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TFL Newsletter, Spring, 2007

Strengthening the Cultural, Civic and Economic Fabric of the Region

As Top Floor Learning, Inc. completes its first full year of operations, I'd like to share with you a few highlights of 2006 and talk a little about future plans and goals.

Virtually every aspect of our Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning programs and services enjoyed measurable, and meaningful, growth in 2006. Top Floor Learning's Adult Literacy program, in particular, continues to attract state-wide recognition as a best-practice provider of literacy education.

The Massachusetts Literacy Foundation and its sponsor, Verizon Reads, in 2006 honored Margaret Boyko, TFL's Director of ESL programs, with a Massachusetts Literacy Champion award, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners formally commended Margaret for her service to literacy.

While we pledge to continue to build the size and scope of our programs, we intend to do so with an increasing focus on the timely and practical value of those services. For example, Marsha Gaudette, TFL's Director of Adult Literacy Services, has for many years included GED test preparation courses in her program. This fall, however, for the first time, Top Floor Learning and the Library will serve as a certified GED testing site.

Similarly, last winter Lifelong Learning offered an internet information workshop on Medicare's Prescription-drug program - we intend to reopen that workshop later this fall.

None of this is possible, of course, without the dedicated efforts of our staff and tutors and volunteers. I want to thank personally the Palmer Public Library and the growing number of individuals and organizations who have given so generously to Top Floor Learning. We acknowledge these gifts as an extraordinary vote of confidence in the value of our programs and services and, in turn, we pledge to be vigilant managers of our public trust and ever-worthy stewards of your financial support.

For Top Floor Learning, with thanks and good wishes,

Fred Moody
Chair, Board of Trustees

English as a Second Language: New Classes

Top Floor Learning initiated intermediate and advanced level conversation classes for the first time in March 2005. Citizenship classes, focused on preparing students to pass the U.S. citizenship exam, were introduced at the same time. These classes supplement the one-to-one instruction which continues as before for learners who are at a more basic level of English, or who prefer the one-to-one relationship.

The classes were envisioned as a place where students who had been in the one to one program could converse in English, with elements of grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension embedded in the lessons. For many students, there are limited opportunities to speak in English during daily life and the class provides a safe environment to practice newly-learned skills. The classes run in eight week cycles, with one week for makeup, and the fact that many students have registered for several cycles continuously points to the success of this new introduction.

One to one instruction continues as strongly as ever in the ESL program, with a total of 28 matched pairs working together during 2005-2006. Ten learners studied for the citizenship exam, 14 attended Advanced Conversation classes, and 18 attended Intermediate Conversation classes. A tutor training in ESL will be held in September, and ESL classes will begin again in the Fall.

Reading/Writing/Math and GED

In this first full year at the newly-expanded Palmer Public Library, Top Floor Learning has offered individualized tutoring in reading, writing, math, and GED preparation, in addition to small classes in writing,, math, and the GED Practice Test. These services have been provided by 26 volunteers for 70 adult learners from Hampshire and Hampden counties.

The highly successful Official GED Practice Test has been an effective tool to determine whether a person is likely to succeed on the full-length GED Test or benefit from additional study. Of the 40 adults completing the GED Practice Test, approximately 40% registered for additional study and 20% were already prepared to take the full-length GED. The remainder chose to study independently and were contacted periodically by the director to check progress. TFL has been accepted as a GED testing site by Holyoke Community College for a three-day period of testing on October 23, 24, and 25, 2006 which will be of great benefit to area residents. Though many learners are working towards their GED or improving their skills for work, many others decide to attend community college. As part of the application process they must pass placement tests in English and math to determine whether they have to take non-credit remedial courses or pass to college level English and math. TFL has assisted with preparation for these placement tests. One learner, after completing math tutoring at TFL passed the math placement test and entered college level Algebra One. Recently she notified her tutor at TFL that she had received A- for two semesters of college algebra, a tremendous endorsement of the help that TFL is able to provide.

The R/W/M program has been fortunate to receive free copies of The Republican. Many learners do not have access to a newspaper and this is a valuable teaching tool.

Lifelong Learning

Lisa Remillard is the Director of Lifelong Learning. The goal of the LLL program is to provide the residents of Palmer and surrounding areas with quality adult education classes held in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.

Since the inception of the LLL program, approximately 40% of the classes offered are in the category of Arts & Crafts, which includes Quilting, Chair Caning, Scrapbooking, Jewelry-making, and Painting, among others.

The other major category of classes, approximately 25% of the total, is computer related. These classes include Introduction to Windows, Word Basics, Internet Basics, File Management, Access, Photoshop, and How to Buy a Digital Camera, to name a few.

The remainder of classes fall under the umbrella of Special Interest, ranging from Health, Wellness and Nutrition, to Elementary Spanish, Financial Matters, and Estate Planning

While the majority of class participants reside in Palmer (38%), residents from Ludlow, Wilbraham, Monson, Belchertown, Ware and Brimfield also take advantage of the many classes offered.

If you would like to suggest a course, or would like to share your talents and teach a course, please contact Lisa Remillard directly at Top Floor Learning. To be put on our mailing list to receive brochures of our full listing of classes, please call Lisa at 283-2329.

Basket Raffle

The Basket Raffle, Top Floor Learning's major fundraiser of the year, yielded close to $5,300 from ticket sales. Twenty six fully-laden baskets were on display in the Palmer Public Library during May. The drawing was held on June 3. Top Floor Learning welcomes such strong support from the community and thanks those who donated a basket and those who purchased tickets.

Award

On June 6th, 2006, representatives of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners presented Margaret Boyko (Executive Director of Resource Development) with a citation recognizing her services to literacy.

Image: Left, John Arnold, Chairman MLBC; Centre, Margaret Boyko, TFL; Right, Robert Maier, Director MLBC; Photo by David L. Gray, MBLC. Click the image to enlarge.

Volunteers: Our Life-Force!

ESL TUTORS: Rori Bannerman Joyce Baron Barbara Beaulieu Don Bieber Anna Bothelo Gail Breyare Tony Carey Ann Custance Cathy Haley Joy Hibsher Clay Knapp Ed Maxwell Sandy McCorkle Val Montgomery Paul Mombourquette Gloria Skowyra Marcia Soja Shirley Street Sheila Thompson Ursula Wright

R/W/M TUTORS Wendell Bean Tom Camilleri Marilyn Cardano Marcia D'Amario Gerry Dearden Alan Dunham Irene Ersing Marsha Gaudette Ken Gilbert Margaret Huba Donna Hick Lisa Jangrow Barbara Keffer Paul Kelley Barbara Lebida Ed Lundrigan Mary Matejczyk Tony Matejczyk Karen Nadolski Sara Sibik Joseph Slowick Cynthia Smith

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Marion Cava Barbara Benedetti Kiki McGrath Terry Mullen Sophie Valtelhas Volunteers are the life-force of Top Floor Learning. Without your support, there would be no Top Floor Learning! Barbara Benedetti (left) and Marsha Gaudette (right) prepare Board manuals. Click the image to enlarge.

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