Short-Term Goals

I had an excellent question today from a tutor about setting short-term goals, so I thought (of course) that I'd blog about it. Long-term goals are important, obviously, but it's hard to stay motivated if you're reading at a second-grade level and you want to get a GED--it's going to be awhile. You need to make sure that you and your student are setting small, achievable goals so progress can be seen--this gives more opportunities for celebration!

A few goal setting tips:

1. Define your goal and write it dow. Be precise--make it measurable with dates, times, and amounts (e.g. learn 5 new vocabulary words before my tutoring session next Tuesday--know the definition, spelling, and one possible use of the word in context).

2. Set priorities--dont set so many goals that it is overwhelming.

3. Set goals your student has control over. Base the goal on personal performance, skills, or knowledge to be acquired. Gain information about your student before setting a goal--know what she or he is capable of doing. A goal can be as basic as learning the letter sounds. (Examples: learn the alphabet, learn 10 new vocabulary words, read 15 minutes/day, watch close-captioned TV).

4. Set goals for yourself as well. For example, if your student has a learning disability, set a goal to learn more about it. If your student is from another country, set a goal to learn a few traditions from that country.

When you achieve your goal, celebrate! Play games for an entire tutoring session. Go out for ice cream. Submit student achievements to be posted in the Project Read newsletter. Some of these things may be things you are already doing--so frame it as a goal and then celebrate!!!

Happy goal setting.

Getting Students to Write by Judi Fenton I’ve always hated writing on demand. When I go to workshops and professional development sessions, I get frustrated when we are expected to reflect in writing about the topic at hand. I stare at the blank page and cannot connect my thoughts, my teaching practice, and my life with what is supposed to be on it. I glance at all the prolific writers around me filling up their pages and I feel completely inadequate. I write best at odd times, usually when I don’t have a pen in my hand—in the shower, in the car, vacuuming. That’s when I get my ideas. I run downstairs from the shower to my computer and my mind goes blank again. I’ve debated getting a voice-activated tape recorder, but I’m not sure that it would help me. Sometimes, there’s something about having the tools to write with that gives me writer’s block. It leads me to wonder about how, in our classrooms, we expect our students to write on our prescribed literacy block schedule, in their assigned spots. I wonder if, through this structure, we are not serving their learning needs well. I try to think about what kinds of writing opportunities would help me in a learning situation. Here are a few ideas that may helpl your reluctant writers. Keeping a writer’s notebook Enabling students to keep a writer’s notebook shows deep respect for our students. It tells them that we trust them to write when they are moved to write, that when they see something in the world that interests them they will want to record it for safe-keeping, perhaps to use later. Journaling My friend tells me that we need to exercise our writing muscles by writing 10 minutes a day. She believes that we get better at writing by writing, yet we don’t want to burn ourselves out. By writing for only 10 minutes a day, I usually leave myself wanting to write more, instead of exhausting myself. If there is one more sentence or idea that you have (and won’t lose) save that to help you get started next time. Definitely a great trick! Responding to text I love to write based on quotes from some of my favorite books (usually books about how to create learning communities in schools!) Students may have favorite books, fiction or non-fiction. Have them write about whether they agree or disagree with an author, how a text is meaningful (or not) to them in their daily lives, or what a piece of text makes them think of. Make it purposeful by encouraging them to actually send their responses to the author. Comfortable writing spots Who really sits at a desk to write anymore? Let students write all over the room, wherever they are comfortable. If they need to write at a computer, try to make one available for them. If they want to lounge on the rug, let them. If they need to talk about their writing, allow them to. If they need absolute quiet, let them use earplugs, if they can’t use a nearby empty classroom. Work with another teacher during independent writing time so you can have one silent classroom and one noisy one. Help students brainstorm writing ideas Be available for your students to confer during writing time, as well as other times throughout the day. When they say something interesting, let them know that it would be a fabulous writing topic. When they have a problem, encourage them to write it out to determine what next steps to take. Help them notice the writing ideas and stories around them. Be their mirror (or magnifying glass) when you notice something that they seem interested in and give them some resources to follow up on their interests and ideas. Being flexible and excited about when and how our students write may be the most productive gift we can give them.

Holiday Writing Mini-Contest!

We're excited that so many of you are excited about our Holiday Writing Contest! We invite you to answer this question to help with the brainstorming process:

"My favorite Holiday tradition is ..."

Just make a comment below and we'll award a prize to the most thoughtful, funny, or original response. Check back next week to see who will win free bowling at Fat Cats - one of our amazing sponsors!

Remember that submissions for the holiday booklet are due next Thursday, November 20th! Here are some more prompts if you are trying to come up with a topic:

• What I Like the Most About The Holidays
  
• My Favorite Holiday Memory
  
• The Best Holiday I Could Ever Imagine
• "The Girl Who Didn’t Know Christmas"
• The Gift that Changed the World
• What Christmas Means to Me
• My favorite Holiday treat
  
• Why It’s Important to Celebrate
  
• How I Can Help Others This Holiday Season
• A Poem about Snowflakes
• Why We Should/Should Not Do Away With Santa Claus?
• Are Holidays too commercialized?
• What Is the Christmas Spirit?
• The History of Christmas Traditions in America
• Christmas in… (choose a country)

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.