Please fill out our volunteer survey. Submissions need to be in by tomorrow, October 18.

Thank you for all you do for Literacy Source. Please share with us how the experience is for you. We want to hear about how things are going, how the onboarding/training experience was for you, and where we can improve our volunteer program. We also want to know what you think of this newsletter, about your experience with our library service, and ideas you might have for our upcoming move. Lastly, we really want to hear about any stories/anecdotes/quotes you might have to share about working with our students.

Thank you!

Language choices designed to connect people on all sides of the political

spectrum will never be perfect, but we can try our very best. I believe it is

our responsibility to connect with people outside of our political tribes.

~Isaac Saul

You've likely heard stories from friends and family members recounting relationships that have been damaged by political differences - or experienced it yourself. Some people detach from "friends" on social media, others maintain cordial relationships but refrain from delving into problematic topics, but it seems like everyone can agree that communicating with others across the political divide is a nearly insurmountable challenge.

What if, however, there was a productive way to communicate with people with very different political views? In his recent TED Talk, journalist Isaac Saul gives three ideas about how to communicate with people in a way that respects their viewpoint and - ideally - expands both of your perspectives.

So what's the key? In short, language choices. In the opening of his TED Talk, Saul presents a statement about immigration represented in two very different ways, and he goes on to highlight how these word choices often convey a political stance that can, especially in this polarized time, immediately stymie communication.

As volunteers at an organization like Literacy Source, we know that you are familiar with the importance of language, and just how critical it can be in creating trust, welcoming people who from different backgrounds, and bridging divides across cultures and beliefs. We hope Saul's ideas provide an opportunity to continue to build your toolbox for managing difficult conversations both inside and outside the classroom.

Three speech bubbles are above a laptop. "Online classes that are more convenient for adults to manage their lives." "It's very accessible for us. We are working, we are parents, and with the people I talk to, they are very happy about having found Literacy Source." "There is no limit with literacy Source, everyone can learn, even without education."

Our students continue to show a need and want for technology.

In Summer Quarter, we surveyed all of our students. The last time we did this was in 2022, where we focused on what our students thought about the new, pandemic-induced, online classes. Overwhelmingly, these students loved remote learning and wanted it to be continued, despite the challenges. This year, though we did not repeat the same question, our students continued to show how much they value this opportunity.

We teach adults. Adults who may have jobs, children, caregivers, and may be navigating the challenges of immigrating themselves and their family to the United States. For adults to thrive in continuing education, this all needs to be accommodated, this our students have made clear. Our online classes have given them the flexibility that they need. Students shared with us that remote options were their 3rd favorite thing about Literacy Source this year.

Yet learning technology skills continues to remain a top support need for our students. In 2022, learning how to use a computer was the 3rd highest rated support need, today it is the number one. We are able to lend students a Chromebook to use in class, but multiple students expressed disappointment that they will not own a computer. Additionally, many students noted the differences of what they could do on a computer and a smartphone.

With life becoming ever more digital, it is no surprise that our students want to learn how to use the technology. We live a very digital life. Our Ready to Work class teaches students how to how to create a resume using a word processor, fill out an online application, and to create an online account. Beginning Computer Classes covers more basic computer skills, navigating a webpage, searching the internet, writing emails, and typing. All of these skills are what students indicated are important for them.

Many thanks to Alex Olsen, our departing AmeriCorps Vista, for all her hard work on this project!

15 Top Strategies for Teaching Adult Learners 

Adults always come into class with prior knowledge, whether from previous education experience, job experience, or life experience. As such, an effective way to teach is to try and activate this prior knowledge at the beginning of a lesson. Some example activities include:

• Review of previous lesson (e.g. discussion questions, simple quiz, etc.)
• Use of visuals that connect to the upcoming lesson such as pictures, diagrams, images, etc.
• Discussion questions of the students’ lives outside the classroom

You can read the full teaching tip here.

Erik Bodlaender, Instructional Advisor

(1) Photography day Oct.30^th 10:30-11 AM

We will be taking classroom photos on Oct.30^th and would love to have some photos of volunteers working with students. These photos can be used on the website, social media, printed materials, and other Literacy Source advertisements.

If you are able to join us, please let Staceyh@literacysource.org know.

(2) Community Support Opportunity for Tent City 4 (TC4)

Thanks to TC4 folks for letting us know how we can help them.

As well as the possibilities below, there is a family with a one-month-old baby boy who could probably use some necessities - ask at their camp for specifics; 3212 NE 125th.

MAIN NEEDS:

• Meals: call 206-956-0334 or email tc4@sharewheel.org to get on meal calendar
• Non-perishable food
• Sleeping mats/costs/sleeping bags/BLANKETS -- winter is coming!
• Kitchen supplies: can openers, foil, saran wrap, paper plates, bowls, cups, and utensils
• Toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and hygiene products
• Camping supplies (flashlights, batteries, etc.)
• Metal folding chairs

THANK YOU for everything you do to help our unhoused neighbors!

AI Roundtable Discussion

Thanks to all that attended the Fall Roundtable Discussion this week. The topic was on the use of AI and other online support available for instruction and learning. The discussion included thoughts and examples from tutors using ChatGPT for designing materials and grammar focused questions, and how and when it is appropriate and useful for students and instructors to use Google Translate. Cat Howell (Co-Ed, Instructional Director) shared some guidelines and best practices from the instructional team on the use of AI and other tools when working with students. We are drafting an Academic Integrity, AI and Translation Policy document which we will send out in the next newsletter. If you missed the discussion, click here to watch a recording.

Volunteer Roundtable Discussions are part of our volunteer ongoing support program and feature a different topic each term. If you have ideas for something you would like to discuss with other volunteers and staff, please let us know in the feedback form at the bottom of this newsletter. 

• Amy Yu – Online Conversation Partner, SPL 

Literacy Source partnered with one individual from Venezuela who became a new citizen in the past month.

Congratulations!

Frangipani

Staff: Katherine VanHenley

What We Remember Will Be Saved

Staff: Sarah McCormick

The Grief Keeper

Staff: Wing-Sea Poon

Family Lore

Staff: Cory Ihrig Goldhaber

Who Owns This Sentence? A History of Copyrights and Wrongs

Staff: Darlene Lytle

The Haunting of Alejandra

Staff: Alex Olsen

Tasveer Film Festival and Market

Oct 15-20 (SIFF Cinema Uptown and PACCAR IMAX Theatre, $25-$50)

The Tasveer Film Festival is the leading South Asian film festival in North America, headquartered in the beautiful Pacific Northwest city of Seattle in Washington State. We are also the first and only Academy® qualifying South Asian Film Festival in the world.

In our 19th year, Tasveer Film Festival will have a hybrid film festival with in-person and online screenings, industry panels, parties, cash prizes, and a chance to meet wonderful filmmakers and artists.

Tasveer, a nonprofit film organization established in 2002, is responsible for producing TSAFF. This festival offers a platform for South Asian storytellers from all over the world to showcase their talent through various mediums such as films, workshops, and panel discussions. We firmly believe that film has the power to unite ideas and communities, and through storytelling, we can create deeper understanding leading to a happier and healthier world.

Poe Unexpected: Edgar Allan Poe Improvised

Fri, Oct 18 & 25 and Sat, Oct 19 & 26, 7:30pm (Unexpected Productions Improv, $12-$20)

Discover the lost tales of Edgar Allan Poe! Be a part of an exceptional evening of entertainment with Unexpected Production's talented improvisers. They'll take inspiration from Poe's literary masterpieces and your ideas to create a spine-chilling experience. The perfect blend of comedy and darkness will have you in stitches. Don't miss out on this incredible show at Seattle's Pike Place Market Gum Wall!

Duwamish Alive! Celebrate Salmon Homecoming & Orca Recovery Day       

Saturday, October 19th 10-2 (Various Locations, FREE)

Join us in celebrating Seattle’s only RIVER, the Duwamish, with community volunteers working on the river removing debris, caring for salmon habitat and our upland forests in an effort to improve native habitat health and water quality not only for our salmon and orca but all wildlife and communities within the Duwamish Watershed so that all can thrive in our urban community.

Our forested areas such as the West Duwamish Greenbelt, one of the largest in the lower section of the river, provides important air and water filtration of pollution, especially storm runoff one of the major sources polluting our waters. Tree canopy cover also reduces our summer heat domes, unequally affecting low income, communities of color to a greater degree. Duwamish Alive Coalition continues to nurture and expand tree canopy within our local communities which suffer the effects of pollution and heat domes.

Our next New Volunteer Orientation (via Zoom) will be on November 6 at either 1pm or 7pm. 

Potential volunteers are invited to register online here. 

Miss any of our past volunteer newsletters? You can access archived newsletters at the bottom of the Volunteer Resources of our webpage.