Esther Romanoff Kazer Senior Adult Literacy Program
Sponsor: College of Continuing and Professional Education, Kennesaw State University
Focus: improving literacy and reading comprehension for seniors in a safe environment
Meets: 10 a.m.-noon Thursdays in the activity center at Ridenour Apartments senior adult community, 1355 Ridenour Blvd., Kennesaw
More information: 470-578-6765, ccpe.kennesaw.edu
OTHER OPTIONS FOR SENIORS
Literacy Action
Focus: Free classes in adult basic education, GED, ESL and citizenship are offered during three 15-week semesters at 100 Edgewood Ave. N.E., Atlanta, and 246 Sycamore St., Decatur. Literacy Action's enrollment is a four-day process that includes a two-day registration and two-day orientation.
More information: Atlanta: 404-818-7323. Decatur: 404-377-7323. literacyaction.org
It’s never too late to learn, and to enjoy doing it.
In Kennesaw, a small group of seniors and two instructors meet every Thursday for the Esther Romanoff Kazer Senior Adult Literacy Program. They catch up on current events by reading newspapers and a variety of other sources, all focused on building literacy skills and improving reading comprehension. And it’s anything but boring.
Elizabeth Bennett recently celebrated her 95th birthday with the group. “I just love what we do here,” she said. “I still like to learn. It’s informational. It brings happiness. When you stop learning, it’s time to go.”
The free program, which began in August, is an outreach of the College of Continuing and Professional Education at Kennesaw State University. Instructors keep it low-key and fun. All new students are tested to determine their reading level, but even that process is downplayed, because the thought of a "test" can be intimidating to some, Assistant Dean Michelle Girage said.
“We have found that many of the students are literate, but have some challenges with comprehension,” Girage said.
The program is small now, with only six students who attend regularly plus some who drop in sporadically. The small numbers allow for one-on-one tutoring, but Girage said she would like to find another dozen students to join, because there is such a need in the area.
Manager Meg Webber said the program is for those who would like to strengthen their reading skills. She said anyone who knows of a senior with reading difficulties should contact her at 470-578-6765.
Efforts have been made to reach out to churches, senior living communities, libraries and other places where older adults gather, to let them know about the group.
While there are other adult literacy groups in metro Atlanta, this one is strictly for seniors, and that seems to make a difference for those who attend.
“I think seniors are accustomed to hiding their issues with reading, so many of them prefer a group with their peers rather than younger students,” Girage said.
She said the participants are appreciative of the help, saying, “it’s made a big difference” to them.
The college sponsored a similar literacy program at a senior living community in downtown Atlanta almost a decade ago. That community had requested help for some of its residents, who had little to no reading skills.
The newest endeavor was started because its benefactor, Livvy Lipson of Atlanta, was inspired when she heard the school’s dean, Barbara Calhoun, talk about the former program and a need in the Cobb County community for a senior adult literacy program.
The idea began to percolate in her mind, Lipson said, because of her mother’s love for teaching others how to read. The late Esther Romanoff Kazer, a former educator and principal with Miami-Dade County schools, began her career as first-grade teacher.
“I remember her always saying that teaching a child to read was the most significant thing she ever did,” Lipson said.
After retiring in her late 60s, Kazer continued to help others with their reading, receiving joy working with older ministers in the area who wanted to improve their literacy skills, her daughter said. Kazer passed away in 2013, just six months shy of her 100th birthday.
When KSU’s senior reading program was ready to go, Lipson was more than happy to fund it in memory of her mom. Now, she’s a proud bystander as the program has gotten off the ground helping seniors improve their quality of life.
“Even if it helps just one senior be able to read to a grandchild, it’s worth it,” she said.
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