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Workplace Learning Circles and Aboriginal Workplace Learning Circles
Workplace Learning Circles (WLC) and Aboriginal Workplace Learning Circles (AWLC) approach essential skills training at an introductory level. The “Learning Circle” is a holistic approach which brings together learners from all backgrounds and literacy levels to share their ideas and skills, guide their own learning and create new knowledge.
This program uses an informal delivery model which focuses on creating comfort for the learner. The curriculum includes 8 sessions, which are easily adapted to meet the needs of learners from a wide variety of jobs and workplaces.
SAMPLE SESSION TOPICS INCLUDE:
Introduction to Essential Skills
Oral Communication
Listening Skills
Working with Others
Succeeding at Work and at Home
PARTICIPANTS WILL:
- Build their job skills and work relationships
- Improve family and work life
- Learn about communication
- Learn about cultural sensitivity
- and much more!
Literacy and Parenting Skills (LAPS) Manuals
Literacy and Parenting Skills (LAPS) is an innovative family literacy program designed to provide literacy and parenting skills to at-risk parents. Low literacy materials based on parenting topics have been adapted to strengthen the literacy skills of the parents and to give them strategies to model good literacy practices with their children.
Available manuals include:
- Main LAPS manual
- LAPS-English as a Second Language manual
- Aboriginal-LAPS manual
- Grandir avec mon enfant
LAPS manuals contain facilitators' instructions, participants' handouts, and an outline of 10 to 12 - 2 1/2 hour sessions (which may be used sequentially or as stand-alone 'lessons'). Each module is based on a theme and consists of a detailed plan for the facilitator and activity sheets for the participants
Topics covered by these sessions include:
- Building Self-esteem In Your Children,
- Positive Discipline,
- Anger Management,
- Communication and Listening Skills,
- Nutrition,
- Safety,
- Conflict Management,
- Families,
- Ages and Stages,
- as well as opening and closing sessions.
Also included are tips for one-on-one tutors and a listing of children's resources and tips for using the resources regardless of the parent's literacy level.
LAPS Downloads:
Literacy and Parenting Skills Good Practices (*Revised June 2008.)
Activity 2: A Fresh Look - Children's Language and Literacy Development
These manuals are designed to meet the learning needs and learning styles of multi-cultural groups and First Nations/Métis groups. In the LAPS-ESL and Aboriginal LAPS manuals, sessions have been adapted to reflect cross-cultural approaches and cultural sensitivity appropriate to the participants. As well, two new sessions have been created to deal with concerns specific to ESL and Aboriginal participants: Passing on Our Values and Traditions and Dealing with the School. The materials in the A-LAPS program have been adapted by First Nations groups for use by parents, both in a rural and urban setting. A pre-session has been designed which will allow people to learn a little about their history and to acknowledge their feelings about that history and the impact that it has on them.
Grandir avec mon enfant est la version française de Literacy and Parenting Skills (Alphabétisation et compétences parentales). C'est un programme innovateur destiné à développer leurs compétences parentales. Il vise aussi à aider les parents à lire et écrire davantage en français et répond aux besoins spécifiques des parents.
Grandir avec mon enfant is the LAPS program adapted for francophone audiences. The curriculum follows the same structure and guidelines of the other LAPS programs and is enhanced with culturally relevant material.
LAPS-ESL Supplements
LAPS-ESL Supplementary Materials for Canadian Language Benchmarks
1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
In response to agencies who have asked for LAPS for lower level ESL students and for advanced ESL students, the LAPS team has created six levels of LAPS which correspond to the Canadian Language Benchmarks. These new supplements should be used in conjunction with the LAPS-ESL manual. Since the original LAPS-ESL manual coincides with CLB levels 2 and 3, these products allow facilitators working with ESL students to select a supplementary manual suitable to the level of their participants. Activities and handouts are modified to conform to the criteria for each benchmark level.
Parent/Child Interactive Materials
Organizations who work with both parents and children (e.g. family resource centres, day cares, community schools) will enjoy the five new interactive parent/child activity sessions. The sessions are full of ideas to stimulate both parents and children and to enhance parents' ability to develop their children's language and literacy skills. The five topics chosen from the LAPS program - Building Self-esteem in our Children; Positive Discipline; Schools; Listening to Children; Talking to Our Children - can be used as stand-alone sessions, or in conjunction with the LAPS-ESL manual.
Selected Articles of Interest to Parents
For organizations who have participants with literacy skills from grade 4 - 6, four parenting articles have been created on issues of interest: Children & TV; Skills That Will Help Pre-School Children (when they go to school); Families and Conflict; Self-esteem.
Annotated Bibliography of Children's Resources
Culturally sensitive children's books suitable for immigrant and aboriginal children have been chosen to expand the bibliography of children's resources. These books have been carefully selected to complement the specific topics in the manuals and can be found in the library system. Readers are encouraged to use inter-library loan systems across the country if the purchase of children's resources is difficult.
LAPS for Teens
This module has been developed to be used either in conjunction with the main LAPS manuals or it may be used as a complete program on its own for those parents whose primary focus is dealing with teenagers. Topics include Understanding Changes (teenagers are going through), Building a Teen’s Self-Esteem, Communicating with a Teenager, Dealing with Anger: Yours and Theirs, and Families as Teams. Literacy activities related to each of the topics are included in each session.
So, Where Are the Males was created to assist community agencies interested in providing language and literacy classes for males learning ESL. The tool kit allows the community agency to evaluate its own readiness to provide such a program, explore strategies for attracting the target client, and to examine seven tips for implementing a successful language and literacy program. Topics and lesson plans have been created that are geared to the interests of ESL men such as Community Involvement, Family Leadership, Keeping Peace at Home, and School Systems.
PATHS is a community response to English as a second language literacy and language development. PATHS is a handbook of materials that can be used by organizations that do not have a background in literacy programming. Health clinics, employment agencies and other organizations that work with individuals with low English literacy find this is an excellent resource. It provides valuable background information and a series of workshops so that even facilitators without a background in literacy education can implement the program. Nine topics have been developed and include: Cultural Sensitivity, Community Involvement, Barriers to Literacy, Evaluating Progress, Providing Literacy Friendly Services, Recognizing and Assessing ESL Literacy Needs, Taking the First Steps, Volunteer Involvement and Integrating Family Literacy Programs.
Parenting after Family Violence
The Parenting after Family Violence manual was developed for the specific interests of women who are either currently in or have already left abusive situations. The topics covered are not addressed through traditional parenting approaches and will be helpful to those working in shelters, single moms groups, and high needs parenting and literacy groups.
"Path to Learning" is a dynamic informational video developed in the fall of 1999 that dramatically portrays the Literacy and Parenting Skills program as it operates in a variety of settings. Glimpses of Mainstream, English as a Second Language (ESL) and Aboriginal (A-LAPS) sessions reveal the strategies employed to encourage parents in their efforts to build on their current literacy and parenting skills and to assist in their children's language and literacy development. Information on community partnerships, facilitation skills and literacy facts are sprinkled throughout. However, it is the LAPS participants' sense of accomplishment and empowerment which is the most poignant celebration of the Literacy and Parenting Skills program.
A-LAPS-Expanding Horizons video
Expanding horizons is an orientation to the A-LAPS program. It features footage of real A-LAPS programs in action. Different stakeholders weigh in on the importance of literacy programming for the aboriginal community and how A-LAPS is making a difference in their communities. Examples of A-LAPS integrated into other community programs provide useful ideas for new facilitators. This video also features testimony from participants on the need for learning in their own lives and how A-LAPS has fulfilled that need.
La vidéocassette Grandir avec mon enfant - LAPS donne un aperçu du programme aux personnes intéressées à devenir animatrice. Elle donne des informations au sujet du programme ainsi que les grandes lignes de la formation pour animatrice. Les témoignages de participantes aux sessions de Grandir avec mon enfant soulignent les bénéfices d'un tel programme pour les communautés francophones.
The Grandir avec mon enfant video is an introduction to the program for individuals wishing to implement the program in their communities. It gives information on the program itself and guidelines for potential facilitators. Testimonials from program participants highlight the benefits of implementing the program in francophone communities.
