Writings by Women Learners

Published by Learning Centers

Carol-Lines, Members of the Caroline Center Description: Poetry and other short writings and artwork by students at the Caroline Center. Subjects: Learning Center Publication; Learner Writings; Memoir Caroline Center, periodical, (no isbn), Staple Bound, @10 pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $---Contact Source.	Four Stories: Oral Histories From the Open Book, Stephanie Lawson and John Gordon, eds. Description: These four memoirs were true stories told by students and recorded on tape and typed by the editors (their teachers). Subjects: Memoir; Learner Writings; Learning Center Publication Open Book, 1990, no isbn, Staple Bound, 69 pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $---Contact Source. Level: 5-8.
Getting Involved in Community Issues: Yes, You Can Make A Difference, Pat Larson, Cindy Rodriguez, Caridad Santiago and Lisa Willard Description: What one group of women did to get involved in their community -- A Manual of activities and reflections. While discussing some of their community problems, this group of women decided the biggest problem was lack of transportation. This packet outlines what they did. Subjects: Community Involvement; Economy / Money; Learner Writings; Curriculum North Quabbin Adult Education Center, 1997, no isbn, Spiral Bound, 17 pgs, 8 1/2 x 11, $---. Level: mixed.	I See a Part of Myself: Voices from the Community, Edami Roa, Basemah Jaber and Ivan Ramirez Description: Longer memoir writings by learners living in New York City. Subjects: Learner Writings; Memoir; Learning Center Publication Open Book, (date unk), no isbn, Paperback, 99 pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $---Contact Source. Level: 5-8.
My Name Is Rose, Rose Doiron Description: (not available) Subjects: Learner Writings; Violence; Learning Center Publication East End literacy Press (Toronto / 416-968-6989), 1987, 0-920013-07-4, Paperback, 67 pgs, $---Contact Source. Reviews: Recommended by Kate Nonesuch & Evelyn Battell / from a list compiled in 1998 "Reading about Surviving: Literacy in Transition"	Outer Limits, The Literacy Project (ed) Description: Learner writings from literacy centers located in Western Massachusetts. Subjects: Poetry; Memoir; Learner Writings Literacy Project, Periodical, no isbn, Staple Bound, Various pgs, $---Contact Source. Level: mixed.
Proclamation of Independence: Women of Oakland / Life Stories Told by Women Students, Second Start Program Description: Subjects: Learner Writings; Learning Center Publication; Memoir; Women's Issues Oakland Public Library, (Distributed by: Peppercorn Books & Press Inc.) 2000, 1-928836-06-2, Paperback, 59 pgs, 8 1/2 x 11, $10.00. Level: 3-5.	Quest for Life: Women of Oakland / Life Stories Told by Women Students, Second Start Program Description: (none available) Subjects: Learner Writings; Learning Center Publication; Memoir; Women's Issues Oakland Public Library, (Distributed by: Peppercorn Books & Press Inc.) 2000, 1-928836-05-4, Paperback, 48 pgs, 8 1/2 x 11, $10.00. Level: 1-2.
Question Violence: Love Is the Answer, Young Parent Program: Health Patrol Description: This small collection was written by learners about their experiences of personal and community violence. Produced with educator Elizabeth Morrish (World Education) Subjects: Violence; Learner Writings; Learning Center Publication Adult & Community Services, Lowell, MA, 1994, , Spiral Bound, 29 pgs, 11 x 8 1/2, $---Contact Source	Stories from Home: A collection of creative writing by students and friends, Learners & Staff Description: This annual publication is a collection of creative writing by students and friends of the North Quabbin Adult Education Center -- Poetry, short writings, and artwork by learners. Subjects: Learning Center Publication; Learner Writings; Memoir North Quabbin Adult Education Center, annual, (no isbn), Staple Bound, @35 pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $---Contact Source.
To Open Your Mind: A Collection of Writings by Adult Learners in Minnesota, MLC Staff (ed) Description: from website: "To Open Your Mind is a publication featuring the writings and artwork of Minnesota adult learners and students. It is published periodically by the Minnesota Literacy Council, but learners are invited to submit their works at any time. In between publications, selected writings may be posted on this Web page with the author's permission." http://www.themlc.org/To_Open_Your_Mind.htm Subjects: Learner Writings; Fiction; Memoir; Poetry Minnesota Literacy Council, Annual, (no isbn), Staple Bound, various pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $---Contact Source. Level: mixed.	We're All in This Together: Leadership and Community at the Open Book, Students and Staff of the Open Book Description: Journal notes, conversations, and other writings portray the work and community created in learning at The Open Book in New York. Subjects: Community Involvement; Learner Writings; Education; Learning Center Publication Open Book, 1991(?), no isbn, Staple Bound, 80 pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $---Contact Source.
Why Did It Happen to Me?, Carla Frenchy Description: Carla gets bad news from her doctor. Something is wrong with the baby she is carrying. She turns to her family for help and advice. Pictures. Subjects: Pregnancy; Memoir; Learner Writings Reading & Writing Centre, (Distributed by: Peppercorn Books & Press Inc.) 2000, 1-896886-18-3, Paperback, 14 pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $7.00. Level: 5-8.	Women Getting Together, The Women's Health Group at the Learning Centre Description: A supplement to "Learning for our Health", this is a photostory about a women's health group at the Learning Centre. Also available at Peppercorn Books. Subjects: Health; Learner Writings Learning Centre Literacy Association, 1998, 0-9698539-8-X, Staple Bound, 10 pgs, $4.00.

Available On the Internet

WE LEARN Writings These stories were sent to WE LEARN by student writers: April, 2002 Wende Archer, Me Hong Ha, Memoir Zeta Kennedy, The Old Man	365/24/7 -- Moms on Duty with NO Pay: A Radio Program for International Women's Day, March 8, 2002, By Students in the Family Learning Program, South St. Paul, MN: Angel O., Ana Montalban Sardi, Beatriz Murillo, Debbie De Hoyos, Letty C. Martinez, Melinda Alquicira, Ruta & Melanie Description: In 2002, these women participated in special International Women's Day Programming on the radio. We have included the following information: information about International Women's Day; step-by-step how we planned the show (including our notes); a transcript of the radio show; and our written reflections about our experience with radio. This book will help you to know more about overworked mothers. We also hope this information will help you if you ever have the chance to be on the radio.
Being a Single Mom, Carrie Elliott Description: Available on the VALUE website Subjects: Parenting; Memoir; Learner Writings VALUE Website, date unknown, http://literacynet.org/value/writers/misc.html#Being a Single Mom, Internet, $---Internet.	Breast Cancer As I Lived It, Mary Scanlon Description: from the website...This true story was written by Mary Scanlon, a former student at Somerville Community Adult Learning Experiences (S.C.A.L.E.) in Joyce Ralph's class. It was adapted for students with limited English literacy by Loren McGrail. Illustrations are by Rosa Aimée González. Includes a glossary and a Spanish version. Subjects: Health; Memoir; Learner Writings; Bilingual World Education, date unknown, http://www.worlded.org/us/health/docs/MScanlon2/index.htm, Internet, $---Internet. Level: 3-5.
Chain Reaction: A Look at Many Issues, of Women, Written by Women, for Everyone, Denise Roulhac (Coordinator) Description: from the cover -- "...a newsletter put together by a group of women. These women decided to put together how they felt about a lot of issues going on in Today's Society. This newsletter is for the public, government officials, ex-offenders, those incarcerated and normal working people. The women who pout together this newsletter are all Fortune society clients." This is their first issue and they are currently working on a second. for more information, see their website: http://www.FORTUNESOCIETY.ORG/damas/ Subjects: Learner Writings; Prisons; Women's Issues; Learning Center Publication Fortune Society, 2001, Winter, no isbn, Staple Bound, 16 pgs, 8 1/2 x 11, $---Contact Source.	How to Feel Good: Learning to Relax and Exercise - An Invitation, Wai Ming Chan, Rosalba Torres, Mayra Villalta, Miralta Campos Virgilia Guzman and Lee Hewitt Description: from the introduction -- When you are a new arrival in a country, you may feel strange because it is a place that you don't know very well and everything is different! This can make you feel sad or depressed. We know how that feels because it happened to us. On these pages we want to share our experiences and how we overcame those bad moments. We found ways to relax by doing things that we enjoy like exercising, crocheting, reading and fishing. Subjects: Health; Self-Help; Learner Writings; Immigration Issues Adult Learning Program, Jamaica Plain Community Centers, 1998, http://www2.wgbh.org/MBCWEIS/LTC/ALRI/feelgood.html, Internet, $---Internet.
La Cocina de Vida: The Kitchen of Life, Anson Green (coordinator) Description: Curriculum developed by and for women making the transistion into the workplace from public assistance, oppressive relationships, or with low expectations of what work can offer them. Subjects: Learning Center Publication; Learner Writings; Community Involvement; Memoir Texas Education Agency, 1999, http://members.aol.com/lacocina99/cocina.html, Internet. Mujer: Mothers United for Jobs Education and Results, Culebra Moms of the Culebra Workforce Center's "Choices" Class Description: Subjects: Learner Writings; Welfare; Culture; Latina Anson Green, 1999, http://members.aol.com/culebramom/mujer.html, Internet, $---Internet.	My Life Story with Cancer, Mary Walker Description: My Life Story with Cancer is a story written by Mary Walker, a former student at Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (S.C.A.L.E.) in Joyce Ralph's class. The story was adapted for students with limited English literacy by Kathy Brucker. Illustrated by Joane Wheeler. Subjects: Memoir; Health; Learner Writings World Education, date unknown, http://www.worlded.org/us/health/docs/Mary/introduction.html, Internet, $---Internet. Level: 3-5.
Nobody Is Stupid, Marie Fierros Description: Available on the VALUE website Subjects: Education; Memoir; Learner Writings VALUE Website, date unknown, http://literacynet.org/value/writers/oak2.html#fierros, Internet, $---Internet.	Where there is life, there is hope: Women literacy students and discrimination, The Samaritan House PAR Group Description: Available online in pdf format, this workbook written by women literacy students describes how they used participatory action research to discuss discrimination and to write this book. (or call: 1-800-262-3930) Subjects: Popular Education/Participatory; Learner Writings; Rights Department of Education and Training, Province of Manitoba: Literacy and Continuing Education Branch, 1995, http://www.nald.ca/CLR/lifehope/cover.htm, Internet, 43 pgs, 8 1/2 x 11, $---Internet. Level: 5-8.

Why My Heart Aches - Haunting Memories: Book One of Nina’s Story, Nina Yates
Description: In Why My Heart Aches, Nina Yates tells the story of her early life in Korea, of the harsh treatment she received and how she survived a difficult childhood. "No matter how hard I tried to please my father he was never satisfied. It was such a horrible feeling. I felt lonely and rejected and not accepted for what I was. I started to dream that some day I would get married. I would be so good to my children. I would never beat them like my father did to me." An inspiring autobiography written when Nina was a student at Read / Write / Now in Springfield, MA. Illustrated with photos from Nina's early life. Subjects: Memoir; International; Learner Writings

Peppercorn Books & Press Inc., 2002, 1-928836-12-7, Staple Bound, 42 pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $7.50. Level: Intermediate.

Growing Up Dreaming and Never the Same: Book Two of Nina’s Story, Nina Yates
Description: Nina tells how she dated and married an American soldier. "I met Jim when he brought me his clothes to sew. He was lonesome because he came from far, far away. I was lonely and looking for someone to lessen the struggles of my life. When we met we instantly liked each other." Subjects: Memoir; International; Learner Writings

Peppercorn Books & Press Inc., 2002, 1-928836-13-5, Staple Bound, 42 pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $7.50. Level: Intermediate.

Coming to Live in America / The Hardest Adjustment I Ever Made: Book Three of Nina’s Story, Nina Yates
Description: After marriage Nina moved to America with her husband Jim and her baby daughter. Nina tells of her struggles to adapt to married life in Massachusetts, while speaking little English. Subjects: Memoir; International; Learner Writings

Peppercorn Books & Press Inc., 2002, 1-928836-14-3, Staple Bound, 42 pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $7.50. Level: Intermediate.

Eclipses of My Life: Book Four of Nina’s Story, Nina Yates
Description: Nina tells of her later life, her illness and later Jim's death. Subjects: Memoir; International; Learner Writings

Peppercorn Books & Press Inc., 2002, 1-928836-15-1, Staple Bound, 42 pgs, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, $. Level: Intermediate.

  to Resource List (Subject Categories)