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Tutoring Programs
The Literacy Council supports a variety of literacy programs throughout Texarkana area. These programs provide one-on-one, small group, and classroom tutoring services for adults, youth, and families. You do not need to have any previous experience to tutor at any of our literacy programs. A love for reading and helping people are good traits to have to be a successful tutor. You must be 18 years of age or older to tutor at most of our literacy programs. See Training Calendar.
In-service Literacy
This year at Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller Counties Inc, we are introducing a monthly in-service, covering various aspects of instructional methodologies and strategies used in our literacy programs. The in-service is designed to educate volunteer tutors, staff, and board members of new and/or changing methods of instruction in the field of literacy. The in-services will take place at the Arkansas Learning Center. See Training Calendar for Date and Time—brown bag lunch is welcome.
General Educational Development
The General Education Development (GED) Program works with adults who can speak and understand English, but need help with reading and writing. Each teacher meets with only one student. The student and teacher meet together once or twice a week for about an hour and a half each time. They meet in a library, community center, or other public place that is convenient to both of them. There is a one-time registration fee, and we ask students to pay for their own books.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
An adult's ability to speak and understand English is important if he/she is to participate fully in today's society. ESL students work one-on-one and in small and large group classes with trained volunteers and instructors. These students are foreign-born adults who need help with English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, as well as how become a functional member of our community.
The Literacy Council offers a variety of days, times and locations throughout Bowie & Miller Counties. Our class schedule is designed to meet the needs of our students.
Classes are held Monday through Friday and students progress at their own pace. Students are allowed free use of our computer lab which contains ESL software.
Health Literacy
Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.
Health Literacy is often understood as an individual's ability to read and understand printed information such as medication labels, health education brochures, and insurance forms. However, Health Literacy includes a much broader set of communication skills and knowledge. Many of students are new to the U.S. health care systems and/or struggle to communicate and understand in health care settings. As important, many of our newcomer students grew up with assumptions about health that are often different from what a US-raised adult might think of as "common sense" (such as: the importance of not sharing prescription medications or that physical strength and fertility are not related). Our Health Literacy projects are busy working to improve our students' communication skills and knowledge related to their health. Our students' desire to both learn English and learn about health, have made health literacy classes very popular.
Spelling Bee
Business and community groups compete in this annual summer fundraiser to see who the most proficient speller is! This activity provides community visibility, and raises money for our non-profit agency. To become a participant in the Bee:
| • | Enter a team of 3 members to compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place |
| • | Provide corporate sponsorship |
| • | Fund or co-fund someone else's team |
| • | Advertise your business with team attire |
| • | Donate door prizes for our many winners |
| • | Attend the Bee to show support for The Literacy Council! |
Corporate Sponsors |
|
| Presenting | $3,000 |
| Platinum | $1,000 |
| Gold | $500 |
| Silver | $300 |
| Bronze Bee | $250 |
| Award | $200 |
Individual Donors |
|
| Queen Bee | $250+ |
| Honey Bee | $100 - $249 |
| Bumble Bee | $50 - $99 |
| Bee Keeper | $30 - $49 |
| Honey Comb | $10 - $29 |
Testimonials
My name is Authur Ray Gulley, I am 65 years old and I never learned to read or write. When I first came to the Literacy Council in Texarkana, I didn’t know any of my ABC’s, and I had no idea of how to read or write. I didn’t know how to spell my name, but had to copy it out from a slip of paper I kept in my wallet.
In the first week of studying I learned all the letters in the alphabet, both the capital letters and the lower case ones, and I worked on learning how to write them. I have learned both cursive and print handwriting; it took me a long time, but I can write my name, address and phone number now. I learned cursive handwriting, so I can write cards to my wife to tell her I love her.
When I first started in the program, I did
