A.K. Smiley Public Library Blog

Serving the City of Redlands, California since 1894

Diane Shimota

Family Literacy Fosters the Wonders of Reading

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Lida and Richard Gadea share the wonders of reading with their daughter Mia.

The Family Literacy Program began one year ago at A.K. Smiley Public Library and what a year it has been for all of us! The California State Library provided funding for the Family Literacy Program because research has shown that parents are their children’s first and most important teachers. Family Literacy introduces adult learners and their children to the value of reading together and helps parents develop skills to support their children’s education with fun and creative learning activities.

Prior to the Library’s closure in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Family Literacy Program participants met in person. Parents and children made new friends and supported each other as they learned new strategies to encourage a love of reading. Family Literacy coordinators, Joan Prehoda and Renee Kennedy, adapted the Family Literacy Program to online meetings using Zoom last May. These online meetings provided new and unanticipated opportunities for families to learn. Children as young as 5 years old learned how to take Zoom polls online and join breakout rooms.

Zoom meetings proceeded in much the same manner as the pre-pandemic meetings with story time, crafts, and activities. Topics included studying insects, where we learned the life cycle of a butterfly using the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and made symmetrical butterfly art. Families learned about gardening, when they read the book Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert and then planted bean and sunflower seeds in their gardens and prepared vegetable soup to eat, sending in photos of their growing seedlings and soup creations. One mom even sent a picture of her daughter helping to wash the dishes after dinner. They read Mouse Paint by Ellen Sholl Walsh, learned basic color theory, and practiced blending primary colors to create secondary colors. With each activity, families received a book to add to their home libraries and materials for family activities. Other books provided this year include Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle, The Family Book by Todd Parr, Pumpkin Circle by George Levenson, Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, and more.

Even though the Zoom meetings were successful, families were excited to return to in-person meetings at A.K. Smiley Public Library where they met outdoors in the Children’s Garden in a socially distanced and safe way. This provided an opportunity for families to connect with one another safely from across the garden.

At the November meeting families discussed the concept of emotions and appropriate ways for their children to express those feelings. Families read The Way I Feel by Janan Cain and asked the children to use playdough on a face mat to recreate several different feelings. The families were provided with an emotions chart to stimulate conversation between parent and child about how they are feeling. A parent said, “I’ll use the chart all the time with my family members, because it is important to express feelings so I can help them.” Another parent commented, “This class helped my children feel more comfortable to talk about their feelings and know everyone has different feelings.”

The Family Literacy Program continues to meet monthly in a hybrid format with parent meetings provided over Zoom and in-person family literacy meetings in the garden when the weather permits and via Zoom during the cold winter months.

Special thanks are owed to instructors Joan Prehoda and Renee Kennedy who learned new teaching methods to successfully adapt to social distancing requirements. We congratulate the amazing families who have grown in unexpected ways this year and who continue to value and support their children’s education even as they face the challenges presented by the COVID pandemic.

The Family Literacy Program is one component of the Redlands Adult Literacy Program. Adult literacy activities continue to thrive even during the pandemic. If you are interested in becoming a tutor or if you would like help in reading and writing, please call Diane Shimota, adult literacy coordinator, at 909-798-7565, ext. 4138 or email her at literacy@akspl.org. The literacy program is free to all participants.

The holidays are a great time to pick out a new book and travel via the author’s story. Check out the adult literacy collection – we have books for all ages, books on CD and Playaway, and materials that can assist students during this period of remote learning.

Redlands Community Invited to Use Adult Literacy Resources

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Consuelo Annaguey selects a book from the literacy collection

Generous donors and grantors have enabled the Redlands Adult Literacy Program to acquire a wide selection of literacy materials that are available for checkout by anyone in the community. These materials may be helpful to students who want to improve their reading and writing skills, and adults who want to improve their English literacy skills. You are invited to peruse the adult literacy collection at A. K. Smiley Public Library where you will find: fiction and nonfiction stories, biographies, abbreviated classics, graphic novels, audio books, and workbooks that enhance learning for those who are working to improve their literacy. Literacy books are written with themes that appeal to adult readers, but with grammar and vocabulary that make the books easy to understand.

The adult literacy collection includes contemporary stories that are available to everyone regardless of their reading level. The Gemma Open Door Series books are quick and easy to read. One of these books, The Cell Phone Lot by Greta Gorsuch, was chosen by the adult learner book club for their November selection. The book is a story about a young woman who lost her job and found herself unable to pay her bills. This resilient young woman found a way to generate income by working for a ride-sharing company. Through this new endeavor, she built relationships with people she met as they waited for riders at the cell phone lot.

In 2017, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program chose The Circuit : stories from the life of a migrant child as a community read book for the year, and invited author Francisco Jiménez, to visit Redlands and speak about his books and his life. To read more of his story, the literacy collection includes his entire series of books: Breaking Through which describes his middle school years, Reaching Out that details his college experience, and finally, Taking Hold which follows his journey to Columbia University where he completed his PhD. We invite you to read more of Dr. Jiménez’s books.

Reluctant readers may enjoy reading graphic novels. These are illustrated stories with contemporary messages that are made all the more powerful because of the art associated with the story. Take a trip with Alpha as he searches for family members in Alpha Abidjan to Paris by Bessora Barroux. Simple drawings in the book enhance the story and add visual details to the author’s journey. Congressman John Lewis’s March series documents the civil rights movement from his point of view with color illustrations that bring the story alive on the pages.

Donations from The Redlands Community Foundation have enhanced the literacy program’s audio collection. Audio book packs include a book and a recorded version of the book. These book packs allow new readers to listen to the book as they read along with the audio version. By hearing words read aloud by a good reader, a reader builds fluency, word recognition, and pronunciation skills. This collection includes popular books like I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.

The literacy collection includes workbooks to help reinforce vocabulary, grammar, or writing skills. Many of these workbooks are in a series that allow the reader to decide which workbook best serves their goals. Writing, grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary workbooks are available at a range of levels from very basic through advanced. Language Builder workbooks begin with a short grammar pre-test and lead the reader directly to pages that explain concepts that are new or forgotten.

The pandemic has not slowed down adult literacy activities. If you are interested in becoming a tutor or if you would like help in reading and writing, please call Diane Shimota, adult literacy coordinator, at 909.798.7565, ext. 4138, or email her at literacy@akspl.org. The literacy program is free to all participants. If you have any questions about the adult literacy collection, please call or email the adult literacy coordinator.

Adult Literacy Graduates Achieve Personal and Business Success

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Many adults who join the Redlands Adult Literacy Program want to improve their reading and writing skills so they can get better jobs, further their own education, and advocate for their children. Through hard work and perseverance adult learners can change their own and their families’ lives for the better. The following is a story of adult learners who graduated from the Redlands Adult Literacy Program and, with their new literacy skills, started a business, earned a GED, and encouraged their children to excel in their education.

Sanchez family at Monica’s graduation ceremony: left to right, Axel, Monica, Amanda, Armando, Allen, and Monica’s mom, Maria Refugio Melendrez

Monica Sanchez joined the adult literacy program in February of 2014 because she needed to become an advocate for her special needs son. Working with her tutor, Rebecca McCurdy, she gained literacy skills that enabled her to communicate effectively with teachers and medical professionals, understand medical directives, and support her son. Monica’s goals changed over time to include dreams of attaining her GED, supporting her children with their education, and getting a better job. Monica diligently worked for four years in the literacy program to improve her reading, grammar, vocabulary, and writing. She celebrated when she earned her GED in 2017 because this opened doors to better employment.

In 2018, she was hired by the Redlands Unified School District to work as a campus monitor at an elementary school. Monica shared, “I liked being a campus monitor; it was a fun and comfortable job for me. I was playing with kids and getting paid for that.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools, Monica, like so many others, found herself unemployed. She eventually began working as a DoorDash driver and used this as an opportunity to teach her younger children about what it was like to have a job and manage their own money; they helped her leave meals on porches and Monica gave them an allowance of $1.00 per delivery.

Sumbale Trucks employees: left to right, Miguel Rodarte, Mauricio Medina, Kaleb Alvares, Armando Sanchez, Angel Rosas

Monica’s husband, Armando Sanchez, also joined the literacy program in 2014. His goals were to improve his reading and writing in order to advance at his job at Ashley Furniture and to have a better life. When his employer closed their doors, he went on to earn construction certificates that would enable him to get a new job at La-Z-Boy Furniture. After working long hours as a maintenance supervisor at La-Z-Boy, he decided to take a chance in life and start a business so he could spend more time with his family. Armando started a trucking business that transports pallets from Amazon warehouses to post offices in the southland. He named his company Sumbale Trucks after a word his son Allen invented when he was little. Armando’s growing business now employs four truck drivers.

Because the school closure left Monica newly unemployed, she was available to support her husband in his business. As a proficient reader and writer, she helps her husband with office work, including calculating weekly payroll for each of their employees. When asked what it was like to work with his wife, Armando replied, “Working together is good – it’s two minds, four eyes and we are a team.”

Armando and Monica are role models for their three children, encouraging them to set their own goals and to do well in school. Improving her own literacy enabled Monica to help her children with their school work.

Sanchez family: left to right, Monica, Axel, Amanda, Allen, and Armando

Their oldest, Axel, was awarded scholarships for college and has graduated with a nursing degree. He works as a nurse and has a goal of becoming an ultrasound technician. Allen, their middle son has dreams of going to college and living in a dorm like his big brother. Their daughter, Amanda, sees how hard her mother works and is very proud of her.

In nearly 25 years of marriage, Monica and Armando have achieved more than they could ever have dreamed. They can communicate clearly with others. They have advanced their own education, purchased a home in this area, become U.S. Citizens, started their own business, and are strong advocates for their children. After the pandemic, Monica will begin work on her new dream, to attain her real estate certification.

Monica shared that improving her reading and writing has changed her life. “When you have a new vision, it changes everything you can see. You can learn, you can read all kinds of things, and that opens new doors.” When asked what he would tell others who want to improve their literacy, Armando said, “You can do it, I think the top is the sky. You can do anything. Improving literacy has helped me a lot.”

Since March, many families have discovered that more schooling is conducted in the home. Through the generosity of donors and grants, the adult literacy program has a wide selection of books and workbooks to assist in vocabulary building, grammar, and writing that you can search for at the library’s website www.akspl.org. Books can be checked out through Books to Go, as described at the library’s website. All materials at the library are available to all cardholders.

The pandemic has not slowed down adult literacy activities. If you are interested in becoming a tutor or if you would like help in reading and writing, please call Diane Shimota, adult literacy coordinator, at 909.798.7565, ext. 4138 or email her at literacy@akspl.org. The literacy program is free to all participants.

Adult Literacy Stays Strong Despite COVID-19

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Before social distancing was required in response to COVID-19, adult learners in the Redlands Adult Literacy Program met weekly with their volunteer tutors at A. K. Smiley Public Library or program-approved learning sites at Clement Middle School, Family Services Association and the Redlands Community Center. The tutor-learner teams worked shoulder-to-shoulder to help the learners improve their reading and writing skills.

On March 16th, the library was closed to the public due to COVID-19. The literacy program faced the major challenge of finding new ways for tutors to assist learners in meeting their literacy goals, while complying with the governor’s social distancing guidelines. Additionally, the request for literacy assistance grew, as 25% of adult learners were laid off due to the economic downturn.

Tutors and learners have met the social distancing challenge with innovation and creativity by using apps, online computer resources, and phones to meet. In fact, over 50 adult learners continue to meet with their tutors, participate in the family literacy program, use online software independently, and participate in the learner-led book club to improve their literacy skills. The following are a few of their stories:

Maria Antonia Amao and her tutor, Barbara Vester, continue to meet weekly. They use Zoom and Google Docs to “discuss and edit Maria Antonia’s writings in real time.” When asked how their virtual sessions compare to meeting in person, they said that their connection was as if they were sitting side by side in the library. Meeting online gives them more flexibility and they don’t need to commute. Barbara noted that their literacy routine is only interrupted when Maria Antonia’s children pop in to say, “Hello!”

Kathie Cejka and learner Wen Sung Hsu meet using the telephone. They have incorporated the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic into writing lessons. Recently, Wen Sung wrote this poem that echoes many of our experiences:

Sunday, pray, worship, preach, use Zoom.

Monday, class, teaching, discussion, use Zoom.

Tuesday, mothers group, chatting, use Zoom.

This poem and other tutor-learner writings are being forwarded to the California Library Literacy Services (CLLS), which is compiling a statewide collection of works related to the pandemic. These writings will be posted online and retained as part of the state’s historical record.

Adult learners who are parents of young children face new challenges as they help their children with on-line schoolwork. Tutor Joan Prehoda provides advice and encouragement to her learner who is navigating this new learning environment by sharing ideas such as sending emails to teachers if topics are unclear or inquiring about her child’s progress.

The family literacy program supports several families through Zoom twice each month and with one-on-one phone calls from co-leaders Renee Kennedy and Joan Prehoda. Joan shared, “Families are challenged to use what they have learned during Zoom sessions in their daily lives. During one session, parents learned how to make the most of reading time at home. Strategies such as, pointing out interesting things in the illustrations and encouraging children to predict what will happen next by using open-ended questions develop comprehension, create a bond between parent and child, and add to the enjoyment of reading.”

Adult learners have also used Zoom for bi-monthly book club meetings. Twelve learners are reading My Brigadista Year by Katherine Paterson under the leadership of adult learner leaders, Tanya Jauregui and Martha Romo. The book club members enjoy the opportunity to improve their literacy skills by reading a book independently and talking about its themes at their meetings.

Teaching adults to improve their reading and writing so that they can obtain better employment and help in the education of their family is the foundation of making “Redlands Strong.” The Redlands Adult Literacy Program invites you to volunteer to help adults in our community improve their reading and writing. If you are interested in becoming a tutor, please contact the Redlands Adult Literacy Program at (909)798-7565 ext. 4138 or email literacy@akspl.org. If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their lives by contacting the Redlands Adult Literacy Program.

Adult Learners Win Southern California Writing Awards

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The cornerstones of literacy are reading comprehension and effective writing. Over the last two years, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program has offered tutor training and learner workshops to help learners develop stronger writing skills. The focus on writing led to ten adult learners from the Redlands Adult Literacy Program entering into the Writer-to-Writer Challenge, sponsored by the Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN). The SCLLN annual Writer-to-Writer Challenge invites adult learners throughout Southern California to write a letter to an author, living or dead, whose book has inspired them.

This year ninety-five adult learners from the Southern California region submitted letters to the challenge. Literacy coordinators screened the letters and selected the top five in each of four categories. Panels of adult learners then judged the top letters and selected one winner and two runners-up for each level of writing.

Tanya Jauregui (left) and Maria Hernandez, runners up in the Writer-to-Writer Challenge

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program is happy to announce that three adult learners, Marisela Casillas, Maria Hernandez, and Tanya Jauregui, earned runner-up recognition from SCLLN.  Due to the Corona virus; however, the awards ceremony that would have recognized these learners has been postponed. The Redlands Adult Literacy Program acknowledges the achievement of all adult learners who submitted writing to the challenge and celebrates the three runners-up from Redlands.

Diane Shimota, adult literacy coordinator, asked each of the awardees what they had gained from their experience.

Marisela Casillas read the book Seedfolks and wrote a letter to its author Paul Fleischman. Seedfolks was the first book Marisela had read on her own.  She chose to write the author because she could relate to the characters in the book.

When asked how she felt when she first learned about the Writer-to-Writer Challenge, Marisela said she was “scared.” She was not sure she wanted to participate, but she wanted to improve her literacy so she decided to try. She began the writing process by talking with her tutor about the story. She understood one of the character’s challenges, because they were similar to her own as a single woman supporting herself in a new country.  When asked if she had done a lot of editing to her letter, Marisela replied, “Oh yes, many times.”

Marisela is proud of how much she has learned in the literacy program. When she re-read her letter last week she said, “Wow!” because the letter’s message still resonates with her. She would encourage all learners to submit a letter to the Writer-to-Writer Challenge.

Maria Hernandez entered the challenge with her letter to Stephanie Sammartino McPherson reflecting upon the book Peace and Bread about the life of Jane Addams. Maria was moved by the compassion Jane Addams felt for the poor, especially children and immigrants. Maria’s mother shared Jane Addams’ compassion for others and passed this along to Maria. Maria wrote, “Learning about Jane Addams inspired me to help others in the community. I provide blankets, clothes and meals to the homeless. I also care for senior citizens who are not able to drive or cook. As a mother, I also model compassion and service to my children the way my mother did for me.” Maria shares that writing a letter to an author “opens our mind to write our ideas and share our experiences about reading.”

Tanya Jauregui read Michelle Obama’s Becoming, and wrote, “…you gave me courage to find my voice and speak louder for the Adult Literacy Program… I need to keep using my voice to advocate for such an amazing program.” Tanya sees Ms. Obama as a mentor who has given her “new perspective on leadership and education.” Tanya encourages others to try to express themselves in writing because by writing their stories they may inspire others.

Reading is a personal experience and writing to an author helps readers think about how a book speaks to our own lives. Think about your favorite book. What would you say to the author of that book about why it was important to you? How has a book changed your life?

The Redlands Adult Literacy Program relies on its wonderful volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring.  If you are interested in becoming a tutor, please contact the Redlands Adult Literacy Program at (909)798-7565 ext. 4138 or email literacy@akspl.org. If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their lives by contacting the Redlands Adult Literacy Program.