less laws?

You can access the full conversation starter activity by clicking  here.
The Story of
April Fool's Day

1. No one is sure how April Fool's Day began. There has been silliness in the spring for thousand of years.

2. In April, fish in the rivers are more easily caught. In France, a foolish person who was easily tricked was called an "April fish."

3. In Europe, by the old calendar, the first day of the new year was the same day as the first day of spring. There were many New Year's customs: visiting friends, giving presents, and other happy activities.

4. In 1582 a new, more accurate calendar was made by Pope Gregory. The beginning of the year was changed to January first.

5. But many people continued to celebrate New Year's Day in April. Other people called these people who would not change their calendars "April Fools." They sent funny presents or played tricks on them.



(Source: ESL Teacher's Holiday Activities Kit, pg 160)

vegetables_basket.jpg
Health Literacy Curriculum
Healthy eating and good nutrition are the themes in this month's Health Literacy Curriculum section. Encourage your student to learn more and develop new skills with these Lesson Plans on Healthy Eating.




Health Literacy Awareness Topics
for April
In Observance of Health Awareness for April, click on the links below to view some helpful resources on these most important topics:


National Public Health Week (April 1-7):




Every Kid Healthy Week (April 22-26):