On the Screen: A Sourcebook and Curriculum Guide Bringing Women's
Barriers to Literacy, Learning and Employment to Light.

A 1999-2000 National Institute For Literacy Fellowship Project

Janet Isserlis janet_isserlis@brown.edu
PO Box 1974/Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
phone: (401) 863-2839
fax: (401) 863-3094 http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/screen.html

quarterly report: July - September, 2000
 

During the months of July, August and September, the group communicated via email, telephone and small group meetings.

A tape of one of the meetings was recorded and transcribed as part of the final writing process; portions of that transcription appear in the final report.

I participated in the development of a critical issues grant through Southeastern New England United Way in order to develop additional funds for the expansion of the library collection and provision of an on-site literacy drop in at the Womenís Center of Rhode Island and was funded to begin this work in the late summer of this year.  A work plan was established in late June and meetings and workshops with Center staff and residents began in July.  Since late August I have facilitated drop-in literacy sessions for mothers and children at the Center on Sunday evenings, have attended staff meetings, facilitated an initial workshop for staff and met individually with residents to assess their needs and interest in the project and also to assess residentsí responses to written materials and procedures utilized at the Center.

During this quarter, the following dissemination activities occurred:

web dissemination:

-- completion of a digest on trauma and learning for the National Clearinghouse for Literacy Education (available online and in hard copy).

- development of a new set of pages for beginning level readers
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/violence.html
- continued and completed development of shadow site, the address of which is known only to participants in the fellowship group, containing meeting notes, archives of email listserv, participantís statements (as part of application process to participate in the project) and contact information
- continued development of public pages, explaining the work and providing resources
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/proposal.html
- abridged version of fellowship proposal
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Swearer_Center/Literacy_Resources/screen.html
- print, video and online resources

outreach:
I facilitated brown bag lunch sessions to begin informal training process with staff in two of the stateís four regional centers during July and August, and am invited back to meet with workers in the two remaining regions during the fall, and possibly develop additional training for DCYF staff later in the year.

submitted proposal to present a workshop addressing findings/fellowship work at AAACE Annual Conference, November 13 - 17, 2000, Providence, RI and also at TESOL 2001, St. Louis.  AAACE presentation will be made in November, TESOL proposal was not accepted.

additional workshops for myself and project participants:

Full day with Jenny Horsman, June 19.  Three-hour meeting in the morning for fellowship participants and two-hour afternoon workshop open to the RI education/social service community.

activities: continued communication via listserv for project participants; again open only to participants and archived at a shadow site, as well as postings to NIFLís women and literacy list and ongoing communication with Anson Green

Continued writing process, bringing draft to near completion, pending input from participants and others in the field.  Anticipated completion date: December 1, 2000.

Continued (and continue) tutoring two women  Adult Correctional Institution, Cranston, RI
 

An extension is requested for the completion of this project.  Continued time is needed to complete the following:
-  Attend fourth meeting in Washington DC.
- Finalize initial proofing of final drafts.
-  Cross reference report/resource pieces with Anson Greenís work.

Anticipated completion date,  December 1, 2000

Respectfully submitted
 
 
 

Janet Isserlis
 



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