Staff Programs


STAFF PROGRAMS

Literacy Works offers these services for literacy program coordinators and educators.

MEMBER NETWORK

Literacy Works brings together literacy program staff from across Chicago to share ideas and resources at its Member Network meetings. Literacy Works incorporates a special training into each meeting, targeting a topic relevant to the challenges of operating volunteer-driven literacy programs.

Topics have included recruiting and managing volunteer tutors, implementing a writing program, and helping tutors integrate employment literacy into their teaching.

FAMILY LITERACY OPPORTUNITIES (FLO)

Family literacy coordinators and educators attend Literacy Works' Family Literacy Opportunities workshops to learn innovative approaches to parent education and parent-child activities. At FLO workshops, coordinators and educators from family literacy programs across Chicago also have the opportunity to network and learn from one another. 

Recent workshops have included:

  • The Science and the Soul of Reading
  • Involving Parents and Children in Family Literacy
  • Picture Us Learning: Using Photos to Help Parents Encourage Children's Learning

ADVISING/CONSULTING/RESOURCES

Literacy Works provides expert assistance to new programs and new coordinators -- ranging from telephone and email communications to on-site consulting and staff training. 

Literacy Works' Resources pages include websites recommended to literacy practitioners. Literacy Works also sends out notices, job announcements, resumes, and alerts to new resources via its adult literacy and family literacy mailing lists.

REACHING BEYOND

Literacy Works regularly presents its innovative approach to teaching writing skills, employment literacy, and family literacy at regional, state, and national conferences.

Through all its services, Literacy Works fosters connections and collaborations among community-based literacy programs in Chicago and beyond.

COORDINATORS' WORDS

Program coordinators comment on their experience with Literacy Works:

  • I'm a new coordinator. You've been helpful to me as I learned how to do my job!
  • I consider Literacy Works as a resource for all types of literacy trainings. The trainers are aware of best practices as well as the challenges that individuals living at or below the poverty line (our target audience) may face. The philosophy that literacy is in the everyday moment that comes through Literacy Works' trainings is great. So is their awareness of how to reach learners with varying backgrounds and learning styles. So is their professionalism and reliability. 


         

Professional Development