Literacy Resources
BOOKS, MANUALS, ETC.
- Caring For Me
- (Kit; Penticton Indian Band/BCFNHS, 2004)
Series of six picture books developed specifically for the BC Head Start program. Suitable for ages 3–6. Aboriginal characters. Kit includes books, poster, and puppets.
Looking After Me
Taking Care of Mother Earth
Healthy Choices, Healthy Lives
Living Safe, Playing Safe
Eat, Run and Live Healthy
Eyes, Ears, Nose and Mouth!
Dancing With the Cranes
Available for loan from: BC-ACCS
http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/
Order from: Theytus Books
http://www.theytusbooks.ca/ - Family Literacy: Growing & Learning Together Information Kit
- (Kit; Centre For Family Literacy, 2002)
Designed to help raise awareness in the community about family literacy. Information sheets, overheads, presenter’s notes, and Power Point presentation on CD. Cost: $45 (with colour transparencies) or $25 (with overhead masters). Video (8 minute intro to family literacy and programs) $15.
http://www.famlit.ca/ - Family Literacy Resource Notebook
- (PDF booklet, 400+ pages; Ohio Literacy Resource Centre)
Wealth of info on family literacy, how to start a program, sample curriculum, 40+ pages of activity suggestions, and much more.
http://literacy.kent.edu/Oasis/famlitnotebook/ - Family Literacy Newsletter
- Occasional publication of the N.W.T. Literacy Council. Current and all back issues can be viewed on-line and printed. Some good literacy activities for children and families.
http://www.nwt.literacy.ca/resource/famnews/archive.htm - First Nations Education Division Brittney Diana Mini-Readers series
- (Mini-books; First Nations Education Division, Victoria School District, 1995 – 98)
Excellent, B.C.-written simple rhyming stories with First Nations subject matter, suitable for toddlers. Highly adaptable story format. Using these as a sample, you could create your own stories for your program (a great project for teaming up with parents or older children in the community to help write and illustrate them).
Cost: $51 – $110, depending on series
Order from: BCTF Lesson Aids
http://www.bctf.ca/cgi/LessonAidsDb.exe/
Available for loan from: BC-ACCS
http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/ - How-To Family Literacy Kits
- 30+ literacy ideas including Book Making, Print Games, Family Literacy Activity Night, Making Talking Books, Music and Literacy, Reading Circles and Story Extenders, Writing and Publishing Children’s Books, and more.
http://www.nwt.literacy.ca/famlit/famlit.htm - Literacy Connections
- (Workshop Kit). For teaching skills to help parents and volunteer readers nurture a love of reading in children. Includes: manual, leader instructions, masters for handouts, sample promo poster, and video featuring vignettes of parent and children reading aloud, shared reading/shared discussion, and guided reading. Sample can be viewed on-line.
Cost: free. Order from: Classroom Connections.
http://www.classroomconnections.ca/en/othresources.html - On the Right Track: Families Growing and Learning Together
- (Booklet, 20 pages; Northwest Territories Literacy Council, 2002)
Simple, easy-to-read illustrated booklet on ways to encourage literacy in young children, with developmental information for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, and ideas for parents to try with their children. Could be adapted and used as a handout for your centre or for a home visiting or family literacy program.
http://www.nwt.literacy.ca/ - Pathways Sourcebook (2002)
- (Booklet; Centre for Family Literacy, 2002). Guide for family literacy coordinators and facilitators to attract parents into community programs. Designed to address questions parents ask themselves when deciding if they should enter into a program and what keeps them coming back, as well as how to minimize barriers and increase program participation. Cost: $10.
http://www.famlit.ca/ - Precious Minds: Nurturing Literacy in the Early Years
- (Video, 17 minutes; Canadian Institute of Child Health, 2000)
Cost: $10
http://www.cich.ca/ - Storysacks
- A storysack is a fun literacy activity that community members create and children and adults share together. A storysack includes a good quality storybook, props, a non-fiction book linked to the story, reading tips and activity ideas for parents, word or number games based on the story, and an audiotape of the story.
http://www.storysacks.nald.ca/ - Weaving Literacy into Family and Community Life: A Resource Guide for Promoting Literacy in Family Resource Programs
- Series of five booklets designed to help family resource programs promote literacy as part of the support that they offer to families.
Literacy in our Lives
Creating Learning Environments for Children
Community-Based Family Literacy Partnerships: Three Case Studies Literacy Initiatives in Family Resource Programs
A Literacy Workers’ Guide to Family Resource Programs
Cost: $25 for series
http://www.frp.ca/
LITERACY PROGRAMS
- Early Learning Canada
- Family literacy/healthy child development program for parents and other adults working with children from birth to age 6 and their families. Particularly beneficial for families with children who are not developing sufficient literacy and learning skills to promote and support healthy development.
http://www.elc-apec.ca/ - Mother Goose Program
- Group experience for parents, babies and toddlers, focusing on the pleasure and power of rhymes, songs, and stories. Reinforces positive family patterns and supports children’s language and early reading skills.
http://www.bccf.bc.ca - PALS (Parents as Literacy Supporters)
- Family literacy program directed at 4 and 5-year olds and their parents. Facilitators hold a series of two-hour sessions with parents and children, beginning with a shared meal, then covering a literacy-related topic, and including discussion, hands-on activities with children, and debriefing and sharing resources. PALS is currently operating in a number of B.C. school districts and is being modified in collaboration with First Nations educators.
http://www.lerc.educ.ubc.ca/fac/anderson/pals/
WEB SITES
- BC Aboriginal Child Care Society (BC-ACCS)
- Over 80 aboriginal children’s stories and legends available for loan. Search the catalogue on-line or call for assistance from the librarian. Available for loan. No shipping charges.
http://www.acc-society.bc.ca/ - BrainWonders Early Literacy web pages
- http://www.zerotothree.org
Series of information articles on early literacy, plus activity suggestions including lullabies, finger plays, and book suggestions. - Canadian Child Care Federation
- http://www.cfc-efc.ca/menu/literacy_en.htm
(literacy section of on-line library)
Articles and ideas specific to literacy and young children. - Centre for Family Literacy
- http://www.famlit.ca/
Based in Edmonton, an excellent source of ideas and resources. Head Start programs could easily adapt their “Books for Babies” program. - Child & Family Canada web site
- http://www.cfc-efc.ca/menu/literacy_en.htm
Go to “Literacy” section. Several excellent articles with practical, easy-to-implement suggestions on creating a literacy-rich environment for young children - Clark State Community College ECE Program
- http://www.clark.cc.oh.us/ece/literacy.html
Loads of excellent activity and project ideas. - Literacy B.C. Resource Centre
- Anyone can use the Literacy B.C. resource collection. Catalogue on-line or make information requests via phone, fax, or e-mail. Resources are mailed out for a five-week loan. 100+ resources on family literacy topics, including How To Start A Family Literacy Program.
http://www2.literacy.bc.ca/ - National Adult Literacy Database—Children’s Resources
- http://www.nald.ca/resource/educational/category.asp?cat=10
- The National Centre for Family Literacy (U.S.)
- http://www.famlit.org
Click on “Resource Guide for Family Literacy” to access a list of print resources, with descriptions and contact info. - Northwest Territories Literacy Council
- http://www.nwt.literacy.ca/famlit/famlit.htm
30+ great ideas for family literacy activities including learning activity cards, baby book and “My Family” book projects, how to make a storysack, community book swap, and an annotated bibliography of aboriginal books. - Zero to Three
- http://www.zerotothree.org
Lots of easy-to-understand info on what early literacy means, what early literacy behaviours are, the links between early literacy and brain development, suggested books, and some finger plays and lullabies. Really helpful background information to learn and share with families.