10th Kalamazoo Scrabble Fest
2021-10-09 08:00 - 11:30 (America/Detroit) | Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites, 100 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, United States
Join us for a day of gaming and fun all to benefit adult literacy in Kalamazoo County! Play in person at the Radisson or online. You can win awesome trophies and prizes. Click here for all the details and link to tickets. Don’t miss it!

2021 Read and Seed Harvest Festival
2021-10-13 12:30 - 14:00 | Kalamazoo Literacy Council, 420 E Alcott St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001, United States
Join us in the Read and Seed community garden and outdoor classroom for a fun day of literacy activities. This free event will feature Literacy Hopscotch, storytime, pumpkin painting, garden sign art, treats, and more! Families from the KLC and Goodwill Industries are invited to enjoy the festivities as we harvest fresh goodies from our garden.

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.

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.

2021 Fall Reception
2021-10-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Online, MI, United States
Please join us for the 2021 virtual Fall Reception, our annual volunteer appreciation event. This fun evening includes special guests, award recognitions, and a presentation from our Executive Director, Michael D. Evans.
Please RSVP to kjumanne-marshall@kalamazooliteracy.org.

Tutor Orientation
2021-11-04 15:00 - 16:30, 2022-01-13 14:00 - 15:30 | Online, MI, United States
Welcome tutor trainees!
This is the official orientation session the KLC requires before training, and before tutors can be matched with a learner. In the Literacy Advocacy Orientation, you will learn about the KLC’s history, programs, services, learners, and your critical role as a volunteer tutor. The November training process includes an orientation, and two sessions of four-hour trainings. We focus on virtual learning, blended learning, and using the Laubach and Challenger series.
Click here to register.

Tutor Training: Sessions 1-4
2021-11-06 05:00 - 09:00 | 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.

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.

Adult Literacy Research and Training Symposium
2021-12-10 03:00 - 10:30 | WMU-Fetzer Center, 2251 Business Ct., Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, United States
Join us for the 2021 Symposium,“Fostering Leadership and Equity Through Adult Literacy.” This free, annual event is for anyone who is interested in supporting adult literacy – from experienced volunteer tutors and instructors to individuals who want to learn more about how they can serve this important cause, particularly during a time of hybrid learning. Featuring dynamic sessions on Health Literacy, Workforce Literacy, Multigenerational Learning, and ESL teaching strategies.
Presented in partnership with Western Michigan University and featuring a welcome address by Dr. Edward Montgomery. This year’s event is hybrid – you may attend in-person or join virtually.
Click here to register!

Tutor Training
2022-01-15 04:00 - 08:00, 2022-01-22 04:00 - 08:00 | Online, MI, United States

Supporting Refugees Through ESL Instruction
2022-02-12 05:00 - 08:00 | Kalamazoo Literacy Council, 420 E Alcott St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001, United States
Please join us for a special workshop where a panel of our experienced ESL instructors will answer questions and provide teaching strategies for those who want to tutor adult English Language Learners. This is a perfect opportunity for anyone who’s interested in supporting refugees as they adapt to their new environment to learn about serving these motivated learners through basic, effective language instruction.

Agenda:
Opening talk: Bita Edraki and John Safapour will provide an overview of Afghan culture and things tutors should keep in mind when working with refugees.
Building Relationships, Jen Kruger: Jen, an ESL instructor, will draw on her experiences working with level 1 learners to share strategies for creating a relationship that allows the learner to be receptive and ready to learn.
SIOP Lesson Planning, Dylan Warner: Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) is a research-based, instructional model that is highly effective in addressing the academic needs of English learners. Dylan’s session will teach you how to prepare a lesson using SIOP principles.
Pre-literate/Non-literate ESL Resources, Vicki Konzen: Vicki will share helpful resources for working with these English Language Learners, including a list of materials available through KLC and free online resources.
Pronunciation, Ila Baker: Ila, MA-TESOL, will walk us through strategies for tutors with no experience to help their learners with pronunciation.
To register, visit https://bit.ly/3r1tUGw

Tutor Orientation
2022-03-03 14:00 - 15:30 | Online, MI, United States
Welcome tutor trainees! This is the official orientation session the KLC requires before training, and before tutors can be matched with a learner. In the Literacy Advocacy Orientation, you will learn about the KLC’s history, programs, services, learners, and your critical role as a volunteer tutor. The May training process includes an orientation, and four sessions of 90-min trainings. We focus on virtual learning, blended learning, and using the Laubach and Challenger series. Click here to register.

Tutor Training
2022-03-07 13:00 - 14:30, 2022-03-10 13:00 - 14:30, 2022-03-14 14:00 - 15:30 | 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 four 90-minute trainings, we will focus on virtual learning, blended learning, and using the Laubach and Challenger series.
