Bob Burger      - Chair
              Robbin Henson   - Library/Bookstore
              Ellie Scholz    - Secretary
              Fram Nichols    - Placement
              Robbin Henson   - Records
              Liz Koester     - RCC/CASAS Coordinator
              Bob Burger      - Treasurer

TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE
Notes from the Chair Literacy Report Calendar Tutor's Corner	Sudoku Challenge Help Wanted Helpful Websites Abbreviations Dictionary

Dear Volunteers and Friends,

   Here we are in 2008!  Already, my Microsoft Office 2007 is obsolete!  And I still don't have a car built in this century!  But enough about me.  We need to make the most of this year to advance the cause of Literacy.

   Applications are coming in from people who are taking that first step toward fulfilling their potiential - learning to read in English.  We need to encourage more people to join our ranks as Volunteer Tutors to help those new applicants before they stray from a path which could lead to a brighter future.  Please ask your friends or family members if they would consider signing up with the Literacy Council.

   Last year had a few success stories.  A couple of our students passed their U.S. Citizenship exams and another passed the GED exam.  I congratulate them on their accomplishments.

   I wish to say thank you to Robbin Henson for donating over a year of service to the Literacy Council as our Records person.  She just wanted to get a few months of volunteer service under her belt, but time did fly.  Robbin managed to keep this newsletter going when our Editor resigned and also assisted in our library.  As a Board Member, she served with professionalism and good humor.  Alas, her college studies, demanding job, and family obligations stole her away.  Good luck, Robbin.

   And a Happy New Year to all of our volunteers and friends.

Bob Burger, Chair

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Literacy is an under-recognized problem in health care delivery in the U.S.  As many as one in five Americans are functionally illiterate, and an additional 27% have marginal literacy skills.  Health literacy is a term that signifies the skills individuals need to understand and carry out medical instructions and preventive care advice.  Individuals with low health literacy have difficulty reading and understanding routine

health information such as dosage instructions on medication bottles, appointment slips, pre-procedure instructions, and consent forms.*

   Our volunteer tutors should keep this in mind when working with their students.  Reading serves to entertain, educate, and - in some cases - save lives.

* Center for Health Research - March 1, 2006

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Do I have any secrets for teaching foreign students how to function in a strange land and master the English language?

   I first concentrate on getting to know who they really are and what they want to learn.  Sometimes this involves very practical tips, like filling out forms, communicating with government institutions, and applying for various programs.

   They like to watch TV and go to movies and will write down for me words they did not understand (spelled often in an interesting manner).  My students enjoy simple games.  It makes it seem less like school and more fun.  Conversation for all of them is a main focus, so I make sure they do lots of talking, like telling me what they have been doing since we last met.

   I try to learn some words in their language and they are delighted to instruct me.  When this happens we laugh a lot at my pronunciation.

   I am so proud of the progress of my students.  Three have attained citizenship, one has opened her own business and one family recently bought their first home.

   With their real families in faraway lands I am often the "adopted family" who applauds their accomplishments.  What a privilege that is!

Walda Reeder
Volunteer tutor

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For those of you who are new to this form of crossword puzzle, the object is to use all the game letters to fill every row and column, and also each 9-square section.  If one of the rows or columns is the word that completes the sentence, then you know you've solved the puzzle correctly.  Just the same, I'll provide the solution in the next issue. Solution to last quarter's issue. The alphabet is used to symbolize parts of speech.

Try to solve this puzzle using these letters:

F R A Y P O I N T

Find the word that fills in the blank:

The illiterate often use _____________ in their speech.

If you would like to create and submit a puzzle for
TUTORS, just send it to the editor by mail or e-mail.

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