Learning about Dyslexia

Last Wednesday Action Read tutor Mel Stronach, with the assistance of her learning partner Colleen Harper, gave a fantastic workshop on working with dyslexia.  Mel is a high school teacher who also recently trained on the Orton-Gillingham method for teaching literacy to individuals with dyslexia.

Mel’s presentation was riveting! She and Colleen shared lots of hands on practical examples, reflections, and experiences.  Mel went over the role of grapheme / phoneme correspondences, spelling strategies, auditory, kinesthetic and visual strategies, suffixes, etymology and much more in the workshop. Fortunately, she created a binder filled with strategies and ideas for other to use if they were unable to make it out.  Speak to staff if you’d like to check it out. 

Mel and Colleen sharing their wisdom!

Multi-sensory resources that Mel and Colleen use in their learning sessions.

Listening closely

2017 AGM and 30th Anniversary Celebration

We enjoyed a wonderful jam-packed AGM and 30^th anniversary celebration on September 27^th. We celebrated the work and accomplishments of our members in 2016-2017, and looked back with much fondness at 30 years of history, successes and stories.

Jane Tuer Executive Director of Project Read Literacy Network gave a terrific presentation. Then Joanne, Laura Sumner and Celina Whaling-Rae launched their incredible new film done at Action Read called ' Finding Our Voice - Stories from Adult Literacy Learners'. 

In 1987 Action Read started with a dream to help those who couldn’t find employment due to basic skill gaps. In fact, Action Read was initially a project of the Centre for Employable Workers. Action Read set out to pair individuals who wanted help with trained community volunteers. From there, small group learning, family literacy and computer based programs quickly emerged.  In 1991 Action Read became an independently incorporated charity. Throughout the 1990s, we moved several times to accommodate growing demand.  

For 17 years we were located at the Park Mall building in downtown Guelph, and in 2017 we came here! While many changes have occurred at Action Read since 1987, we remain a community-based agency committed to learner-centred programming, involvement and accessibility – the values that propelled us forward from the beginning. Here are some highlights from our celebration...

Reviewing the Annual Report prior to getting started

Hosts with the most! Shawn Knight and Renee O'Drowsky

Outgoing chair and all round awesome volunteer Jeff Guitard!

Life is sweet...What would a celebration be without cake?!

Some of our members

Doris Middleton Award Winner Colleen Harper (right) with her tutor Mel and Doris's daughter Sherri Gosse

From Project Read's Presentation (Gosh, golly, gee-whiz ;) )

Kindergarten Readiness Summer Fun!

by Denia Dornan-Anderson

Summer is here, which means that kindergarten is fast approaching! It’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the weather while engaging in activities that will help your child get prepared for school in the fall. Take advantage of your summer surroundings by experimenting with these early learning activities, or make up your own.  Above all, make it fun and follow your child’s interests!

Sand Words

When the weather is hot, it’s sometimes nice to take a trip down to the beach. Identify different animals and things that you see at the beach. Each time you find something new, help your child write the letters that make up that word in the sand. Sound out the word, and if you want to add something, have your child think of another beach-related word (e.g., pail goes with sand and shovel).

Summer Vacation

If you plan on going anywhere this summer, whether it is a picnic at the park or a trip to see grandparents, have your child help you pack. Emphasize the sound of the first letter of each item being packed (e.g., “sss…Socks”). Following this, ask the child the name of the letter that makes that sound.

Window Art

Do your windows look like they need a cleaning? Why not have some fun with it! Gather some non-adhesive foam shapes, numbers or letters, a bowl of water and a paintbrush. When water is “painted” onto a mirror or window, the foam letters and numbers are able to stick to the glass, creating opportunity for children to make words or sequences of numbers. Having a variety of colours that the letters and numbers come in is also useful for children to sort into categories.

Alphabet Hopscotch

Make a hopscotch grid and add different upper case letters in the sections. You could even have your child draw the letters.  Using a beanbag to toss onto one of the letters, ask your child to identify the letter and then count the number of hops it takes to get to it. You could make this more challenging by adding both upper and lower case letters so the child becomes familiar with the different letter forms.

Berry picking

On a sunny day why not go to pick some berries? Once you have collected them, set up a clean spot where you can dump them all out. In that space, encourage and assist your child to create letters by lining the berries up to letter formation.  For example, start by spelling their name.  Each time they take a berry away from the letter to eat it, have your child name an item that starts with that letter.

Animal Number Songs

You may encounter some frogs this summer. A great song that can be used to practice numeracy skills is ‘5 Green and Speckled Frogs’. This song is useful for working on numeracy skills by counting how many frogs are left after they start “jumping in the pool”.  If you have internet access, check out the song on youtube - you will probably recognize the tune! www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVPmtaHmL4g

While this is the classic version of the song, you could do it with any variety of animals that you see during your summer activities.

For Example:

“5 brown and fluffy dogs drink from a drinking well, wagging their tales back and forth, swish swish. One saw a frisbee fly, which made him follow by, now there are only 4 brown fluffy dogs.”
Coming up with different versions helps children identify different characteristics of the animals, in addition to enhancing their counting skills. Cut out the frogs below, or make your own to have a visual when you sing the song together.

For Example:  

“5 brown and fluffy dogs drink from a drinking well, wagging their tales back and forth, swish swish. One saw a frisbee fly, which made him follow by, now there are only 4 brown fluffy dogs.”

Coming up with different versions helps children identify different characteristics of the animals, in addition to enhancing their counting skills. Cut out the frogs below, or make your own to have a visual when you sing the song together.

Be Good to Yourself

By Joanne Morant, Action Read Tutor-Learner Coordinator

The days get shorter and the sun hides behind the looming snow clouds.  It is a busy time of year as we prepare for the holidays. During this time, like a lot of people I tend to socialize more, spend more, eat more, do more and sleep less. By the time January comes around I feel exhausted, and by the time February arrives the winter blahs have settled in.

Self-care doesn’t come naturally to me.  I still insist on putting everything else before my own needs. I go into over-serving mode during the holidays to make sure everything is ready, and everyone has the “best holiday ever”.

So what steps do I need to take now to help me through the holidays and winter months until spring arrives?

Everyone has different ways and ideas to help with self-care. These are a few of mine for this holiday season!

1. Get more sleep – 8 hours is my goal. Turn off the TV and sit quietly with a cup of herbal tea for a half hour before bed.

2. Read – my pile of unread books seems to grow each month! Losing myself in a good book will take my mind off all the holiday preparation.

(Let's hope Joanne's pile of books isn't as big as the donation we received from the Retired Teachers this year!)

3. Make and stick to a budget – not the easiest for me. The best places I have found to shop during the holidays are the used book stores, second hand stores (so many interesting and unusual things I could spend hours just browsing), Christmas church bazaars and the grocery store.  My sons have always appreciated a nice bottle of olive oil or specialty vinegar at this time of year and it doesn’t cost a lot.

4. Smile – the more I smile and laugh, the better I feel.

5. Bake – this always put me in the holiday spirit especially listening to music I enjoy. It feels great to share with others some tasty treats.

6. Un-schedule – so many people to see and things to do in a short period of time. Instead of rushing around here and there I will set some time aside in January to visit friends and family. There will be more time to spend together and less stress for everyone.

7. Ask for help – this year when my family gets together it will be pot-luck instead of preparing everything myself. What I always seem to forget is how much others like to cook, experiment with a new recipes and enjoy bringing a dish that they made to share. It is about being together during the holiday.

8. Finish a project (or start a new one) – it could be a craft or an art project. Mine is a needle point I began 3 years ago. Take time out to do something I enjoy!

Give yourself permission to engage in activities that make you feel happy and less stressed during the holidays. Make time to go for a walk, have coffee with a friend, volunteer or just sit down with a good book.

I am going to tape my list to the fridge and it will stay through January, February, March………

Miriam, Gabe and Deb showing us how to kick back by channeling their inner rock stars!

Recognizing the Achievements of our Members!

Each year at the Annual General Meeting, Action Read recognizes the contributions and achievements of individuals who have made a particular difference to our community and our mission over the past year. Choosing recipients is very difficult as there are always so many deserving candidates. Here are the recipients for 2015-2016:

Betty Bean Kennedy Award for Outstanding Volunteer

Like many of our learners, Emmett O’Neill quit school at the age of 16. He later returned to school where he came to love learning and eventually became a high school teacher for over 25 years. Retired from teaching, Emmett was keen to continue to help others to improve their skills.

Over the past 3 years, Emmett has worked intensively with two Action Read learners. Both have made amazing progress, benefitting from Emmett’s significant talent as an educator and his immense dedication and experience. Emmett’s unwavering patience, flexibility and encouragement are particularly appreciated by learners and staff alike.

Last year, Emmett faced a life threatening illness. During all the treatments and surgeries, he remained fully committed to his tutoring. When feeling well enough, he arranged to meet his learner whenever possible. Emmett continues to inspire us all with his passion and enthusiasm for lifelong learning. Our sincere thanks Emmett!

The Doris Middleton Award

Deb Donaldson

This award is given to a learner who exemplifies the dedication to learning, spirit and humour of the woman who inspired it. Without question, Debbie Donaldson is one such woman! Deb’s commitment to learning and to growing as a writer can only be described as exceptional. Deb came to Action Read to work on her computer skills, but “stumbled across” poetry in the process.   Deb graces the centre with unwavering focus,  dedication and a sunny attitude. Recently, Deb found the courage to speak publicly about her difficulties with learning in her life. She touched many people when she performed her spoken word poem at our 2016 fundraiser. Since coming to Action Read Deb has written and self-published 3 poetry books. She states “I feel capable, empowered, self-confident and enthusiastic about my progress”.  We are proud of you Deb and look forward to more poetry!

Shirley Almack Award for Learner Leadership

Shawn Knight

Shirley Almack was an Action Read Member who inspired many people around her with her courage, strength and leadership.

This year’s award goes to Shawn Knight. Shawn has made leaps and bounds in his reading and writing abilities, and his passion for personal growth and organizational governance is truly inspiring. Last year, Shawn’s newfound self-confidence in his skills meant that he felt ready to take on the responsibility of a   Learner Position on the Board of Directors. In this role, Shawn has continually demonstrated focus, commitment and a collaborative spirit. He has contributed his insights and opinions, and has listened intently to those of others with kindness and openness. Shawn also leant his support to our annual fundraiser by gathering donations for the silent auction and helping with ticket sales. Shawn is always eager to learn or to quietly lend a hand, and is a valued member of the Action Read community. Congratulations Shawn!

The Action Read Community Award 

Art Kilgour of WriteDesign

We are happy to give our 2016 Community Award to Art Kilgour of WriteDesign.  For many years, Art has supported Action Read through gorgeous design work, as seen through our logo, brochure, several of our books and signs.  Art just ‘gets’ Action Read - has always   understood what we stand for and the importance of Clear Language and Design in our work. Furthermore, WriteDesign has generously and consistently supported our fundraising efforts in a variety of ways over the years. He and his partner Nichola have attended events, and have shared contacts and connections to promote the work of Action Read in the community. For these reasons, and many more, we are grateful to count you as a friend Art, and delighted to publicly recognize your longtime contribution to Action Read’s growth and evolution.

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Free Little Libraries

by Denia Anderson, Literacy Program Assistant

 

Have you noticed recently as you walk around Guelph small wooden box houses in the front yard of homes? Filled with favourite books, these Little Free Libraries have taken off and are spreading worldwide, with over 15,000 and counting! In Guelph there are 7 registered libraries, at last count. The idea was started in 2009 by a Wisconsin man who wanted to create a meaningful tribute to his mother, who had been a school teacher with a love of reading. His vision was to create a book exchange in his community to enrich literacy and to bring people together. And this is exactly what Little Free Library owners report is happening!

Much like Action Read, the Little Free Libraries rely on strong community involvement to work well. The ‘take a book, leave a book’ approach allows people to give to others but also be rewarded in return. Some Little Libraries even have a guest book where people can write reviews or comments about the books they have read! We can all learn from each other and literacy is a great way to do so.

Action Read recently received a very generous donation of new books from The Retired Teachers’ Association. This gift will allow us to clear out some of the older, gently used favourites that line our bookshelves, and share these with others in the same spirit as the Little Libraries. In the fall, Action Read’s writing group will deliver these gently used books to the local Little Free Libraries in the hopes of sharing our love of reading with others.

Make sure you check out these wonderful community gems to get your hands on a great book!

 
Find One Here In Guelph:

·         Liverpool Street

·         Water Street

·         Avondale Avenue

·         Kirkland Street

·         Aspenwood Place

·         Valleyridge Trail

·         Carrington Drive

References

Saxon, T. (2014). Sharing books in Guelph ‘enhances the neighbourhood experience’. Guelph Mercury Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/4754378-sharing-books-in-guelph-enhances-the-neighbourhood-experience-/

The Little Library. (2016). The History of Little Free Library. Moonlight Designs Studio. Retrieved from https://littlefreelibrary.org/history/

Action Read Annual Picnic - The Official Start to Summer!

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon last Thursday, June 16^th for our annual Action Read picnic! A big thank you to all the volunteers and learners who came out to share this evening full of delicious foods, great company and fun activities. This year Gabe introduced a chalkboard that held spots for everyone to write down a goal they wish to achieve in the next year. If you weren’t able to make it, the board will be displayed in the office. Jan also lead the group in a drumming circle including traditional aboriginal songs, as well as some popular songs everyone knew.  

Thanks again to everyone who made it to our 2016 picnic, and we hope to see you again next year!

Strongman Alex with good friends!

 

Marla adds her goals.  How easy was that!

 

Gabe and volunteer extraordinaire Greg M!

 

Drumming in the park

 

Tasha, Craig and Mira

 





Summer student 2016 Denia

2015 Action Read Picnic

Doug and Marion

Edgar and Whitney

 

Thanks to all the volunteers and learners who came to our 2015 Action Read Annual Picnic on June 17th! This year we ditched the regular glitter and glue crafts, and brought out the big buckets of paint and paintbrushes! After an introduction to mural painting from Gabe’s dad, Cliff Smith, we decorated three of our office doors.  Learners, staff and volunteers came together to brush, splat, drip and draw all kind of fantastic colours and shapes on the doors. The result was some wonderful community created pieces of art that give our office some extra personality. If you weren’t at the picnic or are long overdue to visit Action Read, come by and checkout our awesome new doors!  Thanks again to all those who attended the event.

And not to brag… but Picasso would be jealous of the art we made!

 

Read Together, Grow Together

Did you know today is National Family Literacy Day??

Did you know that Action Read has been offering family literacy programming since 1988?


Love that pride in learning and creating!

Action Read's Family Literacy Program provides quality preschool programming where children and parents are provided with an enriched learning environment in neighborhoods throughout the city. Sponsored by the City of Guelph and the United Way of Guelph, Wellington, Dufferin, our program emphasizes language development, early literacy and numeracy preparation, and a love of reading. We know from feedback with parents, caregivers and teachers that children who participate in our programs make more successful transitions to school. Our goal is also to provide parents with a supportive atmosphere where they can benefit from mentoring, idea sharing and a peer support system while being actively involved in their children’s early learning.

Parent and caregiver response to our program is excellent. They appreciate the relaxed atmosphere, all the new ideas they receive and the program's accessibility. Here is some of what they say:

"Having a reliable quality program like this is invaluable.  Other programs in Guelph do not provide the same level of consistency, building blocks, and ongoing learning.  The sense of family and ‘class’ belonging is unmatched in public programs."

"The level of engagement with [the instructor] is inspirational for my two sons (ages 2 and 3).  They have developed trust in her and a desire to demonstrate their growing knowledge and skills with her."



Mask making at Action Read's Tongues in Trees Family Literacy Program

"It is not just a play group.  They have an important place too, but Action Read has a different place where language, literacy and cognitive skills are the focus.  Great for struggling families / at risk and for any child with the move to all day and earlier kindergarten."

"My son learns to focus and learns how he should behave in a social gathering, because the program is very structured.  The facilitator offers a long circle time with lots of nursery rhymes and storytelling this allow my son to develop his attention span and the ability of focus better."

"We really liked having the opportunity for social interaction with an emphasis on creativity and early literacy.  This program is well structured, and I believe it helps prepare young children for early entry to school."

 

"From week to week the participants are the same.  Relationships can therefore form between children and parents / caregivers.  This is great for the kids and parents.  The structure of the program is also unique amongst others in that it is very structured, which is good for pre-school ‘training’."

 

"I believe this program will make my son more ready for JK and SK because of the learning aspect of this program."

 

"The boys love it.  They sing the letter songs at home and are more interested in 'Letters – Sounds – Reading' than through any other program that we’ve attended."

"A creative program, geared towards promoting literacy skills combined with play in a child centered supportive environment.  Accessibility to all young children, regardless of income."

 

"It is ESSENTIAL to invest preschool children’s programs to ensure children are prepared for years of schooling – prepared socially as well as educationally.  Providing a solid foundation for learning facilitates success in school."

 

Happy Family Literacy Day to All!