Turning Pages Turns 50

We give thanks to all for being able to help adults in the Columbia area for 50 years raise their literacy levels; but moreover, through literacy training, helping adults make changes in their lives, in their workplaces, and in their communities that have improved the quality of life for all.

Debbie Yoho, former director of Turning Pages will be our featured speaker and actor and comedian Hal Guyon will make a special appearance.

We will gather on Thursday, March 22, 2018 from 6 – 8 pm at the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 2062 N. Beltline Blvd, Columbia, SC 29204.

If you have been involved with Turning Pages or are interested in what we do, we would love for you to join us. Please RSVP by phone 803-782-1210 or email literacycolumbia@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/events/2085257904822843/

Reflections from Thoreau Weekend at Congaree National Park – April 22- 23, 2017

Videos from Thoreau Celebration at Congaree National Park on April 22, 2017 are on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/turningpagesSC/videos/

Reflections from Thoreau Weekend

Thanks to all of you for making the Earth Day Weekend at Congaree a success. Even the rain, that was originally predicted for all day Sunday, held off until our last Thoreau Celebration Walk was completed Sunday, April 23.

I am including some of the comments from park guests who attended the various sessions:

Concerning the Living History Walks: “Impressive.” “A great experience.” “I loved the high school students.” “I loved the costumes.” “You are really looking dapper today (in your 19th century clothes)!”

“I was on the first Living History Walk. After it was finished, I saw Chris (Mathews ) coaching the students on the next performance.” “Chris is a teacher at his best!”

“I learned a lot about Thoreau that I never knew. I went home yesterday and told my family.”

“I am going to read Walden again.”

“You have to hand it to the Dreher High School student actors. Doing this as unpaid volunteers shows their real love (of theatre). To come out here to Congaree after taking a college entrance test is really amazing. We can’t thank them enough.”

“All of the students showed talent.” “The young man who played Thoreau (Daniel Hanlin) is a talented actor. He should continue to pursue acting.” “I liked the sincere, young man who played the brother, John Thoreau (Bryson Stakely).” “The girls (Mia Jones, Javia Belton, Sydney Largent) were wonderful.”

“I came here thinking today thinking what does Thoreau have to do with South Carolina or the Congaree? After the history walk, I don’t have any questions. He is an important American.”

Concerning the 19th century music sessions: “Amazing.” “So beautiful.” “I wish that my mother was here to hear this.” “I grew up with a little record-player and many of those melodies I remember from my past.”

“I walked away crying when it was over.”

The best non-verbal reaction was three young girls breaking into an interpretive ballet-like dance in reaction to the outside music session.

Another non-verbal reaction: Three international students from Spain gave great applause after each musical piece.

Concerning the SC Native American presentation by Michael Iron Horse Matthews:

“I don’t want to go home!” “Can he do it again?”

“He is a spiritual person.” “A real South Carolina treasure.”

“Have him come back again, please.”

Concerning the Thoreau and Literacy Table, “I love the Thoreau quiz questions.” “I want another… and another.” “Give me another one!” “I want to give a donation to Turning Pages (Greater Columbia Literacy).”

Funniest comment of the weekend:

“Oh. Abraham Lincoln at the park,” after seeing the large poster image (a daguerreotype or early photograph) of Henry David Thoreau.

In short, it was an unforgettable weekend at Congaree.

Thanks again.

John Myers

There were several events that celebrated Thoreau. The Columbia Star has a list of activities and events on their webpage.

Dreher drama students performing the Living History (part of this which was written by John Myers and directed by Chris Mathews) chronicling key parts of Thoreau’s life will be presented along the boardwalk at three different times at Congaree National Park on 4/22/2017 (Earth Day) at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm.

More information on the Thoreau Weekend at Congaree National Park on 4/22-23/2017 can be found on the Thoreau Society webpage.

To find out directions and details for the Congaree National Park visit their website. You can go directly to the directions page.

TUTOR ORIENTATION: Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 10 am – 12:30 pm

TUTOR ORIENTATION: Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 10 am to 12:30 pm

Turning Pages will be welcoming new volunteer tutors to a Tutor Orientation session on Saturday, May 13, from 10-12:30 at our central location in the First Christian Church, 2062 Beltline Boulevard (park in the lower church parking lot across the street from ACE Hardware and Casa-Linda Restaurant). Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP at literacycolumbia@gmail.com if you are planning to attend.

We at Turning Pages look forward to having you on our team of volunteers, our life-blood, as we help adult learners turn the page to their own possibilities with one-on-one and small group literacy tutoring.

Sign up to volunteer with Turning Pages on our interest form
Please come and invite anyone you know who wants to make a life-changing difference in someone’s life through literacy tutoring.

The session is recommended for all prospective volunteers who would like to help adults improve their literacy skills (reading, writing, speaking, computer skills, ESL–English as a Second Language, and GED prep). The session is free. Here’s your opportunity to help an adult turn the pages to their own opportunities.

Please RSVP

More information about volunteering can be found at our volunteer page or by contacting us at 803-782-1210.

Midlands Gives May 2, 2017

Help our organization grow by giving on May 2, 2017 as part of Midlands Gives. Details are located at the MidlandsGives website.

How will the Midlands Gives dollars raised impact this organization?
Contributions will provide our learners custom-designed materials, resources, and technology for reading, writing, ESL and GED preparation. Contributions will also provide tutors with best practices and technology for training their learners to meet their unique needs.

Mission Statement
To enable functionally illiterate adults in Richland and Lexington counties to acquire the literacy and life skills necessary to participate productively in their homes, workplaces, and community.

How does this organization impact its community?
By offering customized one-on-one and small group literacy training for adults, we will reduce the illiteracy rate of the population served and improve their standard of living, thereby adding productive citizens to the workforce and raising the overall quality of life in the community.

Turning Pages is partnering with the Flight Deck Restaurant located just off Hwy-378/Sunset Blvd and Hwy-6 at 109 Old Chapin Road, Lexington, SC. Flight Deck owners Angela and Ted Stambolitis are long term supporters of adult literacy in the Midlands. Learn more about Turning Pages at our information kiosk at the entrance to this top rated restaurant. Stop for lunch between 11 am and 2 pm.

Rhythm

Rhythm

I want to talk to you about a topic on which I am no expert–rhythm. Even though I was good at kickball, when it came to rehearsing on the blacktop for the May Day festival dance in sixth grade, there was one move I just couldn’t get. Skipping. All the other students seemed to skip without thinking, and come to think about it, looking back now, maybe I was thinking too hard.

The more I thought about how to do it, the harder it got. I thought I saw what others were doing, but when I tried to do it, I was stymied. My foot went up, yes, but I couldn’t get the next part. I stalled in mid-air, and then it was time to shift to the other foot. Panic! What came next? My legs must have looked like a wayward pogo stick, out-of-sync shanks. What was missing? I just could not get it. The answer was: rhythm.

Why is learning so hard for some students? I would submit it’s because some students just can’t get into a rhythm that works for them. The problem is that everybody has different rhythms. Good teachers, I believe, find a rhythm that students can follow and make their own. The students learn how to get into a pattern, a rhythm if you will, that feels good for them. For students that come from chaotic households, finding a predictable rhythm can provide the real security and calm that creates a context for learning.

Sitting in a cramped desk, as you might imagine, for some learners, just goes against their natural rhythms. At-risk students, learning-disabled students, kinesthetic or tactile learners, and many adult learners require innovative methods that allow learners to feel comfortable in their own bodies–safe, settling into a pattern that works for them. Once a learner finds the right rhythm, I believe, he or she can develop the flow that makes learning fun.

One point of getting into a rhythm is so your body can go on auto-pilot, so you don’t have to think, right? Your body is free to soar, like Michael Jordan on a roll. You glide.

Well, some of us, anyway.

The learner does not have to think so much about what he or she is doing. They just do it. It’s in their muscles. The learner is “in the zone,” again, like Michael Jordan.

Once, I learned the rhythm of skipping, the little two-step, it was like riding a bike; I didn’t have to second-guess myself. I just skipped. As educators and tutors, we need to look for ways to help students find their own natural rhythms.

-Chris Mathews

Next Time:
Using Word Families with Rap or Hip-hop is one way to help students who have trouble with vowel sounds to figure out words.
A Lesson Plan for using word families and Hip-hop to help learners learn and remember difficult word endings like –TION and –SION.

Celebrating Thoreau in South Carolina – 2/25/2017

Thoreau: A 200th Birthday Celebration
Date: Saturday, February 25th from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Neglia Hall 1529 Assembly St, Columbia, SC 29202 for directions use Google Maps.

Join us for stories, music and fun!
In honor of nature-lover Henry David Thoreau, there will be a hands-on presentation of animal artifacts from the Congaree National Park, a storyteller and book giveaways for participating children.

Presented by Turning Pages, Congaree National Forest, SC Department of Education, and SC Center for Children’s Books and Literacy.

Turning Pages’ director Chris Mathews will be reading two books for children about Thoreau.

Former Director John Myers has organized this commemoration of Thoreau’s 200th birthday.

Thoreau Weekend at Congaree National Park – April 22- 23, 2017

There are several upcoming events that celebrate Thoreau. The Columbia Star has a list of activities and events on their webpage.

Dreher drama students performing the Living History (part of this which was written by John Myers and directed by Chris Mathews) chronicling key parts of Thoreau’s life will be presented along the boardwalk at three different times at Congaree National Park on 4/22/2017 (Earth Day) at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm.

More information on the Thoreau Weekend at Congaree National Park on 4/22-23/2017 can be found on the Thoreau Society webpage.

“Thoreau Nature Walks,” Featuring South Carolina Naturalists and Youth and Adult Actors Portraying Thoreau and His Contemporaries, Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23, 2017.

“Thoreau’s Music at Congaree,” Mid-19thCentury American Folk Music. A Columbia Music Ensemble, Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23, 2017.

If You Are Interested in More Information or in Volunteering for the 2017 Thoreau Bicentennial events in Columbia, SC and/or at Congaree National Park, Contact John Myers, 803-447-9264.

To find out directions and details for the Congaree National Park visit their website. You can go directly to the directions page.

Deckle Edge Literary Festival (February 24-26)

Deckle Edge Literary Festival 2017 is February 24-26, 2017. Complete details and schedule can be found at the Deckle Edge website.

The weekend-long festival will feature readings, book signings, panel presentations, exhibitors, writers’ workshops, activities for children and young adult readers, and a wide range of other literary events for many interests and all ages. The Deckle Edge literary festival will gather and foster the diverse branches of our region’s literary community through an inclusive weekend of public events and programming for readers, writers, and lovers of the written word.

There is a visual preface to the festival and information can be found on the Columbia Star webpage.

TUTOR ORIENTATION: Saturday, February 4, 2017 from 10 am – 12:30 pm

TUTOR ORIENTATION: Saturday, February 4, 2017 from 10 am to 12:30 pm

Turning Pages will be welcoming new volunteer tutors to a Tutor Orientation session on Saturday, February 4, from 10-12:30 at our central location in the First Christian Church, 2062 Beltline Boulevard (park in the lower church parking lot across the street from ACE Hardware and Casa-Linda Restaurant). Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP at literacycolumbia@gmail.com if you are planning to attend.

We at Turning Pages look forward to having you on our team of volunteers, our life-blood, as we help adult learners turn the page to their own possibilities with one-on-one and small group literacy tutoring.

Sign up to volunteer with Turning Pages on our interest form
Please come and invite anyone you know who wants to make a life-changing difference in someone’s life through literacy tutoring.

The session is recommended for all prospective volunteers who would like to help adults improve their literacy skills (reading, writing, speaking, computer skills, ESL–English as a Second Language, and GED prep). The session is free. Here’s your opportunity to help an adult turn the pages to their own opportunities.

Please RSVP

More information about volunteering can be found at our volunteer page or by contacting us at 803-782-1210.

Book Signing at Flight Deck 12/3/2016

Book Signing at Flight Deck in Lexington to support Turning Pages & Literacy

A Book Signing by local authors will be held December 3, 2016, from 10 am – 12 pm at the Flight Deck in Lexington to benefit Turning Pages. This is a great opportunity for you to support adult literacy, ensuring that more adults who need help with reading and writing will get assistance and also support local writers by buying their books, perhaps picking up some great and meaningful Christmas gifts.