The Charboneau Learning Center

                                                            A Program of The Literacy Project

                                                                     15 Bank Row, Suite D

                                                                    Greenfield, MA 01302

                                                                         413-774-3935

                                                         www.literacyproject.org/charboneau.html

                                                            February 2005

Total Enrollment:        50                  Number on Waiting List: 2                                 Total Attendees:     46

          15 days of classes     Class Contact Hours: 838.50     55.9  hours per day     (about   23  learners in classes per day)

Intakes: 11   Intakes that Attended: 9                                                                                  Passed GED:   2

Attendance Statistics

12 or more Hours:  31                                  From 2 to 11.99 Hours:  15                           Less than 2 Hours:  4

(24 or more Hours: 16 )

Enrollment Statistics  (Numbers and categories reflect self-reports of enrolled individuals)

  Enrollment by Town                 Enrollment by Age                     Enrollment by Referral            Seeking GED?

  Colrain                     1              16.00 -- 17.99           15              Agency/Org                19               Yes        43

  Deerfield                   2              18.00 -- 24.99           16              Career Center/DET        2                No          7

                                                                                            Com College                4

  Erving                      1              25.00 -- 44.99             9                                                                           50

                                                                                            Court/Probation            4                              

  Gill                         1              45.00 -- 59.99             7              Leadership Training        1

  Greenfield                29              60.00 +                    1              Library                       1

  Monroe Bridge           1              Not Recorded             2              Montague Site              1

                                                                                            Walk In                      1

  Montague                12                                          50

                                                                                            Word of Mouth           17

  New Salem                1                                                                                         50

  Northfield                 1

  Shelburne                  1

                              50

  By Native Language                 Enrollment by Race                   Enrollment by Gender

  English                   46              AmerInd/Alaskan        1               Female                    31

  Somalian                   1              Asian                       1               Male                      19

  Spanish                    3              Black                       5                                           50

                              50              Hispanic                   2

                                               Not Recorded             1

                                               White                     39

                                               White, Native             1

                                                                           50

Class Activities

Louise's Morning ABE class worked on their autobiography projects. They also continued with their Civil War and Slavery

Unit while doing their regular Math work and some additional planning and sequencing activities.

 

Joe's Morning pre-GED class finished their Science Unit on atoms and subatomic particles and started reading about

electricity and energy.  They also finished the "Alien and Sedition Acts" segment of their unit on First Amendment Rights

before starting to write public policy letter letters regarding the president's proposed budget.

 

The Evening GED class had somewhat better attendance along with an increase in enrollment.  Louise is working with them

on some History Activities while continuing with regular Math instruction.  They are also doing a lot of individualized Writing

with some Group Writing activities including one lead by Peggy Woods.

 

Amber applied for $2500 FCAC Community Building grant.  She proposed two alternative community learning projects. One is

 a marketing project where seeds will be sold as a fundraiser.  The other is a video project on employability skills and

attitudes.

Successes

"Keeping Your Job" - part of the Employability Workshop Series

Penny from Harmon Personnel Services  was a guest speaker at the afternoon "Keeping your Job" workshop  on February 7.  Penny

and the students frankly discussed professional expectations and on-the-job challenges especially as they relate to people new to the

workforce. Nine students attended and the workshop was video recorded by Cheri Gallegos with plans to edit the footage for GCTV Production.

Fresh Flower Fundraiser

Staff and students at Charboneau Learning Center and at Even Start raised over $500 selling flowers.!

Not only did they sell flowers, they created resumes, cover letters, learned basic components of a business, and earned certificates of

achievement and completion.

Writing Workshop with Peggy Woods

Peggy Woods led a very well received creative writing workshop with the Evening GED class.  People really enjoyed the activity and

many of them continued to develop their writing in subsequent classes.

Participation in Badminton Tournament to raise money for Dial/Self Teen Services

Amber, Cheri Gallegos and Michael White participated in a badminton tournament and raised 140$ for Dial/Self Teen Services in

Greenfield. They got second place in the tournament, and not to mention had a lot of fun!

Guest Speaker from The Department of Transitional Assistance at Even Start.

Donna Shepard came to talk to students about food stamp and welfare eligibility. She was asked many questions, both hypothetical

sand realistic. She steered clear of the tough questions about child support and told us to contact DOR. I would like to have her attend

class again.

Sixty-Six letters to Federal Legislators

By the end of the month we had that many letters faxed and mailed to Kennedy, Olver, and Kerry.  This time we are focusing much

more on the background issues and ideologies while also doing our best to churn out those letters.  We also have been spending more

time on the pragmatics of letter writing - and part of that included a special letter writing presentation by Nina Keller.

Two GED's !

Ashley Wills and Matt Hills both passed their GED's. Matt started Greenfield Community College for the Spring Semester and Ashley

will be attending GCC in the Fall.

Resume writing workshop as part of the Employability Workshop Series

2 students in attendance and many students expressed interest about doing them in individual time.

Achievements by Learners

   4  learners Applied for a Job

   3  learners Completed a Resume!

   1  learner Completed an Essay (or other significant writing project)

   2  learners Contributed labor to make the learning environment safer/cleaner

   1  learner Got a drivers license

   3  learners Got a job

   4  learners Increased Civic Participation

   1  learner Interviewed for job

   1  learner Made a presentation to the class

   1  learner Opened a checking/savings account

   2  learners Passed GED

   1  learner Passed some GED tests

   4  learners Read a book

   1  learner Reduced drug/alcohol dependence

   1  learner Registered to vote

   1  learner Removed from Public Assistance

 

                

                                                                                                                     

Professional Development Activities

  2/18/05  Joe and    Teacher Meeting                                                                                                                      2.25

            Louise     Sharing about teaching the GED level.  Also a discussion on public policy regarding workforce development with Alex Risely

                         Schroeder from MWA

 

 

Volunteers                                                        Hours

    Beth-Ann Bascom           0 ABE Morning                   5.00

    Betty Anselowitz             3 ASE Evening                    6.00

    Clayton Salem                0 ABE Morning                   4.50

    Dorothy Miller                0 ABE Morning                   4.00

    Josie Dickson                 3 ASE Evening                    4.00

    Keith Jenkins                 0 ABE Morning                   4.50

    Mary Siano                    1 ASE Morning                   9.75

    Nina Keller                    1 ASE Morning                   9.00

                                                                            46.75

  We can never thank these people enough.  They are terrific!

Intake Breakdown

By Town                                  By Age Range                           By Referral                             Seeking GED?

Colrain                       1             16.00 -- 17.99               8              Agency/Org                    3               Yes        11

Greenfield                   8             18.00 -- 24.99               2              Public School                  1

Montague                   2             25.00 -- 44.99               1              Word of Mouth               7                            11

                              11                                           11                                               11

By Native Language                  By Race                                  By Gender

English                     10             Not Recorded               1             Female                      5

Spanish                      1             White                       10             Male                        6

                              11                                           11                                          11

 

Student Comments this Month

  2/1/2005                           1 ASE Morning                     Female                                 25.00 -- 44.99

  [What did you REALLY learn today?] that Hamilton + Jefferson disagreed a lot.

  [Something else the teacher should know (or other comments)] I think it would be easier for people if we did thing[s] in

  [the] order that they happen[ed], but maybe I'm wrong[. T]his is just my opinion.

  I just remember in school the thing[s] were together.  I could listen to the teacher and look at my notes and remind

  myself what had happen[ed] the last time. 

  I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. And I'm sorry for snapping @ you.  If you need to respond to this[,]

  please write to me.

  2/1/2005                           1 ASE Morning                     Female                                 45.00 -- 59.99

  I found that the Jeffersonians made a lot of sense when it came to taxes etc. where Hamilton was all for money

  "power"  Jefferson was cutting taxes and limiting the amount of military-army -officers to keep money for the states.

  2/1/2005                           3 ASE Evening                      Male                                    16.00 -- 17.99

  People were pretty helpful.  Seems like a nice place.

  2/1/2005                           3 ASE Evening                      Male                                    25.00 -- 44.99

  teacher joe showed me how to use order of operations.

  2/1/2005                           3 ASE Evening                      Female                                 18.00 -- 24.99

  [I learned today because . . .] I worked hard at fractions.

  2/2/2005                           1 ASE Morning                     Female                                 16.00 -- 17.99

  We did fractions turning into decimals then percents[. T]hen I took a test I have to finish.

  [What helped you learn today?] notes on the bo[a]rd.

  2/2/2005                           1 ASE Morning                     Female                                 16.00 -- 17.99

  I'm improving my Math.

  2/2/2005                           1 ASE Morning                     Female                                 16.00 -- 17.99

  went 2 job fair at Career Center.

  2/2/2005                           1 ASE Morning                     Female                                 25.00 -- 44.99

  Group time did help a lot.

  2/2/2005                           1 ASE Morning                     Female                                 45.00 -- 59.99

  My teach[er] help[e]d me.  And it's funny because I knew the answer[s] but yet sometimes I do forget.  Keep giving me

  homework[. I]t helps me a great deal.

  2/2/2005                           1 ASE Morning                     Male                                    16.00 -- 17.99

  [What did you really learn today?] stop distractions