The Volunteer View- November 2015

The Volunteer View

November 2015 - Volume 3, Issue 7

In This Issue

Upcoming Dates

A Note from Kate

New Tutor Training Dates

Tutor In-Service

Represent to Launch

Books, Brains, Boulevard

Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteer Opportunties

Children's Books Needed

Holiday Closings

Upcoming Dates

(See the Volunteer Calendar for more information and to sign up)

11/20 11 AM-3 PM - Thank Goodness It's Computer Friday (TGICF), LKC

11/24 5-6 PM - Computer Happy Hour (CHH), LKC

11/26 - LKC Closed

11/27- LKC Closed

12/1 5-6 PM - CHH, LKC

12/2 3-4 PM - Last Wednesday CHH, LKC

12/4 11 AM-1 PM - TGICF, LKC

12/6 - Last Day of Ticket to Read classes

12/7 6-7 PM - Volunteer Orientation, LKC

12/8 5-7 PM - CHH/Open Lab, LKC

12/9 3:30-5:00 PM - Student Celebration, LKC

12/11 11 AM-1 PM - TGICF, LKC

12/15 11:30 AM-12:30 PM - Volunteer Orientation, LKC

12/15 5-7 PM - CHH/Open Lab, LKC

12/19 - Last Day of Math Tutoring

1/11 - Books, Brains and Boulevard, Boulevard Brewery

Make sure and check the new Literacy KC blog!

Literacy Kansas City
211 W. Armour Blvd.
Kansas City, Missouri 64111
[email protected]
(816) 333-9332

A Note from Kate:

What am I thankful for this month at Literacy KC? YOU! This past month has been marked by our outstanding volunteers showing up time and again and investing in our students. Recently, I sat in the audience at Writers for Readers, an event LKC hosted at Central Library, and was amazed by our students as they shared a spoken word piece that they had written. The piece was creative, articulate and inspiring and, for me, the highlight of the evening. What an amazing thing we get to do: partner in the education of our students and share what we already know, how truly talented they are. Without the hard work of you, our volunteers, Literacy KC could not do what we do! My door (or inbox) is always open, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. You can reach me at [email protected] or 816-333-9332 x. 107.

New Tutor Training Workshop Dates

New Tutor Training Workshops will be offered in January 2016. Each workshop will be approximately 10 hours of training covered in 3 sessions. Perspective tutors will learn Literacy KC's overall instructional theory as well as receive a comprehensive training in strategies and curriculum that will be used in the Ticket to Read classes. Tutor Training Workshop dates will be available on December 4th as well as the opportunity to sign up for classes. If you have any questions about Tutor Training Workshops, contact Nancy Clay at [email protected] or Kate Brown at [email protected].

Current Tutor Mandatory In-Service in January

We've considered your feedback and value your continued contribution to our instructional model. Literacy KC believes that our tutor's continued education is important and so we are asking that all our current tutors who wish to continue in the classroom attend a tutor in-service on one of the following dates:

January 7, 2016 from 5 PM - 8 PM
January 9, 2016 from 9 AM - 12 PM
January 14, 2016 from 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

This training will include an in depth look at the current curriculum and instructional strategies for teaching reading and writing as well as how you use student date to inform instruction. Reading Plus training will also be included. Please RSVP to [email protected] by January 1, 2016. For more information, contact Nancy Clay at n[email protected].

Represent to Launch at Literacy KC

Represent is a new youth literacy and workforce development program that will address the singular needs of young people, 18-24, through an intensive, 12- week program. For our pilot program next term, we seek literacy tutors and mentors . Classes will be at Literacy KC as well as around Kansas City. Students will engage in:

creating public art
visiting Kansas City businesses
building a mentor relationship
increasing workforce skills
intensive course in reading

Literacy tutors will be asked to attend class for 2 hours per week and mentors will have lunch once per week with their "mentee" and serve as a career guide for that person throughout the year. Contact Anne Gatschet at [email protected] if interested!

Books, Brains and Boulevard Trivia Night

Please join us for a night of trivia, Boulevard Beer and Waldo pizza! Literacy KC will be hosting our annual Books, Brains and Boulevard on January 11, 2016. The bar opens at 5:00 PM and trivia will begin at 6:30 PM. The entry fee per person is $30 or $250 for a team of 10. Click here for more information or to register a team!

Interested in attending but trivia not your thing? Everyone is welcome! Even if you'd prefer not to compete in the trivia competition, we'd still love for you to join in on this evening of food, drinks, and fun! We are also looking for volunteers to be trivia assistants as well as people to help set up and tear down. If you would be interested in volunteering contact Kate at kbrown@literacykc. org .

Volunteer Spotlight: Above and Beyond

"I think our students are heroes. They are smart, determined and hardworking. It's a pleasure to work with them." says Tom Brill, a tutor in Lazona Stovall's Foundations class. Tom started tutoring with Literacy Kansas City in the beginning of 2015 because of a conversation with a neighbor and a love for reading. He started tutoring in a Ticket to Read class and made the transition to Foundations at the beginning of the current term.

In that Foundations class, Tom met a student named Carlos. One class Carlos came complaining that his tooth hurt and after he had sought treatment at the UMKC Dental School he found out that he had impacted wisdom teeth that were causing his pain and needed oral surgery. Tom reached out to John Tanner, a KC oral surgeon, who performed the surgery without cost to Carlos. "Don't hesitate. Walk into class and say, 'How can I help?'",

Tom encourage

s as he reflects on the progress of the students he's worked with and the life change he has seen.

Immediate Volunteer Needs!

Family Reading Program- LKC will be hosting Family Reading Days at sites around the KC Metro and is looking for 8 volunteers to help with those days. For more information click here.
Computer Happy Hour and TGICF- In the interterm, LKC will be holding extended Computer Happy Hours on Tuesdays from 5-7 PM and shortened TGICF on Fridays from 11 AM- 1 PM. Both will offer reading, writing and math help along with digital skills. We are looking for volunteers to help tutor in these sessions. This is a great way to current tutors to volunteer between terms! Click here to sign up for Computer Happy Hour or TGICF.
Scanning/Database help- Calling all daytime availability! LKC is looking for 2 volunteers to help with our paperless conversion as well as special database projects. This is a great way to get to know Literacy KC better and see the day to day operations. We will offer training to all interested volunteers. Email Haley Box at [email protected], if interested.
Math Program Helper- LKC is looking for a volunteer to help support the math program. This position requires about 8 hours of volunteer time every other month on a completely flexible schedule. We're looking for a dedicated, detail oriented volunteer who wants to help take the math program to the next level. In 2015, we DOUBLED the amount of students receiving math tutoring services, and we need your help to do it again in 2016. Click here for more information.

Do you have Children's Books to Donate to Family Reading Program?

As you all may know, the largest components of the Family Reading Program are the family reading days at elementary schools. These family reading days are hosted by a Kansas City public librarian, and at the end of the hour snacks and free children's books are passed out the families in attendance. However, because these events have been really popular, our stock of children's books is almost completely depleted. Literacy KC is looking for new or gently used children's books to give to families that participate in Family Reading Days. If you have books you would like to donate, please email Lindsey Clark at [email protected].

Holiday Office Closings

Mark you calendars! Literacy KC will be closed the following dates for the holidays:

November 24
November 25
Decbemer 24
December 25
December 31
January 1