LITERACY VOLUNTEERS ON THE GREEN

Our organization\u0027s goal is to maintain and improve each client\u0027s quality of life through mastery of the English language. We strive to achieve this goal through careful and thorough training of volunteer tutors and providing free instruction in basic literacy and English as a Second Language to anyone who exhibits a desire to learn.

When English Language Learners register, they are given the English as a Second Language Oral Assessment (ESLOA). It was developed by ProLiteracy America to measure the learner\u0027s ability to speak and understand English and focuses on the client\u0027s ability to communicate in a meaningful way. It is a progressive test and the assessment ends when the learner cannot correctly complete the required number of items within a section. Those who proceed to the 3rd level are also given a writing test developed by Pearson Longman for the text series which we use. All clients complete a goals worksheet which ranges from obtaining basic survival English skills to preparation for G.E.D. classes or the TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign language) which is required for college entrance. Their progress is assessed annually. Tutors report monthly on the client\u0027s attendance and participation.\r\n Basic literacy clients are typically lifelong English speakers who are functionally illiterate, usually reading below a fourth grade level. They are evaluated using materials created by the Laubach Way to Reading/ProLiteracy America. As with English Language Learners, they complete a goals worksheet, and we assess their progress on a regular basis.\r\n Volunteers on the Green recruits, trains, and supports the tutors who instruct our clients in language and literacy. Our program is effective because our tutors receive quality training, and both our tutors and clients are supported in their efforts. Our highly qualified volunteer tutor trainer holds a Master\u0027s Degree from Columbia University Teacher\u0027s College in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. As an affiliate of ProLiteracy America, LVG has access to all of the resources of that national organization, including the most recent research in literacy instruction and best practices for literacy organizations. In addition, we monitor our effectiveness through our clients. Each client establishes individual goals which are evaluated annually. In addition, pre-tests and post-tests are given to clients to measure their progress and determine the effectiveness of particular materials and curriculum for them. Tutors can pace instruction to match a client\u0027s needs, abilities, and interests, ensuring that it is appropriate for each client.

People are our greatest resource. We rely on volunteer tutors to provide instruction. The tutors are well-prepared by a trainer certified in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Our active, hands-on board of directors provide leadership and hard work to make fundraising events successful. \r\nWe are an affiliate of ProLiteracy America, an organization which does not provide financial support to affiliates but which does provide curriculum and training resources and guidance. \r\nWe partner with many agencies in order to provide services. Literacy Volunteers on the Green accepts referrals from the social service agencies in the towns throughout northern Fairfield and Southern Litchfield Counties, from the Head Start Program in New Milford, and from the Nurturing Families Network in New Milford, as well as from local church communities. \r\nWith the support of Kent Center School and the John Pettibone and Hill and Plain Schools in New Milford, Literacy Volunteers on the Green provides English tutoring to the parents of English as a Second Language clients. We provide a college application mentoring program to clients at New Milford High School. \r\nLVG created a Family Literacy program based on the Imagination Library provided to parents of local children by The United Way of Western Connecticut. This program helps parents who are English language learners to read the books with their children.\r\nAn additional family literacy program, Family Read\u00AE, is offered in partnership with the Connecticut Humanities Council by LVG facilitators who have been trained by Family Read\u00AE. The goal of Family Read\u00AE is to teach parents of all educational and socio-economic levels how to read with their children so as to increase the child\u0027s love of reading.

For students who have been with the program for one calendar year, we have noted the following results: 100% have improved their basic English survival skills, 82% improved on the performance task and on the text assessments.