Debra's booksMay 2007This month, instead if reviewing a book, I'll mention some of the other activity in our Resource Centre. The major project I have to share at this point is the updating of our online catalog. It is still a work in progress but the new materials are ready for circulation. If an item doesn’t show up when you search the catalog, it doesn’t mean it isn’t available. Please call me and I will confirm availability and arrange to have it ready for you to pick up (or something like that). These new materials include a number of family literacy items and a variety of interesting reading for entertainment and knowledge. Another change is the development of a MultiMedia section. This is made up of all the non-book materials in our collection. As I went through this process, I discovered some pretty interesting items. There are a lot of materials that are educational and would make learning fun. (You should try them!) Last, but certainly not least, the Grass Roots materials that we’ve had on promotion will be ready for circulation beginning in September. It will be an opportunity for you to borrow the books for use in your classrooms and have hands-on use to perhaps consider purchasing your own. New stuff The wind cannot read (a collection of new learner writing) One fish two fish red fish blue fish (the ever-popular Dr. Seuss!) Happy Birthday, Jesse Bear! Peter and the wolf (Walt Disney, of course!) Hot Hippo Just Grandpa and me People in your neighbourhood (a Sesame Street favourite) 101 Dalmations (another Disney favourite) Treasury of children’s folklore ‘Til all the stars have fallen The magic school bus The Random House book of sports stories Writing our lives Science for the trades MultiMedia new items Tales with a twist Simple Steps Investment Kit Explore Canada Learning basic social skills Pronunciation pairs Mother Goose jazz chants Personal and life management skills for women April 2007Teaching reading to adults : a balanced approach, b y Pat Campbell, published by Grass Roots Press, Edmonton, Alberta, 2003. This valuable tool for professional development consists of six chapters packed with information and techniques that are extremely helpful for all adult educators. Topics included are foundations of reading, assessment, word recognition, comprehension, and teaching reading in a participatory context. Each chapter concludes with a summary and an extensive list of references. Vocabulary boosters, 1 & 2, by Susan Rogers, published by Grass Roots Press, Edmonton, Alberta, 2005. This set of two workbooks helps learners develop a vocabulary by reading passages and doing activities. The four themes used are health, wildlife, the environment, and popular culture. Each lesson consists of a non-fiction passage and a set of activities. Throughout the activities, learners are encouraged to figure out meanings, use their knowledge on the themes, and engage in writing activities. The workbooks include a glossary, answer key, crossword puzzles, wordsearches, and idioms. Entertaining and informative passages will help learners develop reading fluency. March 2007The spelling toolbox (set of 3) by Linda Kita-Bradley, published by Grass Roots Press, Edmonton, Alberta, 2002 & 2004. One item in our promotional materials from Grass Roots Press is The Spelling Toolbox. This is a set of 3 workbooks, each one increasing in difficulty. Workbook 1 begins by introducing the five strategies or spelling tools that are also used in Workbooks 2 and 3. The activities included in this collection are spelling exercises, dictations, and a short writing task. Learners build a spelling dictionary by adding words they learn to spell. Throughout this collection, learners discover various words and sayings that have become commonplace for many of us. However, do you know the origin of phrases and words like rule of thumb? Chew the fat? Hog-wild? Basketball? Paper? Alive and kicking? Check this publication out and have fun with your learners! January 2007David Suzuki, Louis Riel, The Famous Five by Terry Barber, published by Grass Roots Press, Edmonton, Alberta, 2006. For this issue of our newsletter, I’ve selected a collection of biographies we have as part of our promotional publications from Grass Roots Press. These books are written in plain language and are ideal readers for new literates. They each present an easy to read history of the persons being acknowledged. The photographs, illustrations, and maps included in these books are very good quality and clearly display the descriptions written. Each also includes a glossary of words specifically identified throughout each book. With the recent talk of concern for the environment, David Suzuki, is an appropriate selection. With Festival du Voyageur just around the corner, Louis Riel is a timely read. The final in the Activist Series from Grass Roots Press that we have on promo is The Famous Five, and I’m sure we can all think of women in some challenge or other. December 2006As I was browsing our collection for an item to review at this season of giving and sharing, I spied this set of books. What better gift do any of us have than our body and good health? Currently, we are hearing about the relationship between health and literacy. At this season of Christmas, I thought it appropriate to share these materials that teach us about our body and how to care for it. All about your … by Donna Bailey, published by Steck-Vaughan Co., Austin, Texas, 1991. All about your heart and blood discusses how the heart and circulatory system work and the function of blood. It explains how doctors help people with blood and heart disorders. Readers can learn how to keep the cardiovascular system healthy through diet and exercise. The other books in the series give a similar look at the functions, disorders and care of the particular parts or processesof the body. The titles are:
These books include contemporary color photos with large easy to read print. They each have an index and glossary. November 2006SkillPlan – BC Construction Industry Skills Improvement Council
The language of documents , 1999, by Lynda Fownes Forms, forms, and more forms. We have all had to complete some piece of paper at some time. The purpose of forms varies but the need to understand the information on a form is always important. The intent of this guide is to present visual schematics of document types, demonstrate transferable features, provide examples of common workplace documents, establish a common language in working with documents, and to advance the discipline of document literacy. Some of the types of documents and visual direction included in this resource are process schematics, transit system maps, machine part diagrams, provincial and city maps with legends, and Grand & Toy order forms. These “documents” are explained and displayed and provide activities to demonstrate usage of the skills learned. Practitioners are welcome to photocopy the documents and add others. Thus the benefit of the looseleaf format. Writing at work , 2003 by Sue Grecki & Sheila Whincup This resource from SkillPlan introduces and reviews a very thorough sampling of environments where writing is a required skill. Each section displays and explains the type of information that has to be recorded and the purpose of the information. Also included in each section is a list of industries and specific jobs that require the specific writing skills. Activities are also provided in each section. The Appendix is made up of a large variety of work related documents from a number of occupations that utilize writing skills. Numeracy at work , 2002 The introduction section of this resource provides a brief synopsis of each of the aspects that constitute what we refer to as numeracy. For those of us who may take our literacy level for granted, it is rather enlightening to learn that numeracy is categorized in connection with work tasks. The five categories are: Money Math, Scheduling or Budgeting and accounting math, Measurement & Calculation math, Data Analysis math, and Numerical Estimation. “Navigating the collection” (found in the introduction) provides practitioners a guide for utilizing the material and activities in each chapter. The documents and learning activities give students a valuable learning tool that will prepare them for real on-the-job tasks. Reading at work , 2005 by Lynda Fownes, Vanya Wong & Corinne Volpatti This is our most recent addition from the SkillPlan program. Again, the introduction explains how this resource is best used for workers and their specific reading requirements. Though not every life situation is presented, there is a good variety of industries and task documents to work with. The questions to help best use this resource are presented in the introduction:
In perusing the sections of Reading at work, I was reminded of just how complex many forms and job duties can be. Again, I become aware of the challenge presented to low-literate individuals who, perhaps, have an opportunity for job promotions and require improved skills in order to perform new duties. The entire collection of SkillPlan materials are valuable tools for preparing workers for changes and improvements in their environments. The skills learned with these materials are also necessary for improving overall life skills. June 2006Contemporary Challenges :Conversations with Canadian Native Authors, 1991. Fifth House Publishers, Saskatoon (Interviews by Hartmut Lutz) In light of the recent celebration of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples on National Aboriginal Day, when I spied this publication I thought it quite appropriate for this month’s review. Contemporary challenges presents an interesting selection of Canadian native authors from across Canada, sharing their stories and opinions on a variety of issues. The author presents a brief biography to introduce each individual before his interview with each of them. This collection is an interesting learning experience about these native authors and the “contemporary challenges” of aboriginal peoples. May 2006Our food by Laurence Ottenheimer-Maquet, published by Moonlight Publishing Ltd., London, UK, 1990. This is an extremely informative, easy-to-read book on all the types of food we eat. Each category of food is explained from its history to how we use it today. Learn about rice, produce, meat, dairy products, fish, and the many foods we think of as “treats” – honey, sugar, chocolate, coffee, and tea. Other foods we don’t give much thought to---salt, vegetable oil, herbs and spices---are also discussed. The pictures and easy reading make this an enjoyable and informative book for those who are learning---and even for those who think they know lots about what they eat! This book also includes an activity and quiz section. Just in . . . Reading at work, workplace reader, published by SkillPlan - BC Construction Industry Skills Improvement Council 2005. This publication presents information and guidelines for daily personal and work-related procedures that many of us probably take for granted. Watch for comments on this publication in an upcoming newsletter. April 2006Building basic skills in reading. Published by Contemporary Books, Inc., 1988. (In Canada, Fitzhenry & Whiteside) ISBN: 0-8092-5878-1. Our call number: LM W BC BUI This two-book set presents an organized approach to the task of learning to read with the intention of acquiring information to identify facts and answer questions about what is read. Focus is placed on details and how sentences can be arranged to present details. Book 1 also explains how new words are learned when reading, how to understand parts of words, and what different kinds of words there are. The second book of this set moves on to critical reading that teaches the purpose of detail and organization when the object is to give direction or list steps to do in a specific order. Another helpful resource is learning about practical reading such as charts, diagrams, and graphs. Though this is an older publication, I feel it is a valuable resource for learning the basics of comprehension. In our current age of information overload, how better to prepare than to become familiar with the basics before moving on to the complicated. This resource is an ideal starting point for me as I begin my journey of learning about literacy. Click Here to Close this Window |