Welcome to the Information Age
■ Effective way of introducing library resources and how to seek information in various forms.
■ Offers a complete lesson plan that you can modify to suit you and your learner.
■ Units: What all libraries have, tips for using the Internet, etc.
■ Provides a wealth of articles for tutors such as tips, suggestions, and sample activities.
■ It has an approachable booklist for beginning adult learners!
■ Has resources specifically for adult literacy.
■ Provides easy-to-read news articles.
■ A great way to incorporate current events and literacy. Has articles for every interest.
■ Has sample lesson plans you can use their news articles with.
■ Provides sample lesson plans, tracking sheets, inspirational stories, and resources specifically for tutoring dyslexia.
■ Has curriculum and printable PDF files for your use.
■ Provides activities of interest to individuals living in California and/or interested in history.
■ Has even more valuable links!
■ Information literacy resource that goes step by step.
■ Resources for tutors whose learners want to pursue a GED.
■ Has online practice materials, workplace readiness, and a forum.
■ A great topic to incorporate in a lesson plan.
■ Presents a better understanding of media and modern advertising.
■ Literally, “media literacy”
■ Free reading materials online funded by Project Gutenberg.
■ Resources for tutors: New Google Earth 5.0, Picasa, SketchUp.
■ Provides excellent activities to introduce learners to online resources.
■ Shows you how to incorporate Google’s programs into lessons.
■ Interactive learning.
Regional Educational Laboratory
■ Web-based tutor training.
■ Provides innovative materials workshops and support to community-based literacy providers, business and industry.
■ Please contact Literacy Services for the username and password to access restricted sections.
■ Features four different classifications of material which could be considered relevant to literacy tutors: “Teacher Resources,” “Thinkfinity Literacy Network,” and “Parent Resources.”
■ In addition, the “Content and Web Projects” sub-section beneath the “Rollout Network” classifier features numerous additional resources for tutors working with students of any age in any subject matter. “Teacher Resources”: Features a database of resources primarily geared towards helping educators develop lesson plans. However, the majority of these lessons are likely not implemented in today’s formal classroom setting due to the strictness of California state standards.
■ There are numerous creative and challenging lessons that can pique any learner’s interest in any facet of the language arts. Check the ReadWriteThink sub-section of “Teacher Resources” to find these lessons.
■ “Thinkfinity Literacy Network”: Features material specific to adult and community literacy. Under the “Teach” sub-section, lesson plan ideas are provided for learners of all ages, as well as Spanish resources for ESL learners. “Parent Resources”: Actually links to the same page of links as the “Teacher Resources” “Featured Resources” page.
■ Additionally, the site also features a series of free training courses designed to assist new tutors in finding ways to reach out to their students at the following link: http://literacynetwork.verizon.org/Free-Online-Courses.21.0.html
■ This website is primarily geared towards program coordinators, but does feature several pages of statistics relevant to learners, which could perhaps be used by tutors to impress upon their students the vital importance of becoming literate.
■ LiteracyWorks is an organization which incorporates multimedia technology into its mission to increase literacy at a nationwide level.
■ They are responsible for developing websites for literacy projects across America, which can be found under the “LiteracyWorks Projects” tab. Links to these projects can also be found in the “Literacy Links and Resources” tab.
National Institute For Literacy
■ “America’s Literacy Directory”
■ Mainly a search engine for learners and/or tutors to find literacy programs. Unfortunately, the site does not feature any local programs. NOTE: Could be advantageous to submit information about the Monrovia Public Library’s literacy program to the site.
Southern California Library Literacy Network
■ Networking and training information for literacy programs and tutors.
■ The AmeriCorps website features a search engine for tutors seeking any additional opportunities for community service.
■ The website provides detailed information regarding all of their programs, as well as a rather lengthy path to the following link, which contains a collection of articles regarding effective practices both for recruitment and for actual tutoring (http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/epicenter/practices/index.php?ep_action=search&search=literacy)
■ A database and search engine for any tutors who are interested in seeking other opportunities. Can also be used as a tool for recruitment.
League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
■ “Easy Voter Guide”
■ A detailed electronic guide that can simplify the American electoral process, and help learners become proactive citizens.
■ The menus are slightly disorganized, but beneath the side menu, there is a tab labeled “Teaching Resources” that features multimedia tools, including a video, designed to promote information and interest in voting. On the menu running horizontally across the top of the page, there is a tab labeled “Education Tools” that links to the same page of resources, but also to links that contain more detailed information about the electoral process.
■ The “Helpful Links” tab provides links to pages that can be used to further inform any learner or tutor about the issues facing our society, and the various politicians and their proposals regarding those issues.
■ A well-organized site that is also linked to the “Verizon Thinkfinity” site, but stands on its own in terms of outstanding educational resources.
■ Its resources are organized by the level of the learner, classified as “Learning Language,” “Learning About Language,” and “Learning Through Language.”
■ For a tutor with a more cerebral grasp of linguistic processes, or a background in education, this site would be ideal.
■ The “Lessons” tab also links to an alphabetized list of lesson plans and activities, again, for learners of all levels.
■ California Library Literacy Services
■ The official homepage for the California Library Literacy Services, a fundamental component of the program guidelines that tutors work under.
■ The site features a description of each of the four programs (ALS, ELLI, FFL, MLLS) and web resources that have been developed/researched specifically for each of these.
Western/Pacific Literacy Network
■ “Teaching From a Hispanic Perspective”
■ Written and researched by two scholars, this e-text is a highly useful and informative, if lengthy, resource for any tutor working with learners from a ‘Hispanic’ background.
■ The e-text is broken down into chapters that are labeled according to their content. These can be easily browsed by either the tutor or learner.
■ Build Literacy Home
■ This website provides a useful resource for tutors in that it can help tutors tailor their approach to learners to the specific library which they are working out of.
■ Within the site are pages categorized according to their utility to either tutors or program coordinators.
■ The “Literacy Resources” page features links to pages to provide information about the history of the ALA’s advocacy in regards to literacy, as well as tutoring and learner resources.
Center for Applied Linguistics
■ Is a group dedicated to researching, cataloguing, and applying strategies to reach language learners.
■ The website features a vast database of materials specific to almost any imaginable learners needs, from ESL to special needs students. Their research and resources pages are as comprehensive as their list of literacy projects in which they are involved.
Literacy Network of Greater Los Angeles
■ This organization serves a wide swath of area in Los Angeles County. Their site contains a search feature for the various programs in LA County that serve particular needs for learners, as well as testimonials from tutors and learners.
■ The site itself does not feature any resources, but has a page of links to the program that the network is associated with. They also allow these organizations to recruit on their page.
■ Live Mocha is an interactive social networking website whose emphasis is to connect those learning new languages with others at a similar level to facilitate learning in a language-immersion environment in a more natural way.
■ They offer free online lessons for various languages, including English and allow you to connect with foreign language partners around the world that you can relate to.
■ This website offers free typing practice for those interested in raising their Words Per Minute (WPM).
■ Learners unfamiliar or uncomfortable with computers may be apprehensive about using a mouse correctly and efficiently.
■ This website offers some practice and games so you fear the mouse no longer!
■ This website offers easy-to-follow computer tutorials for beginners and advanced learners alike!
■ Learn basic computer navigation, how to use a word processor, Excel, PowerPoint, and so on.
■ This site offers free handouts, exercises, and terminology to be successful in English grammar.
■ Provides a lot of information on how to improve grammar and writing.
■ Has many quizzes for reinforcement of material.
■ Has 200 free resources for writing and teaching writing, research, grammar and mechanics, style guides, ESL (English as a Second Language), job searching and professional writing.
■ A free aid to help you learn or teach English as a second language.
■ Provides lessons and plans, has interactive forums, games, quizzes, chat, and help.
■ You can make pen pals!
■ Part of the English Club website.
■ It provides useful videos you can use directly with your learner, or use as a way to strengthen tutoring techniques.
Discovery Education’s Puzzlemaker
■ Create puzzles for your learner as a fun way to learn vocabulary.
■ Shows you how to do research step-by-step in an easy to read format.
■ An incredible website to learn how to save money, manage and acquire a bank account, use credit cards, learn about income tax and so much more.
Make sure you add these websites to your bookmarks folder and/or del.icio.us for your quick reference. This list is bound to expand and grow, so if you find any other useful websites, please let us know so others can use them as well.
