Dominican Adult Ctr-Literacy

Description

Grosse Pointe News March 11, 2010 Teaching the Basics ‘Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.’ Frederick Douglass By Ann L. Fouty Features Editor Ideally, Adrian Dominican sisters Janice Brown and Sue Schreiber would like to see The Dominican Literacy Program go out of business. Ideally, the two would like everyone in the program’s service area, Detroit’s east side, to be able to read, write, do math and be computer literate.Until that time, the program will continue to provide free, one-on-one tutoring skills to those 18 years and older, as it has since 1989. “We started with five volunteers and 20 students. Today, there are 260 volunteers and 327 students. The needs keep increasing,” said Brown, who has been with the program for four years. “With the shift in the economy, with the good factory jobs disappearing, people can’t just step into new jobs without the basic skills. Reading, writing and basic computer skills are needed.” Adding to the role of teaching the basics and laying the ground for General Education Development preparation classes, the literacy program includes another segment of the population — English as a second language students. They come from Russia, Bosnia, Poland, Vietnam, Senegal, Columbia, Jamaica, Bangladesh, China, Croacia, Albania and the Ukraine. In fact, the literacy program has served more than 20 ethnic populations. Liz Ricci of Grosse Pointe Woods tutors an Albanian woman who enrolled with a rudimentary knowledge of English, identifying basic words by flipping through a picture book. Spending two hours together once a week for months has improved her grammar and self confidence. “The center has a program of books with exercises in each book,” Ricci said. When the lesson is complete, the learner’s proficiency is tested. Though the program is free, students purchase their books, Brown said, providing a sense of ownership. Between the homework and lessons, Ricci said her student “has a renewed sense of purpose. She keeps practicing. She is identifying more.” Denise Neville of Grosse Pointe Shores has been working with Marcia, of Detroit, for seven years. Together, they have been practicing reading, writing and some arithmetic. Saddled with health issues, Marcia started school late, which put her behind, Neville explained. “She never caught up. She never graduated,” Neville said. Entering the Dominican literacy program was a way to be a role model to her children. “Reading is her focus,” Neville said. “She’s a trooper.” Practicing literacy skills, Neville helped Marcia take her written driver’s test and registered her to vote. Literacy makes all the difference in the world, Brown said. She added there is a direct correlation between the parent’s basic skills and their children’s skills. Thus, the literacy program is serving two generations through a curriculum geared toward new adult readers. The literacy program uses the Laubach method of learning. The reading material is structured for the adult student with a reading level between first and sixth grade, Brown said. “The program has the tools to build a life. They (students) are encouraged to build on what they have learned,” Brown said.

Products & services

Similar companies nearby