Resources

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Additional resources for the Challenger and Laubach curricula can be found on the Current Tutors page. Free pintables are available for select items. Please contact OC Read for further assistance with supplemental materials. 

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OC Read's main offices at the Tustin Library house a curated collection of adult hi-lo (high interest/low complexity) books, adult new reader books, workbooks, fiction and non-fiction books, among various other print resources. Learners and tutors are encouraged to take books from the collection at any time.

 

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The following resources are organized by how they fit into "Roles & Goals" framework and can be used to help create tutoring session and lesson plans. 

Learning Outcomes / Roles & Goals

Learn the alphabet, letters, and sounds:

• Teach Your Monster to Read - A fun, interactive game for anyone who wants to practice their letters, sounds, and reading full sentences. The computer version is free. Account registration required to play. Check out the Classroom Toolkit for more phonics and reading resources!
• The 44 Sounds (Phonemes) of English - List of the 44 sounds consonants and vowels can make. Teaching and internalizing these sounds is one of the building blocks for successful reading.
  • The 44 Sounds - An alternative vowel and consonant sound chart from the Victoria Department of Education. 
• How to teach Phonics: A Step-by-Step Guide - Short blog post on the basic steps for how to scaffold phonics instruction.
• Teaching Letter Recognition - What Order to Introduce Letters - A blog post on the suggested order for teaching letters and letter sounds. Includes games to build letter recognition. 
• Six Syllable Types - Learn the six types of syllables found in English. From Reading Rockets.

Read a book, magazine, or news:

• Libby (Overdrive) - OC Read has a collection in Libby of books and audiobooks handpicked by our librarians. Libby is available on your browse, or via an app for Android or iOS. (Library card is required.)
• News For You - Online and print newspaper for adult learners. Each article comes with exercises to expand on the story. 
• News in Levels - Short news articles written at different reading levels.
• Breaking News English - English news, reading, and listening with two new lessons every week.
• Voice of America (VOA) Learning English - Multimedia source of news and information for English learners. Upper-beginner friendly.
• Southwest ABE: Reading Skills for Today's Adults - A database of short readings organized by reading level. 

Writer a letter, poem, story, or essay:

• Write a note, message, or text - A lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services.
• Tutor Ready Writing - Basic resources for tutoring adults in writing. 
• Purdue OWL Writing Lab - Writing resources and instructional material provided by Purdue University.
• Freerice.com - An educational trivia-style game that helps users learn new words while making a difference for people around the world. Perfect for vocabulary practice.
• Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - Online dictionary specifically designed for learners and educators of English, perfect for finding simplified word definitions. 

Use or build technology skills:

• Device Advice - Book time with an OC Read librarian at the Tustin Library to learn basic technology tasks, like how to text, attach photos to emails, create strong passwords, and more. (Available only to OC Read learners and tutors.)
• Mousing Around - Tutorial for beginner mouse-users.
• Typing Club - Learn to touch-type for free.
• Digital Literacy - Tutorials and activities to improve various digital skills. Includes typing, Microsoft office programs, Google Suite, searching the internet, using computers, and more. From GCF LearnFree.

Use the library:

• Use the library - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services.
• Apply for an OC Public Libraries library card

Get a diploma:

• Career Online High School (COHS) - Earn you high school diploma for free, online, with this self-paced course. Available to Orange County residents aged 19 or over. Must have a library card.
• High School Equivalency Tests - Information on different high school equivalency tests, including the GED, HiSet, and TASC from the California Department of Education.
• GED Testing Service - Official online resource to prepare for and earn your high school equivalency diploma.

Get a job or a better job:

• Writing a Cover Letter - Tips on writing a cover letter from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
• OC Workforce Solutions - Locations of One-Stop Centers, Veterans Reemployment Office, Joint Forces Training Base, and Workforce Centers in Orange County. See the Mobile Unit page for information about the Mobile Unit which periodically visits OCPL branches.
• Job Seeker Toolkit - Created by OC Public Libraries staff. Tips and resources for all steps of the job seeking process.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook - Information about hundreds of different occupations in the United States, including required training, education, and earning. 

Apply for a job:

• Search for a Job - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services.
• Completing a Job Application - A free tutorial with useful strategies for applying to jobs, from GCF LearnFree.

Perform current job better:

• Read Work-Related Material - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services
• Write Work-Related Material - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services
• How to Write a Business Letter - Examples of business letter format from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 8 Ways You Can Improve Your Communication Skills - Tips from Harvard University for establishing better communication habits in the workplace.

Read a book with a family member: 

• Reading With Your Child - A guide about why it is important, and how to, read to children.

Help a family member with homework and studying:

• Help a family member with homework and studying - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services. 
• BrainFuse HelpNow - Free online homework help for K-12 subjects. (Library card required.)
• Take a family member to a library program - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services.

Read a medicine label or other health-related documents:

• Prescription Medication Labels: How to Read - A short guide from the Cleveland Clinic.
• Reading labels and patient information - Instructions on how to read prescription medicine labels from Consumer Reports.
• Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicine Labels - Tips for understanding labels on over-the-counter medications, from the National Poison Control Center. 

Improve financial skills:

• Pay My Bills - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services
• How to Write a Check - Illustrated guide, video, and FAQ from Nerdwallet.com
• Consumer.gov - Learn to manage your money and protect yourself from fraud from the Federal Trade Commission. 
• MyMoney.gov - Includes lesson plans and tips for tutors from the Financial Literacy and Education Commission.

Access community resources:

• Navigate system and services - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services.
• Access community resources - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services.

Get involved with the community:

• Get involved with your community - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services.

Get a driver's license:

• Get a driver's license - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services.
• Driving Tests - Free CA DMV practice tests and Driver's Handbook.

Become a citizen:

• Become a citizen - Lesson plan courtesy of California Library Literacy Services. 
• Study for the test - Free resources for studying for the naturalization test. Provided by the USCIS.
• Instructional Resources for Citizenship - Civics and citizenship educational resources from the Minnesota Literacy Council.
• Citizenship Information Guide - Resources and information compiled by OC Public Libraries staff.

Vote:

• Easy Voter Guide - Non-partisan guide to elections from the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund. 
• Orange County Registrar of Voters - Register to vote and find out more information about the voting process in Orange County.