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Whatcom Literacy Council Newsletter
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Friends of Literacy

A publication of the
Whatcom Literacy Council

 
February 2018
Thank you for coming to our Open House!

 
The Whatcom Literacy Council held a lovely Open House on Valentine's Day from 11:30 to 1:30. Staff decorated our resource library with hearts and quotes from learners, and brought snacks they had made. Current tutors, prospective volunteers, and board members dropped by, which meant people could meet and talk to others who have had very different experiences with the organization. It was a fun event!

One of the favorite treats was a coconut cookie made by staff person Maureen Cooley. Here is her recipe:


 
Double Coconut Meltaways
makes 24 (1 1/4-inch round) cookies

 
Ingredients:
  • 3/4 cup dried unsweetened coconut (in large or medium flakes)
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 tablespoons powdered sugar, for cookie dough, plus 1 1/4 cups sifted, to finish
  • 3/4 cup virgin coconut oil, firm (not melted)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
  1. In a food processor blend together the coconut flakes, flour, and salt until the coconut is finely ground. Add the 6 tablespoons powdered sugar, and blend again. Add the coconut oil and vanilla, and run the machine until the mixture balls together.
  2. Without a food processor: you'll want to start with 1/2 cup finely ground coconut or coconut flour and stir it together with the flour and salt. Beat the coconut oil with the 6 tablespoons powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in the dry mixture until just combined.
  3. Should the dough seem to soft to scoop and hold a shape, transfer to the fridge for 5 to 10 minutes.
  4. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  5. Scoop the dough into 1-tablespoon-sized balls (I use a #70 scoop and then roll them in my palms briefly), and arrange on the prepared baking sheets an inch or so apart. Then transfer the trays to the freezer until the dough is firm to the touch, about 10 minutes.
  6. Bake for 15 to 16 minutes, until the cookies are golden brown underneath and relatively pale on top, but dry to the touch.
  7. Let them cool on the baking sheets just until you can pick them up; then, while they're still quite warm, roll them in the 1 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar.
  8. Let cool completely on racks. I like to refresh the finish with powdered sugar, etiher roll the cookies one more time in it, or sprinkle it over the tops, once the cookies are cool.
  9. The cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Free U.S. Citizenship Sessions!

Do you want to learn more about the process of becoming a U.S. citizen?
Are you a provider who works with clients who may want to get their citizenship?


The first Citizenship Information Session this year was at the Bellingham Public Library on February 6th. Immigration attorney Nick Berning, along with Heather Fathali, covered all of the basics of how to go from holding a green card (a legal, permanent resident) to becoming a naturalized citizen. Although this was not legal advice, because the process can be complicated there are many things that can be helpful to know before starting out. Attendees included people who are current green card holders, volunteer tutors who work with people interested in getting their citizenship, local providers, and friends and family.


Please join us for one of the upcoming free sessions with local immigration attorneys who will cover the general eligibility requirements for naturalization, explain the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship, and be available to answer questions.

Additionally, the Whatcom Literacy Council will be there to provide information about its free programs; including how you can sign up for citizenship classes or work with a tutor to prepare for the citizenship test!

Dates and Locations:

Tuesday, March 20, 2018, 6-7PM at Blaine United Chruch
885 4th Street, Blaine, WA 98230

Tuesday, April 17, 2018, 6-7PM at Deming Library
5044 Mt Baker Hwy, Deming WA 98244
 
Tuesday, May 15, 2018, 6-7PM at Point Roberts Library
1437 Gulf Road, Point Roberts WA 98281
 

New Employee: Zoelle Stefens


We are welcoming Zoelle Stefens as the new Media Assistant at Whatcom Literacy Council.

Zoelle Stefens has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon and is currently applying to the post-bac program towards a Speech Language Pathology degree at Western Washington University.

She was born and raised in Bellingham and has traveled internationally, including Greece, Italy, Spain, and United Kingdom. Zoelle also resided in Ireland and Tanzania for two study abroad programs. She currently volunteers for Animals as Natural Therapy and PeaceHealth Children's Therapy. Hobbies include fostering homeless dogs, photography and design, dance, and cooking/baking.
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In This Issue:
 
Learner Spotlight: Roger
----------------
Thanks for coming to our
Open House
----------------

Upcoming Free U.S.
Citizenship Sessions
----------------
New Employee:
Zoelle Stefens
----------------
2018 Trivia Bee
Call for Teams
----------------
Tutor Tip of the Month
----------------
Change a Life -
Become a Tutor
"To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”
- Victor Hugo
Tutor Reports
 
This is just a friendly reminder to all tutors that we need to receive a report from you each month to keep us up to date on how things are going with your learner. See the links below:
 
In celebration of Black History Month, select one of many great books or poems by a black author as a learning tool.

 

Click image to enlarge.
"Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.”
- Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and
Nobel Peace Prize recipient
Remember to "Like" the Whatcom Literacy Council on Facebook! 
Whatcom Literacy Council Facebook
Inclement Weather Policy
Our inclement weather policy is SAFETY FIRST. 

If for any reason it is not safe for you or your learner to get to where you meet, please reschedule your appointment, and let your staff contact know. 

If either BTC or the Bellingham School District is closed, the offices of the Whatcom Literacy Council will be closed.
Follow the Whatcom Literacy Council on Twitter! 
Twitter
Tutor Tip of the Month

 
 This month's featured activity, the Language Experience Approach, relates to World Storytelling Day on March 20th. The Language Experience Approach (LEA) technique is a powerful tool in developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. LEA allows learners to tell and read a story that is of interest to them rather than giving the learner a reading passage that may not have as much significance in their life. It can be used with all levels of learners - beginning, intermediate, or advanced.

To create a Language Experience Story:
  • Ask the learner to tell you something that is important to him/her. The learner describes a recent or past event that he/she would like to share. It could be a story that is long or short, something that happened over the weekend or many years ago; it can be funny or serious, inspiring or disappointing.
  • Write the story as the learner tells it. You may choose to rephrase the sentence with corrected grammar.
  • Re-read the story aloud to the learner, pointing to each word as you read it. Ask if there is anything the learner would like to add or change.
  • Ask the learner to read the story to you.

This story can then be used to practice reading, writing, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

Ideas for follow-up activities include: flashcards for sight words, work vocabulary, etc. Create scrambled sentences or sentence strips for the learner to practice putting the words/sentences in sequential order. Or create a fill-in-the-blank (cloze) worksheet, where every fifth or tenth word is deleted, and ask the learner to fill in the missing words orally or written.

***

Change a life. Become a tutor!


                
 
Make a promise to yourself this year to give back to your community.

Becoming a volunteer tutor with the Whatcom Literacy Council is a great way to do that!


Check out the Become a Tutor page on our website for videos and application and get in touch with a program coordinator!
If you have a resource or activity that you would like to recommend to other tutors, please share!

Give us a call or email us!
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If you have any questions or need help, please contact us at (360) 752-8678 or by email:

Katherine Freimund, Executive Director - director@whatcomliteracy.org
Maureen Cooley, Small Group Class Coordinator - sgc@whatcomliteracy.org
Linda Chrisman, Adult Learning Program (ALP) Coordinator - alp@whatcomliteracy.org

Cari Chan, Education Language Learning (ELL) Coordinator - ell@whatcomliteracy.org


Thank you for supporting the Whatcom Literacy Council!

 
Copyright © 2017 Whatcom Literacy Council, All rights reserved.

Mailing Address
Whatcom Literacy Council
P.O. Box 1292
Bellingham, WA 98227
 
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Whatcom Literacy Council · P.O. Box 1292 · Bellingham, WA 98227 · USA

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