Kalamazoo Literacy Council

Tutor Orientation
2023-05-04 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Detroit) | Online, MI, United States
Welcome tutor trainees! This is the online training that the KLC requires before tutors can be matched with a learner. In these five 90-minute sessions, we will focus on using the Laubach method and Challenger series to teach adults.

ESL Tutor Forum
2021-03-24 12:00 - 13:30 | Online, MI, United States
Forum leader: Jackie Denoyer (269) 348-0883
English as a Second Language (ESL) is an important part of the adult learning continuum. Immigrants and refugees in our communities are eager to learn language and literacy skills that help them function at work, school, and community settings. Increasingly, volunteer tutors are providing instruction for ESL learners.
This forum will provide virtual teaching strategies for tutors and instructors who provide literacy instruction for non-native English speakers. Learn more about ESL of Southwest Michigan.

Health Literacy Forum
2021-03-17 12:00 - 13:30 | Online, MI, United States
Forum leader: Doris Ravotas, Ph.D
Because health is a topic that applies to every adult learner, having tutoring strategies that meet the health goals of learners is important. According to the Partnership for Clear Health Communication, literacy skills are the strongest predictor of health status, more than age, income, employment status, education level or racial/ethnic group.
This forum will provide strategies of how to provide instruction that imparts health and literacy skills for adult learners. We will also discuss the most recent updates on Covid-19 safety measures and the vaccine. Learn more about the KLC’s Health Literacy programs.

Summer Volunteer Orientation
2023-04-17 14:30 - 15:30 | Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Rd., Kalamazoo, MI
Are you looking for fun volunteer opportunites this Summer? Join us on Monday, April 17, 6:30 p.m. at Westwood United Methodist Church for an orientation meeting. We will discuss the health literacy curriculum and the various roles we have available. For questions, contact Dori Ravotas at doris.ravotas@wmich.edu or Renee Hammond at (269) 382-0490 ext. 224, rhammond@kalamazooliteracy.org.

Workforce Literacy Forum
2021-03-12 09:00 - 10:00 | Online, MI, United States
Forum leader: Rose Fetzer (269) 849-9396
This forum will explore how tutors can provide instruction to help learners acquire the literacy skills they need to engage in workforce development activities.
Getting a job is a major motivation for many adult learners. In today’s workforce, knowing how to read is a necessary skill to obtain a job, be promoted, or keep a current job. Workforce literacy includes equipping learners with the vocabulary, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills necessary to become proficient in services provided by workforce development and employment readiness agencies. We will also discuss various career pathways that are designed to ensure direct access to employment via paid apprenticeships.

Health Fair
2023-04-14 09:00 - 11:00 | 420 E. Alcott St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001, 420 E. Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
You’re invited to the Health Fair! Join us on Friday, April 14, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. for a health literacy fair, where you will enjoy lots of free giveaways and learn about important, helpful services from community partners such as:
WMU Homer J. Stryker School of Medicine
WMU Bronson School of Nursing
Smile Savers
Urban Exposure Initiative
Priority Health
Healthy Babies, Healthy Start
CapTel Captioned Telephones
Bronson Cancer Center
Meridian Insurance
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
Integrated Services of Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo County Government
Don’t miss this great opportunity for learning and fun!

Tutor Training
2023-03-16 14:00 - 15:30, 2023-03-13 14:00 - 15:30, 2023-03-09 13:00 - 14:30, 2023-03-06 13:00 - 14:30 | Online, MI, United States
Welcome tutor trainees! This is the online training that the KLC requires before tutors can be matched with an adult learner. In these five 90-minute sessions, we will focus on hybrid learning, blended learning, and using the Laubach and Challenger series.

The Right to Read Documentary Screening
2023-03-08 12:30 - 14:30 | Kalamazoo Public Library Central Branch, 315 S. Rose St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, United States
The Right to Literacy – a local collaborative dedicated to achieving a fully literate community that works together to empower all individuals to achieve their full potential – invites you to a free screening of the documentary “The Right to Read” on Wednesday March 8 from 5:30 – 7:30 at the Kalamazoo Public Library in the Van Deusen Room.
The Right to Read shares the stories of an activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of life-long sucess: the ability to read. Oakland, CA’s Kareen Weaver believes literacy is one of the greatest civil rights issues of our time and is fighting for better reading instruction. “What good is winning the right to vote if we can’t even read the ballot?” he says. Click here to watch the trailer.
The event includes the film screening (approx. 70 mins) followed by a community conversation. Refreshments will be served. The Right to Read is directed by Jenny Mackenzie and is executive produced by LeVar Burton.
RSVP: (269) 382-0490 ext. 211 or kjumanne-marshall@kalamazooliteracy.org. Please let us know if you need accomodations.

Rules & Tools: Supporting Struggling Readers
2023-03-03 04:00 - 10:00 | SLD Read, 5250 Lovers Lane Suite 100LL, Portage, MI, 49002
New training opportunity! Presented in conjunction with our Right to Literacy partners at SLD Read, this dynamic 6-hour session is designed to offer usable tools and techniques that support reading, writing, and spelling instruction and intervention services. The training is broken down into three components: Phonological Awareness, Spelling Rules, and Red Words.

Phonological Awareness: Includes a short assessment and activities for learning. Areas of focus are Pre-Skill activities (directionality; same and different; first and last; beginning, middle and end), rhyming, 2 and 3 syllable words and initial sounds.
Spelling Rules: There are 5 spelling rules featured; each rule also includes activities (words to read, phrases and sentences to read, formatted writing page and decodable text). There are also games!
Red Words: These are words that break spelling rules – and this section includes word analysis and multi-sensory activities to support learning.

Facilitator: Mary Outinen, Curriculum & Instruction Manager, SLD Read
Please register for the training at http://bit.ly/3x5u7vV by February 24.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Tutor Orientation
2023-03-02 14:00 - 15:30 | Online, MI, United States

Edison: Place Matters!
2022-12-08 12:30 - 14:00 | Kalamazoo Literacy Council, 420 E Alcott St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001, United States
Join the Kalamazoo Literacy Council for a special session that takes a deep dive into Edison and reveals surprising facts about the neighborhood where we live, work, and play. This engaging session is facilitated by Dr. Karika Parker, University/Community Fellow, who is also leading the EDisON “Education is On” initative.Participants will learn about the history, educational opportunities and demographic trends of the neighborhood. Free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Contact Kito at (269) 382-0490 ext. 211 or kjumanne-marshall@kalamazooliteracy.org to sign up.

Tutor Training
2022-11-12 04:00 - 08:00 | Online, MI, United States
Welcome tutor trainees!
This is the training that the KLC requires after orientation and before tutors can be matched with a learner. In these two four-hour trainings, we will focus on virtual learning, blended learning, and using the Laubach and Challenger series.
