Read to Me! bag
Numerous programs and initiatives across the country promoting the importance of developing literacy skills early in life continue to encourage and make a difference. From literacy programs at birth, to parents reading in American Sign Language to their deaf or hard-of-hearing children, the efforts to increase literacy skills are endless.
Babies in Nova Scotia receive early literacy programs within 24 hours of birth – Read to Me! , a non-profit, hospital-based early literacy program delivered at the hospital bedside is given free to every baby born or adopted in Nova Scotia. Over 70,000 families have received the bright yellow Read to Me! bag since the program’s launch in 2002. Developed by a group of provincial partners with the shared goal of addressing low literacy rates in the province after results of the 1994 International Adult Literacy Survey showed that over half the population of Nova Scotia struggled with basic reading and writing.
Read more about this program here.
Improving Literacy Skills for Deaf Children through Early Intervention - Preliminary findings from a Ryerson study indicate that deaf and hard-of-hearing children may benefit significantly when parents read to them using American Sign Language (ASL). Kristin Snoddon, a postdoctoral fellow in Ryerson University’s School of Early Childhood Education (ECE), leads a 10-month research project teaching hearing parents of deaf children how to read children’s classics using ASL. ”Shared reading and parent-child interaction are critical supports for improving literacy skills,” Snodden says.
Read more about this story here.
More Skills Needed for Jobs in the 21st Century
July 13, 2010 — ontarioliteracycoalitionTwo interesting articles have been written over the last several weeks that highlight the importance of workplace literacy and essential skills.
The first article, published in the New York Times, warns about the impending labour shortage that will befallen the United States (and Canada) due to the lack of low-skilled jobs available. It’s an unfortunate paradox: while the job market is finally on the rebound, employers cannot find potential employees with the skills needed to do the work.
It’s a stark warning for potential employees, employers, educators, etc.: In our new knowledge-based economy, workers need to upgrade their skills to thrive and be productive.
The second article, written for the Globe and Mail, focuses around IBM’s efforts to adapt to new technologies and apply new skills to survive and thrive in the 21st century.
The article notes that productivity growth declined during the recent recession; however, IBM has largely avoided this due to its emphasis on employee training and encouraging creativity.
To understand more about this impending labour shortage crisis in the context of Ontario, read Dr. Rick Miner’s report People Without Jobs: Jobs Without People: Ontario’s Labour Market Future. Also, attend “An Evening with Dr. Rick Miner“, where Dr. Miner will be presenting at a Gala dinner on the linkages between literacy, employment and our economy to highlight the urgency of investment in the field.