Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network

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Masha

We’re happy to report that the March 10th workshop to launch the NE Literacy Network’s clear language policy template was a success! Over 35 people from various local agencies participated (see photo). They included:

• YMCA
• Goodwill
• Kara
• Ben Calf Robe Society
• Candora Society
• Sacred Heart Link Program
• Wecan Coop
• PALS
• E4C Headstart
• Bethel Church
• Boys and Girls Club
• Community Services
• Clareview Headstart
• GRIT Program
• Literacy Alberta
• Abbottsfield Youth Project (AYP)
• Partners for Kids and Youth
• Penny McKee Branch-Abbottsfield, Edmonton Public Library
• The Learning Centre

The attached powerpoint presentation gives an overview of the material we covered that morning. The clear language template and its appendices are also attached for reference. Michael Wallace did a fantastic job of facilitating and wrapping up his involvement with the Network (thank you, Michael!). Thanks also go out to the learners who stood up to share their literacy journeys with the group.

The workshop also included a hands-on component where participants applied the principles embodied in the clear language policy to their own print materials. The members of the Network are interested to hear how and if this work has continued in the different agency offices. If you have any feedback or stories you’d like to share on this topic, please feel free to add them here in the comments section.

Literacy_Network_workshop[1]

Clear Langauge Policy template – Final

Clear Language Appendix 1

Clear Language Appendix 2

Walk into almost any community agencyand what do you see?

 -      Bulletin boards?               – Brochures?

-      Posters?                           – Forms?

-      Signs?                              – Newsletters?

All these advertise agency services and programs and provide useful information to the general public. But how helpful are they to those with low levels of literacy?

 Using clear language reduces barriers and widens access to this information. An excellent way for agencies to champion clear language in their community is to embrace a Clear Language Policy.

 The Northeast Edmonton Literacy Network has developed a Clear Language Policy template. A copy of the template will be available to community agency staff attending our Literacy Network workshop on Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

 At the workshop you will:

•  Get a copy of the policy template
• Discuss ways to adopt and implement a Clear Language Policy
• Examine ‘good’ and ‘bad’ examples of print-based information

  The Literacy Network workshop will also launch two other new initiatives:

 1. The Literacy Network decal awarded to ‘literacy friendly’ agencies
Find out how your agency can become part of the literacy friendly community

 2. The Literacy Network blog
Join this action-oriented on-line community and learn about ideas and initiatives for creating literacy friendly environments in our community

 Workshop details:

Time:    9:00 am – 11:30 am
Date:    Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Venue:  Child and Family Services – North East Neighbourhood Centre, 14075 Victoria Trail
RSVP:   by calling Bobbi Jo at (780) 442-4971 by March 1 (register by March 1 and your agency will be entered in a draw for a Literacy gift bag from  the Library!)

A kick-off of our blog wouldn’t be complete with a celebration of work completed to date. So, this one’s for the archive!  During the month of November 2009, the Network presented a three-part workshop series for parents at the Abbottsfield Library:

• Homework Without Tears
  Thursday, November 5 6pm-7:30pm
  Abbottsfield Library
  Presented by Pas Paskaran, Instructor, NAIT
• Teaching Kids to be Safe and Responsible Online
  Thursday, November 12 5 6pm-7:30pm
  Abbottsfield Library
  Presented by Jody Crilly, Manager, Penny McKee-Abbottsfield Library, Edmonton Public Library
• Learning Styles
  Thursday, November 19  6pm-7:30pm
  Abbottsfield Library
  Presented by Wendy Peverett and Jennifer Munro, Centre for Family Literacy

Childcare was made available for all three sessions with help from Candora Society’s Discovery Centre. The workshops were largely promoted through Northeast school newsletters. This strategy proved to be successful — there was a good turnout for all three sessions and facilitators received positive feedback from parent participants. The Network has discussed the possibility of repeating this series at a future date. Stay tuned for more information!

Homework without Tears

I would like to connect the concept of different populations of people being “invisible” to the concept of low literacy.  Is there an exercise or hands-on activity to teach this?

Thanks, Lavonne