Keeping In Touch, Volume 25

Volume 25 | December 5, 2020

This issue is all about Christmas and Hanukkah!

Tutor ID Number:

Greetings Tutors!

It is no secret that literacy can unlock opportunities for all learners. Your dedication and good work provide the gift of literacy to your students and, by extension, their families.

During this time of year, we culturally observe many different traditions and practices. This edition of Keeping In Touch focuses on the season's cultural behaviors and offers activities and exercises to practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need help with tutoring strategies during this time.

We wish you the most wonderful holiday season and look forward to another fantastic year of learning and sharing together. Be well and take care.

With gratitude and hope,

Carol Garcia

Your Tutor Support Specialist

Tutor Engagement

Post-Testing: Remember that your student should be post-tested after every 30-35 hours of tutoring time. Contact Carol Garcia to schedule a virtual or in-person session. Both tutor and student can be included in the assessment process virtually if desired.

Do YOU have a question, idea, or opportunity to share? Email Carol, and your contribution may be featured in an upcoming issue!

Resources for you & your student

English Conversation Groups

ESL Conversation Groups offer an informal and friendly environment for adults at an intermediate or above level to practice their English listening and speaking skills.

Literacy DuPage is currently offering SIX virtual (ZOOM) ESL Conversation groups hosted by the following libraries:

Addison Public Library (Mondays 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM) https://addisonlibrary.libcal.com/calendar/events?cid=1391&t=d&d=2020-12-07&cal=1391&inc=0
Indian Prairie Public Library (Wednesdays 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm) https://ippl.info/calendar-events/online-programs
Itasca Community Library (Wednesdays 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm) https://www.itascalibrary.org/libcal_adult/;
West Chicago Public Library (Thursdays 10:00 am – 11:00 am) http://westchicago.evanced.info/signup/Calendar
NEW! Wheaton Public Library (Saturdays 10:00 am - 11:00 am) https://www.wheatonlibrary.org/events/all?field_age_group_tid%5B%5D=42
Woodridge Public Library (Tuesdays 10:00 am - 11:00 am) https://www.woodridgelibrary.org/virtual-esl-conversation-group-8

Easily access old Keeping in Touch Newsletters!

We archive every newsletter, including Tutor Newsletters (beginning with the July 2018 edition), The Spark, and now, Keeping In Touch, to the Literacy DuPage website? The archived newsletters contain all the links and activity sheets that are found in the newsletter.

You can find this archive by going to the Literacy DuPage website, under the drop-down ABOUT, click on Newsletter Archive, or you can find them

at https://literacydupage.org/about/archive/ .

Community Resources

From Access DuPage/DuPage Health Coalition

With COVID transmission spiking in DuPage County, we are reaching out with a special request for help. As you may know, the DuPage Health Coalition launched a flu vaccine program in September with generous funding from DuPage County. This program has connected thousands of local uninsured residents with free flu vaccinations. This is a critical effort both because it offers the promise of keeping the community healthy AND because it offers additional protection to a healthcare system struggling under the weight of the pandemic.

Still, we know that thousands more DuPage County residents haven't yet received a flu vaccine. We need your help connecting with those families. CARES Act funds supporting this effort expire on December 31st. Therefore, time is of the essence.

Here is our request: The families with whom you work know your organization to be a trusted resource. We are asking today that you share information with them on the vaccine's availability. Flyers are available in English and Spanish and the following languages: Albanian, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Polish, Russian, Tagalog, and Urdu.

ALL UNINSURED DUPAGE COUNTY RESIDENTS QUALIFY.

visit https://accessdupage.org/flu/ to request a voucher that can be redeemed at a local Walgreens.

WeGo Together for Kids is partnering with United Way of Metro Chicago to host a holiday meal event where 500 families will receive a holiday meal, PPE, and gifts for their children. The event will operate on a first come, first serve basis.

EVENT DETAILS:

Wed. December 16, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Other Resources

Activity Links, Online Links, and Lesson Plans

Below are individual activity links, online links, and lesson plans, about Christmas and Hanukkah. You may be able to use one or more with your student.

Activity Links

Conversation

Grammar

Reading - Christmas

Reading - Hanukkah

Reading

Puzzles - Christmas

Puzzles - Hanukkah

Vocabulary

Writing

Online Links

High beginning and above: Listening

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1312/131220-happy-holidays-0.html

Intermediate and above: Listening

Reading: All Levels

Videos:

Lesson Plans:

The below lesson plan integrates all four skills.

High Beginning and above: To access click here

We're with you all the way

Need help? Reach out to us today:

For help with curriculum, materials, and other tutor support, contact:

Carol Garcia

630.384.9678

cgarcia@literacydupage.org

To ask about learner matches or issues communicating with a learner, contact:

Laura Wickramasinghe

630.942.521

lwickramasinghe@literacydupage.org

Diana Mendoza

331.472.7160

dmendoza@literacydupage.org

For all other questions or concerns,

call 630.942.5210 or email info@literacydupage.org.