Each year, the Corporation for National & Community Service spearheads the effort to encourage Americans to volunteer in their communities during national days of service. The September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance is a time where we can pay tribute to 9/11 victims, survivors, emergency responders, and others who were impacted by the attack.
The Literacy Council of Buncombe County will be observing this national day of service during the week of September 12th – September 16th by encouraging tutors and their students to incorporate reading passages and learning exercises relevant to the following themes:
- People coming together to rebuild community
- Being aware of difference and understanding diversity (for example: discrimination and stereotypes)
- Being linked to a global community
- Immigrant experiences
- Random acts of kindness and goodwill
- Responding to emergencies
Supplemental texts have been provided to our ESOL tutors to use in tutoring sessions this week, based on skill level. For curriculum resources that the Literacy Council of Buncombe County has available, see below:
Calling 911 (Beginner)
The lesson on “Calling 911” in the Health Stories text by Ann Gianola is perfect for teaching beginning learners important vocabulary related to emergency situations. Activities with this lesson might include having a dialogue with a 911 operator, identifying different medical emergencies, providing contact information to a first responder, or learning how to communicate needs.
A Country of Immigrants (Intermediate)
The chapter on “A Country of Immigrants” in the Contact USA text by Paul Abraham and Daphne Mackey will allow intermediate learners to explore the experience of immigrants while practicing reading comprehension. Activities with this lesson might include a dialogue about where immigrants come from, what cultural differences exist, and how communities respond to newcomers.
Fitting In (Advanced)
The lesson on “Fitting In” in the New land, New Language text by Maxine Berger and Martha Siegel provides advanced learners with an opportunity to learn about discrimination and stereotyping while practicing writing skills. Activities with this lesson might include using adjectives to describe people, using adjectives to compare people, and writing about individual experiences with discrimination.
The supplemental texts that were selected for tutors to use during the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance will help tutors and students have meaningful conversations around the lasting impact of this tragedy.