December | VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER | 2025

International Migrants Day, celebrated today, is a moment to honor the resilience and contributions of our students, many of whom are migrants building new lives and strengthening our community. At Literacy Source, this reflects our mission and values in action: when migrants have access to education and opportunity, their stories become shared stories of connection, equity, and growth.

As we come to the close of the year, the entire team at Literacy Source want to extend a heartfelt thank you. Your time, care, and commitment as volunteers make an extraordinary difference for our learners and for our community as a whole. This quarter, instructors have begun sharing student projects that reflect thoughtful teaching and strong curriculum design, along with the steady encouragement and support provided by volunteers like you. Most importantly, these projects highlight the determination and resilience of our students as they balance learning with work, family, and many other challenges and responsibilities.

As a sneak peek, we are already seeing meaningful examples of learning in action this quarter. Ready to Work students practiced job interviews, ESOL 1 learners focused on communicating about daily life, ESOL 2–3 students presented on what it means to be a successful student, and ESOL 4/5 students wrote and presented compare-and-contrast essays after weeks of discussion practice. In Academic English, students also shared presentations about the community service projects they completed, which we will highlight more fully in our January e-newsletter.

Winter quarter registration has been bustling with both new and returning students this week. We are excited to launch new offerings, including Workplace English for Port Jobs through our partnership with the Port of Seattle and a new in-person ESOL 3 class to meet growing demand. Thank you again for being such an essential part of this learning community. We are deeply grateful for all you do, and we look forward to learning together in the year ahead.

In community,

Liz Wurster

Communications Coordinator

December is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Awareness Month, an important reminder that winter can affect mental health in real and significant ways. While many people notice a seasonal dip in mood or energy, SAD is a recognized form of depression that affects about 5 percent of the U.S. population. Awareness remains limited, with many people dismissing symptoms as “just the winter blues,” even though reduced daylight can meaningfully impact motivation, sleep, concentration, and emotional well-being. Naming this reality helps us better understand ourselves, our colleagues, and our students, and reminds us that these changes are human responses, not personal shortcomings.

In the Pacific Northwest, SAD can be especially pronounced. Long stretches of cloud cover and shorter daylight hours (often referred to as "The Big Dark"), disrupt circadian rhythms and contribute to fatigue, low mood, irritability, social withdrawal, and difficulty concentrating. The encouraging news is that support is effective. Light therapy, regular movement (especially outdoors), consistent routines, therapy, and, when appropriate, medication can all help. Awareness is often the first step toward seeking support rather than simply pushing through a challenging season alone.

Alongside clinical tools, many people find comfort in hygge, a Danish concept centered on coziness, presence, and connection during dark winter months. Hygge emphasizes simple, grounding practices like warm lighting, cozy clothing, hot drinks, shared meals, meaningful conversation, and slowing down enough to notice small joys. Practiced alone or with others, it offers a gentle reminder that care, warmth, and connection are not indulgences but essential forms of well-being, especially in winter.

Office Closure Hours:

Our offices will be closed from December 22 through January 2, and winter term classes begin on Monday, January 12. From January 5 through Jan 9, there are no classes but Literacy Source will be open for tutoring and appointments. Winter term begins on January 12.

Snow Policy:

It's that time of year again! Literacy Source follows Seattle Public Schools. If Seattle Public Schools are closed, the Literacy Source Office is closed. All classes move to Zoom. If Seattle Public Schools are delayed 2 hours, the Literacy Source Office opens at 10:30am. Here is a link to the slide with our snow policy.

Discussion Routines: The Question Jar

For those who are not digital natives, or not native English speakers, practicing talking about computers is a big part of learning them. In discussion routines you can both check comprehension and teach a skill that helps students troubleshoot when they inevitably need to.



Often with computers we go straight into signing-in. We focus on each task completed via the computer. Progress in digital literacy is stalled however not just by someone's ability to use a computer, but their ability to communicate about their computer use. For those who are not digital natives, or not native English speakers, practicing talking about computers is a big part of learning them.This is because there is not just a stigma around using computers but talking about them as well.

Darlene Lytle, Basic Computer Skills Instructional Advisor

You can read the full teaching tip here.

Zoom for Online Instruction  

Thursday, January 8 at either 10 - 11:30 am OR 6 - 7:30 pm.  

Note: This training is not to teach you how to use Zoom! It reviews Zoom skills that students need in their classes and provides strategies and practice time to help you learn how to teach and troubleshoot these skills with students. We offer this training at the beginning of every term so attending is optional for returning volunteers. 

Please join this Google Classroom to sign up, find the Zoom link, and complete the pre-activity. 

Thanks to all who were able to participate in our recent Literary Mixer! Here are some recommendations from our staff and volunteers.

A Walk in the Park

The Book of the Little Axe

Decade of Betrayal: Mexican Repatriation in the 1930's

Ender's Game

Mindfulness in Plain English

Memorial Days

In addition to those pictured above, here are more for your winter reading pleasure:

Collected Fictions – Jorge Luis Borges

The Women – Kristin Hannah

John Glenn: A Memoir – John Glenn

West with Giraffes – Lynda Rutledge

Best American Science and Nature Writing 2025 – Susan Orlean, Jaime Green

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy – J.R.R. Tolkien

Garden d’Lights

November 29-December 31, 4:30pm-9pm nightly, (Bellevue Botanical Garden, $10)

Garden d’Lights is a dazzling holiday tradition that transforms the Bellevue Botanical Garden into a magical wonderland of over half a million sparkling lights in whimsical shapes of plants, flowers, birds, animals, and cascading waterfalls, all set amid the Garden’s natural beauty. Now celebrating its 31st year, this beloved family event continues to enchant visitors with festive charm and imaginative displays.

Soweto Gospel Choir "Peace"

December 18, 7:30pm, (The Moore Theatre. $48-$120)

With their concert entitled “PEACE,” the multi-Grammy® and Emmy Award®-winning SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR return to North America to perform a joyful program of South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals and some classics. The inspirational concert will also feature the spirited music of Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Leonard Cohen and more! Formed in 2002, the Choir was created to celebrate the unique power of African gospel music and quickly established itself as a group that is “undeniably synchronized, appears unshakable, and simultaneously expresses universality and individuality” (San Francisco Classical Voice). Heralded by Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Barack Obama, and Oprah Winfrey, SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR excites audiences worldwide, uplifting the soul and spreading joy through its earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, brilliant costumes, and infectious spirit. It’s perfect for the entire family!

Columbia City Holiday Night Market

December 20, 6pm-10pm, (The Strip, 4825 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118, FREE)

The Columbia City Holiday Night Market is Seattle’s destination of choice—a vibrant reactivation of South-end nightlife and a must-experience celebration of culture, community, and creativity. With 50+ local vendors, mouthwatering food trucks, a lively 21+ beer garden, and live music fueling the energy all night long, the market blends entertainment and shopping into one electric experience. Wander through glowing market lanes, discover unforgettable gifts, taste flavors from around the world, and vibe with the Southend crowd that makes this space feel alive. Bring your people and your curiosity—this is the place to be.

Our next New Volunteer Orientation (via Zoom) will be on January 7 at either 1pm or 7pm. 

Potential volunteers are invited to register online here. 

Miss any of our past volunteer newsletters? You can access archived newsletters at the bottom of the Volunteer Page of our webpage.