Our Programs
The Literacy Center’s mission is
carried out via five main programs:
One-on-One Tutoring for both English speakers and non-English speakers. We orient and
train volunteers to work with students for a minimum of one hour
each week. The student/tutor pair may meet at the Literacy Center
or off-site at a public place. This mode of instruction uses the Laubach Way to Reading curriculum, a phonics-based series that
incorporates both reading and writing.
Small group instruction for English speakers and non-English speaking students. Small group
instruction consists of Life Literacy Classes. The classes teach students basic living skills so they can better function
in the community. The classes are interactive and hands on
instruction and use many authentic materials. The classes are kept
small so students receive individualized attention.
Computer Aided Literacy which consists of a computer learning center. The computers are
installed with educational software programs that teach literacy
skills to English speakers and non-English speakers. The learning
center also allows students to practice computer and keyboarding
skills. Basic computer skills classes are offered and the computer
lab is monitored approximately 12 hours per week.
Family Literacy is a
holistic way of instilling literacy skills and practices to the
entire family by teaching the parents the important literacy skills
they can pass on to their children. This is a new program for us
and we are currently offering classes at the Open Door Mission. The
addition of family literacy completes the circle of service for the
center by offering literacy services to all ages. Family Literacy is made up of four
components; Adult Education, Parenting Education, Parent Child time
together, and Early Childhood Education.
Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national pediatric intervention program that promotes
emergent literacy to children and is conducted in partnership with
physicians. The physicians promote the importance of reading to
parents and provide age appropriate children's books to the
families to foster parents reading to their children. Currently,
the Literacy Center has 16 clinics in Nebraska it partners with to
deliver the program. We have reached over 8,000 families by
distributing children’s books to health clinics through our Reach
Out and Read program.
