Thu nde r Bay Lite r acy Gro up

Plain Language

New Web Site Launched

We held an open house in September to celebrate the changes we have made to our web site. It is now more user-friendly, and we will be adding new things over the next few months.

Tutors and learners will enjoy great games and learning activities in the ('Things to Do" section. The crossword puzzle from this newsletter can now be solved on-line. This newsletter will also be on-line soon.

There are also some great links to other sites for tutors tmder "Want to help" and "Want to learn." Check out our new web site at: www.tblg.org

Start practising! The 9th Annual Scrabble® Magic Tournament is coming up: Saturday, February 24, 2007

Pledge forms will be available in .January.

Retirement

Connie Latimer, our English instructor, retired this fall. A wonderful going-away party was put on by her class.

One of her students \Wote "Breezes," on page 3, to thank her for all her help.

Thank you Connie for all you have done for us!

Enjoy your retireTTI!8nt, Connie./

Volume 16, Issue 1

Fa1l 2 006

Inside This Issue:

Our Learners Write 2

More Learner Writings 3

Crossword 4

More Free Classes 6, 7

Our Board of Directors 6

Puzzle Answers 8

What's New:

• Brodie Library now has a study room you

can reserve for one-to­one tutoring.

• Brodie & Waverley libraries now have

expanded adult literacy sections 'rVith

materials from AlphaPlus Centre in

Toronto.

Our learners write •••

Thank you "1-Ii as you know, my name is Bonnie Baglien, and I originally came to the Thunder Bay Literacy (Group) school in Feb. '05 to help my daughter Alex with her high school homework simply because I couldn't 1nake head nor tails of it for I only have grade 8.

by Bonnie Baglien everything I needed to know, and for College. Hmnu11, I never thought that that's where I would go, or even be, but there· I was in CDI College, taking Addiction Cmmseling. Once I started there, in the first four days, I received a 91% on the flrst exam. But soon after, I found that I had jumped the

gun and wasn't quite ready for it. If it wasn't for the Thunder Bay Literacy (Group) school I wouldn't have been able to pass the math and English entry exam.

Alex had low marks, I believe, a 4 9% in math and a 56% in English. Well, I had to do something about this. So I set up some short­tenn goals, dug my heels in and went at it. As the monilis went on, so did the work load. Now, came the time - the end of the term -we were nervous to see the outcmne of our hard work, well the verdict was in, and low and behold, she /we

·· .. . there is help for those who choose i~

but it is also up to you and what you do with

The Thunder Bay Literacy (Group) school has become so important to me, they gave me the confidence, the knowledge, patience and the guidance that I needed to apply myself. So I came

did it, an 81% in math and 82% in English.

Wow, little did I know, that I would still be in this school to date. That tells you I had a lot to learn. I have now set new goals. From short term to long term goals, and in setting these goals this school has helped me reach them. Helping my daughter Alex bring up her confidence, self­esteem, her marks and just learning

Page 2

it. ,,

back to the Literacy School and am now quite positive that with their help and support and my determination, once again, I' 11 be ready in a short while, but think I'll get my GED first.

Oh, and just to add one more thing, society takes for granted that everybody can read and write, which simply isn't the case. Reading and writing is so precious to us, it opens all kinds of doors for you to explore. It' s

More. on page 3

Plain Language

Our learners write •••

Breezes by A.K.

I thought I was a buttertl9 fluttering in all directions.

Until a b reeze stretche d m9 wings and t hre w me into the horizon)

which I believed was be9ond me.

Now m9 e9es have wider visions1 and I s oar be9ond limitations.

As I look at m9 wings) I realize t hat I a m an eagle

and t he breeze keeps pushing me up.

I ho pe that the breeze neve r lose s its wind.

Othe rwfsel I would remain and believe that I a m a buttertl9.

Thank You tor the wind beneat h m9 wings .

More of Bonnie~ speech

a whole new world of emotions, adventure, knowledge and the list goes on, there is help for those who choose it, but it is also

today. So my hat is off to the Thunder Bay Literacy (Group) school. Thank you. ' ~

Bonnie presented this up to you and what you do with it. Again, if it wasn't fur the wonderful teachers and staffs support, patience, guidance and understanding, my

"Reading and writing is so precious to us, it opens all kinds of doors for you to

explore."

speech at this year's Definition Quest. Defi­nition Quest is a fun jiJ.ndraiser put on by the Thunder Bay Public

daughter wouldn)t have excelled into a new year and I wouldn' t have had a taste of College and be where I mn

Volutne 16, Issue 1

Library. The money they raise is used to

buy new materials for their adult liter-acy section.

Page 3

Crossword Puzzle

Writers Block

6

13

Math Puzzle

by Jean

1

2

3 ' 5

?

8

9 10 11

1;~

14

1S

16 1?

18

by David

The time is 3 hours earlier in Califonua than it is in New York. A live sports event starts in New York at 8:00 p.m. and it is shom-1 on t.v. The game ends at 7 p.m. California time. How long did the came last? (See page 8 for answer.)

Page 4 Plain Language

Clues

Across 3. A punctuation mark that is used to separate

items in a list 4. The twenty-six letters we use when writing 6. A sentence often ends with this punctuation

mark 7. A word that describes or modifies a noun or

pronoun 11 . A group of sentences about one main idea 13 . A word used to show action 14. Punctuation marks that indicate exact

speech 15. Letters in a word are joined together in this

type of writing. 16. The correct order of letters in a word 17. Mark paper with symbols or letters 18. The name of this punctuation mark :

Down 1. Rules of language 2. A unit of speech or writing 5. The name for these symbols , . ? " : 8. Proper narnes begin \Nith this type of letter. 9. Tells who or what the sentence is about

10. The letters a, e, i, o, u and sometimes yare called --

12. A group of words expressing a complete thought is called a ____ _

14. A sentence that asks for a reply

Volume 16, Issue 1

Word List

adjective

alphabet

capital

colon

comma

CUrSlVe

grammar

paragraph

period

ptmctuation

question

quotation

sentence

spelling

subject

verb

vowels

write

word

Page5

Free Computer Classes for Everyone

We have 7 new computer classes:

1. Absolute beginners - for those who have no experience with computers

2. Basic Computers*

3. Basic Internet & E-mail* -for those with a little bit of experience

4. Intermediate Computers**

5. Intermediate Internet & E-mail**

6. Intermediate Microsoft Word

7. Advanced Computers, Internet & E-mail

• Classes are held once per week for 4 weeks.

• Classes are 1. 5 hours long.

• Drop in to sign up or call to learn more.

• New classes start the first week of every month.

* **

These two classes can be taken together.

These two classes can be taken together.

New Board of Directors

Ghislaine Pilot-Attema (Chair)

Judy Barton (Vice-Chair)

Barry Beaupre (Treasurer)

Beth Stewart (Secretary)

Gail Gerla

Mary Louise Hill

Jane MacKenzie

Fern Nadeau

Ruth Pantry

Janice Vanderwees

These Board Members were elected at our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June2006.

Page6 Plain Language

Free WHMIS Training

What is it?

WI-IMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. It lets us know about the dangers of ditTerent things (products and chemicals) we might use in our day-to-day lives or on the job. WI-IMIS training teaches us what the warning symbols mean. And it tells us how to be safe when we use these things.

Why do I want it?

+ Many employers want their employees to have WHMIS training.

+ It is a good thing to have on your resume.

+ It is good to know for your own safety and for the safety of your children and family.

What else?

+ You will work at your own speed.

+ You can bring someone to help you read and tmderstand the material.

+ We can get you a tutor to help you with this.

Tutors: this is an activity you could

Volume 16, !!'!sue 1

do with your learner. The software does provide voice support and will read material to the student.

How do I get it?

You can get your free WHMIS certificate by completing the course we have on CD in our computer lab. This course will take at least 3 hours to complete. Call us to book a tune and we will help you get started: 475-7211 .

Take our free WHMIS training and find out what these things mean.

Tutors, volunteers:

get your free WJU1IS certificate

as well!

Page7

Thunder Bay Literacy Group

POBox 10508 Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6T9

Phone: 807.475.7211 Fax: 807.475.7266 E-mail: tblg@tblg.org Web site: www.tblg.org

ISSN 1195-213X

Mission Statement

The Thunder 5a:J Literac~ Group is a communit_y-based

organization created to assist adults in Thunder 5a:J to

improve their basic, reading writing and math skills.

In addition, t he Thunder f)a:3 Literac_y Group works to

raise awa reness a bout adult literac_y issues.

If you want to learn, we want to help.

Our charitable number is: 13168 9143 RR0001

We are a Unite Way funded Agency •

Learners, do you have a h'tory, poem

or favourite recipe you want to

share? Call us or speak with your

tutor and we will put it in the next

newsletter.

Plain Language is published each spring, fall and winter by the Thunder Bay Literacy Group.

Puzzle Answers ' G

w A

'c . ' p T 0 M M A A L H A B E

A M lJ

' p E A I 0 0 1.1 N

' A 0 J E c T I v E

fl T

u 'c ~s ~v "p A R A G R A p H . u 0 T p s

" v E R B w I I E

J E "a u 0 T A T I 0 N

E L u N A T . c u R s I v E L E

T s N

T c • s p E L L I N G "w A I T E

0

" c 0 L 0 N

~Iatlt Puzzle: the game lasted 2 hours.

Editing, layout and design:

Thunder Bay Literacy Group

Contributors:

A.K. Bonnie B.aglien

David

Jean

Ursula

The opinions stated in Plain Language do not

necessarily reflect the opinions of the Thunder Bay Literacy Group.