Reminder to Members: LPM memberships expire August 31. LPM members can expect a reminder by phone or e-mail soon!

...and keep an eye on your inbox for information on International Literacy Day and Manitoba Literacy Day events coming up in Winnipeg on September 8th, 2009.

National Indigenous Literacy Association (NILA) Announces its New Toll-Free Number

The National Indigenous Literacy Association announces its new toll-free number.

NILA (National Indigenous Literacy Association) can now help you identify resources, tools and methods to make your programs even more successful!

For your convenience, NILA has added a toll free number.  To learn about literacy resources, story tellers in your area, Aboriginal ways of knowing, or new materials for your programs, contact NILA at:

1-877-838-NILA(6452)

Write / Right to Read Contest Deadline Approaches

Contest deadline – August 28, 2009

Write/Right to Read is a national bilingual writing and drawing contest that aims to improve literacy skills and create global citizens. Using an opening paragraph written by children’s author Kenneth Oppel, students in grades 4 to 6 are invited to complete a 300 word story and accompanying drawing incorporating this year’s theme of tolerance and acceptance. The grand prizewinner of the Write/Right to Read contest will receive a contribution of $1000 to a Registered Education Saving Plan, a complete collection of signed Kenneth Oppel books and a $100 gift certificate to Amazon.ca.

To read more go to: http://www.worldlit.ca/writerighttoread.html.

Scott Murray Predicts a Rapid Return on Investment in Literacy

Recent report states that investment in Canadian Literacy would be recouped within 6 Months and would show immediate savings and benefits to all Canadians.

Scott Murray, former director of Statistics Canada’s International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS) projects and current President of the consulting firm, Data Angel Policy Research inc. said a recent conference in Halifax, that Literacy is the main tool that enables individuals and whole economies to advance. Globally, Canada must copy and out-compete countries who have adopted Literacy as their mantras.

In order to maintain and improve not just the standard of living, but also the overall quality of living of Canadians, governments must invest now. Canada needs to tap the talents of low literacy adults and to train the next generations of highly literate workers and entrepreneurs. In his presentation, Mr. Murray itemized the costs of low literacy rates to our economy and our society. He then stated the amount of investment required to turn the situation around.

To watch Mr. Murray's full presentation "Literacy by the Numbers" click HERE.

His thoughtful study is the foremost and most exhaustive on these issues. He sees an annual investment into the literacy field of about $6 billion. The return on such investment would be billions in tax revenue, reduced outflow of government payouts for welfare and Employment Insurance and unnecessary support programs.

Mr. Murray says that by investing in upgrading and education at all levels, governments will re-coup such investment within – and this is the breakthrough statistic – within months! He calculates that within 6 months governments would receive back all of their investment in the economic boost that job creation, improved skills and decision-making, and decreased expenditures in social, justice and health portfolios.

Concluding, Mr. Murray suggested that political leadership was the key ingredient required to make Literacy improvement a goal. For politicians to act, he believes, that there must be:

• a clear sense of the cost of doing nothing,
• assurance that the system has the capacity to deliver, and
• a way to monitor progress.

This might be taken as a challenge to literacy workers across the country. We must educate our political decision-makers about the potential for literacy upgrading, the costs of ignoring the problem, and the benefits that accrue to the whole country when literacy is a common value.

To watch the video of Mr. Murray's presentation "Literacy by the Numbers" click HERE.

Picture blurb:

The International Conference on Adult Education

The International Conference on Financing Adult Education for Development was convened this summer in Bonn, Germany.

Participants called for national governments to commit 6% of Gross National Product (GNP) to education - of which 6% should be dedicated to adult learning - and developed a list of 25 calls for action.

National governments, international organizations, donor agencies and the European Union and Commission, as well as the global adult and lifelong learning movement, were urged to respond to global challenges by advocating, supporting and developing adult learning.

The Conference called for half the adult learning budgets to be committed to adult literacy, along with an end to short-term literacy campaigns and sustained investment in programs. Women's development, skills for enterprise and employment, as well as learning for health and sustainability, should be prioritized.

To learn more about the conference or to read the full Bonn Declaration, click HERE.

Literacy Partners of Manitoba's Library News:

Check out these Great resources from the LPM library:

Spell It Out

This set of four books was designed to help learners develop skills in reading and spelling. The set is made up of a Blue Level, Red Level, Orange Level, and Purple Level as well as a teacher’s guide. Students learn with Spell It Out by copying, rewriting, proofreading, and writing from memory. Short, high-interest reading selections motivate students and are followed by reading comprehension questions.

Reading About Science : Skills and Concepts

This set consists of seven books about various areas of science. Each short story is followed by a few questions to teach reading comprehension. The contents of each book include life science, people to know, places to go, puzzles to do, science adventures, earth-space science, physical science, and careers in science.

Reading for Today

This set in our collection includes seven books and accompanying workbooks. The stories used in these books relate to everyday issues and activities. This provides more interest for the learners and encourages them to continue to increase their reading and writing skills.

Enhancing Learning Through Self Assessment by David Boud

Self-assessment is a key skill to be developed on any course. It is a way of increasing the role of students as active participants in their own learning. This book examines the full range of concerns, placing self assessment in the wider context of innovative teaching and learning practices. Boud describes specific approaches and shows how it compares with assessment by others.

To view our entire Online Catalogue, click HERE.