Posts Tagged ‘reading’

Literacy Council Corporate Partners share “An Hour with Author Wayne Caldwell”

Author Wayne Caldwell keynoted an event for the Literacy Council's Corporate Partners Monday, Jan. 23, 2017

Locally acclaimed author Wayne Caldwell keynoted an event for the Literacy Council’s Corporate Partners Monday, Jan. 23 aimed to both inspire new strategies for working together and provide a special experience for current partners. 

Wayne Caldwell’s Teachers Inspired His Craft

Caldwell spoke about the early influences that provided him the impetus to not only learn to read, but to read great works of literature. These influences included his adoptive mother and many teachers in the Enka community. A high school teacher even encouraged him to “write the Great American novel.” Caldwell knows that she would be proud, as his novel, Cataloochee, is a 2013 James Still Award winner and a Southern Independent Bestseller Award winner. Caldwell attributed his success to the encouragement he received throughout his childhood.

The Literacy Council Can Support Local Businesses

Robert Foster, of Biltmore Farms Hotels, presented about how his company has partnered with the Literacy Council for the past two years. During this time, the Literacy Council has provided English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes at the DoubleTree Biltmore hotel for housekeeping employees. Robert shared stories of employees who had previously declined offers to move into higher positions because they were not confident enough in their English language skills. After spending time in ESOL classes, Robert now found the same employees approaching him more confidently and asking for new positions, in English! He found a way to encourage these employees to take the classes by lightening their workload the day they have class and providing lunch during class. Robert says he has seen such a benefit to his business that he plans to expand the program to other Biltmore Farms Hotels.

How Your Business Can Partner with the Literacy Council

A partnership between a corporation and the Literacy Council can be a critical step toward improving basic literacy and English language skills for employees or other contacts, which in turn improves employee retention, productivity, and promotability. Ultimately, adults with increased literacy and English language skills positively impact our local workforce, economy, and community.

To learn more about starting an on-site class or referring an employee in need of assistance, contact Ashley@litcouncil.com.

To learn more about how to support with the Literacy Council through your business, click here.

Special thanks to Malaprop’s Bookstore, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Lenior Rhine University, Sierra Nevada, and Biltmore Wines for contributing to the event.

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Early Literacy Workshop: July 29, 2016

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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library families participated in an Early Literacy Workshop at Pack Library on Friday, July 29.

Workshop Focus

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Workshops focus on a different pre-school age each session. Friday’s workshop, the fourth in the series, was geared toward developing early literacy skills for children aged 3-5 years old. Children and their families learned about the importance of the Five Ws and One H: “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” “how.”

“[My son] had a great time – he loved making the story, getting to sing the songs, playing the musical instrument … and the pepperoni pizza!!”

Literacy Activities

Children practiced using these important building-block words in the following ways: 

  • Learning how to say the words in sign language
  • Playing instruments and singing a song about the Five Ws and One H
  • Composing stories as a group using the Five Ws and One H
  • Creating a story individually using the Five Ws and One H

The workshop included a free lunch and ended with literacy game stations, such as alphabet bean bag toss, color puzzles, and building blocks.

“Thanks for hosting us!  We’ve been practicing our sign language at home.”

Workshop Gallery

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Learn More

Email volunteers@litcouncil.com to learn about how you can get involved with the Literacy Council’s Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program. 

 

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Success Story – Gina and Day Ann

successes-2014-octoberCongratulations to Gina Poore, one of our very dedicated Adult Education students. Gina has been a Literacy Council student since 2007 and she has recently completed all twelve books in the Wilson series. This is a rare accomplishment indeed!

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Success Story – Elena Zinchenko

Elena Zinchenko – Star ESOL Student

Elena Zinchenko is our star ESOL student this year! A 35-year-old woman from southern Russia, she came to us in 2008 as a Low Beginner. In six years she has attended 450 hours of instruction through the Literacy Council – with individual tutors and in small groups- while also attending ESL classes at AB Tech.

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