The Pleasures of Caring for Grandchildren By Dorothy Thomas Tutored by Marie Chaney Tayzeon (age 5) likes to run the vacuum and empty the trash. He also loves riding his new bike that I gave him for Christmas. He likes to play soccer ball outside. He runs around in the backyard. Tristan (age 4) likes to watch movies. His favorites are Over the Hedge, Night at the Museum, and Alvin and the Chipmunks. Tyriel (age 3) likes to come to Mommom's house to wash dishes, fix the bed, and do the wash. When I'm in the kitchen, she likes to bake french fries and chicken nuggets in the oven. She also loves babysitting her sister. Trenel (14 months) when she enters my house she comes toward me with her little hands up in the air for me to pick her up. She gives me a kiss and then she places her little hands on my chest and pushes herself off. Then she goes to play with the toys in the toy box with a smile on her face and saying Mommom. I like it when my grandchildren come to visit me. They give me such joy! VITA Board Is Cross-Section of the Community Educators, bankers, and business people make up the VITA Board of Directors. Their skills in the business world help make VITA a successful organization. Of the 16 current board members, 10 have served or are currently serving as tutors. They are Jeff Ackermann, Earl Alleman, Etta Brew, Gene Cole, John Hebert, John Hiatt, Barbara Kinchen, Moses Morgan, Mary Neiheisel, and Bruce Snow. Several have tutored the same student for many years. At present, the members consist of 5 educators (Etta Brew, Mary Neiheisel, Ken Villemarette, Jerri Caillier, and Dr. Huey McCauley) , 3 moneymanagers such as bankers and CPAs (Earl Alleman, John Hebert, and Pat McCarthy), 3 oilfield related professionals such as geologists and engineers (Gene Cole, John Hiatt, and Bruce Snow), an attorney (Jeff Ackermann), a real estate agent (Barbara Kinchen), a mental health technician (Moses Morgan), a city director of administrative services (Gail Smith) and an insurance agent (Bill Bowers). The VITA staff, students, and tutors thank you for using your special skills to promote literacy in Acadiana. VITA and Work Ready U During the regular legislative session of 2010, governance for adult education programs was transferred from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS). This action is a result of a multiyear conversation within the education community concerning adult education's goals and better meeting Louisiana's current and future adult education needs. Louisiana Work Ready U is adding work readiness and employment to adult education goals of literacy and high school equivalency diplomas. Three basic ideas stem from this decision: 1. Place adult education with LCTCS whose core mission is workforce education, 2. Provide least educated citizens a path to work, and 3. Focus the state's limited adult education funds on more than 600,000 adults who do not have a high school equivalency diploma. Much of VITA's focus falls under these guidelines, and the staff looks forward to the new partnership. VITA Participates in Alice Boucher Elementary Wellness Fair Children's book given out at Alice Boucher Elementary Wellness Fair On Saturday, April 16, 2011 Alice Boucher Elementary School held a Wellness Fair, in which VITA took part. As a family literacy partner, VITA gave out VITA literature and the book Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat . Gregory is an unusual goat because he's a very picky eater. His mother becomes worried, and Gregory and she eventually reach a compromise that he will eat a balanced diet. In addition to VITA books being handed out, members of the Boucher community participated in Walk to Win. Informational booths and games were manned by other Student Appreciates Help from VITA Community It's a very ancient saying But a true and honest thought That if you become a teacher By your pupils you will be taught The King and I "Getting to Know You" M any of our VITA students come and go so quickly, but they leave lasting impressions. So it is with Mary Lagarde, who joined our program two years ago after Hurricane Katrina. She studied The Laubach Method with Evelyn Hackett, her tutor, and in the computer lab she studied Ultimate Phonics, Language Clues and Learning 100. At VITA, Mary had a very positive attitude toward learning and was always ready to extend her reach. While at VITA, she raised her reading level by two grades. What did she teach us? A great smile, a good attitude and great zeal for learning contribute much to success. We will miss her greatly as she moves to her new home in Baton Rouge, but she assures us she will continue her studies at Adult Literacy Advocates in Baton Rouge. By Audrey Martin SCRABBLE(r) in the Computer Lab Scrabble board with students' game in progress. VITA students participated in a brief form of the popular game, SCRABBLE(r) for four weeks in the computer lab . This tournament gave lab participants a chance to try out their new vocabulary and spelling skills. The games were held on Thursdays and open to all students. Each student picked seven tiles and had the opportunity to make the best word with the selected letters. Students then placed their word on the board, and totaled their scores. In addition to practicing vocabulary and spelling skills, students developed their math skills as well. Congratulations to the winners who won a VITA coffee mug : Week One: Rolkame Louis Week Two: Sunny Palmer Week Three: Sherlynn Washington Week Four: Starlar Ambrose By Audrey Martin New Websites, New Books Check out these new websites and books that you and your student(s) will enjoy using: - www.alison.com : free online learning website with tutorials in Microsoft Office products, workplace skills, and computing basics. - www.gcflearnfree.org : funded by Goodwill Community Foundation, provides computer technology, math and money basics, career and workplace development, and other everyday life skills. - Novel Scenes : by New Readers Press episodic stories that help to improve TABE skills such as paraphrasing, summarizing, and predicting outcomes. Includes several reading levels. - Celebrity Readers : by Remedia Publications short stories in fun-to-read format with comprehension activities. Titles include: Famous Male Sports Stars, Famous Actors, Famous Musicians. Books available at VITA library VITA and Work Ready U On Wednesday, May 4, 2011 students and staff walked to the Children's Museum (CMA) and the main branch of the Lafayette Public Library. In an effort to promote family literacy, students participated in a self-guided tour and checked out children's books at the public library. In addition to the tours, students received the children's book, Fancy Nancy at the Art Museum, to read to young children. "It was a beautiful day for a walk and an excellent opportunity for the students to be exposed to a new learning environment, " stated Janel Fontenot, staff member who planned the field trip. Students Brenda Daniel, Angelia Potier, and Starlar Ambrose view a health exhibit at CMA. Good News - Kouami Afanou (tutored by Fred Servield) passed the Georgia Teacher Certification Test. - Former VITA student, Therence Nsabiyumva, received a GED diploma. Congratulations to Our GED Graduates March James Arceneaux Anna Castillo Angela Bonner April Christina Bonner Lauren Cormier Alaina Harrison