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Tutor Training Books
The Literacy Council of Upper Pinellas recently received a $1,175 grant from the ProLiteracy National Book Fund. The National Book Fund makes grants for educational materials for adult literacy and adult basic education programs. These programs help teach adults to read.
The grant was used to purchase 50 Tutor books published by New Readers Press. Tutor offers step-by-step instructions for working with basic literacy adult learners in one-to-one, small group, or classroom settings. These books will be given to all new LCUP volunteers during fall and spring tutor training sessions.
Free Citizenship Classes at Clearwater East Community Library
Claudia Gonzalez
The Clearwater East Community Library has restarted the Citizenship Class that had been on hiatus during the library’s move to its new location.
The meetings are held in the small study room
on the ground floor of the new
Clearwater East Community Library
on Mondays at 5:00 p.m.
Started by Claudia Gonzalez in 2017, the class continues with John Troesser conducting drills on the 100 questions needed for the Naturalization test. In addition to the questions, explanations are given so that attendees fully understand the history and civics behind the questions.
Within its limited run, there have been two “graduates” of the program, the latest being Flor Rodriguez who became a U.S. citizen on May 9, 2018.
In the past, the program has had guest speakers to address any questions. The class has played host to a representative from Gulf Coast Legal Services and a non-profit organization that grants low-interest loans to prospective candidates to cover expenses and fees. Now that the program has restarted, these invitations will go out again, and personnel from the Tampa USINS office will also be invited.
Mr. Troesser says he feels privileged to have been asked to participate. “Claudia does most of the heavy lifting,” he says. “Keeping up with the students, updating their status and whereabouts is a Herculean task.” Claudia has recommended several students to John for tutoring and according to John: “She hasn’t sent a bad one yet.” They have all been exceptional.
Conversation Classes Resume at New Clearwater East Community Library
On April 30, English conversation classes resumed in their new meeting space at Clearwater East Community Library at St. Petersburg College. The library is located at 2465 Drew Street in Clearwater, and classes meet on Mondays from 6 pm to 7:30 pm.
Classes had been on hiatus since mid-February, so it was a warm reunion for students and tutors and a welcoming event for newcomers. The class is led by tutors, Jan Demers (back left) and Robin Pitchford (front right). Tutors are welcome to visit any class. We have many students who are eager to work, one-on-one or in a small group, with an LCUP English tutor.
The InterCultural Advocacy Institute’s 8th Annual Luncheon on Friday, May 11, 2018, was attended by LCUP members Claudia Gonzalez, Pat Bauer and Adriana Lefebvre.