Every week the Illinois State Library honors a recipient of one of the literacy grants awarded by Secretary of State Jesse White and the Illinois State Library Literacy Office. This week we shine the spotlight on Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills.

An adult learner in the Moraine Literacy Program dropped out of school in the 8th grade because his family needed him to work. The man built a successful metal fabricating business despite low literacy skills. When his two sets of twins began school, the man decided it was time to improve his reading ability. His desire to help his children with their homework led him to Moraine Valley Literacy Program.

Suspecting a learning disability, his tutors tried a variety of learning strategies in an attempt to find one that would be effective. They discovered that writing the words on blue paper rather than white was successful. The man began the program with a 3rd grade reading level, and after six years of hard work he exited the program with an 11th grade reading level. The individualized attention adult learners receive in literacy programs allows tutors, coordinators and adult learners to work together to find the most effective learning strategy for each individual.