27 Ways to Celebrate Family Literacy Day

January 12, 2011

January 27 is Family Literacy Day. Here are 27 ways to celebrate, categorized according to Canada’s 9 Literacy and Essential Skills.

by Dr. Sarah Elaine Eaton

Reading text

1. Read to your child or children. A book. A graphic novel. Anything that sparks interest. The important thing is to enjoy the activity of reading together. Make it fun and give them the gift of reading that will last a lifetime.

2. Have your child or children read to you. They pick the material or you pick it. Doesn’t matter. Just get them reading. Listen intently. Nod your head to show you are paying attention. Ask a few questions after the reading has finished to show interest and curiosity.

3. Read a newspaper article as a family. Critique and evaluate the article together, talking about its meaning, content, and bias. Each member of the family reads the entire article or take turns reading sections of it aloud around the dinner table.

Document use

4. Read and understand nutritional labels. As a family become conscious of what you are eating today by checking out the nutritional labels on the food products you eat. Understanding information from tables is one aspect of document use.

5. Use transportation schedules to plan an outing. Whether it’s a trip to your local zoo or a visit to Disney World, gather together bus or plane schedules, find out how much things cost and the hours of operation of places you want to visit. Gathering information from schedules is another aspect of document use.

6. Read an instruction manual to achieve a goal. Is there something sitting around your house that has yet to be opened or built? Today’s the day! Instead of seeing instruction manuals as a “last resort”, teach your family that they can be helpful. Challenge them to read through a set of instructions to build or assemble something for your home. Understanding and using the instructive information and blueprints is also an important aspect of document use.

Numeracy

7. Plan an home renovation project. Have you been thinking about improving your kitchen? Updating one of the children’s bedrooms? Get out a tape measure and start taking some measurements!

8. Calculate what you’ll need for your project. How much paint do you need to cover the surface area of the walls you want to paint? How much laminate do you need to buy for a new living room floor?

9. Set a budget for your project. Now that you’ve figured out how much of each material you need, you can calculate a budget for your project as a family. Calculate what the project will cost you and how much you can allot to each type of material.

You don’t have to go out and buy all these things, but learning how to take measurements and calculate what you’ll need are important numeracy skills.

Writing

10. Write a letter to a loved one far away. Letter writing is a dying art. Teach your family the value of knowing how to put pen to paper to maintain family connections. Have each member of the family write one paragraph to someone special who lives far away. After the letter is written, prepare the envelope together by having one person write the recipient’s address and another person write the return address on the envelope.

11. Write an e-mail as a family. Like writing on paper, knowing how to put words on a screen using a word processing or e-mail program is an important part of document use. Write an e-mail to a family member with an upcoming birthday. Avoid “text talk” such as writing “u” instead of “you”. For this family e-mail, use proper words and full sentences. You can always save the e-mail to the drafts folder if the birthday is a few days away.

12. Fill out applications together. Does everyone in the family have a passport? If not, fill out passport applications together. Help an aspiring college student with an application to a post-secondary institution. Learning to fill out forms correctly is an important skill that you can build together as a family.

Oral communication

For activities that focus on oral communication, make it a “no technology” time, so family members learn to listen to one another, rather than checking their texts or playing video games during times when the focus is on speaking and listening. Tech time comes later. For these activities, put the phones, iPods and other mobile devices aside and concentrate on one another.

13. Share updates. Around the dinner table, have each person give an update on their day, as well as upcoming events such as games, school events or important work meetings. Challenge everyone to avoid slang and speak in full sentences. Other family members practice active listening, nodding and responding with questions that express interest and curiosity.

14. Have a family debate. Pick a topic that every family member can contribute to. It may be a political issue or where you want to go for your next family vacation. Have each family member make a case for their point of view and try to persuade the others. The point isn’t to win or have a heated argument, but rather to construct excellent verbal arguments and listen to one another without interrupting.

15. Solve a problem. As a family, talk about a problem you want to solve. It can be anything from how to organize the front hall closet better to deciding what movie to see on Friday night. A “problem” does not necessarily have to be emotionally charged. Once you learn how to solve simple problems, larger ones become easier, too. The general formula is Problem -> Action -> Result. What is the problem you want to solve? Why does it need to be solved? What actions will you take to solve it? Describe the actions step-by-step. Finally, talk about the results you expect. What will happen because of the actions you take? Human Resources and Skills Development offers a free tip sheet on using oral communication to solve problems.

Working with others

16. Play a game. Choose a game that you can play independently, in pairs or in teams. Board games such as Risk or Settlers of Catan are good choices. Play one round with individual players and one round in pairs or teams. Become aware of the differences of working alone versus working with others.

17. Plan a family meeting. What will you talk about? Who will lead the discussion? It is OK for leadership to rotate or for different people to take the lead on different aspects of the meeting. What do you want out of the meeting? How much time will you spend on each item? Learning to plan and actively participate in meetings is an important aspect of working with others.

18. Talk about the personality types in your family. Are you a “Type A” personality? A “Type B”? A “Type C”? or a “Type D”? Most people have an idea what a “Type A” is, but the others are not always so clear. Print off this tip sheet from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and share it with your family. Which personality types do members of your family relate to? What are the benefits of each? How can you learn to appreciate one another’s preferences without judgment or wanting them to be more like you?

Continuous learning

19. Attend a workshop or a course as a family. Spend a day learning how to snowboard or take a cooking class together. Have family members put suggestions into a hat for a topic or subject they’d like to suggest to the family. Select randomly. Figure out where you can find a course on that topic and register the whole family.

20. Go to a local interpretive centre or museum. Some communities have interpretive centres in parks which are free of charge. Learn about your community, local wildlife or other topics.

21. Have family members teach each other a skill. Make it simple and easy to learn in an afternoon. Topics such as “How to post a picture to Facebook”, “How to balance a cheque book” or “How iron a dress shirt” are good examples. Take turns having each family member teach a simple skill to everyone else. Others must practice the new skill and demonstrate that they have made an honest attempt to learn. Use this as an opportunity to practice Working with Others, by offering and receiving constructive and helpful feedback.

Thinking skills

Thinking skills are often used in conjunction with other essential skills. These skills involve identifying and diagnosing problems, researching, and using information to make decisions.

22. Plan a family outing. In addition to using schedules to plan transportation, research where you will go and what you will do when you get there. Use your numeracy skills to plan a budget for the outing.

23. Research materials for your home reno project. For example: What are the benefits of each type of paint (egg shell, semi-gloss, gloss, etc.)? Which is best for your home reno project? Why? Determine what the various types of paint are and either individually or in pairs, have family members choose one type of paint and research the benefits. Visit a local hardware store as a family and talk to a paint expert. Use the information you’ve researched to make an informed decision.

24. Do some consumer research. Are you planning to buy something as a family? A new toy? An appliance? Teach your family the basics of consumer research, by showing them how to research products and services, compare similar products, understand consumer reviews and learn about bias in research. Which store offers the best price for the product you are looking at? Can you order it on line for less money? If you can order it on line, use your numeracy skills to factor in shipping and handling to determine the final price. Check out the Canadian Consumer Handbook and use it to inform your research.

Computer use

25. Learn keyboard shortcuts. Whether you use a PC or a Mac there are tons of shortcuts to help make your computer use more efficient. Check out this Tip Sheet for a few ideas. Have family members share their favorite computer shortcuts. Post them on the fridge. Quiz each other over dinner.

26. Have a Family Play Date with technology. Learn how to use a video game controller by playing video games. Start a family game of Scrabble on line. Incorporating play into technology and computer use can reduce anxiety and make it much more enjoyable. Focus on the fun and learning. Allow those with high technology literacy to lead the way in teaching and facilitating. When you get frustrated, just laugh and try again. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about sharing time together as a family.

27. Improve your “mobile literacy”. Do the teenagers in your world know how to do all kinds of things with their cell phones and other mobile devices, but you’ve been left behind in the 20th century dust? All cell phones today have texting capability. Have a young person teach you how to text or show you how to do it more efficiently. If you already know how to text, learn how to send a text long distance, send a photo or a web page link, or Tweet using your phone. Digital literacy doesn’t stop at your desktop. Asking a young person or a “techie”  in your family for help with technology is a great way to involve them in literacy.

Click here for more information on Literacy and Essential Skills.

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

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Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

You can’t please everyone: How language schools can target their market

January 6, 2011

One mistake I see language school directors or literacy program leaders make is believing that their courses are for everyone. This is fairly common among enthusiastic entrepreneurs who are so jazzed about their product or service that they assume everyone else will be, too. The problem gets worse when what you’re promoting is something that people need – like better literacy or communication skills.

Trust me about one thing. Your market isn’t the whole world. And if it is, you’re in trouble because the competition will claw your eyes out trying to get a piece of the same market.

Ask yourself three questions:

  1. How do you deliver your courses (over what time frame, using what materials and methods)? Courses offered at a local community centre have a different target market than online courses. Intensive week-long courses target a different population than programs lasting for an entire academic year. The method you use will work for some and not for others. No matter how much you may believe in the communicative method, for example, there will be students who hate that method and feel more comfortable reciting verb conjugations aloud and learning vocabulary by rote. Don’t worry about pleasing everyone. Worry about clearly articulating what you do and how you do it. That way, people who appreciate how you approach learning and teaching will be more likely to sign up with you. Spending your time trying to “convert” others to agree with your method takes much more energy, and gives you much less return, than focusing on those whose philosophy already aligns with your own.
  2. What concrete outcomes can your students expect from your courses? The word “concrete” is critical here. Now is not the time for vague promises or saying that learners will “improve”. How will they improve? What will change? Give examples. Do not confuse this with over promising. Be clear and realistic when you articulate your objectives. The changes a student can likely expect in a month are not as great as if he or she continues on at the same school with progressively challenging courses, delivered in the same way, over a year. Incorporating regular assessments that demonstrate a student’s progress and growth are also part of your marketing. Ultimately, if people take a course, they want to see change in a particular direction. Be clear in stating what students can expect from your courses, then deliver it. Document their progress to show them how far they’ve come. If anything, it is better to under-promise and over-deliver.
  3. Why would students register with your school? This is a simple question, but don’t let that fool you. It is critical. Really, why would they register at your school and not some other school? What makes you so special? What sets you apart? Do you have a great downtown location? Do all your teachers have a minimum qualification? Do you have specialized courses? You can have all these things, but really, students will register with you when they get results and enjoy the learning process. The learning environment needs to be safe, enjoyable, inspiring and challenging. The balance you strike among these things is what makes you unique.

Your target market is likely much more specific than you think it is. The more you focus on who your prospective students really are, the easier it will be go out and recruit them.

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

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11 Ways to Promote Your Literacy Program

January 5, 2011

I’m sharing 11 of my top tips to market and promote literacy! These tips are for literacy organizations, programs and other non-profits who focus on literacy.

1. Tweet! – Don’t have a Twitter account yet? Get one – and learn how to use it. Follow other literacy programs. Ask your members to follow you. Don’t just ask for donations in tweets. (In fact, I’d say never ask for donations via Twitter, but that’s just me.) Interact, retweet, have fun.

2. Get a Facebook page – Ask your members to like your page. Post notes, learner success stories, policy news and other tidbits of interest for those who are fans of what you’re doing.

3. Get business cards for your staff – Cards have been used for both personal and business use for over a century now. I am amazed how many literacy programs don’t have cards for their staff. Really, you can’t afford not to have business cards for the people who work for you.

4. Update your website – Are you still using a website that you can’t update yourself? You want a crisp, clean looking site that uses a content management system that allows you to update your site yourself. Remember to use your logo and “brand” your website.

5. Get a YouTube Channel – Post slideshows, “how to” videos, learner success stories and testimonials. Video is part of 21st century marketing. YouTube has an excellent program for nonprofits that’s worth checking out.

6. Collect stories and testimonials – Get learners to share their success stories using audio or video. Use their stories on your website and YouTube channel. Collect one learner testimonial per month and by the end of the year you will have a dozen success stories that will help you promote the good work you do.

7. Set marketing goals – If you can collect one testimonial per month, by the end of the year, you have twelve. What else can you do every month to promote literacy? Set specific, measurable and realistic goals, share them, post them and refer back to them throughout the year.

8. Accept donations and membership fees on line – If you’re not already accepting donations using PayPal or some other online method, now is the time to set it up. Have links from your website. People should be able to join your organization or make a donation with the click of the button. Build it and they will come.

9. Connect with local authors to promote literacy. Collaborate with local authors / bookstores for reading events. At least every other month have the event in your space to get people through your door. Authors can do book signings and read from their books. Sell books and share the revenue.

10. Plan a celebration of learning and literacy – Showcase the success of your learners. Invite funders, members and supporters of your organization and local politicians who champion literacy. Send out press releases and get it catered.

11. Take an asset-based approach to marketing – Focus on the good work you’re doing, the positive impact your work is making and the resources you have. Find creative ways to highlight your successes.

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Related post: 27 Ways to Celebrate Family Literacy Day

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

 

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Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

Canada’s 9 Literacy and Essential Skills

January 1, 2011

It used to be that being literate meant being able to read and write. Over time, the definition has expanded to include a variety of basic skills that are needed for people to function in the world. In Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) has established 9 components to literacy. Together they make up the Literacy and Essential Skills that our government has determined that are important for Canadians:

  1. Reading text
  2. Document use
  3. Numeracy
  4. Writing
  5. Oral communication
  6. Working with others
  7. Continuous learning
  8. Thinking skills
  9. Computer use

Literacy isn’t a black-and-white, clear-cut issue. A person may excel in one essential skill and have poor abilities in another area. Sue is a network tech who is brilliant in the area of computer use, but doesn’t write very well. Her sentences are poorly constructed and his spelling makes it difficult to understand what he means. Sue would rank high in computer use, and low in writing.

Alfred is a senior citizen who reads and writes very well. Opposite to Sue, he dislikes computers intensely and finds them intimidating. He doesn’t own a cell phone or a home computer and doesn’t want one. In an increasingly technology-centered world, he is frustrated by things like bank machines and the machines at the  local light rail transit station where he must buy a ticket if he wants to go somewhere. Alfred would score high on reading and writing, and poorly on computer use.

In today’s world, reading and writing aren’t enough for most adults to function in society. Together the 9 Literacy and Essential Skills cover all the skills we need for life in the 21st Century.

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

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Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

Teaching Public Speaking to Literacy or ESL Students

November 5, 2010

I have the privilege of being both a teacher and a professional speaker. That means that I earn a portion of my living by facilitating workshops and giving keynotes on topics related to my field of expertise.

I have not found many materials that specifically target the topic of how to teach public speaking to literacy or ESL learners, so here are some resources for you:

The first place for adult learners to turn is to Toastmasters. This is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to teaching people the skill of public speaking. They also have a link to free resources on their website.

Other places to find information on public speaking:

Members of organizations such as CAPS and NSA are fully trained, and earn a significant portion of their livelihood through speaking. Most pro speakers have spent thousands of hours in non-formal settings such as professional development workshops offered through organizations such as Toastmasters before they ever stepped into the professional realm.

There’s a fellow by the name of Tom Sticht who does workshops on Oracy in Canada and the United States. He does not have a website, but his papers are archived on the National Adult Literacy Database. Many of his programs are suitable for school age children.

Here are some ideas on how to teach public speaking to literacy learners or ESL students:

Workshop with a professional speaker

Invite a professional speaker from your community in to do an interactive workshop. Many pro speakers will offer this type of workshop, even if they don’t advertise it. If you Google “professional speaker” + <your community or city>, you should get a list of the pros in your area. Be aware that a pro speaker may not give a workshop completely pro bono. (It is, after all, how they make their living.) Having said that, you are very likely to get excellent quality for the fee that you pay.

Workshop with an Aspiring Speaker

Invite in an aspiring speaker to do a workshop with your staff or students. By “aspiring” I mean someone who is likely in Toastmasters now or has gone through the program. He or she may be trying to become a professional speaker, but lacks the experience. When you extend the invitation, offer them a thank you letter for their professional portfolio. (He or she will need this when applying for membership in a pro organization later on). How do you find these people? A call to your local Toastmasters club explaining what
you’re looking for should do it.

Guest judges for student speeches

If you teach your own lessons on public speaking, challenge the students to prepare a brief speech of their own. Invite professional or aspiring speakers from your community to be “guest judges” for the student presentations or a small speech competition. The judges can offer feedback, advice and suggestions to help students improve further.

There are likely a great deal of resources available in your local community to teach your learners about public speaking!
Related post: Rubrics for Grading Student Presentations

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

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Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

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