NEWS

Matt Melosh introducing Blending Ladders to a TASAAGA first grade teacher
Matt Melosh introducing Blending Ladders to a TASAAGA first grade teacher

Liberia Reads! Expands to Uganda

In January, 2024, with the blessing of ALE, Geri, Bob, and Matt Melosh traveled to Sitabaale, Uganda to teach Liberia Reads! strategies to primary grade teachers at TASAAGA Primary School and Orphanage. Matt joined his parents to help with the training after using Liberia Reads! strategies with his students in Vietnam. "Team Melosh" was invited to Uganda by TASAAGA director, Bruhan Mubiru.  Twelve dedicated K-3rd grade teachers and their administrators participated in the 10 day training which was renamed TASAAGA Reads!

Siaffa P. Korkoyah
Siaffa P. Korkoyah

NEW COUNTRY DIRECTOR

Liberia Read! is excited to announce that after a four-month selection process, Siaffa P. Korkoyah has accepted the position of Liberia Reads! Country Director, effective August 1, 2024.  Mr. Korkoyah has extensive experience in education, having taught for fifteen years, and over 17 years in education administration as a vice-principal, and founder of a private school. He has demonstrated his knowledge of Liberia Reads! methodology as an LR! teacher, principals, trainer, and demonstrated his knowledge of Liberia Reads! methodology as an LR! teacher, principal, and founder of a private school.  He has demonstrated his knowledge of Liberia Reads! methodology as an LR! teacher, principals, trainer, and lead trainer. He has served as President of Liberia Reads Association of Literacy Educators since 2018. 

Mr. Korkoyah has delivered training to educators at the WE-CARE Foundation, the Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking International Consortium, Ministry of Education, and IFC World Bank Group-Africa Schools Program. 

Mr. Korkoyah has a B.S. degree in Education as well as "B" and "C" certificates for teaching at the elementary and junior high school levels.  His memberships include international Literacy Association, International Development Committee-Africa, Critical Thinking Liberia, Association of Africa Schools Program, and Association of Private Schools Teachers/Principals.  

The entire LIberia Reads! network, now 47 schools strong, looks forward to the dynamism and dedication that Siaffa Korkoyah will bring to it leadership.  

Obama's receipt of an LR Exemplary School Banner
Obama's receipt of an LR Exemplary School Banner

OBAMA RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION 

This August, Barak Obama International Foundation School received the prestigious designation of being a Liberia Reads! Exemplary School.  To become an Exemplary School, a school must have consistently demonstrated all of the high standards of the Association of Literacy Educators (ALE) and shown the necessary student outcomes. Currently, there are only three other schools who have received this difficult to obtain designation: E. J. Hunter Memorial Academy, Spiritan Academy and Faith Academy International.  Pictured left (l-r) are Dr. Geri Melosh, Betty Bodio, teacher, Jannie Kandakai, Principal,  Elizabeth Kekula, Proprietor, and Samuel Quiah, VPI. 

International Literacy Day held in conjunction with the Lions Club of Liberia
International Literacy Day held in conjunction with the Lions Club of Liberia

CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY, 2023

The Liberia Reads! Association of Literacy Educators held a formal indoor program on September 8th at E. J. Hunter Memorial School in celebration of International Literacy Day. The program brought together educators and students and was held in conjunction with the Lions Club of Liberia. The literacy coordinator of the Lion Clubs of Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Gambia, Mrs. Mildred Dean (pictured center bottom row), served as the Keynote Speaker.   A side attraction of the celebration was the free screening of eyesight by a team of eye specialists from the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, made possible by a special arrangement with the Lions Club. 

ALE President, Mr. Siaffa Korkoyah, representing us at the PALFA Conference
ALE President, Mr. Siaffa Korkoyah, representing us at the PALFA Conference

13TH PAN-AFRICAN LITERACY FOR ALL (PALFA) CONFERENCE, KENYA, 2023

The 13th biennial Pan African Literacy for All Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya from the 23rd to the 25th of August under the auspices of the University of Nairobi, the Ministry of Education, Association of Reading of Kenya,  and the RIFT Reading Association.  To date, the PALFA Conference remains one of the most popular, prestigious, interactive and enriching global literacy events that brings together scholars, literacy educators, and professionals from across Africa and around the world. Its theme this year was "Remediating the Global Learning Poverty Crisis through Innovative Literacy Practices".     ALE is proud to have been represented by its president, Mr. Siaffa Korkoyah and long-term lead LR trainer, Mrs. Margaret Suah. 

Liberia Reads! Trainers and Trainees at GLTC
Liberia Reads! Trainers and Trainees at GLTC

2023 LIBERIA READS! TRAINING -- ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS!! 

This July and August, 24 ALE trainers trained 116 trainees from approximately 32 schools and 5 Liberian counties. Training sites were held at E. J. Hunter Memorial Academy in Lakpazee, Monrovia and Gbarnga Lutheran Training Center in Bong.   Training included teachers and administrators from new schools, replacement teachers from veteran schools, refresher trainees, and Liberia Reads to Learn trainees.    Here is a BIG SHOUT OUT to all our trainers who worked so hard to improve the literacy knowledge and skills of so many teachers and a ROUND OF APPLAUSE to Mrs. Jessie Fagans and Mr. Nathaniel Sumo, our site coordinators and all the support staff that made the training possible. 

LR TRAINING UPDATE

In August, ALE trainers trained another 70 new principals and teachers, who along with our other trained teachers, are now in our 40 Liberia Reads! schools teaching 6,000 children to read and write this year alone

ALE Survey Question

 Currently, the Montserrado/Lower Margibi ALE holds its monthly meetings on the 3rd Friday of each month. The question is, what is the best hour to start these meetings in order to have the best possible attendance?  

Please send your response by SMS text to Siaffa Korkoyah at 0888 721148 or 0770 939489. 

COMPLETION OF 2021 ANNUAL TRAINING!!!

ALE sends a big shout-out and thank you to all those involved in making the 2021 Liberia Reads! and Liberia Reads to Learn! annual training a great success.   All told, we had a total of 93 participants in Monrovia and 27 in Bong.  New schools included DAMIEFA, CDIA, New Hope Mount Barclay, and Psalm 82.3, and Replacement teachers came to us from 24 schools. Participants also included teachers getting Refresher training and intermediate teachers being trained in Liberia Reads to Learn!  A HUGE thanks goes to our 25 trainers and TOTS who led the training.  Training was held at E. J. Hunter in Monrovia coordinated by Mrs. Jessie Fagans and the Ganta Lutheran Training Center in Gbarnga coordinated by Mr. Nathaniel Sumo. 

Check out the Photo Gallery to see some of this year's pictures!!!

NEW LIBERIA READS! TRAINING DATES

As a result of the improvement in Covid-19 transmission rates in Liberia, ALE is happy to announce the new Liberia Reads! training dates for 2021-2022.  

Monrovia/Lower Margibi

Dates: October 18 -- 29, 2021

Location: E J Hunter Memorial Elementary School

Times: 8 AM - 4 PM

Target Participants:  New Schools, Replacement Teachers, Refresher Teachers

Bong/Upper Margibi

Dates: October 19-30, 2021

Location:  Ganta Lutheran Training Center

Times: 8 AM -4 PM

Targeted Participants: Replacement Teachers, Refresher Teachers


PRE-TRAINING SESSION FOR LIBERIA READS! TRAINERS 

Friday, October 15 at E J Hunter - 8 AM - 4 PM

In Memoriam

Passing of Henry Wolokolie: ALE and LR! lost an important member in June. Henry Wolokolie, former principal of LREC, passed away on June 4. As the second President of ALE, he was successful in instituting a regular printed agenda and minutes for every meeting and started the process of registering the organization with the government. He was actively involved in ALE activities such as Saturday workshops and was a Liberia Reads! trainer.. These steps were important in inspiring commitment and pride in the organization. He was intelligent and had a good understanding of LR! and reading education. His passing is a loss we will feel for a long time.

ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION!

As you will have noted, the cases, hospitalizations and deaths rates resulting from Covid-19 are on the rise in Liberia. Our country now has some of the worse case numbers in West Africa!     Unlike a year ago, when it was determined by the  ALE leadership that Liberia Reads! training for new schools could be conducted if  the proper heath protocols were followed, THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE.   Therefore, this year's New Schools, Replacement, Refresher and LRL training have been POSTPONED until safe training environments can be assured.  

As soon as ALE has the new dates for training, those dates will be posted on this site.   

In the meantime, wear your masks, maintain social distances and wash your hands regularly. 

ATTENTION  

ALE is closely monitoring the rise of Covid-19 cases in Liberia and what that will mean for the 2020-2021 closing dates and the 2021-2022 opening dates of school.   This is yet to be determined by the MOE.  These dates, as well as the state of Covid-19 in the community, will dictate times for the annual Liberia Reads! training.  We will announce our firm training dates as soon as we hear from the MOE.  Thank you for your patience!!

German NGO Supports ALE Literacy Efforts

The following article --written by First Chairwoman, Lena Pichler and translated into English by Nadine Weidner -- was posted on the website of Liberia e.V --a German NGO founded by Margret Gieraths-Nimene, a long-time German expatriate who initiated and supported heath and education projects for decades in Liberia.  Mrs. Gieraths-Nimene, who was the proprietor of MAGIF Community School,  passed away this July at her home in Monrovia.

Liberia Reads! Advanced training for employees of the MAGIF Community School

Advanced training is being conducted by the Liberian organization "Association of Literacy Educators (ALE)", a member organization of the "International Literacy Association". This advanced training is part of a large-scale alphabetizing project for elementary schools and is being funded by the Florida based NGO "The Children's Reading Center".

Teachers of the MAGIF Community School are being trained to teach reading and writing skills.

Learning material is being used, that was developed for the Liberian reality of life. The children learn, based on images and texts that portray the direct environment in which they live. This elevates schooling to a higher level and the children receive a better education.

We are happy that the MAGIF Community School Has the opportunity to be part of this project.

The article is from the Liberia e.V. Website https://www.liberia-ev.de/news/


New Liberia Reads! Training Announced

There will be a Liberia Reads! training for new schools and a limited number of replacement teachers from October 19- 30.  Schools include J. J. Roberts United Methodist in Monrovia  and Cutttington University Campus School in Bong County. 

The 2020 Liberia Reads! Teacher Training was a Great Success!

Commendations and high praise go to the leadership and membership of the Association of Literacy Educators (ALE) for the successful completion of the 2020 Liberia Reads! (LR) annual teacher training. 

Training sessions were held July 13-24 in two locations: E. J. Hunter Memorial School in Montserrado County and Gbarnga Lutheran Training Center in Bong County.  Over 80 primary grade teachers and administrators were trained in the pedagogy of Liberia Reads! which included skills and strategies in the "five pillars of reading": Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Comprehension and Vocabulary.  All training was conducted by certified ALE trainers.  All participants and trainers wore masks and social distanced in order reduce the threat of Covid-19 transmission.  To date, no participant has been diagnosed with Covid-19.

New schools to the program include Restoration Kids Christian Academy, MAGIF Community School, Ghenwein Mission School, and Ganta United Methodist School. Special appreciation goes to our ALE trainers; ALE President, Mr. Siaffa Korkoyah; Monrovia training director, Mrs. Jessie Fagans; and Bong site coordinator, Mr. Nathaniel Sumo. 

ATTENTION -IMPORTANT LR TRAINING UPDATE --ATTENTION

The annual July training for Liberia Reads! for Montserrado and Bong Counties will run from July 13-24th at E. J. Hunter Memorial School (Monrovia) and Gbarnga Lutheran Training Center (Bong).  If you have any questions, please contact the Liberia Reads! Training Director, Mrs. Jessie Fagans (Phone: 231 (0) 886 553248 231 (0) 777 471601) or Mr. Siaffa Korkoyah, ALE President (Phone: 231 (0) 777 939489 231 (0) 888 721148).

New Teacher Resource Download

Passage #4:  How Exactly Do You Catch COVID-19?  This newest Liberia Reads to Learn About Covid -19 passage, reviews the consensus of health experts on how COVID-19 is transmitted from one person to another.  In addition, four lessons learned are presented on how to reduce the spread of this world-wide pandemic. .

CHECK OUT THE NEWEST "TEACHER RESOURCE" DOWNLOADS ON THE COVID-19 INFORMATION PAGE    

 Passage #3 - Update: COVID-19 in Africa, Spring, 2020. These passages, free to all Liberian educators, explore the question of why, currently, Africa has fewer COVID-19 cases than the rest of the world.   Passages are written for primary and intermediate students. Each passage has 5 vocabulary and 5 comprehension questions with a teacher answer key. 

ATTENTION!  NEW COVID-19 PAGE ADDED TO WEBSITE

In an effort to keep Liberia's educators updated on COVID-19, on April 29, ALE added the COVID-19 Information Page. This page gives daily updates on the spread of COVID-19 world-wide, including in Africa and in Liberia. It also provides information on how to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this merciless virus.

Bi-weekly, the page will post a passage --Liberia Reads to Learn About COVID-19 -- on one aspect of COVID-19. Like our traditional LRL passages, each will have a set of ten questions to sharpen vocabulary knowledge and test comprehension.

And,  following each passage, you will find a  TEACHER RESOURCE SECTION. This section allows Liberian educators to download free COVID-19 informational passages and questions for use with their students. Each topic is written at a PRIMARY level for 1st - 3rd grade students, and at an INTERMEDIATE level for students in 4th grade and above. 

ALE commends the administration and staff of Foundation in Christ, Faith Academy International, E. J. Hunter Memorial Academy, Barak Obama Foundation, Fountain of Life, Liberty Academy, VOC-T Christ Academy, Hope Academy, Hill Top Academy, and Liberia Renaissance Education Complex (LREC) for giving parents the opportunity to come pick up lessons...

ALE is happy to announce that there will be Liberia Reads! training for new schools and replacement teachers this summer. Monrovia training will run from July 20-31. Bong training will run from July 27-August 7. PLEASE NOTE: The possibility remains that these dates may be adjusted due to changes in the current school calendar.

Due to the closure of all schools, ALE will not hold meetings until the schools resume their normal activities.

ALE Meetings

03/10/2020

Montserrado/Lower Margibi: third Friday of each month, 3:30 PM, E J Hunter. Bong/Upper Margibi: last Friday of each month, locations rotate.

Contact:  siaffaprestonkorkoyah@gmail.com
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