November Newsletter Items

Kissing Record

Which country set the record for the most people kissing in one place at one time? Mexico! Mexicans broke the record when 40,000 couples kissed in Mexico City on Valentine’s Day this year.

In addition to the kissing record, this year Mexicans also set a record for the world’s largest cheesecake (55 cooks baked a 2-ton cake!) and for the world’s largest mariachi band (549 musicians). Mexico sure is setting the bar high!

Tips on Writing Letters to Legislators

Http://www.sfnapnap.org/id29.html and http://www.indiananurses.org/pdf_files/writing%20your%20legislators.pdf are two really good websites which contain tips on how to effectively write to legislators. They also have sample letters you can take a look at. Here are just a couple of suggestions they offer:

• Keep your letter short

• Tell the legislator who you are and make sure they know you are a constituent who lives in their district

• Include rational for your point of view (including facts and statistics if you have them)

• Personal anecdotes and concrete example are powerful

• Always include your name and address in the letter

• Do not send a form letter; handwritten letter are nice if they are legible

• Direct letter to legislators in key decision-making positions

• Time your letter to coincide with key events in the legislative process (such as the legislative session coming up this January)

• Avoid emotionalism or righteous clichés (i.e. “as a citizen and a taxpayer”)

• Be courteous and positively recognize legislators’ past efforts

Your student says: "I don't like to write". Well, have them write anyway.

Writing is important! If your student balks at writing, or doesn't want to write about an assigned topic, have them pick something they want to know or write about. Or, give them a prompt: "I don't like to write because", or, "Today I got up and ...." or, I want to learn how to...".

Submit Holiday Memories Stories!

Mail it, email it, fax it, drop it by the office, or even just slip it under the door. One way or the other, make sure the Project Read office gets your student's submission for the Holiday Memories booklet!

One of the most satisfying experiences for learners is to see their work in print and to share it with others. Now, your students have the chance to do just that! Have your student write about a favorite holiday memory and submit it to the Project Read office by November 13th to have it compiled in a booklet and shared with other tutors and students at our Holiday Party (December 4th).

Ideally, students should be spending close to 40% of their tutoring sessions writing or doing writing activities. Creating a story about their own holiday memories is an exceedingly enjoyable way for students to spend this time and practice their writing skills. They get to revel in their memories, share a little something about themselves, feel connected to other students as they participate in a program-wide activity, and catch a small glimpse of what they are capable of. They also get the chance to see how far they've progressed since coming to Project Read, which is often a difficult thing for them to see as their learning usually occurs so gradually.

For a taste of what some of our students are capable of, here is a story written by one of our students for our summer writing contest:

Memories of the Sea

Looking at the sea waves from this old and beautiful porch on the highest of these hills facing the ocean. I can see in each wave’s movement how the years start going back in time and all of a sudden, I imagine myself running on the beach with my bare feet, playing on the shore, happy, full of love, and having a lot of dreams.

Memorable fishing days, trips to the beach, beautiful sunsets, playful afternoons, incredible parties, and everlasting friendships come back to my mind, these are experiences that fill my soul with happiness. Fond memories and experiences that are forever engraved and are evoked every time I lay my eyes in the beautiful sand or waves of the sea.

Special Thanks: Lexis Nexis

We’d like to extend an enormous thanks to our Spelling Bee Silver Level Sponsor: LexisNexis. The LexisNexis Commitment to “demonstrate responsible leadership and a commitment to the well-being of societies” was demonstrated through a $500 donation fundraised internally by LexisNexis employees. That donation was then matched by the corporate office, resulting in $1000 awarded by LexisNexis.

We enjoyed watching three LexisNexis teams compete at our 3rd Annual Spelling Bee and truly appreciate the donation. Sponsors like LexisNexis are helping us reach more of the 21,000 illiterate adults across Utah County who could benefit from our program.

Project Read continues to be committed in providing affordable literacy tutoring services for the adults of Utah County. With costs that far exceed the $10 subsidized program fee, Project Read relies on generous donations throughout the community.