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Reading opens the door to a world of fairy tales, fantasy, adventure, drama, suspense, knowledge and wonder ….
Literacy is the key to unlocking it!
· Use it or lose it! Your brain is a muscle that needs exercise, read something every day · Reading can happen anywhere – at the bus stop, hockey game, doctor’s office – even the bathroom · Let your children help you cook & have them read out the ingredients for the recipe · Start a family photo album with your children. Help them write a story about the picture and paste the story in the album · Literacy is a gift that doesn’t come easily for many people. Share your gift by volunteering with the literacy program, become a tutor for someone else
8 Things You Can Do To Support Literacy
1. Life long learning – brush up on your skills. Support others who are improving their skills 2. Initiate learning opportunities in your workplace – provide trainings that are presented as a positive opportunity to improve skills 3. Tutor people in the community – literacy programs depend on volunteers & they provide training for the volunteers 4. Encourage friends who want to participate in a literacy program – offer to help if you can (eg: babysit their children while they are at the program) 5. Read with a child – reading 15 minutes a day equals 465 hours by the age of 5 6. Act to strengthen the links between programs & other community contacts – make sure people know abut any programs in your community 7. Contribute where you can (eg: materials, money, equipment, resources) 8. Your time – many programs do not have the money to pay support staff & welcome volunteers to help answer the phones & provide office support
How Literacy Affects People
Literacy is a complex issue with social, cultural & economic consequences. It is about the ability of people to participate as full & active citizens.
Literacy is defined as: “using printed & written information to function in society, to achieve one’s goals & to develop one’s knowledge and potential.” Strong literacy skills are about people’s ability to participate in activities, to go to the bank, to safely give medication to their children & to learn new skills to keep or to change their jobs.
Use it or Lose it – people who do not use their literacy skills on a regular basis risk losing their skills over time
Health & Safety – people with higher literacy skills are more likely to eat healthy, have good mental health & have ways of preventing illness. Lower literacy skills may lead to increased risk of accidents, higher rates of chronic illness & lower life expectancy
Crime – there is a link between literacy skills & crime. Many people in trouble with the law, particularly chronic offenders, often have lower literacy skills. Early prevention plans that include literacy can help reduce the risk of criminal actions.
Employment – good literacy skills are important to finding & keeping a rewarding job. You earn higher wages & are less likely to be unemployed. People without strong literacy skills may have trouble improving their work skills to meet the technological demands of today’s work force.
Poverty – lower literacy skills generally means lower income, higher unemployment & greater chance of social assistance. People must work together to end poverty.
Family Life – literacy & healthy family development go hand in hand. Children need a “literacy rich” environment for learning & developing.
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We are located in the Northern Lakes College campus in High Prairie Box 622, High Prairie, AB, T0G 1E0 Phone: (780)523-4111 Fax: (780)523-3303 e-mail – prcec@northernlakescollege.ca
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