The Duncan Banner

Homepage

Related Photos

  • Marge Conner, left, and Ellen Forehand brainstorm during the Duncan Area Literacy Council tutor meeting held Wednesday morning. 18 tutors were taught by two instructors from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. Joshua Kellogg/The Duncan Banner

    Marge Conner, left, and Ellen Forehand brainstorm during the Duncan Area Literacy Council tutor meeting held Wednesday morning. 18 tutors were taught by two instructors from the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

  • LeJuan Fleming takes notes while Instructor Susan Donchin gives lessons on instructing adult learners on expanding their reading ability. Joshua Kellogg/The Duncan Banner

    LeJuan Fleming takes notes while Instructor Susan Donchin gives lessons on instructing adult learners on expanding their reading ability.
September 17, 2012

DALC ready for new year

Joshua Kellogg The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Members of the Duncan Area Literacy Council were gathered in the church parlor at First United Methodist Church Wednesday morning, themselves learning how to tutor adults with the goal of helping others achieve their goal of learning to read.

The council was recently accepted as a United Way of Stephens County Agency partner after reapplying this year.

Director Cheryl Dowell was in the back of the room while Trainer Susan Bonchin was leading the 18 tutors on a lesson about establishing goals.

Among the 18 tutors are a number of retired teachers and volunteers who have previously taught in the program, hoping for a refresher in the tutoring methods and instruction.

“If you want to go to California, you just don’t go,” Dowell said. “You have to have your suitcase and money and everything taken care of at home. We want to ask our students, ‘What can we do for you? What do you need help with?’”

Dowell has been leading the council for about a year so far and organized a day of instruction from two instructors from the Department of Libraries from Oklahoma City, a course conducted annually to prepare the tutors for educating adult learners.

“Adult learners come from a whole different lifestyle, we take reading for granted,” Dowell said. “We want to get on their level.”

One of the difficulties adult learners face, Dowell said, was their schedule as many learners have full time jobs and families and trying to accomodate a time for instruction.

“We try and meet them where they are and help them with their job,” Dowell said. “It’s a big step to call up and say, ‘I can’t read, help me.’”

Dowell hopes to increase the number of adult learners in the program as the DALC took the summer off but she believes the tutors are rejuvenated and ready to help those looking for assistance.

Text Only
Local News
Features
Sports
Education
Opinion
  • Is it ‘coincidence’ the OCE has no teeth?

    Since I spend most of my working hours in offices in Duncan and Waurika, it’s nice both communities now have recycling programs so I can deposit the sticky notes that serve as my memory.

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • Name new complex for Barnes

    Duncan High School’s new tennis complex, looking sharp in its blue and green U.S. Open color scheme, is drawing high praise for its quality and team impact.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

Special Deals
Facebook
The Duncan Banner on Facebook
Poll

The Oklahoma Lottery Ticket is $360 million for the May 15, 2013 drawing. Tell us:

Did you buy a ticket?
Forgot to buy a ticket?
Or do you just not play the lottery?
     View Results
AP Video
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims Raw: Aerials Show Path of Oklahoma Destruction Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla. Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings