New Hampshire Humanities adult literacy program Connections brings the best of children’s and young adult literature and New Hampshire Humanities-trained discussion facilitators to more than 500 adult learners each year. Quality books and stimulating discussions promote English language skills, cultivate conversations about ideas, reinforce family literacy, support a culture of reading, and encourage civic engagement. Connections works in partnership with adult basic education and ESOL classes, refugee resettlement organizations, services for adults with developmental disabilities and state and county prisons. Participants are both native speakers and new Americans.

Connections participants keep the books they read; incarcerated parents send them home to their children along with a recording of their personal reading. Each four-week series is organized around a theme such as “Planting the Earth,” “Home in New England,” “Picturing America’s Stories,” “Journeys,” “Give Me Liberty,” “A Day’s Work,” and “A Sense of Place.” In addition to book discussions, Connections offers an annual celebration of family literacy including poetry readings, folktale festivals and author talks from luminaries such as Lois Lowry in 2014, and Tomie dePaola in 2015. 

For Students

 

Connections for StudentsWelcome to Connections! If you liked what you read in class, you can find more here. Please check out our Connections Blog, book list, and links to other resouces for adult learners.

     “It’s a different world when you can read.”
              - Al Audet, Connections participant at Concord’s Second Start

Blog

Includes articles, essays, stories, book reviews, poetry, recipes and reflections from Connections programs. For submission guidelines, please contact Connections Program Coordinator Terry Farish. Read the Connections Blog HERE.

Book List

Click here to view our interactive book list.

Resources

The International Children’s Library (ICDL) Free online books for families. Bilingual storybooks in English and other languages. http://en.childrenslibrary.org/

Dave’s ESL Café is a place where students and teachers can find help for learning and teaching English. http://www.eslcafe.com/students/

Many Things ESL Games and Activities: www.manythings.org/e/easy.html

For Teachers and Program Coordinators

 

Here is a list of resources you'll need when planning and conducting your Connections series.

 

Apply for a book discussion series

How to apply: Adult literacy program coordinators or teachers can apply for one series per class per year. Participants read up to four books over four weeks. Book discussions can be held over four consecutive weeks, every other week, or once per month. Programs meet during regular class times. Connections provides books, matches a New Hampshire Humanities trained book discussion facilitator with the program and coordinates dates for the program. The host provides the classroom, audio-visual equipment, paper and writing implements, and prepares the students for the upcoming program. Many teachers like to provide refreshments during the discussions to create a festive atmosphere. The teacher and facilitator can select themes and books together and coordinate preparatory materials such as vocabulary lists. The teacher also submits an evaluation at the conclusion of the program. To apply, download the checklist, application and accompanying forms, complete the application and send it as an attachment to Terry Farish, Connections Coordinator.

APPLICATION:  Fillable PDF  OR  Word document

 

Meet our discussion facilitators

What facilitators do

Connections book discussion facilitators are writers, professors, artists, teachers, librarians, scholars and others who are passionate about sharing literature and discussing ideas with adult learners. Facilitators coordinate class preparation with the teacher, research authors and historical contexts of the books, prepare materials and activities for book discussions and lead discussions and activities. Many facilitators bring what they love to Connections: writing and drama exercises, cooking, art, artifacts, music and more. Connections discussions are lively and fun!

Roster of facilitators

Forms

Book List

Checklist for application process

Application
     Fillable PDF
     Word document

Guide for Teachers and Facilitators

Flyer template

Evaluation

Photo release

Consent to publish

Class list – names of students for certificates of completion

Book database

Book List

Click here to view our interactive book list.

The database enables teachers and facilitators to search for books based on author, title, reading level, theme and genre.

Blog

Includes articles, essays, stories, book reviews, poetry, recipes and reflections from Connections programs. For submission guidelines, please contact Connections Program Coordinator Terry Farish at 603-224-4071 or at tfarish@nhhumanities.org. Read the Connections Blog HERE.

For Facilitators

Connections book discussion facilitators are writers, professors, artists, teachers, librarians, scholars and others who are passionate about sharing literature and discussing ideas with adult learners. Facilitators lead up to four discussion series and participate in one or two New Hampshire Humanities sponsored trainings per year. Many facilitators bring what they love to Connections: writing and drama exercises, cooking, art, artifacts, music and more. Connections discussions are lively and fun!

 

 

Connections is made possible in part by generous support from:

               

Merrimack Country Savings Bank Foundation
Getz Charitable Trust, Citizens Bank, N.A. Trustee
Ann deNicola Trust, Citizens Bank, N.A. Trustee